Saturday dawned perfect and warm, the sky a beautiful cerulean blue. I was excited because I was going on the first real ride on my new bike (other than tackling ‘the hill’ I hadn’t really ridden her) and I was going for my first ride with my fabulous race club. I had sent the organizer an email warning him that I was going to be the “B”-est of the “B” group and he replied “Great! Come on down!” so I was super stoked.
I rode from my house to the store where we started, getting passed on the way by a guy in team kit. I yelled out “tell them I’m on my way – don’t leave without me!!” and tried to pick up the pace. I had thought it was about 5 miles from my house but it was closer to 7 and I was worried I’d be late. I characteristically took the wrong way into town but didn’t have any trouble cutting over a block and finding a large, obvious group of cyclists congregating in the street.
I met the women going with the “B” group. There were 3 other women – 2 of them in Wildflower jerseys – my kind of people. Then team kit guy pulled up and said, “you made it – I didn’t have to tell them at all”. I’m pretty sure he must have stopped for some eggs Benedict on the way.
I told the “B” group leader I wouldn’t go all the way because I had 14 miles round trip just between my house and the store and I wanted to do about 30 total for my first ride. After appropriately admiring my new ride (you just can’t help it – trust me!) we took off.
The greatest minds on the planet could not have conjured up a more perfect ride . The women were super nice, the course was about as flat as it gets in these parts and it was beautiful – just perfect. I rode out to my 15 mile mark but by then I had been dropped by about 1/2 a mile so I had to keep riding to the turn so the other ladies wouldn’t wait forever for me. I said my goodbyes and headed back but of course – took a wrong turn – and then another wrong turn. I’m not kidding when I say I could get lost in a walk in closet. Put a door on 2 sides and I will invariably walk out the one I didn’t use to enter.
Distance = 34.5 miles; Time 2:42:56; Bliss – Total
I’m totally in love with this bike – it is perfect! I did get a case of SGS (smashed groin syndrome) but I think that is to be expected on a first ride. I’m going to give it one more go before going back to the shop for an adjustment. Admittedly, I was a little surprised this morning that placing my pull buoy made me wince a little.
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Ok, I’m jealous 😉 Glad to see you enjoying the new bike though and how great a team to ride with! I love group rides.
Enjoy the new bike! Sounds like HEAVEN!!
Enjoy the new bike! Sounds like HEAVEN!!
How green the hills are! Glad you’re enjoying your new bike. I was reading your post from last year’s Cinderella Ride and noticed the bike you rode on loan was a Specialized. I guess that marketing program paid off! What were you riding before you got this one? (I don’t mean the too-big one you bought on impulse a few weeks ago, I mean last year.)
good luck with the SGS :-)) Glad you enjoyed your ride!!
Sounds like you and your new bike are getting along just swimmingly!
It rocks when you have a great ride on a bike that is like yours. It feels like everything is so smooth and effortless. Enjoy!!!
I love getting lost like that. Great time. Sweeeeeeet!
Yay, yay, yay! I am so happy for you. SGS sounds like it sucks, but a great ride overall! Keep it up; riding with a group will make you sooo much stronger!
Congratulations!
It’s cool you love your bike. I’m still afraid of mine. It like goes way to close to traffic and has no training wheels.
you are amazing! keep it up! i get smashed groin from just 45 min of spinning, so i really canNOT imagine. They can put a man on the moon, they can’t cure this?!?!
totally cool! i’m so glad you’re so happy with your new ride and your bike group sounds great. b-est of the b’s. you know that’s the BEST of the b’s right??? i got a little of that sgs thing going on after my ride this weekend with my new “fit” on my bike, hopefully that will go away soon.
Glad that you got out to enjoy the weather and your new wheels.
As my friend Dave once told me, sometimes it takes awhile to make friends with your saddle.
(To this pearl of wisdom, I add my own little nugget: and sometimes saddles just suck.)
Here’s to butt-calluses!
So glad you had an “A” ride even tho you were in the “B” group! 🙂
You deserved the perfect ride after the not-so-perfect ones that preceded!
You will be a hard-ass soon enuff! Keep at it!