Hubs and I went out for a bike ride today. I chose the route today. We went to the Kings Mountain National Military Park partly because I knew the traffic is pretty light out there, the speed limit is 35, and I thought it was a fairly straight and flat road….my memory failed me on that one! I am humbled, yet again, by this new sport that I jumped head first into. I am learning something new each time we go out. Here is what I learned today:
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I am no where near confident enough to wear spandex shorts without something covering them (great excuse to still wear a running skirt!)
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Padded bike shorts really do make a difference……believe the hype!
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Snot rocks are much easier to blow while running than zooming down a hill on a bike (must remember to take Zyrtec before riding to avoid need to snot rocket)
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When riding in a car, you really don’t appreciate grade and elevation
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Shifting gears too early before climbing a hill will totally kill your momentum
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I wish I had clipless pedals to keep my feet from jumping off the pedals because my shifting is less than smooth
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The most demoralizing thing to do is dismount your bike and walk it up a hill because walking is faster than pedaling.
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Sweat drips into your eyes at an amazing speed once you stop rolling.
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Dogs really will chase you when you are riding, and even a chihuahua chasing you while on a bike is scary.
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Downhills are fun until you realize you have to climb back up that hill.
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I’m learning why this is a crazy addictive sport.
Pre-ride, rockin the RunningSkirt to hide my bike shorts
Midway point break
This doesn’t appear steep does it…..but it really is, looks can be deceiving!
I'm so glad you're having fun biking! Isn't it awesome? I just got a new road bike (been doing all my training and long rides on an MTB) and I LOVE it!
Congrats and have fun!
lol,Your memory needs some help! Yes, it's a quiet road but not by any means flat.
You rocked that skirt. I did the same thing the time I rode with Tina, well not padded shorts but compression shorts under the skirt.
I always tell myself "Every hill that goes up must come down."
My experience is dogs will chase but do stop once they realize you're not a threat anymore. Just slow down a bit and keep going.
I hate dogs when I am on the bike. I jump and swerve everytime I hear one bark. One of these days I am going to plow right into a car and become Tressa roadkill!
I like your lessons learned on the bike…they are sooo true! It will get easier…I promise!
- Good thing is everyone is wearing spandex and bikers dont even think twice about it, its part of the culture
- Padded shorts rock!!!
- Snot rockets take practice, just make sure no riders are behind you
- Shifting will take time to learn, even till this day I misjudge a hill base and end up in the wrong gear.
- I have walked up a hill more then once, including during a triathlon.
- Dogs are scary, I prefer to be chased, coming from the side or up front, you dont know what they are going to do and you pray they dont get in front of your bike.
- Down hill is the best
- I knew you would become addicted.