Riding not writing.

I know, I know. It's been like a month. Meh.

I've been busy finishing up my employment consulting with the NC Dept of Commerce, getting my new career counseling business off the ground and preparing for my new 9-5 gig as a Human Services Specialist with Orange County (which started today). Whew!

HOWEVER, Rick and I have gone riding around town the past few weekends and I am SUPER PLEASED that he has managed to get up to about 6 miles (as of the last bike ride) and isn't totally freaking out about going out on public streets. Sunday mornings are absolutely perfect, we've discovered. He actually woke ME up at 7am yesterday to go riding!

My new job has me going in at 8:30 and it's much closer than my last job, so morning rides might be feasible again. Now if I can just find my bike light...

Us looking awesome:

-L-

Trike Life

So, almost a week ago, Lena tried to kill me.  It was only my third time out on my new (to me) Terra Trike Rover, and she talked me into going "on an adventure."

Little did I know that this "adventure" would involve hills, 4-lane roads, a brief trip through the ghetto and a white-knuckle 30mph downhill.  In all, it was a great little trip, and I was really happy that I was able to (albeit slowly) make my way into the downtown area.

It started with a trip to the end of our neighborhood to 54, which luckily didn't have much traffic at that hour on a Sunday morning.  This was a slow uphill and there's no sidewalk, so I was silently praying that motorists would see us.  In hindsight, it probably didn't take very long but it was an eternity at the time.

She then led us down the side-street next to the "B Mart" which is a sketchy convenience store.  She stopped to get gas there once and said that there were "a billion toothless crackheads" inside, so I wasn't too thrilled about going into this section of town.  It was still early, though, so it seemed pretty safe.  After that came the hills.  I'm way out of shape and totally not ready to do these hills on a regular basis, but I'm glad that she made me do it so that I know what I am capable of.  Here's a picture she took from the top of a series of hills.  This was definitely the most difficult part of the trip.

My main focus right now is riding for an extended period of time on smaller hills to build up my endurance.  For my hard work, I was rewarded with a brief ride around the court square in downtown Graham.  I never thought that I'd be capable of making it there on my third trip out.

The trip home was pretty uneventful until we turned onto Townbranch Rd.  I didn't realize how steep the downhill section is, and I began really building up speed.  It's a good thing that my trike has disc brakes!  Lena's bike computer was showing 26mph and I was pulling away from her, but I don't know how fast I was actually going.  I was trying to brake evenly so I didn't flip over but hard enough that I'd be able to safely turn back into our neighborhood.  It was a wild ride, for sure!

Overall I'm really happy with the Terra Trike so far and look forward to more fun rides.  It's so much more comfortable than a conventional bike.  Although I didn't have it for Lena's "adventure," I've got the Map My Ride app back on my phone now and it's encouraging to see so many calories burned from 30-40 minutes rides.  I'm feeling very optimistic about it and find myself wanting to ride more and more.  Now if we can just get the weather to cooperate!

Bike MS: Tour to Tanglewood

Good evening, y'all.

Quickie update: I have decided to take my riding to the next level by doing a biking fundraiser for the National MS Society on September 28th. As many of you know, someone near and dear to me has MS and I really want to do this for her. Please consider supporting my cause if you feel moved to.

The link to my page is here. 
If you don't want support me financially that's okay, I'll still take all the moral support I can get!

Cheers,

Lena

Schooled

Goooooood Morning!

Rick went on another bike ride with me on Thursday morning and we had a nice time weaving around parts of the trail and taking laps around the parking lot of the local park. I was so proud that he came out with me that early!

This morning I woke him up around 7:15 and said we were trying something new.
 <Panic>NEW?!</Panic>
 I led him over to Graham High School, which backs up to the road behind our house. We rode around the deserted parking areas, through to the front of the school and took advantage of the sidewalks on the street that runs in front of the high school and adjoining elementary school. Not one single car passed by and it was really nice not to worry about traffic. On the way home, we navigated through the center courtyard and covered breezeways, which was really neat. I feel like when we're actually going somewhere and exploring new things, it definitely keeps the riding interesting. High hopes for 3+ rides next week!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

-L-

Beautiful Day

Good Morning!

I have a day off today (thanks to the lovely State of North Carolina, who has decided to cut hours of temp workers) and I am feeling awesome. I woke up around 6am (stupid internal clock) to news of the arrival of Rick and I's new nephew, Tyson, born in Clearwater Florida around 4am this morning.

After I chatted on the phone with all of our family, I went on a good power ride, more of a sprint than a marathon, but boy did it get my blood flowing! I did a lot of thinking about life and how blessed our family has been, even when things get hard. I have never thought I would be a morning person, but being outside in the fresh air just as the sun is coming up is one of the best things ever.

When I got home I made Rick and I smoothies for breakfast before he had to head off to work. He's still a bit sore from Sunday, but I am hoping to convince him to ride tomorrow!

This morning's smoothie: Chunky Monkey.  
1 scoop chocolate whey protein powder
1 cup almond milk
1 banana
2 tbsp peanut butter
30 seconds in the blender.
Deeeeelish.

I wish I could teleport one to my sister in-law. She probably could use one of these after all her work bringing baby Tyson into the world last night!



Cheers,
L

Look who's back!

Hi Friends & Fam,

It's been a while since I've posted and I fully admit I have been a total slacker with the bike riding. Going back to work full time really has worn me out and I was keeping up some ymca shifts, too so my time really has seemed to get away from me. I also was overwhelmed with a sense of guilt and fear about continuing my riding regimen solo and further widening the gap between my activity level and Rick's. The whole point of starting this whole adventure was so that we could have something to do together.

So, Rick has still been recovering from his February leg injury (although we still think something is not quite right) and he's been talking more about how he would try riding again if only he had a Terra Trike. We looked at them several months ago but decided that they were too expensive of an investment without knowing whether it would be a good match for him. He had not ridden again since the cemetery attempt back in April and I have been wanting so so so badly to get back to our bike riding, so I started looking on Craigslist for one. I found an ad for a used trike in Greenville, SC last week so I contacted the bike owner and asked if she'd hold it for a few days. Yesterday, at 5am, we set out on a long car tip to the small town of Traveler's Rest, SC to meet Andrea & Stan on the Swamp Rabbit Trail to check out the trike.

We met A&S at a cool local restaurant overlooking the trail that was converted from an old hardware store. They were the NICEST PEOPLE EVER and Stan was a total bike pro. They showed Rick how to use the bike and let him take it on the trail for a test drive. I brought my bike along too, so I could ride with him. He was totally in love. Until we had to get it in the car. The frustration and disappointment began to build quickly as we realized we did not know how or even have the tools to get it apart so it would fit in Rick's little Ford focus. Luckily, A&S plus another couple they were with came to our rescue. They thew the bike in their suburban and escorted us a few miles into town to TTR Bikes, a popular bike shop (right on another section of the Swamp Rabbit) that they knew could help us out. At TTR, they actually fitted Rick to his new bike so that the pedals and seat were at the proper length for his body and provided instructions on how to break it down and re-assemble it. They got it small enough to fit in the car for the trip home and we were so relieved! Everyone there was so nice and supportive. Andrea was so happy that Rick was getting her old bike and I got her email address so we could keep in touch with them. We grabbed some lunch at yet another awesome local spot, Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery,  because it was right beside TTR Bikes. Rick tried some San Pellegrino Limonata for the first time and has a new favorite drink. Also, their homemade Oatberry Shortbread bars were to die for! After that, we headed back home. We were totally wiped out when we got back and proceeded to take some long naps.

This morning we went for our first real ride. The weather was PERFECT here. We took a loop around the neighborhood and also rode around the park. It was no easy task, but Rick totally kicked butt riding his new bike. He looked great sporting his new green bike shirt, too :) I was so proud of him and I am really looking forward to more rides together in the coming week. I also hope that we'll be able to make another trip to Greenville/Traveler's Rest to do a nice weekend ride on the Swamp Rabbit. Maybe in the fall. It was a very lovely place and I'd be so excited to go back there.

And now, some pics:

 

 Bonus Video!!!

It's been a while...

I hate that I have not updated in so long.

I started a new job on April 1st, which totally cramped my bike riding style and has since been sucking up most of my energy. I went to take a ride on the 7th with RICK! (remember that guy?) and when we got to Rick's bike ride spot of choice, Pine Hill Cemetery, we found that my rear tire was totally flat. I threw a small tantrum. I think the nature trail may have been a bad idea. I was so disappointed, especially since he was finally ready to try riding again. Rick replaced my tire while I went to work that day and we tried again when I got done. Rick took a few laps, but his knee really wasn't ready for another bike ride. It was a cool spot though, and I think we'll try it again. I went another week without riding because of weather, fatigue, laundry... everything. And then I decided that the only time I really have to commit to it during the week would be in the mornings. So Rick and I went out and bought a sweet bike light set (mine is silver and white). I also got a new bike computer because I was oh so tired of MapMyRide and it's lack of ability to save/upload things. I love it because it does a bunch of different things, including keeping up with my total mileage, real-time speed, distance, etc. I took a great 5:30am ride yesterday morning and LOVED it. Many more early rides to come! My plan is to do at least 3 min rides in the mornings during the week (5 mi/30 min) and then do longer rides on the weekends at different places. I am itching to go ride on the American Tobacco Trail!