Hi Guys!

Well, I survived my first group ride yesterday! We did 25 miles, weaving our way up to Carefree and back. I was so nervous the night before that I had to do some Zen breathing just to calm myself down. It turned out to be the perfect group for a first ride. Very casual, and on the way north we stayed off most of the busy roads. Everyone was super friendly and encouraging, and I found myself in the middle of the pack where speed is concerned. It was also my first ride with clipless pedals, and even though i had a couple close calls, I didn't fall! I know that's inevitable, however. :-) Coming back from Carefree, we rode Pima all the way down which terrified me at first (with all the traffic!), but once I got the rhythm, we were sailing!! It's good it was downhill, because by then, the wind had picked up and it was a killer. I was so elated when it finished that I bought a computer for my bike and am now counting the days till the next ride.

By the way - I bought my bike at Bikes Direct, at Desert Ridge in North Scottsdale. Fantastic prices, and the guys there are pretty nice. Not a big sales push, and they work to find the bike that's right for you. For accessories, I find Performance Bike on Raintree to be pretty good.

Thanks for the support, guys! I think I'm in LOVE with cycling!