Allezgirl....

[Jo-n-NY]

my post from yout qoate in getting to know you. I was at the pumpkin patch pedal and just saw you post. I would also love to know more about your ride through pa, nj & ny. that sounds real interesting as i always remark to my cycling buds here about Denise Goldberg you rides through 3 different states.

JoAnn....progress, I am able to type with both hands while standing up. ugh

[AllezGirl]

Hey Jo,
Wasn't the weather perfect Sunday? Which route did you do? We did the 62, but were kicking ourselves for not doing the century, it was such a great day.

The PA to NYC ride was the "Peter O'Dell Memorial Ride" sponsored by Bicycle Club of Philadelphia (BCP). It was amazing, we left from New Hope, PA, crossed into south-central NJ where it was very rural, then crossed over some big hills and into Jersey City, from there we caught the ferry into midtown NYC and rode across the Brooklyn Bridge! I thought I'd never be caught driving a car on the streets of NYC, let alone riding a bike. What a rush! BCP has had this ride for many years, they hold it the Sunday before Labor Day. If you get a chance, you should try it, but go into it knowing that it is a VERY challanging ride. The guys in my club were pretty amazed that I did it just three weeks after I got a road bike! I earned a lot of bragging rights from that one!!

What part of NY are you in?

[AllezGirl]

Hi again,
I just read your post on the other thread. 20 miles with an injured shoulder is not too shabby! A friend of mine is recovering from shoulder surgery (he was hit by a car) and he really struggles after a few miles!

We started at 8:00 and were finished @ 12:00. Of course, we took our time savoring the Pumpkin Pie at the 2nd stop!

How old is your daughter? My son is 7, he will ride with me occasionally, but the furthest I gone with him is 10 miles...and of course, he complained for about 9 1/2 of it! I don't want to push too hard, but I would really love to have an activity that we can do together.

Beth

[Jo-n-NY]

Hi Beth,

I just told my dh and friend about the Peter O'dell ride. We will keep it in mind for next year. Thank you for the info.

Actually, my daughter is going to be 23 in a couple of weeks, but is very new to cycling and trying to shead weight and get herself in shape. She never rode hills and that first one in the beginning of the ride was a shock to her. I am proud of her of doing 20 miles. She did 20 flat miles last month for MS. Before that the most she road was 10 miles and that was only one time.

Actually, I was not able to ride. I still cannot get my arm to the handle bar yet. I just started pt and I go for my 2nd visit tomorrow. This was border line surgical procedure so we are letting it heal without the surgery, but it is a long process.

The weather could not be more perfect for all the riders. It was hard sanding on the side lines. I hope next year will be just as nice when I will be able to join in.

Good for you son. I use to ride with my kids when they were little until it was not cool to ride with mom any more. Then they hit the age where we ride like friends. I am hoping my daughter stays interested.

JoAnn

[AllezGirl]

That first hill was a b****! Especially that early in the ride when your muscles (and toes) are still cold. But that was the only big one. How did your daughter feel after the ride? That seems to be how it started for most of us...10 miles, 20 miles, 40 miles...next thing you know you're doing centuries almost every weekend!

I'm still the apple of my son's eyes....Momma knows best! Cute story, we were watching OLN highlights of the Tour of Spain and they showed a pretty big crash, so he tuns to me and says "Momma, don't race, OK? I don't want you to get hurt"

[Jo-n-NY]

Hi Beth,

Actually to begin a ride with a hill is difficult, expecially if you do not expect it and in my daughters case, she has not road any hills to speak of. This was her second organized ride, the first was on a flat part of Long Island. Other than that she only road maybe 10 miles at a time and only a few times at the end of summer. Needless to say she is trying to get herself in some kind of shape. What bothered her most was her shoulders. Her legs were fine. In fact her shoulders bothered her all week and finally felt better today. Because of her inexperience in riding, she did not know how to use her gears properly and I am sure as she was climbing any of the hills she was probably putting stress on her neck and shoulders. My husband was trying to explain to her the best he could when to change gears. I tell her it takes practice.

Your son sounds adorable. As the saying goes, "out of the mouths of babes"

JoAnn