New bike!

Finally got to take my new bike out for a ride!! Keith had the day off and the boys had school (well, half a day of school). He said he was going to take it easy on me and I said I was going to be super slow and pathetic, but he didn't care. It has been over a year since I've been on the bike and never on a road bike. The other times have been on the local trails with the kids and the mountain bike. Since all of my bike clothes fit "the smaller me" he gave me his new team kit to wear. See how nicely it matched my bike!!! The weather was kind of chilly requiring us to wear leg warmers and long sleeves, but not too cold. I also found out I dislike Iowa winds even more after having to ride into a headwind towards the end of our ride...not cool!!

We ended up going for a 14.8 ride and took us 1 hour and 18 minutes (or something like that). I averaged 11.4 miles. He took me on the local roads to get a feel for the bike and riding again. Poor Keith didn't drop me on any of the hills either. He did push me (yes physically pushed me) along one section, but that was part of a flat trail and he just wanted more of a workout and I enjoyed the sitting in part.

I was concerned about crashing and the cars on the road aspect and being super slow, but really they all were just fine. I didn't crash, all the cars passed up with room (for the most part) and I was only really slow on a couple hills.

There was one hill about a mile from home that I just sucked on. I ended up slowing down to 5mph while climbing it and had to go into my tiny ring (not granny gear though). When I hit the top I started laughing at myself at how pathetic that was. It wasn't a big hill by any means, a bit steeper than the others, but I just didn't have the mindset when I hit it and fell apart.

But we made it home all in one piece. I'm not feeling too shabby either. Legs feel fine, back and arms are good to go. Did need a nice back cracking, but a nice back cracking always feels good no matter what! Keith is going riding tomorrow and I have to work part of the day. Friday we should be going back out! Saturday Kaden has his cub scout thing, so Salem, Keith and I will be going out on the road. I know Salem is going to suggest the Rosedale route just because I am going, but I think we'll pass on that hill for a while! Even my granny gear won't help me up that one yet!

Overall I think I did pretty good!