Reflections

[redrhodie]

Ride #1, 4 years ago:

I was on my vintage '84 MTB, way too big for me, determined to make it to the end of the bike path, an ungodly 6 MILES! out. I made it on the first try, but on the way back, this tiny false flat nearly killed me. I struggled up it, and every ride after for a long time. Year after year, riding got a little bit easier, a little more fun, and I loved it a little more.

Now, 4 years later, I'm at one with my bike. I don't keep track of speed or distance, but I know how I feel, and I've come so far. I recently went back to look at some old posts from when TE was just a wee little baby of a website, and there was Veronica, thinking about attempting 50 miles .

You've come a long way baby!

[Zen]

That's funny...

I can't say that I've improved too much but I have more bikes!

[Starfish]

What a great thread! Redrhodie, your first ride sounds a lot like mine...and just about the same length of time ago, more or less. I am far from being one with my bike as of yet, but it really is fun to look back and see where I started.

Makes me wonder what else I could astound myself by doing...5 years from now!

PS: Thanks for the note about Veronica! I assumed she came out of the womb and got in a century that same day!

[Crankin]

My first ride was on my husband's old mountain bike. After getting me decked out in my first pair of shorts and jersey (bought without my knowledge), my husband lead me out of our development, down a hill and to the end of that street. When we turned around, I could not get back up the hill, even in the granny gear, without him putting his hand on my back and pushing me up.
And I thought I was in shape from aerobics and 20 years at the gym.

[KSH]

Ah yea, I remember when I rode 10 miles around my neighborhood and how proud I was... and hungry. So hungry. HA!

That was 4 years ago.

Now I'm training for an Ironman and 30 miles is a short ride for me. 10 miles isn't even worth taking the bike out of the house for.

I got to see some newbies the other day... in a Tri 101 group going for a group ride with us. They were so cute and fresh! It was great! All there, looking a little bit scared, ready to tackle the challenge. I think we all understand how that feels.

[shootingstar]

Well uh..nearly 17 yrs. ago..lst year when I returned to cycling...9 kms. hurt. It was on flats. But I was stoked.

Then 5 months later I went on 500 kms. self-loaded bike trip with my partner in Vermont in early fall. I was such an idiot...I still didn't know how to use my gears properly.. If Vermont wasn't such a beautiful state..I would have hurt alot more. I wasn't wearing cycling shoes and didn't even use bike shoe cages to give myself more leverage.

During that lst year during another (shorter) bike trip, I also camped for the lst time ..in my life (at 31 yrs.). At that time, he had a ...canvass tent. Our 2nd night, the tent floor leaked in rain..

At least now I can use my gears better ...though I don't put on the cyclometer to measure distance. In my first 5 years, I was maniacal to track my distance daily in journal. It makes great reading plus bits on tripping.

But I didn't start wearing cycling jerseys until 5 years ago.

[redrhodie]

It's so funny to read how we were all so green once! Being pushed up a hill, Crank! I think that would have been my first AND LAST ride. Not knowing how to shift. Remember forgetting to shift into an easier gear before coming to a stop, and being unable to get going again? Those were the days.

I remember in the beginning, having my saddle sooooo low because I had to stop and start from a seated position. I remember actually shaking when I test rode my first road bike. And for the longest time, I only rode on the bike path, back and forth over and over again. I knew every blade of grass.

5 years from now? I can't even imagine! Maybe I'll be poppin' wheelies by then (but I doubt it). More likely, I'll be riding my same routes, getting a little less winded on the hills, and remembering when each one used to be harder. How's that for ambition!

[Veronica]

I recently went back to look at some old posts from when TE was just a wee little baby of a website, and there was Veronica, thinking about attempting 50 miles .

You've come a long way baby!

What post was that in?

I wish I could find my write up about our first 200 K on the tandem. I remember saying something about never riding that far again. It's the same ride I did last weekend.

V.

[redrhodie]

I tired to find it again and couldn't. I think I was looking in "tips and tricks" back near the last page. Did see another where you seemed to feel weird on your solo bike. I'm guessing you're a little more comfortable now!

[redrhodie]

I wish I could find my write up about our first 200 K on the tandem. I remember saying something about never riding that far again. It's the same ride I did last weekend.

V.

Oh, I saw this one, too. It's back there somewhere! Go look, it's pretty cool to see where you were, and where you are. Like looking at the old high school yearbook.

[redrhodie]

When I got back into riding, I rode the tandem exclusively for about 8 months. I had to take the mountain bike to the dentist one day - the first 30 seconds were very amusing. Iactually had to steer and brake!

Weekends are generally tandem or mountain bike rides now. If we're road riding together I prefer to be on the tandem. We really like each other's company.

As far as switching back and forth I was worried when I started riding my single (I personally prefer that term to half bike -it's a whole bike for goodness sake ) that I would lose some of the things that make a good stoker - not needing to be in control, paying attention to what the captain's doing, not leaning on corners, keeping my cadence really smooth, etc. But V, Thom says no - that because I'm riding more on own during the week, the only thing that's different is I'm stronger. It's kind of like driving a different car (we don't have his and hers, they're all ours) I don't drive the pick up truck the same way I drive the Volvo. I don't ride the tandem the same way I ride Fluffy. And I'm figuring out how to ride my mountain bike off road.

Have fun!

Veronica

Here's one from around that time. Hope it brings back good memories!