Ride Baby Ride

After months of training for the cycling portion of the race on stationary spin bikes, the time has come to hit the open road and invest in a bike that actually moves when you pedal. Now, if it had been entirely up to me I would have happily stayed on my spin bike, rocking out to Beyonce and never worrying that my life would be cut short by a texting teenager, but alas my coach informed me that I would be crushed by a sea of Schwinns on race day if I didn't start riding outside.

So Friday afternoon Jon and I hit a local bike shop where I was hooked up with "June Bug" (my new bike's name). June weighs in at a healthy 75 lbs and has beautiful red reflectors and long silver spokes. I gave her a test drive around the local neighborhoods and was shocked at how little riding a real bike resembled riding an impostor. First, when you're riding a real bike, you can't close your eyes, jam to "Stronger," and envision yourself ascending a steep hill in the French countryside. You actually have to keep your eyes open and look at the road. And let me tell you, looking out at a sea of Dunkin' Donuts and dry cleaners is not exactly the type of inspiration that someone will write a crappy book about. Second, there's no one next to you. Now, I don't believe in conversing while exercising, so that aspect doesn't bother me. What I do miss are the people you can gauge your own performance against and then later judge. If I can't beat somebody then what exactly is the point of playing? Finally, you don't have to worry about falling off of a stationary bike (most of the time), but with a real bike you're constantly worried that the slightest wobble will send you over the handlebars and into an intersection. Raised with a heaping does of fear and dread, I lock my arms and hold the handlebars in a death grip until I am safely at a stop. Today, after a leisurely ride around a quaint suburban neighborhood, my hands were black from holding on to June Bug so tightly, and I'm pretty sure I didn't blink for 30 minutes straight.

All these differences aside though, I am happy to have my bike and looking forward to getting to know her better. The two of us have quite the task ahead . . .