First Ride

Today, I took my first good, long ride on my bike for this season. I'd been out a time or two prior, but those rides brief and intended to feel out adjustments.

This ride started and ended at Breakneck Hill Farm, and wound past Hopkinton State Park and included a quick stop at Baypath Humane Society. All told, I logged about 10 miles in the saddle today -- not bad for a first ride! The bike felt pretty good; the one exception being the bars, which began to make my shoulder blades ache in the last two miles or so.

As I've reflected on the experience today, I've realized I missed probably 80% of the scenery through which I was riding. But I have keen memories of working through the mechanics of the bike and my body -- shifting, balancing, spinning, breathing, and pushing through muscle burn. With time, practice, and repetition, I expect that experience to flip-flop.

It helped, too, to have a companion on the ride. J knew the route, and coached me through what was coming next, talked me through how to attack a certain hill, and just plain encouraged me by being there by my side.

I look forward to the next ride and the next adventure. But it might need to be in a few days -- I have some aching muscles that need to recover before I think I can hop back on the bike and enjoy it as much as I did today...