MY NEW BIKE

Did I forget to mention I bought a new bike? After doing a lot of research, I decided to purchase a new, smaller bike. It’s not a tiny bike, but a touring bike with dropped handlebars that don’t make my body practically lie flat on it to reach the handlebars like my old, beloved bike which I had and still have for almost 40 years did. It’s a Specialized, Dolce Comp with a lot of carbon elements to make it much lighter. I’ll be taking a photo of it in the next few days so you all can see how pretty it is. It has a white frame with blue pin striping. The blue is like my first brand new 1968 Mustang I purchased many years ago. Well, in 1968...daugh. The blue was called Presidential Blue. Well, ladeda. It has the same little sparkly speckles in the blue, but not enough to make it look childish. It’s a really classy paint job. Just like my Mustang was. This bike cost about half of what my Mustang cost at that time. I sold my Mustang for half of what I paid for it brand new 13 years later.

I’ve had my new bike almost a month now. I’m still getting used to the balance, brakes and shifters on the handlebars. There are about 30 gears on this bike compared to my old ten speed. I’m still in the granny gears and wonder if I’ll ever use all of these gears. I also bought a leather carrying case from the bike shop which I plan to use to pack snacks, lunch, camera, money, lip gloss, hairbrush, etc., etc. that a girl needs for an all day or half day ride. A water bottle holder was also purchased and installed and the bike shop threw in a nice plastic water bottle. I also bought a really great odometer/speedometer and other kinds of meters in this gadget which I really like. The calorie and fat counter I find very motivational. Although I can only ride about 15-20 minutes at a time right now at an average of about seven miles per hour, it’s great fun and will take at least a couple of months, if not more, weather permitting, that I’ll be able to ride with a group. I’m enjoying it more and more each time I ride, remembering what fun it was in my younger years.

I started riding my new bike in a parking lot where a part of this wonderful bike path starts. The parking lot is very flat and I thought the part of the bike path that adjoins the parking lot was pretty level, but to my surprise, there is at least a ten to 20 percent grade on it. I have to stop a couple of times to get to the top of where I find it best to turn around, but I feel I’ve accomplished this hill accordingly, considering my conditioning at the present time. It’s not quite a mile going up the hill and a blast coming down. I’ve clocked my highest speed at around 16 miles per hour. Now that’s fast for me now. Until I can peddle at least ten to 13 miles per hour for at least a half hour to an hour, I won’t be able to go with any groups for even a Sunday breakfast ride. Maneuvering around people walking, people walking their dogs and other bicyclers, runners and horses on the trail, makes me really nervous. Going in between fences and posts makes me shake, but I keep telling myself, look at where you want to go, not where you don’t want to go. I keep imagining Jillian from The Biggest Loser hollering in my face that I’m a real wimp and to toughen up. Believe it or not, those mind games really work.

The seat is white leather gel contoured and cut out for your sensitive parts, although, I don’t find it that comfortable yet. I plan on getting a really cushy seat cover like I had on my old bike. The dropped handlebars are covered with a white gel tape which makes it really cushy when not wearing bicycle gloves. I haven’t even tried riding my new bike with a helmet or gloves yet, since I’m not on it that long and not going that fast. My average speed right now is about seven miles per hour.

But, hey, why am I sitting here on this darn computer instead of peddling away? Again, shut this thing down and JUST DO IT!