Newbie weekly achievement thread

[jessmarimba]

What kind of boots are those, redrhodie? They're purdy.

[redrhodie]

The brand is El Naturalista. They run small, just in case you need to know. Once you get the right size, they're really comfortable. I have their clogs, and they've taken over Keens as my shoe of choice.

[jessmarimba]

I'm in love. I spent the last 20 minutes or so on their website, but the shoes are apparently sold at a store about a 15-20 minute ride from here. This could be dangerous!

K I'll stop hijacking the thread now

[Nats]

Thanks again

Glory I hope you get accustomed quickly!

Oh and BTW those red boots lovely!

[jelee1311]

I do luv those red boots! I just want to say you are tough if you can manage those and clogs. That might inspire me to buy even more shoes and justify them in my already vast shoe collection Welcome Glory and Nats!

[Glory]

Got out early this morning and drove 15 miles to an 'easy' bike trail. It was so worth the drive! Rode 7 miles, my longest solo ride. Of course I've only owned my bike for 6 days =) I almost felt comfortable today, its been a decade since I've been on 2 wheels and I had the LBS try something different with my right brake(I have a minor handicap) and braking was a little easier today. Although I'm thinking this stock saddle has got to go. I thought it would be ok since I wasn't riding very far but maybe not..

But I hafta say my sleep-deprived, menstrual cramping self is freakin' wiped out now. I hope that gets better with time!

[hebe]

Go Glory! I'm glad you're enjoying your new bike so much. Which saddle did it come with?

I am collecting my Specialised tomorrow after its service, and also our new trailer I may need to make two trips as it's not a local bike shop. This evening I have put my saddle onto a new seatpost and put the old saddle (which the Mister loves) back onto the old suspension seatpost.

[jelee1311]

Today was finally over 60 degrees,the first time this year and I got a 35 mile ride in.I realized just how little I've been riding since I've been sick this month. I did a 1 mile hill and had to stop cuz I was coughing(pathetic) I did a few more big hills then came home.I'm still having some confidence issues being clipped in but I think its slowly getting better. I came home and celebrated the great day with pizza and italian margaritas

[Nightowl]

Greetings. I loved reading all the posts of victory. Congratulations to everyone. My achievement this week is getting back to the saddle after 18 months.

I was getting ready to ride my first Century in October 2009 when I got H1N1. Hit me hard. Although I was lucky to recover, I was on steroids and inhalers for a long time. I then moved to Denver in February 2010 and the altitude hit my now less than perfect lungs like a truck. I tried to get back on the bike during the summer of 2010, but I was anxious and every time I tried a ride I felt like a huge failure and needed to stop and use my inhaler a lot.

But, I am back! So, I think I qualify as a newbie again. I have acclimated to the altitude and I have found a few routes with just a few hills to get my lungs back. I rode 30 miles last weekend and 10 miles every day after work this week. I didn't need the inhaler once, but I will still keep it in my pack just in case.

So, my message to anyone who gets hit with an injury or illness is to keep trying to get back in the saddle if you want to. Hopefully your ending will be as happy as mine.