Hi there! I just joined this forum this weekend and haven't posted anything yet.

I bought my road bike (Specialized Allez Sport) a year ago and put exactly 23 miles on it and then closeted it. My first day with clipless pedals was a hoot; I stopped at a light and forgot how to get out of them and just plunked over. I was fine, and only my pride got scraped. Then I got a flat the next ride. All of this was solo..not a very good start for someone who had mountain biked all over the desert for years. Ah well....anyways, the bike was put up and not touched for a year.

This last May I started nursing school and the stress is unbelievable. So it was Ativan (anti-anxiety pill that I tried once and HATED) or biking. I chose to bike but I didn't want to go it alone. I was sneaky and had my hubby watching Tour de France with me ever chance I got (I'm thankful OLN ran it several times a day) that really got him interested in road biking. Two weekends ago we went and bought him a road bike. (Specialized Sequoia)

We are having the best time. It has been the best antidote for stress and gives us something fun to do together. We feel like we are kids again. I cut out of school early on Monday (no wind and a cool day) and biked for 26 miles. All up and down hills. I had thought that when we would bike together we'd visit. HA! I have found that we both have a huge competitive streak and we race each other up and down the hills.

Oh, and those clipless pedals? Don't know how I ever lived without them! Mine are the eggbeater kind. I love them! Also, I had no idea how much more I'd love road biking versus mountain biking. I love the speed and the smoothness of the ride and the effort seems minimal. BTW, I haven't biked, mountain or road, in years. I got into endurance riding with horses but everytime I trained and was on long rides I kept wishing I was on a bike! Funny thing is when I was a kid I biked everywhere pretending my bike was a horse. I'll take a bike anyday over a horse. The wrecks aren't near as bad and if I don't feel like riding for a year the bike doesn't mind.

Kim

P.S. If anyone emails me keep in mind I'm in nursing school and sometimes don't check my email daily. But I will answer back...eventually!