So, Jim's been really into cycling lately. And hey, I ride my bike everywhere, so that's cool- something we both like to do! But his interest was not in cruising-down-to-the-gelato-shop biking, but really fast, feet-clipped-in, bicycle that weighs nothing biking. I went on a few rides with him, but my heavy, slow mountain bike doesn't really do the trick.
He kept encouraing me to buy a fancy road bike, but they're expensive, and I wasn't sure how “into-it” I wanted to be. But then, one of my coworkers- who's totally obsessed with cycling and does century rides, etc.- told me that she was upgrading & selling her trusty old bike. It's a great bike and a great price, so I bought it. :-) It's red & yellow & cute in its own silly way. And it's a much better quality bike than I would have purchased if I had bought new.
A couple of weeks ago, I had it “fitted”- went down to the bike shop (The Bike Peddler, isn't that a great name?), and paid the guy $50 to measure and study and poke and prod and adjust and tinker while I sat on the bike for a couple of hours, and he got the bike to fit me perfectly. Very cool.
Last week, Joe & I went out to ride. Joe on his big steady commuter bike with saddlebags and lights and a kickstand, and me on my weighs-next-to-nothing tiny road bike. Aside from the fact that you sit funny on a road bike- you're kind of hunched over the top, like it's trying to buck you off- the scariest thing is the clipless pedals. You wear special shoes (thanks REI Labor Day sale!) and they stick in the pedals. So you can't get out. And so you fall over. Or that was my impression. So, Joe & I got to the park & took out the bikes. I put my right foot into its pedal, stood up to put my left foot in, and fell over. Kerplunk. Scrapes & bruises & dirt on my clothes. Ouch. Joe laughed & laughed & laughed! Thanks, Joe! Grrr.
But I got back on, and we rode around Minto-Brown Island Park for awhile. It was fun, but I was kind of nervous on this bike that was, apparently, trying to kill me.
On Thursday, my coworker who sold me the bike- Anne- offered to take me on a ride and show me the tricks & make sure I was comfortable riding. So we geared up and drove out to Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge. We got there, it was beautiful, we were excited, and.... I had forgotten my special bike shoes. Oops. So we went back home. But we pedaled around my neighborhood a little, and she did show me all sorts of good tricks & tips & I felt much more comfortable.
This morning we drove out to Ankeny again, with shoes, and did a nice long ride. It was gorgeous out there, and I did great! Cycling is fun! We saw all sorts of pretty places, and lots of birds, and we got to ride the Buena Vista Ferry across the Willamette River, pedal around some, and take the ferry back again. I learned how to ride up hills with (sorta) ease. We rode about 25 miles total, and I didn't fall over once! I came very close: when we were leaving the ferry & I was trying to clip into my pedals while going uphill. I ended up walking. :-)
Between running and cycling and riding to work and yoga and doggy walking and weight/aerobics class, I'm going to need to find more time in the day. And more endurance... But it's fun. :-)
Jessi, Jerry, Joe, Jim & I are considering doing the STP next year- the Seattle to Portland ride. It's about 200 miles in 2 days. Hmmm. Did I tell you Jessi & I are going to run a half-marathon in Phoenix in January? Yay!