I did it!

Posted May 27th, 2008 by itsmytime

I first want to say thank you to all of you in the biking community for welcoming this "newbie"! Everyone has been so encouraging and so helpful. It doesn't matter what shape, size or experience. What kind of bike, nice or not as long as you get on it and ride. That is the message that I have received during my time preparing for the "Bike to Work Week".

I'm in my 40's, an empty nester and I started preparing riding my bike with my spinning class. Keep in mind I haven't been on a bike since I was in 5th or 6th grade! Starting loosing weight - woohoo! Decided this is the thing for me.

I live on the South Hill so I was great going down the hill, not so good going up. But the point is, I did it and I'm trying! I have more to learn and am willing to put the work into it.

I'm just happy with myself that I'm in my 40's and can do it!

Thank you all for being so supportive!

it gets easier

On May 29th, 2008 bleckb said:

The more you ride up the hill, the easier it gets. Sometimes I end up zoning out and not even realizing I'm at the top until I'm at the top. I take the Cedar and High Drive route up the hill each day I commute. I take another route up from downtown sometimes, but I can't remember the street name. It's the street where the Toyota dealership sits between Second and Third. If you head straight up the hill from there, turn right at the 'T' and take the next left, it's not steep but for the first bit. Either way, the more you do it, the easier it gets. Good job on getting going!

Hamstrings and hills

On June 13th, 2008 Barb Chamberlain said:

Donna, the trainer in the Bank of America building, spoke at a bike commute workshop that Eileen Hyatt and I did there for BTW Week. She talked about how running uses the quads while cycling uses the hamstrings.

That seems counterintuitive when you think about pushing forward on the pedals. But if you also pull back on the second, upswing half of the circle, you'll use your hamstrings. Try it on a hill and you'll feel some acceleration you didn't have before.

(Try it for too long, and you'll get a charlie horse, or at least I did at first.... My hammies are stronger now.)

barb