Wednesday Women's Ride....how it all started...

So, I have been riding my bike as much as I can; my mileage is improving; my comfort level on the bike is improving; my love for the bike is growing; life is good!

BUT....Fear of the unknown...I have been like this with my horse riding too.  For years I rode by myself.  It started out as necessity....if I didn't go alone I would never ride.  I can't spend my life waiting....so I go.  Then I got used to it and I loved riding alone.  The more I did things alone the more I was happy doing things alone.  No stress...no pressure....no worrying about making mistakes (my horse act up or me doing something stupid on the bike to make people mad)... me going too slow for the group...me wanting to stop for pictures or to enjoy the scenery while other want to go go go...me not being able to go the same mileage as the others...you get the idea.  IT WAS TIME FOR A CHANGE!  I CAN DO THIS!  YIKES!   

I knew I needed to do what I have never done before...after all, I had a ride coming up that involved riding on paved roads - with cars! (Red Shoe Ride).....I needed to ride on roads.  I was talking to a girl at work about it (she rides a lot) and she told me about this women's group she rode with; she told me to go see Angela at CycleX.   https://cyclex.com/   She told me this was exactly what I needed...Angela would help me and it is a no-drop ride.  I had to ask what that meant...it means I can be slow - they won't leave me.  :-)

THIS WAS THE BEST THING EVER!!!!!!
I have learned so much and have had so much fun!

I showed up and met Angela; she works at the bike shop and started this Wednesday night ride for women.  She wants to get more women on bikes and wants to have a ride for all rider levels to have some fun and learn.  I started out by telling her that I wanted to ride but I didn't know how to shift and I have never ridden in town.  I have only been on the MKT Trail a few times with my Mtn bike.  She smiled and said "No problem!  I will teach you!"  She let me ride one of their rental bikes (the same one I rented for the Red Shoe two weeks later)  The ride was almost 11 miles and it was SO MUCH FUN!!!!  She showed me how to shift (shifter is way different than my bike!) and explained shifting on the hills (yep, there were hills!).  She explained how to ride through town safely (yep, we rode through town and I survived!).  She showed me the hand signals they used and also the verbal signals the used to let everyone know it was clear to cross a street, etc.  All of the gals on the ride were so nice and I knew I wanted to continue to ride with them.  I didn't feel like an outsider at all.

OH!  And the ride was all on paved trails!  We rode through town to get to the trail.  We made it to a turn around point (first picture) then headed back.  Riding on paved trails...oh my gosh...amazing!  Love it! 

I don't have the picture of the first ride I took with them but here are a few pictures of us on other Wednesday night rides.  They all have the Strava app so needed a picture to post.  I finally installed the Strava app on my phone and I love it!  It is fun to keep track of miles, routes, look at pictures, etc.  I am still learning that too....

Here are a few pictures of our group...not everyone can make it every week so sometimes groups are larger or smaller than other nights....but every ride is just as much fun as the last.  We just miss the ones who were not there.

 This was one of our first very dark nights.  I still didn't have a road/hybrid type bike and was not comfortable riding my knobby tire bike with the group.  Which was silly...I should have ridden it!  But you don't know what you don't know until you know it...and now I know it would have been just fine!  :-)
The good thing is I was test riding different bikes because I knew I wanted a new one.  I was ready!  So it really did work out. 

The Wednesday night before Thanksgiving...it was me and Angela and it was pretty darn cold.  She suggested doing a short ride to Stephens Lake and maybe do a couple laps around the place.  Sounded perfect to me!  We ended up doing five laps around the park...and oh my gosh, it was a work out!  But let me tell you what, if it was not for me being with Angela who is wayyyyyy more in shape than I am, I would not have pushed myself.  I would have made the 'couple laps' we agreed on and called it a night feeling all full of myself because I rode in the cold....  Thank you Angela for pushing me without really pushing me.  :-) 
We stopped for our Strava picture with the Boone Hospital lights behind us...her bike computer said it was 21 degrees.  And you know what else?  I FELT AWESOME!!!!  AND I FELT FULL OF MYSELF!!!!  Ha ha!

Our last Wednesday Women's Ride of 2017....to the Magic Tree.  I almost backed out of this one...I had been cold all day and it was a chilly evening.  I am sooooo glad I went!
One of the gals and her husband ride everywhere and he showed up at the tree to say hello and take pictures...and get his picture taken! The girls are holding him up while I am supervising.  Ha ha!  What a fun group!!!

Thank you to Angela and all the girls who have been riding with the group!  You are all amazing and I love you all! 

It finally got too cold to ride on Wednesday night so we are holding off until March.  But that doesn't mean we won't meet up to socialize once in a while...yeah, socializing (and looking forward to it!) is new to me too.  And if a weekend happens to have some nice weather whoever can get away from home will meet up to ride.

So if there are any other gals around the Columbia, MO area and wants to ride....I highly recommend checking out this group!  I also recommend coming to visit the bike shop:  https://cyclex.com/

Until later...

Red Shoe Ride - 2017

Red Shoe Ride - 2017
Fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House...I have volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House and loved it; I was very interested in this ride.
http://www.redshoeride.com/

I heard about the Red Shoe Ride...but was scared to sign up.  Yeah, scaredy cat again!  But I knew that I REALLY REALLY wanted to do this!  There was a 20 mile, 35 mile, and a 62 mile route.  I told myself I was going to prep for the 35 mile.  I knew I could do it if I just got my butt out there and rode!  Well, I procrastinated then MADE myself sign up for the 20 mile before I procrastinated again...I told myself it was to teach myself a lesson for not planning like I should have.  Ha ha!

I rode by myself most of the time.  At this point I had ridden with the Wednesday Women's Ride group once (that will be in another post) so other than these gals, I didn't know anybody to say "Hey, wanna ride 20 miles with me?"  I found out later they were all riding the 35 mile and was kicking myself!  Anyways, look out 20 miles here I come!  After all, that is only 10 miles twice...and I could do 10 miles!  ;-)

   
This picture was taken after I got back and I am still smiling!  I rented the bike from CycleX   https://cyclex.com/  in town because I was not sure how my knobby tires would be on the asphalt parts of the ride.  This is the bike I rode on my first night of Wednesday Women's Ride so I was comfortable with her.  Looking for a bike or help with anything biking?  Go visit the shop!  They are awesome!

I have been watching what I eat....let me reword that...I have been being more aware and choosey about what I am eating so have not had a Snickers in months!  The second to the last rest stop had these!!!!  The ones with different wording on them!  The first one I picked out of the box said 'Hot Mess'.  Yep, I was meant to eat this Snickers!  It was the best Snickers I had in a very long time!

Brian made it to town to see part of the ride...and he took pictures.  Zoom zoom!  Look at me riding off part of my Snickers! 

I rode the last part with this fellow.  He and his group were at the last rest stop and he said his wife and her friends ride faster than him....they were going to take off so he and I hung out.  I told him he could go...I just wanted to cross the highway with the group then I would be fine, but he stuck with me.  :-)  Look at us...riding on a two lane road with NO shoulder!  Yikes!  And I didn't even know Brian was in this parking lot getting pictures...how cool!  Thank you!!!

The 20 mile ride was part roads and part gravel trails through town.  Where there are trails there are usually bridges...

After riding the 20 mile ride I was so glad I did.  I think I got more road and trail scenery than the other ride and with my experience level, this was perfect! 

What I did right:
I SHOWED UP TO RIDE!  :-)
I took my time and rode my own ride.
I was scared but I didn't let it stop me.

What I need to work on:
Besides shifting...hee hee!
I need to work on not talking so much!  I saw people at the first rest top that I work with, so I stopped to chat, took pictures, hung out...then realized all the other riders were gone!  Even though I had a map I have never been on this trail so I felt rushed to take off and catch up to someone...anyone.  I didn't want to be close to them - I just wanted them in sight.

I am sure there are a lot of other things to work on and I did a lot of things right.  I am trying to pick a couple at a time as I write this.

It was a lot of fun and I will for sure do the 35 mile ride in 2018 (although I am having this secret conversation with myself about the 62 mile...will see if I am prepared for that one...)

I want to say thank you to all the volunteers who worked so hard to put this ride together!  Every single person from the ones who put the ride together, to the ones who kept track of entries to the folks who took care of us at the rest stops.  The rest stops all had a variety of cold drinks and munchies and they all made sure riders were okay.

This was my longest ride so far and it included some hills...I am proud of myself! 

Until later... 

 

Kaleidospoke Ride - 2017!

This was my first organized bike ride event...and as excited as I was, I was also very nervous!  I am stepping way out of my comfort zone...it is time to stop doing what is comfortable (being a loner) and get out and try new things.  Riding on a trail to a place I have never been to except by car...and doing it IN THE DARK!  Yeah, I was nervous.  But I am soooo glad I did it!!!!

It was in August so it was warm, but it was so much fun!  You start at Flatbranch Park in Columbia, MO and ride to Twin Lakes Rec area then back.  

Here is the short version description on their web page:
Kaleidospoke is a non-competitive, family friendly, organized night time GLOW bike ride along Columbia's MKT Trail (with illuminated bridges!)  from Flat Branch Park to Twin Lakes Recreation Area and back (just under 4 miles each way, approximately 8 miles round trip).

So I signed up (the day after I signed up they sold out of tickets! Whew!  Just in time!).  Brian was on call for work so couldn't go on the ride with me but he took me to town and met me at Twin Lakes.  That way he was still close enough to work if he got called in and he got to see all the fun decorated bikes.

The plan was to ride to Twin Lakes - there were going to be fire pits burning - they give you some more glow items and a baggie with ingredients for S'mores - you hang out at the fire pit making your S'mores - then head back.  

I got ready to go....packed what I thought I needed, dazzled my bike up with a few glow sticks, then hit the trail.  Hmmm, maybe you have noticed that by now I have a bike helmet and I am even sporting bike clothes!  :-)

I am loving my owl riding jersey!  I decided I am a 'fun bright jersey' kind of gal!  :-)



This picture doesn't do it justice...there were several bridges along the route and the volunteers decorated them with lights.  They were so pretty!  Since I love bridges and I love lights I was happy!



I am almost to the festivities....me by the lake with a couple glow sticks hanging off my handle bars.

Me sporting my 'glow'....

There was a lot of fun 'glow' at the lake! 

I just got back to Flatbranch Park...Brian got a picture of me waving to him.  
The little girl behind me had stopped to do something to her shoe and Mom was ahead of us with a smaller kiddo on a bike so I hung out to wait for her then we rode in together.

My thoughts on this ride?

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!!  I had to ask a couple people what to do when I got there because I didn't see any signs.  Everyone was nice and helpful, and I got to do something very different than my 'normal'!  

A couple things I learned:
I learned that I needed a better headlight.  When I was riding alone it was not a problem because my eyes were adjusted to my light and my speed.  When other lights passed me or came at me I had problems readjusting my vision.  Yeah, my light was dim and that has now been fixed!  :-)
I also learned that just because a family/group rides together doesn't mean they practice trail etiquette.  There were times when a family of 4 or 5 would be across the whole trail zigging back and forth so you couldn't pass.  Sometimes they could hear you announce yourself and sometimes they couldn't....I won't lie, that was annoying.  I will have to work on how to handle situations like that...another thing outside of my comfort zone.  

Yes I will do this ride again and hopefully Brian can go with me!  

Until later...    

The things you see from the seat of your bike...

(more rides from 2016)

Family ride days...there were times when Madison joined us for rides.  They say that a family that rides (insert any activity) together stays together.  Even if it isn't true because life happens, the memories will last forever!  Which means in a way, the family does stay together!  :-)

I have seen this building thing from the road for years....it fascinates me.  It looks old and like something I would love to live in!  It looks like an old depot...which makes sense since the Katy Trail was a railroad.  My 'Duh!' moment for the day!  As much as I wanted to sneak over to look I didn't....it is on private property and I don't want to be 'that person' that screws it up for others.  We are lucky to have the trail go by there.  Who knows?  Maybe someday they will have 'Depot Day' and we can explore up close and personal!  :-)

Brian and his daughter Madison rode with me...at the time, this was one of our longest rides. 

Cute little turtle along the trail...

Even bikes need a rest once in a while...

Madison was able to join us on a few rides...these are memories that Brian will cherish forever. 

My picture of them trying to get a selfie....  :-)

The awesome tunnel!  Look closely...Brian's arms are up in the air.  I have never been able to ride with no hands. 

Fun times!

Until later....

Bike riding...great way to work on your 'mental'...

When I started riding I needed something that would be fun AND help me with my fitness and health...including mental health.  I needed something that would help me with balance...I have been a little 'off' and knew I needed something...just did not know what.  I also needed something for my 'mental'...also did not know what.  Just knew I needed something...

BIKE RIDING HAS BEEN GREAT FOR OUR 'MENTAL'! 

I remember the first couple rides....getting to that 1 mile mark was WORK!  And let's not even mention the sitting on the seat part!  Okay, I just mentioned it....at first it was rough!  Yikes!  But the more we rode the better we got.  They didn't even have to be long rides for the benefits to show.  So just get out and do it...little bits at a time if you have to.

Then Brian and I worked up to 3-4 miles.  When we would get ready to head out from Rocheport other groups would be talking about how they rode from Columbia.  WHAT?  FROM COLUMBIA?  Brian and I looked at each other with wide eyes thinking "Wowwwww, they rode all the way from Columbia!"  They were our new 'movie star' people.  Ha ha!  They were also a lot more fit than Brian and I.  We want to be more fit so we can go far!  What did we have in common with them?  We were out doing something and we were smiling and laughing a lot!  So we had 50% of what they were doing figured out!  Yep, working on our 'mental'. 


Brian and I working on our 'mental'...

We went riding the last day of the Pedaler's Jamboree weekend (May).  https://www.pedalersjamboree.com/
We saw a lot of groups heading back towards Columbia and you want to talk about fun!  Some bikes were pulling trailers with big speakers so you could hear the music coming before you saw the people.  Others were pulling coolers or camping gear.  But it was not annoying....it was a big event and everyone was having fun!  There were all kinds of people and bikes.  You ride to Boonville and camp out...there is a lot of music and fun events along the way in the small towns you ride through.  This event is on our to-do list... 

We had a lot of rain and this 'No Trespassing' sign in the water tickled my funny bone.  And the mosquitoes....OMG, they were horrible!  Just keep moving quickly!

Here we are, sporting our horse riding helmets while working on our 'mental'....life is good!

Until later....

I am 52...and took up bicycle riding!

NOTE:  Before anybody asks "Where is your helmet?" just know it finally shows up!  The first few rides IF I remembered, I would wear my horse riding helmet.  It is a Tipperary and yes, people looked...I know they were wishing they were as cool as me!  Ha ha!  They would look with interest...it was different.  It was very comfortable and light weight so once I got into the habit of grabbing a helmet that is the one that went with me until I got my bicycle helmet that was even lighter in weight and has more air flow.  So yes, a helmet while riding is now a habit.  Is it a guarantee that nothing bad will happen?  No.  But if I can lessen the chances by having it on...I am going to do it.  Okay, that takes care of that part of the story.  :-)
******************************************************************************** 

It was a couple of years ago when I got my used Mountain Bike.

Short Story version:  A Yahoo Group friend had been talking about bike riding and how much fun it was not to mention the health benefits.  After two years of listening to her fun stories and her weight loss/fitness successes I bought a used Mountain Bike.  The day I picked it up Brian's Dad got sick...so I did not ride my bike for almost a year.  It was a busy time for all of us.  Then I got time to ride my bike...and IT WAS FUN!!!!  That is the short version. 

Longer version....Brian and I went bike shopping...several times.  Let me start by saying that I had not ridden a bike in a very long time, so I really didn't know anything about them or about our local bike shops.  I have learned a lot since we started the search (and I am still learning!).
Anyways, I did not know if I would love bike riding so I wanted a cheap bike...but it had to be comfortable for my wrist (broken a couple years prior and it was healing from a fusion).  So we hit several Wal-Mart stores because nobody will ask if you need help...that gave me time to sit on several different bikes without being bugged.  And let me add that 99.9% of the bikes I sat on had flat tires! That was VERY annoying!  So all of my 'sitting' and not being able to actually pedal did nothing for me...oops, yes it did!  We had fun looking, talking about the different styles of bikes, and looking up more information!  :-) 
After a long time of 'looking' and 'sitting' a friend told me about Klunk in town. http://www.klunkcycles.com/   I was told they had used bikes come and go all the time, it was just a matter of being there when the right bike showed up.  We stopped by a couple times and they didn't have anything.....then one day.....do you hear the angels singing?  Yes, they had a used Diamondback Wildwood Mountain Bike.  They had me ride it around the parking lot - I was scared to death because I had not ridden in a long time and they were watching...eek! - and I knew instantly that it felt GREAT!  My wrist did not hurt at all!  So Brian and I went to lunch to talk about it...it was more than I wanted to spend but not expensive...I laugh about that now!  We went back and paid for it.  I have had no regrets and it has been worth every single penny! 

Like I said, I didn't get to ride it for almost a year because life happened and we were busy and doing a lot of driving back and forth to Brian's Dad's place and the hospital.  It sat in the kitchen and I looked at it a lot and sometimes sat on it. 

Then it happened....I had time to ride!  I rode around the yard a few times but wanted to go RIDE!  A REAL RIDE!  I loaded it up in the truck and headed to Rocheport to ride the Katy Trail.  I knew in order for me to want to do this more than once I needed to ride somewhere pretty...so I took the path along the river.  Smart move on my part....it was beautiful and I have not felt that free in a long time!  There is a certain freedom on the horses but this is a different kind of freedom.   

Here is how much fun it is to ride a bike!



Weeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!! 



After seeing how much fun I was having Brian got a bike.  We love riding together!


Me sporting my horse riding helmet by the river. 

I love bridges!  My bike soon realized that she would be in many self portraits and pictures on bridges....well, any pictures!  I love my bike and I love taking pictures!


 

The bluffs along the river are beautiful!  I forget how small I am in this big world until I stop to admire the size and beauty of something like this.

 With all of the 'modern improvements' in our country it is hard to picture the wild territory that Lewis and Clark explored.  Sometimes I think I could have handled it because I would not have known what a real hot shower with running water was....can't miss what you don't know.  

The river...the clouds...the breezes...pure beauty!

This tunnel runs the opposite direction that I first rode.  Brian and I always make time to ride through the tunnel...very neat and just fun!  Makes us feel like little kids!  :-)

Turtles on a long in the wetland area...

So, it isn't just the ride.  It is getting out, getting fresh air, getting the blood pumping knowing I am burning a calorie or two while having fun, it is seeing things we would not see in a car or on a horse (horses are not allowed on this part of the Katy Trail), it is the wildlife....

....it is feeling free!

So do I recommend this product to others?  YES YES YES!!!!  If biking is not your thing, find that 'thing' that makes you feel free.  You won't regret it!

Until later....Karen and Tripp who likes me riding something else for a change.  :-)