Just gotta share with everyone that the Bike Goddess (or rather, her sidekick, Second-Hand Bike Goddess) smiled on me this past week. I've been working hard at spinning & weight work at the gym, and my favorite spin instructor has allowed me to do some training sessions at a private gym where he trains better cyclists - racers, other trainers, etc. (I can imagine their thoughts when I walked in, a penguin amidst gazelles, but I HUNG IN THERE JUST FINE. It took all my courage to show up, though.)
I had carpooled with some riders from my area - I know they really wondered what I was doing there, too - but on the ride home, after seeing that I didn't blow up during this tough session, and hearing how far I've come and how hard I'm working to attain my century goal - a woman offered me a road bike she had outgrown, for a song. A lot of you know that my DH and I are in the arts - ie: scraping by - so I've been praying for a good second hand bike to come forward.
She even brought the bike to the gym the next night for the trainer to look at, and he went over it very carefully and put me on it to check the fit. We were in the lobby of the gym and by that point, all the other riders were gathered around. Finally, he whispered in my ear, "I don't think you can go wrong with this one." SOLD!
So I'm now the owner of a Giant OCR3, already equipped with SPD pedals and a computer. It doesn't even need a tune-up. She's throwing in better tires for me to start on, and some different saddles for me to try. For $200. I couldn't believe it. It's a lovely pearly blue, so I think I will call her The Swallow - after the terrific flyers that come live in my barn every spring. A friend said it was the Universe rewarding me for declaring myself an athlete and pushing past my fears and self-limitations. I think she must be right, because today, a woman at the gym walked up to me and GAVE me a Polar heart-rate monitor. My hub and I have been sharing one for months.
What's next?
Who knows? All I know is I'm doing things I never dreamed of - and you all help me do it. Thanks - and ONWARD!