Shaking Off the Cobwebs

Planning to get out for my first ride with my new cycling club this Sunday.  I can't wait.  The forecast is for beautiful, warm, sunny weather.  It's just a 38km (24 mile) easy ride to shake off the cobwebs and get the bike going again but I'm still counting the sleeps. 

I'm really looking forward to riding with this new cycling club as well.  It was such a pleasant evening last Monday when I went to their first Meet and Greet of the season to introduce myself and sign up.  Is there anything more inviting than a group of cyclists sitting around a table with some cold drinks and hot munchies?  Over the course of the evening, as I met and chatted with the veteren members sitting at my table, I loved that the discussion was all about riding; funny stories about rides gone bad, fantasies about new bikes and gear, and good-natured ribbing about the quirks and habits of other riders.  No one asked anyone, "so, what do you do?", we all knew the answer - we ride bikes!

This will be my first ride with the new clipless pedals so wish me luck!  I'm going to head out on my own on Saturday and try them out so that I can hopefully save myself a little of the humiliation of using them for the first time in front of a group.  I'll humiliate myself in front of the geese down at the park.

Thank you to everyone who sent me tips and their own stories about switching to clipless.  So far I've learned that I must clip out BEFORE I stop, I have to start out with the pedals as loose as possible so that it's easier to clip out quickly, and that I WILL fall over at least once or twice. I can't tell you how helpful it was to hear that everyone had a hard time when they first started out with these things.

I'll let you know on Monday how my first clipless ride went.  Hopefully I'll be posting from here at my desk and not from a hospital room ;)

Comments

[JoeB]

First of all Sara - Happy Birthday! I hope your ride on Sunday doesn't cause too much pain so you actually feel older on your birthday!

Your Sunday ride - 24 miles is plenty long for a first ride of a season. Long enough to remind you that those areas that make contact with the old bike seat aren't accustomed to that damn thing! Monday should be the test of what other parts are seemingly out of shape. But - can't beat that first ride of the season! Good luck with the clipless pedals.

[Libby]

I met my husband thanks to my first ride on clipless pedals. (This was a mountain bike ride.) He likes to tell everyone that I fell at his feet repeatedly. That just gets funnier and funnier. Anyway, after the ride he bought me a bunch of beer and the rest, as they say, is history...

Libby

[susie b]

Happy Birthday, Strkbuk-Paula!

Hope you have a great day!

[Theresa]

omg, I feel like I've been on another planet since friday. My sister, her 3 boys, and my 20yr old cousin have been with me this weekend.
My cousin is leaving the 14th for boot camp, Marines! So we spent the weekend together. I t's just us, the maternal side of our family, the six of us. No bike rides, a walk, and finding a place to feed everyone. You know the pizza place that has the huge arcade in the back?? God, I was in hell for the sake of my 10 yr old nephews!
But, we were able to tell Casey things we wanted him to know; like we are never going to see him again. Found the pictures of his great-uncle who was a marine in the Korean war. And some things for him to take to boot camp with him, that keeps the family connection going.

btw, the XO computers were a HIT! The boys just worked on them, figuring them out on their own.
Back to my own life now....

[cat]

Happy birthday to the Aries amongst us. Is today the day Sara? and I think I jsut missed Paula's. A big birthday WooHoo! to each of you. (special hug to Strbuk as she has suffered the slings and arrows for too long now).

Ms T what fun! A bittersweet sendoff for Casey. That name is big in my family; two of us carry it as first or middle names. I think it was a family surname at one point.I hope he keeps safe.

Libby, what a funny story. I can imagine any husband talking about the other falling at one's feet! What an ego! ;-) At least he kept it clean!