New member intro

[tpage]

Hello everyone, my name is Tina Page, I am from Blue Mountain, Ms. I was employed at a furniture factory till it closed it doors. I decided to go back to college. Now I am a fulltime college student at the best college in Mississippi for Educators, Blue Mountain College. I started back riding this summer as a way to complete a 100 mile cycling class for school. I have a Schwinn Hybrid road bike complete with back rack and saddlebags. It isn't anything fancy but I love my bike. My 3 children (2 girls 9 & 10, 1 boy 15) decided they also needed bikes. Together this summer we rode 100 miles. We averaged 5 miles almost every evening. Most of it was straightways. During summer and fall break I mapped out a route to school and started riding to get myself familiar with it. I didn't get to ride everyday but was confident I could manage. School started and riding with full saddlebags was harder than I expected. The first couple weeks of school one of my assignments in "Intro to Ed", I had to observe 30 hours in a classroom at 2 different schools. My school schedule is so loaded (7 classes, 5 on MWF, 2 TTh), the only time to ride my bike was MWF but I kept finding reasons not to ride, ex: a chance of rain. Then it didn't even rain. But this week I have rode every day. My route has some hills and I am conquering them. My overall goal is to get heathier. Plus as an added bonus I am saving gas. My short term goals are endurance and speed. My route is 4.6 miles one way.. My first trip took 27 minutes. Those hills are killers. But now I can make it in 21 minutes if I concentrate on speed. On MW, I concentrate on cadence, TTh I concentrate on speed, then Fridays I just enjoy the ride, no worries about speed or cadence, I just enjoy the scenery. On the weekends I rest. I look forward to learning all the secrets to better cycling.

[Red Rock]

Just wanted to say welcome to TE. You will find a lot of varing information and great people here. Keep enjoying your rides, that is the most important thing. Everything else will come with time. Good luck in school. May your cycling give you some freedom and peace from studing and the kids (both at home and school).

Red Rock

[sbctwin]

The 'secrets' of cycling for me is to ENJOY. I commute to work everyday and have done over 100 commutes this year. It is only 10 miles round trip, but I enjoy it so much that each day, I know I will accomplish something positive for ME each day I commute.
This site is wonderful for information and support...welcome aboard!!!

[Tri Girl]

Welcome to TE, and congrats on commuting to school! Sounds like you're enjoying yourself very much, and I like the schedule you have for your commutes (some days speed, some days cadence, and one day to savor every part of the ride).
Welcome, friend!

[out_spokin']

Welcome, tpage! Great for you to head back to college and for getting back into biking and commuting! It's always inspiring to me when parents ride with their kids - way to go. Enjoy your riding, and thanks for joining our commuter challenge!

[tulip]

What a great story! Congratulations on making lemonade out of lemons, and going further to reshape your lifestyle. Inspiring!

[SouthernBelle]

Welcome Tina.

I went to college in Columbus, MS. I haven't been back down that way in several years.

Good job on the riding.