Hi all - I'm a new member and a new rider - started this summer (July 2011). I am amazed at how rapidly improvement happens in biking - it is what has gotten me to love it again! I see all kinds of signs of progress, every time I ride - from feeling better, not being as sore, making it farther up hills without needing to stop, not needing to stop as often, riding farther, feeling more confident... not moaning and groaning as much - haha.

My biggest achievements happened while riding with a women's group on weekly rides - the first time I doubled my longest distance ride up to that point, went over bigger hills, and felt pretty good afterwards. But I was afraid to ride over cattle guards...

The next time I went out with them, I braved the cattle guards!! I was so proud! And I rode 20 miles! The next time I rode 25! And my butt and legs didn't hurt as much, either The next time I rode 30 miles and made it to the top of a summit - I was so out of breath I thought I would collapse and my heart was going to burst out of my chest like in Aliens - haha - but I made it! The next time, I made it, AND had enough energy and breath to yell "WHOOO!" at the top and even talk! And my next ride? FORTY EIGHT MILES!! I rode with my husband in the High Sierra Fall Century (short course) and made it to Wildrose Summit!! WHOOO!!! That was last weekend!

I would never have done it without the encouragement and support and cheering on of the folks in that group, and my husband.

Now I want to get a road bike, and I want to ride my bike more and more, and next year I will ride the full century!! This is something I could never have imagined even wanting to do, let alone actually doing it.

Biking rules!!!!