Inaugural ride with the baby and my inaugural ride of the season (a 2 mi round trip commute is not a ride). Hubby had the baby on the old beater moutain bike with the nobby tires. Hubby is in much better shape even without any biking and needed the extra drag! We went from Valley Forge out to the Perkiomen trail, because it has a miniscule number of walkers and roller bladers. Bikers are also very clueful, with only one close call with one guy riding in the left lane with a group of four others -- but he reacted well to the screech of "in front of you!" and smiled at the baby.

Baby enjoyed it, until he fell asleep. Makes me wish a bit that we had a trailer, but the baby seat was a gift from a non-biker, and just so thoughtful I can't complain.

Lots of bikers, lots of women, lots of kids. Saw (presumably) a family of at least four on a three person tandem with a trailer. The people on the tandem had matching jerseys. Very cool!

Really pushed it the way out (that woman in the skort muttering about "cadence" and "challenge that hill!" was me) and stayed in a lower gear with a higher cadence on the way back. I was then passed effortlessly by another woman, and thought better of shouting "go baby go!" Sometimes people misinterpret statements like that.

Those 2 mile commutes are actually working. I was in much better shape "starting" the season than usual.

(And anyone who has ridden the Perkiomen Trail: there is a well-paved but very sunny detour at the end closest to Valley Forge. It's fairly yucky compared to the original shaded path.)

S