I did my ride today without having to switch into granny gear! YIPPPEEEEEEE! That's a really good thing because I'm still riding my beach cruiser, picking up my road bike soon, and the road bike doesn't have a gear that low. It would break my heart if I got it home and couldn't even make it up my hills without walking.

I'm definitely getting faster (averaging, oh I don't know, a whopping 11 or 12 mph?) and stronger. I love being in this beginner stage - where progress can be seen so easily.

Not that I'm doing this to lose weight (I think I'm finally over that obsession and I will not step on a scale or count calories), but I can't help but notice the changes in my body in the 3-4 weeks since I started riding again. The little roll of back fat I had is gone and I'm jiggling less, my waist is getting trimmer, my hubby made a nice comment about my butt last night, and my thighs are getting stronger.

I'll be going into ski season in much better shape this year than the last couple of years.

Suddenly being 40 doesn't seem so bad.