My husband and I purchased bicycles recently. We have wanted them for some time, since it is one of the few physical activities we both enjoy, so we just did it. It has been a long time since either of us has ridden a bike. That first ride, the first day we got them was wonderfully familiar to me. In my younger days, I was a true biker. At age 14 I did a 600 mile bike trip in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, it was not uncommon for my me and my dad to hop on our bikes and go 10, 15 or 20 miles, and then in college I loved mountain biking with the boys. On a bike, I feel comfortable, capable and strong.
I love the whirring of the tires on the pavement, the wind in my face, the click of the gears as I shift and that the bike only moves as hard as I pedal it. On the second ride we took at a nearby park, biking became painfully familiar. We may have overestimated ourselves by choosing to take the 3 mile path that is quite hilly. As in real hills not just slight elevations that when on a bike seem like huge hills. My heart beating so forcefully in my chest that I could hear it in my ears, gulping huge gasps of air, trying to catch my breath and the burn in my legs as I struggled up the hills, those too, were very familiar.
The next evening we were back on our bikes for a flatter ride and plan to ride when time and weather permit.
I love the whirring of the tires on the pavement, the wind in my face, the click of the gears as I shift and that the bike only moves as hard as I pedal it. On the second ride we took at a nearby park, biking became painfully familiar. We may have overestimated ourselves by choosing to take the 3 mile path that is quite hilly. As in real hills not just slight elevations that when on a bike seem like huge hills. My heart beating so forcefully in my chest that I could hear it in my ears, gulping huge gasps of air, trying to catch my breath and the burn in my legs as I struggled up the hills, those too, were very familiar.
The next evening we were back on our bikes for a flatter ride and plan to ride when time and weather permit.
5 comments:
What fun. I especially liked your description at the start of the second paragraph.
Weather here hasn't been reliable enough for a good bike ride.
I'm hoping to get my out of the garage next week for a quick spin.
Then get in training for my diabetes ride later in the year.
Whee! I like the hills - on the way down.
Don't give up your dream ride, just work up to it in baby pedals.
Awesome!
600 MILES!!! Holy Crap!
As JB said - baby pedals! You have to give your tush time to get used to that seat again...
:-)
That's great! Welcome back to the club!
It does take a while for one--and one's butt--to get used to riding; it did when I began riding again several years ago. That will pass (if you find you need a better saddle, get one).
However, don't limit yourself to recreational trails, but use the bike for transport. You have in the past, apparently...why not do that again?
If you do, you will need to equip that bike for the purpose; I am sure, from your background, you know what you need.
Here are a couple of cycling sites you might want to check out for discussions and updated information about cycling:
www.bikeforums.net
www.twowheeledcommuter.net/boards/
There are many more; do a web search.
BTW: I am a newly-diagnosed Type 2 diabetic.
BTW: What is the make and model of your "steed"?
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