Okay folks - forgive me if I'm a little proud here - but I did my first real ride yesterday. 50 mile charity ride (though it was a bit short - 47.6 actually). I picked up my first road bike Friday, (Jamis Quest, woman's version) spent just enough time on it to learn to use the clipless pedals and adjust the seat and went home. It rained Sat. and out I went Sunday, for this ride.
I hit the start button on my heart rate monitor thing when the gun went off, (Didn't know they used a real gun, scared the heck out of me! Almost fell - the clipless pedals you know) When I crossed over the finish line, I hit the button again and it said 2:44:52. I had finished with an average of over 17 miles per hour on my first ride! And I had stopped twice to drink some water!
I knew it was going well when I realized everyone I was riding with was male. Now of course, they were having intellectual discussions and I was working pretty hard, but I was able to have a basic converstaion at least. (other than on the hills when mumbling a few curses was the best I could do)
The great thing was that there I was on a totally new set up - new shoes, new bike, new socks, new seat, and the only thing that was sore at the end of the ride was my thumbs. Yea - I know. I guess using the shifters that are the break levers requires a little more work than my little thumb things on the hybrid.
What I learned. 1. first gear on my road bike is way harder than on my hybrid - I actually had to stop on one hill - I just couldn't breathe!! How embarassing! 2. Drafting is a good thing and I am very glad I was taught how to do it! 3. The folks on these charity rides are amazing. What a good group of people! The event raised over $63,000 for local families dealing with a family member going through cancer treatment. Everyone was so amazing and generous and sweet!
Post ride big moment - I was talking about my ride to a group of folks at work and woman just froze and asked me to repeat the organization's name. She came up and hugged me and said, "Thank you so much. They did so much for me." and then I remembered that her son had survived leukemia about 5 years ago. I guess the Cancer Care Center did a lot for her at the time. Blew me away though - reset my focus - that is for sure.
I'm hooked.
Now I don't know if the A and B and C rider catagories are universal, but I think I may confident enough to try a B ride with my local bike club. I was going to start out at a C, but it says the average speed is 11-15 miles per hour. I think that might drive me crazy. What do you guys think?
I hit the start button on my heart rate monitor thing when the gun went off, (Didn't know they used a real gun, scared the heck out of me! Almost fell - the clipless pedals you know) When I crossed over the finish line, I hit the button again and it said 2:44:52. I had finished with an average of over 17 miles per hour on my first ride! And I had stopped twice to drink some water!
I knew it was going well when I realized everyone I was riding with was male. Now of course, they were having intellectual discussions and I was working pretty hard, but I was able to have a basic converstaion at least. (other than on the hills when mumbling a few curses was the best I could do)
The great thing was that there I was on a totally new set up - new shoes, new bike, new socks, new seat, and the only thing that was sore at the end of the ride was my thumbs. Yea - I know. I guess using the shifters that are the break levers requires a little more work than my little thumb things on the hybrid.
What I learned. 1. first gear on my road bike is way harder than on my hybrid - I actually had to stop on one hill - I just couldn't breathe!! How embarassing! 2. Drafting is a good thing and I am very glad I was taught how to do it! 3. The folks on these charity rides are amazing. What a good group of people! The event raised over $63,000 for local families dealing with a family member going through cancer treatment. Everyone was so amazing and generous and sweet!
Post ride big moment - I was talking about my ride to a group of folks at work and woman just froze and asked me to repeat the organization's name. She came up and hugged me and said, "Thank you so much. They did so much for me." and then I remembered that her son had survived leukemia about 5 years ago. I guess the Cancer Care Center did a lot for her at the time. Blew me away though - reset my focus - that is for sure.
I'm hooked.
Now I don't know if the A and B and C rider catagories are universal, but I think I may confident enough to try a B ride with my local bike club. I was going to start out at a C, but it says the average speed is 11-15 miles per hour. I think that might drive me crazy. What do you guys think?
