Returning to the Bike

[EMoonTX]

Thanks, Oakleaf. The visual thing gave me a lot of trouble with the mountain bike because I'd never been in that position--with my head so low and having to crank my neck back to see ahead at all (my neck is no longer as supple...) It's easier on NewBike, because I'm sitting up and can look ahead more easily (sorta like a car), but you're right--I do tend to fixate on obvious holes and bumps the way I fixated on the approaching jump when I was first learning to ride over fences. The reminder to look ahead, where I want to go, is timely.

[EMoonTX]

Back in September, a short time after getting my new bike--the first since I was about 8 1/2 (my college bike was a multi-owner), my husband took pictures of me riding out on the land. I posted them on LiveJournal here.

Today, he took others, and I posted the new pictures to LiveJournal as well...it's purely coincidence that I'm wearing the same purple T-shirt.

The two together give a pretty good idea of what our open land is like--old cow pasture that had been cropland before and terraced. There's nothing really exciting, unless you're an older woman who hasn't had a bike in years and even then rode only on streets or the occasional hard-beaten path in a vacant lot. The trails in the dry woods and creek woods are more challenging, but not compared to the videos I've seen of mountain bikers.

But fun? Yes. Lots.

[Owlie]

That looks like fun! Can I come visit when my cyclocross bike arrives?

[EMoonTX]

It's a long drive or ride from your location, but otherwise...sure.

[emily_in_nc]

That looks like so much fun. I would love to have a place like that to ride! Is that in Texas (I'm guessing from your screen-name)?

Thanks for sharing your photos!

[EMoonTX]

Yes, it's in Texas, about 50 miles from Austin. It IS fun--and will be more fun as I gain strength and skills. I'm thinking maybe knee and elbow pads would be a good idea before I try the creek woods again--lot of hard stuff to fall into there.