What a Novice Cyclist...

I haven't mentioned this aspect of training but I finally got my bike at the end of February. I was so excited! I have never ... and I mean never had a road bike before.

My lovely brother helped me put it together. We decided to take it in for a tune up just in case something was out of whack! Rich Stem, an employee at my local bike shop Bicycle Chain, tuned my bike up for me and taught me how to chance a tire! How Cool! And get this... he actually went to high school with my bike and build route leader Colin Rossi.

At the LBS... My dad and I hit an awesome annual sale. I got my cycling shoes and some nylon pants as well as a helmet that actually fits. Upon returning to Greensboro, I decided to try out my new cycling shoes in my tiny little doorway. I clipped one shoe in, and decided that it was easy enough. When I tried to get the shoe out of the clip..."easy" became the complete wrong word. THIS WAS HARD! I could not get my foot out for the life of me. I pulled and pulled and could not do it. I finally just took my foot out of the shoe when I started breaking a sweat. I then tried to pull the shoe off the pedal with my hand and I tried and tried and still no luck! I finally put my foot back in to see if I could do it the second time around. This cycle of me getting on and off my bike continued for a good four or five times. Last time, I was determined. I started wiggling my foot around and FINALLY it popped out of the clipless pedal.

This time I decided I would try it again but with both of my feet (Keep in mind I am in my dorm). I was doing pretty good with a ninja grip on my bed post. I decided for some reason it would be a great idea to bike to my doorway which was about 10 feet away. I made sure that I kept my left foot clipped out and my right foot clipped in just in case I fell. As soon as I felt I was falling I tried to clip my left foot out. It was a fail. I not only couldn't clip my left foot out, but I fell on the right side off the bike to the ground. You would think I would have put my right foot down since it wasn't even clipped in... Right? Well... I didn't. I suffered my first battle wound of a nice bruise/ mini cut on my shin.

NOW... how am I going to do this on the road? Ah... so freaky. I am delaying practice but I know I can only delay it for so much longer!


OUTSIDE this injury. I got made fun of last weekend by a big group of tough old cycling men. I was taking my bike out for a nice ride with my friend Michele. We transport the bikes on her bike rack. My bike won't fit unless we take the front tire off. SO... of course we took it off and drove to Guilford Court House Greenway where we were planning to bike that day. When we arrived I tried to put my tire on the bike and failed miserably. I guess I was nervous? I forgot to loosen the wheel lever all the way and the tire just wasn't fitting in its slot. The big old men were making fun of me because here I am with this nice brand new GIANT road bike and I can't even put the tire on. I guess it's part of learning, the good news is I finally got the tire on! :)