First ride on my new bike!

[MommyBird]

There I was, sitting in the parking lot waiting for my husband to pedal up and I realized I had forgotten my helmet and gloves! So I fired up the truck and headed for home. When I passed my husband on the access road he gave me a "what's up?" gesture. When he called I explained my mistake and he was glad because he had miscalculated his time and was almost ten miles short. He rode a park loop while I drove the ten mile round trip home.
So all worked out fine.

We rode over 11 miles this time. I was more confident on the descents and my shifting was improved.

My shoes came in yesterday so I took my bike in to get fitted with my pedals today. Tomorrow I will be riding on my hard packed Georgia clay side yard. We mow the weeds and call it grass. Much friendlier than asphalt.

We live in the country so we have a 1/2 acre of "lawn", 3 acres of "yard" and 4 acres of forest. The forest is reserved for the mountain bikes.

I may even venture out on our 300' asphalt driveway if I get brave.

[Aquila]

We'd love to see a picture of your bike!

(Gosh, it sounds like we're talking about going to see someone's discretely housed etchings... )

[MommyBird]

I will post pics when the white seat and tape are on the bike. It just doesn't look right with the black.

I hope they come in tomorrow. We are going to the North Georgia Mountains for the Falluminum Airstream Rally. The NGMs are a very bike friendly area with an abundance of wide berms and bike lanes. Weather permitting, I would like to ride on a road with traffic. The roads around my house are narrow and they just drop off at the white line.

My husband has a round trip planned that will take him to the top of Brass Town Bald. He did the Six Gap ride last month.

My first day with my pink Speed Play pedals went very well. I practiced in my yard while my husband was getting in his miles. Then I met him again at Mistletoe and we rode 15 miles. No mishaps. It was a beautiful Fall day with temps in the 70s.

A bonus today was a box on the front porch with my order of "girl" clothes. Everything fit and I no longer have to wear my husbands least favorites. I could carry my books in the seat!

[MommyBird]

We spent the weekend at the Falluminum Airstream Rally in North Georgia. Had a great time.
We carried two bikes each up but only one got used. There was a lot of rain for the road bikes and we took our dog, Cooper, so we spent a lot of time walking him instead of riding the mountain bikes.
Dave did his planned 40 mile ride. He made it up Brass Town Bald. Wrecked twice going up hill. It was slick with wet fall leaves and he was on a very steep part and slipped and flipped over on his back, still hooked into the pedals. He was like a turtle.
I made apple crisp in the dutch oven for the pot luck brunch while he was riding. He pulled in just in time to eat with all the campers. What a treat after a ride.

Came home to bad weather. Had to settle for the elliptical. Wednesday was beautiful but I have a morning-to-night schedule. I was able to take my bike to the LBS to get my white parts...finally! The shop is next door to my church, which is where I spend the majority of Wednesday.
Cannondale sent the seat they use on a more expensive bike. That was a bonus.

Finally got to ride today. Same routine with the park meeting. Experienced a few milestones...rode 20 miles, went out on the real road, and got chased by a pair of country dogs (Jack Russell and a Pitt Bull:-0)
We were able to sneak by one of my husbands favorite "training partners"; he calls him Captain Jack. He was distracted by his owner putting him in the truck for a ride.

We met our UPS guy in the driveway when we got home. He knew Captain Jack too. He knows a lot of the same country dogs as Dave.

Next ride will be at least 25. So far everything is holding up well on my 49 year old body. This is much kinder than running.

[staceysue]

What makes me excited about starting cycling at 40 is that it really is kind on the body - I hope I'll still be doing it in my 80s! Makes me feel young to be staring out something new and knowing there's a possibility I'll still be doing it when I'm twice as old as I am now.

[Maxxxie]

MommyBird: PHOTOS, dammit!!!!!

Staceysue: Cycling is one of those sports you can do until the day you die. One old coot made the news here not long ago - 80-something and rode from Cairns (top end of Australia's East coast) to Brisbane.. or might've even been Sydney.. anyway.. it was 1000+Km. This dude has only been riding for 18 months or so! So there's nothing stopping you mate!

Max

[MommyBird]

Photos!

Rode 25 miles today with my hubby.
Tomorrow is our 23rd Anniversary!
My hubby says carbon is the proper gift for #23.
The bike was my early anniversary present.
I guess all the stuff I had to get to go with it counts too!
He's getting a Tribest Personal Blender with some extra accessories.
He will love it for his after ride recovery shakes.
To celebrate we plan to ride a loop at Fort Gordon.

Hope you enjoy the photos of my 2010 Cannondale Synapse 6, 54cm, with Speed Play pedals. It will be wearing a Vetta wireless next week.

[Yemmi530]

So happy for you, welcome back and have fun with your ride again.

[arielmoon]

Lovely bike! Your DH sounds like a great guy! Many happy rides to you!

[MommyBird]

I did my second ride yesterday, 3/21/10.
The Dublin, GA, St Patrick's Day Century.
(My First was the Beckley 100 a few weeks ago. I did 33mi.)
This time I did 57! And in the rain!!
Beckley was my first sub 40 degree ride and Dublin was my first rain ride.
Both times I was watching the weather go into an area that I had been avoiding for regular rides.
Both times I had the fear that I would wimp out.
Both times I met or exceeded my goal!
I felt so good this time I just kept taking the longer route.

A bonus (for me anyway) was that my husband had bike trouble and had to take a short cut off the 100mi ride. We happened to meet up at the final rest stop and were able to ride the last 8mi together! He rode in the 85mi range. He has his bike in the shop for some repairs today.

My desire has been to get back to being able to run at least a 5k by my 50th birthday in June but maybe I will switch it to a full century. My plantar fasciitis is not going away. I don't think my foot will ever fully recover. Too much scar tissue.

[backinthesaddle]

Your bike is great looking. Love all the pink accesories. I just got my first road bike last Wednesday. I tricked out on accesories too. I got pedals as well and shoes, but I am too afraid to use them just yet. I want to get more comfortable with the gearing and shifting first. My pedals are dual sided, so I am able to ride in my sneakers until I am ready for the clipless day.

You are putting on some serious miles already. Keep up the good work.