Cycling the trail: A view from my head

Cycling has become pretty popular in our part of the world. During the winter months, I started taking

Darin and me on our first ride. We are cyclists.

indoor cycling classes at a great studio in town. I'm getting to the point where I don't feel like crying midway through the class, so that's progress. Now that the weather is nicer (finally), there is a great bike trail that loops around our scenic community. I have never ridden it in its entirety. Until today.

I was partially motivated by a new cycling thing I have started with my friend Darin. I've been in a bit of a physical and spiritual rut as of late, so I am on a quest to try new things. Darin really isn't, but is being a good sport about allowing me to drag him along for the ride. We rode half the trail last week and have plans to do it again this week. I wanted to do some research on the best route for us to try.

Here's how the ride went for me.

Gorgeous day. Nice breeze. Beautiful trail.

Darin and I should go farther this next week – just a little farther.

The trail is so level – maybe we should think about doubling our distance.

I should ride the trail when I have extra time during the work day.

I’m rocking this cycling thing.

I’ve never had a sport be my “thing.” Pat was a football player. Maybe I’m a cyclist.

I could get good at this. I could cycle competitively.

Greeting people on the trail. I’m a kick-ass cyclist and a community ambassador.

I wonder if the City Council would let me open a wine stand on the trail. People could stop for a break. We could have some tables with umbrellas so people could enjoy the view.

Probably not.

Anyway, supply chain would be a problem.

But I could haul the wine out here on my bike. I’m a kick-ass cyclist.

Is it my bike or is it my cycle? The guy I work with who rides motorcycles calls his motorcycle a bike.

Bikers are motorcycle people. Cyclists are bike people. I wonder who made that rule?

I'll have to ask Laree.

Bumblebee on clover. So scenic.

My butt is starting to hurt.

Just got passed by a 9 year-old. He’s got age on his side.

I need to talk to Josie. Maybe I need more gears so I can keep integrity in my pedal strokes when I’m going down hills.

Listen to me with the cycling terminology. I’m a cyclist, bitches.

Ooh here comes a serious racing guy. With you, dude. I'm a cyclist.

I think I’ll have a grilled chicken salad for lunch.

Switchbacks are coming up. If I make the first one without stopping, I’ll put feta cheese on my salad.

Second switchback. I didn’t stop. I could have an extra serving of feta.

Third switchback. Serious boob sweat going here. Deep breaths.

Fourth switchback. Screw the salad – I’m going to eat the feta directly from the tub with a spoon.

Darin would kill me if I took him this far.

Hey! That guy passed me without announcing. He could have hit me.

I’m totally passing him on the upcoming hill.

His wife just said hi. She’s nice.

He just got off and walked. Suckah.

Butt still hurting.

Hill by the campground. Doesn’t look so bad.

I can do this.

Oh man, I’m dying.

How much farther?

I suck at cycling. I'm not a cyclist.

Don’t look up. You’ll be surprised how close you are to the top if you don’t look up the whole time.

I looked up.

God, that far????

Approaching the top. Did it! Ok, I'm a cyclist.

They should play the theme from Rocky when you ride down this thing.

Maybe not a competitive cyclist but a serious recreational cyclist.

Big group ahead – are they trying to play chicken with me? Move over, for crying out loud.

Amateurs. They are so not cyclists.

Tubers on the river – looks so fun.

Sitting in a tube in the water would feel so good on my butt right now.

There’s the van.

Did it! 

I’m such a cyclist.