Just have to share... I Couldn't be more proud...

[runningteach]

Congratulations Nick! That is awesome.

[SpinSpinSugar]

Again, thank you everyone for all the positive comments. We as a family have only had bikes for the last 3 years - and only bike during the summer months due to the frigid Minnesota winters. This summer is the first time any of us have attempted any distances past 20 miles or so. For Nick, this is his first real "biking summer."

A wonderful gentleman known as 'The Bikesmith' has kind-of adopted our little family - Nick especially. He tracked down a BEAUTIFUL , nearly mint, Red/Gold 1980's Raleigh Pursuit 12sp road bike and gave it to Nick after he saw him struggling with his big heavy hybrid on one of the Hiawatha Cyclery rides. That was all it took. Nick Looooooves his "Road Red" as he calls it, and is very proud that he can keep up with the older guys on the group rides.

Mark (Bikesmith) already has plans to upgrade Nick's bike for him... in exchange for Nick helping to build his new front porch. Nick could care less about upgrades, but is loving the grandfatherly attention he is getting from Mark.

The ride around Lake Pepin this weekend was organized through Hiawatha Cyclery. Jim has been doing one long group ride per month this summer along with the usual Sat. morning breakfast runs. We did the same ride on Memorial day weekend and had such a good time he decided to do it again. We knew Nick would be able to go that far after a summer of 20-40 mile rides no problem.. and it wasn't. Plenty of water and food breaks kept "The Bonk" away despite the high temps and humidity.

So all in all.. we are ready to do some longer distances. If it wasn't for the bike fitting issues I've been having we all would've ridden to Duluth and back already this summer. Hopefully when I get those resolved (or get a new bike!) we'll be hitting the century mark together as a family.. I can't wait!

SpinSpinSugar

p.s. Oh yeah.. Nick went on the Sat morning ride the day before, and basically clocked a Century between the ride on Sat and the one on Sunday. Yay!

P.P.S. Teenagers are awesome. I prefer them to babies as well. His friends all love coming over because we do so much fun stuff... "Lets go out for dinner! Grab a bike and a helmet and lets go!"