With clouds massing over the mountains promising to make good on the blizzard forecast for the next day or two, I finally, finally got out for my first bicycle ride of the year. The day had been mostly full of bright sunshine and I just couldn't resist the temptation.
It was a bit of a shakedown ride for both me and my Madeleine. I discovered last summer that her head tube had three cracks in it, causing me more than a little worry as I pedaled down the bumpy Trail of the Hiawatha in Idaho last July. Happily, Terry Bicycles sent me a new frame and I had all of the components switched over to it this winter. You can see in the photo that Madeleine is in her stripped down mode - I haven't put any of my racks or bags back on yet. Unfortunately, that meant I didn't have any tools with me, either, to take care of things like adjusting my seat height. It was a good thing that nothing was too far off.
It wasn't a long ride this afternoon, just eight miles to break us in for the new season. As I rode, I got to thinking about all of the things I seem to have to relearn every spring.
- The first ride of the season always hurts, just a little. My butt is tender, my knees are stiff and my hands are weak.
- I must always tell myself to relax my shoulders and pull them down from around my ears.
- Core strength is a good thing, and I don't have it. My wrists and elbows tend to ache from leaning too hard on my handlebars rather than holding myself up with my core muscles. My mantra this year: engage the core.
- Riding really is easier when I use my clipless pedals (oxymoronically, the ones my cycling shoes clip into).
- While fantasizing about all the rides I want to do this summer, be sure to pay attention to traffic.
- Watch the giant grins while riding. Soon I'll be straining flying insects with my teeth.
I love bicycling!
