What got you into biking?

[hirakukibou]

I am 47 years old and had never been an athlete, until now. Growing up I was more interested in poetry than sports. I was a member of the literary club in high school snubbing anything as physical as football or running. However, I knew, a year ago, when I fell in love with David that a lot more exercise would come into my life. What I didn’t know was that it would change me profoundly. David is an avid cyclist and has been for twenty some odd years. I was an avid couch potato without the slightest interest in anything that could be called exercise. But, I liked being with him and he was on the bike.

I remember the first time I rode from Arlington to Bedford on the Minuteman Bike Trail. I had to stop at every large rock to rest and catch my breath. When my energy flagged and my pedaling slowed, he would come up behind me and rest his hand on the small of my back and give me a push. I needed those pushes, like the small child on the swing who can’t quite get going. I made it to Bedford and back. That was three and a half years ago.

Since then, I have cycled about 15,000 miles. I own six bikes. I work teaching bicycle riding at The Bicycle Riding School. I am a ride leader with the NEBC Women's Ride. I ride with two clubs. I have done the Harbor to the Bay AID charity ride twice and will do it this year as well. It is a 125 miles in one day. I do a lot of my own wrenching. I am learning to build wheels. Our apartment looks like a bike shop -- we have no kitchen table but instead have a work stand. I have lost weight and am more fit than I was in high school. My life has been consumed by all things bicycle. It has a life of its own and I have made it my own. Now, I can't imagine my life without cycling.

[TrekTheKaty]

At 30, I was overweight. Although I'd never been athletic, I took up running to get in shape. After a few years of slow marathons and half-marathons, I hurt my back. Chiropractor said to pick a new sport! My sister had just started riding after digging a bike out of the dumpster. I took my old hybrid around the block and discovered it didn't aggravate my back. DH was relieved--he'd done a lot of riding and had tried to get me started while we were dating. The rest is history--3 years and counting..........

[Lakerider]

Everytime I start out on a bike ride I say, "This is so cool!"