Today I waited for Kyle to come home from work, before taking a solo ride just before sun down. I needed some time to get away from the house and the weather in typical Spring fashion obliged me with a beautiful display of stormy clouds and sun rays.
As I sit here typing I am still struggling to recover from this ride. Because I was such an unwilling participant today I decided to "punish" myself with a hill climb I have dreamed of doing. I think it would be reasonable to say I just pushed myself within an inch of my actual abilities.
I saw two lovely horses, this little Paint and a little Arabian mare.
A handle bar shot as I ride into the sun, a vineyard ahead to the right.
The view from the top of the hill, actually this was the 2nd time I thought I'd reached the "top of the hill", it never ceases to amaze me how different the terrain is from the saddle and there was even another small incline waiting for me around the corner. Those are the Blue Mountains in the distance. A long time ago, when Kyle and I were just friends, we went four wheeling up there on a regular basis and I managed to roll my Jeep Wrangler down an embankment in the snow, at night...with no cell phone coverage...whoops!
This is the ranch I used to work at when I was 16, taking care of Thoroughbred race horses, I loved it there. My little Arabian mare used to look like a foal compared to the lanky giants that lived here.
It turned out to be a beautiful day and I'm really amazed by how much I accomplished on this ride. I hope tomorrow finds us enjoying a family ride together as they have become the highlights of my week.
Lindsay, I don't think I've said yet how impressed I am with all your riding! I started out so slowly...and on a much smaller and lighter bike. It's taken me three rounds of 30 Days of Biking to turn into an everyday biker with kids.
ReplyDeleteKyle has a bike, too, right? Does it fit you OK? Perhaps you can take fun solo rides on that, too, to get a taste of a normal bike and appreciate how strong the Mundo has made you. After riding my empty Big Dummy around the other night, I think I'm going to stick to only using it for big loads and take advantage of lighter bikes when I can.
You're doing great!
I have thought about taking out kyle's bike but I always think it's cheating haha. Maybe I should, Im sure it would be a boost in my distance!
DeleteI'm hoping to get a second bike later in the year, so that I can lend it out for friends to ride too, if they want to join me.
Thank you!!
Lindsay, a month ago I was almost hit by 2 cars that were speeding who ended up skipping to a stop and sliding off the road mere inches from my handle bars on my Yuba Mundo. To say it was scary doesn't justify just how shaken I was. So the next day I was like you I forced myself to go on a ride just to work out my fears and I did it during heavy 5 o'clock traffic on a weekday! Sometimes you just have to do what you need to go get back on the saddle and ride again!
ReplyDeleteMatthew- Today I'm going to take Jack out again on the Mundo (yesterday I rode solo)...Im looking forward to getting over it, but scared too! ARGH- I wish this would just be a physical journey and not emotional too- but its both all the time!
DeleteYou've taken the second hardest step to your new lifestyle,my friend...you have ridden after a fall-off or crash when you didn't really want to-this is a milestone we each have,my friend,feel proud of yourself-you faced the "ugh...not today" and passed right by it! I'm proud of ya,my friend,as I'm sure Kyle is and Jack would be if he were old enough to understand :)
ReplyDeleteI completely understand that fear of hurting Jack...I have it EVERY time Nick rides around town with me,drivers (ALL of us at some point,self included when I have to drive) can be real jerks and morons. That fear is part of every parent's dread list,fear of hurting or contributing to their child gettnig hurt, I remember one time I was carrying Jamie down some rickety stairs in an old house (seemed like a LONG way down as well,more than expected) when she was younger than Jack-my Wife was afraid to (but it had to be done),I didn't think much of it until 4 steps down one broke under my weight and we fell-I instinctively cradled her in my arms,me wrapped around her to keep her safe as I took the brunt of it (fortunately,it was mostly my ego bruised,LOL,only one real bruise if I remember)...you'll do fine for Jack,you needn't worry if you'll react fast enough,your parental instincts are strong,and very fast acting. The benefits of what you're doing for him far outweigh possiblilities of something like that "might" happening. Here's your heartfelt pat on the back my friend :)
The Disabled Cyclist (um....Steve :p)
Hey TDC!
DeleteNow that would be scary- falling down the stairs! There really is something awful when about when you accidentally hurt your child- or when you have to hurt them in order to help them- like when I had to pull Jack's nail off his pinkie finger because it was hanging on by a thread and kept getting caught on everything he touched. I had to yank it off with tweezers and I felt so bad I cried too!
I can't help but agree with you- the benefits far outweigh the risks- and that just has to be my mounting/dismounting mantra for the Mundo until I'm a little more nimble!
Hope you are feeling better!
Lindsay