Sandy
08-18-2007, 04:57 PM
I went on a 43 mile club ride today. It was very enjoyable:
I saw in the parking lot at the start of the ride, a woman, who I have shared rides with in the past. Smiley had fit her for a bike. She just picked it up on Thursday. A BEAUTIFUL arctic blue (one color) CDA- The seat stays were not painted nor was the F3 fork. Centaur components, sloping top tube, silver/grey tape, and wheels built by Jeremy. It was really gorgeous- elegant with a very balanced look. She was apprehensive as this was the first ride whe was doing on the bike.
The group started out and I was riding some who with 2 women that I know, who were cycling together,when the aforemtioned cyclist sped on by. I caught her and started to ride with her. It wasn't too long before she said that she should have gotten the bike sooner as it was so much smother and lighter than her older steel bike she was riding. Anyway, I rode with her for about 25 miles until the first rest stop- She looked very comfortable on the bike and seemed to accelerate on it quicker than I remember her doing so on her old bike. She descended well and seemed to be quite happy with it.
I had ridden a little with her a couple of months ago, until she dropped me (like everyone else) on the hills. Today was different. I have lost a considerable amount of weight, have been cycling more and am more focused. She could not drop me at all, so I feel that I have improved some.
After stopping at the rest stop, I told her to go finish the ride with others there who were going to join us, as I did not want to push too hard and get too tired. Anyway, I did the rest of the ride with 6 younger women that I know and it was really a lot of fun. They are slower than the woman I rode with up to the rest stop, but they were a great deal of fun to be with. We stopped in about 4-5 miles as some of them had to use the restroom, and then in another 5 miles at an soft ice cream stand. The ride leader, one of the women, asked me if I was enjoying the ride, and I said yes, as I enjoy rides with nice people who look out for other riders, which all the cyclists were doing (they are a close group).
So why did I like the ride so much?
1. Got to see a gorgeous new Serotta CDA and rode with the lady who owns it. Got an excellent workout, staying with her, and not getting dropped in the climbs.
2. Felt that I am significantly improved from a few months ago.
3. Enjoyed very much riding with the slower group after the rest stop, as they were just having fun, still getting a good workout, and looked out for each other.
I had the best of all worlds (at least to me)- ride my bike, go at a decent speed and effort for part of the ride, and slow down and simply relax and share the ride with others whose ideas of cycling fun are consistent with mine.
Great weather and great ride!! :)
:) Smiling Serotta Sandy :)
I saw in the parking lot at the start of the ride, a woman, who I have shared rides with in the past. Smiley had fit her for a bike. She just picked it up on Thursday. A BEAUTIFUL arctic blue (one color) CDA- The seat stays were not painted nor was the F3 fork. Centaur components, sloping top tube, silver/grey tape, and wheels built by Jeremy. It was really gorgeous- elegant with a very balanced look. She was apprehensive as this was the first ride whe was doing on the bike.
The group started out and I was riding some who with 2 women that I know, who were cycling together,when the aforemtioned cyclist sped on by. I caught her and started to ride with her. It wasn't too long before she said that she should have gotten the bike sooner as it was so much smother and lighter than her older steel bike she was riding. Anyway, I rode with her for about 25 miles until the first rest stop- She looked very comfortable on the bike and seemed to accelerate on it quicker than I remember her doing so on her old bike. She descended well and seemed to be quite happy with it.
I had ridden a little with her a couple of months ago, until she dropped me (like everyone else) on the hills. Today was different. I have lost a considerable amount of weight, have been cycling more and am more focused. She could not drop me at all, so I feel that I have improved some.
After stopping at the rest stop, I told her to go finish the ride with others there who were going to join us, as I did not want to push too hard and get too tired. Anyway, I did the rest of the ride with 6 younger women that I know and it was really a lot of fun. They are slower than the woman I rode with up to the rest stop, but they were a great deal of fun to be with. We stopped in about 4-5 miles as some of them had to use the restroom, and then in another 5 miles at an soft ice cream stand. The ride leader, one of the women, asked me if I was enjoying the ride, and I said yes, as I enjoy rides with nice people who look out for other riders, which all the cyclists were doing (they are a close group).
So why did I like the ride so much?
1. Got to see a gorgeous new Serotta CDA and rode with the lady who owns it. Got an excellent workout, staying with her, and not getting dropped in the climbs.
2. Felt that I am significantly improved from a few months ago.
3. Enjoyed very much riding with the slower group after the rest stop, as they were just having fun, still getting a good workout, and looked out for each other.
I had the best of all worlds (at least to me)- ride my bike, go at a decent speed and effort for part of the ride, and slow down and simply relax and share the ride with others whose ideas of cycling fun are consistent with mine.
Great weather and great ride!! :)
:) Smiling Serotta Sandy :)