The first outdoor ride. |
Enter, stage right, my friend Tamara. She and a few of us from Sav-A-Life were taking a walk together when a conversation about bicycling commenced. Our other friend --I'll not throw Mikki under the bus by mentioning her name :) -- said she was afraid of the tushy pain of bike riding (
Park in Weaver |
Early in November, Tamara's husband, Scot, their son, Jonathan, and their two crazy dogs, Bear and Lexy joined our bike team and we upped our degree of difficulty. I was kind of scared that failure was coming because I felt like my other rides were adrenaline infused and the excitement drove the distance; not strength or fitness level. However, that was not the case. A few times we rode to the park in Weaver and back (about 10.5 miles). We did an 11 mile ride heading north towards Piedmont, which passes by Germania Springs Park in Jacksonville. I swear that ride is uphill both ways--and there wasn't even any snow! The topper was riding from our community center--our normal starting point--all the way to the Alabama end of the trail in Anniston (12 miles round trip). To ride all that way made me feel accomplished, like a real athlete. Now, when I climbed off the bike I was an athlete with a sore butt doing the Fred Sanford walk, but still an athlete.
Now that Scottish winter has set in here in 'Bama (Alba Gu Brath, y'all), I will have to be content with my one woman, '80's music spinning parties with an occasional outdoor trek. I can't wait for spring! Who knows? When I can finally get a bike hitch (or a pickup truck) and more training, I may ride the length of the entire trail (about 33 miles). Just be prepared to come get me; that will probably be a one way trip.
Auntie: 3, Bicycle: 0 HAZZAH!
Cue the music after I get off the bike.
This is great, Shannon. Really, really exciting to hear what pleasure you're getting out of cycling. Carmine
ReplyDeleteThanks. The trail is great!
Delete