If at first you don't succeed...

        So we re-visited International park across the Maumee River again, because the trails I mastered with my comfort bike needed to be tested now that I have my road bike figured out  (or so I thought).

Notice the sign pointing the direction... That was just one of a few

     Some of the unconventional trails, I've discovered, come with many hidden challenges and one I never saw coming was this...

     I rode this before on my old bike and how hard could it be on my new bike since I'm a pro now??

    Going up an incline on a trail with a sharp "V" turn may not seem like a huge deal, but turn a little too sharp and the bike flips right out from under you.

     I have to confess... I may have freaked a little and rode into the grass, then bailed and ended up in a heap on  the ground.  But If you know me, you also know I'm not a quitter... I may have given in temporarily, but I never give up!  So I had to go back later and do it the right way:)

    Being I had admitted already that I had this bike figured out, what happened on this bike ride was something I planned to take to my grave (at this rate it may be sooner than I think...) because how could a fifty one year old fall off of a bike...

     But then I was talking to a friend who's my age that told me she was running once and hit a crack in the sidewalk and went flying.  I guess we all go flying once in a while; the circumstances just may be a little different. 

     I began to think back to when I was a young teen and I was riding a horse and it was spooked, catapulting me into the air and on to the ground.  I got back on without batting an eye, so why is it any different just because I have a few years under my belt?

     I got back on the horse and now the bike!  Just more proof that I won't give up on anything:)

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

     

University Parks trail isn't what I remembered...

     It had been some time since I had been on the University Parks trail and I made a goal for myself that after 20 miles on my road bike I would need to leave the parks and parking lots and get back on the bike trail.

     I took one last bike ride around the neighborhood and when I was finished my bike computer read just over 20 miles so it was time to get back on the trail.

     It must have been quite a while because this wasn't here before... The west side of the University Parks trail was under construction.

     I started at 10:00 that morning which was later than usual so the humidity was already setting in; I figured I would just ride the west half of the trail and I was half way there when the detour popped up.  The trail wasn't closed so I just needed to go around the corner and follow the detour signs...

     I soon discovered the detour was not one I was up for because this is what I found...

     Being a little wobbly on my bike as it was, I had no intention of sharing a 4 foot wide road with on coming riders and a huge cement barrier on my right.  A game of chicken would be disastrous on my side of the path.

     So I turned around and decided to ride the east loop of the trail.  After that last leg with the construction, this part felt almost like a parking lot.

     I was finally feeling confident on my new bike and I rode it faster than I was ever able to go with my old bike.  My hopes of falling in love with my new road bike someday came sooner than I thought, because that look of panic was gone and back to the smile I had before; when I used to ride with confidence.  

     I'm not saying I'm ready to share the streets with crazy motorists just yet, but for now I'm more than happy to share the trails with fellow bikers:)

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

Bike?! What bike??

     Here's one of the most valuable things I discovered while figuring out my new bike; I was focusing way too much on how far and how fast I could go and I missed so much in the process.

       I wouldn't see this on my past rides; sure it might have been there, but all I saw was the speed on my bike computer and all of the scenery I passed was virtually non existent.  If I did catch a glimpse of it I didn't want to slow down and enjoy it let alone take a picture.

     While I wait for my safe brakes I will continue to ride at the pace of a snail, but I think this is a great opportunity to take in the beautiful parks and forget how long it takes to get where I'm going because I'm already there...

       This journey, I discovered, isn't about the bike at all.  It's simply a vessel to help me travel to some places I never imagined and if it eventually becomes more efficient then that's all the better.  

     Do I want my safe brakes??  Absolutely! But until that time, you better believe I'm going to capture every picture I can get my eyes on!  

Have a great weekend!!

Christine:)

My new bike; baby steps

     Just when I thought I had the bike riding thing figured out, I was finding myself back to ground zero.  Last year I thought I would never get the balance issue mastered because my balance simply walking isn't great, but I eventually managed to overcome it.

     Before long I was able to go faster than I ever believed possible and found myself riding over 20 miles with out batting an eye; but now I need to learn how to balance this new bike all over again.  My old bike had brakes that were no brainers, but these new brakes were very hard to adjust to.  Then the gears have no numbers; I have to remember which way and which brakes do what and concentrate on balancing all at the same time.

    After my last post I had several people encouraging me not to quit and I thank all of you for the vote of confidence.  I heard these are just growing pains, so I also have faith that I'll master this bike too.

     Since I wanted to wipe the slate clean and start over I knew I had to forget about busy streets and bike trails shared by millions of motorists and bikers, and go to a place where it was just me and the road.  The parking lot seemed to be a good place to start and a lot of people agreed with me.



     After I spent some time in that parking lot I felt a little more confident and I wanted to take the next step, so I went to Wildwood Park and as you can see, this road is perfect for starting over.  If I had quit I never would have discovered how beautiful this was.  

     This time I wasn't trembling because I felt like I was one with the road.  I wasn't going very fast but I actually went down a hill without walking it down, and that was something I once took for granted.  

     I didn't go very far at Wildwood either, but I felt like I had made it to another milestone because once again I found myself anxious for the next ride, and I know it will be very soon.

Have a great day!!

Christine:)