Hey, everyone, I rode ten miles today on the road bike - it was a much better ride. I'm still spooky here and there, but not nearly as bad, and I felt SO good the rest of the day. I'll be back on the Swallow tomorrow for another "recovery ride." The future is looking rosier! Here's a few notes that might help anyone else who finds themselves in the same predicament after a fall.

1) I called a LBS with a minor tire question. The owner and I chatted a bit - he's been in on my whole transformation to rider - and when he heard about my fall, he insisted I bring the bike in RIGHT AWAY. (The bike club guys gave it a once-over before they put me back on it after the fall - said it was ok. DH and I are mechanical ninnies, so we took their word for it.) Both of my wheels were just faintly bent, and front AND back brakes were a little cattywampus, too!! I think part of my discomfort trying to ride again might have been The Swallow telegraphing that things weren't quite right. The wobbliness I thought was my shaky arms was not just me. So, new riders, if you take a bad fall, have a mechanic give your bike the all-clear.

2) That mechanical all-clear will give you more confidence when you take those first few scary rides.

3) Even after the 2 weeks of tiny, shaky rides, today I was the strongest I've been yet on some long gradual inclines that had me groaning or even stopping. Well, hush my mouth!

4)My riding mantra today to help me lighten up was "like a song." It seemed to help, so borrow freely. (Oh, except for hills - then I switch to "you're not so big!")

So, onward, with a big debt owed to my TE crew.