Don't Make Change too Complicated: Just Begin!




Wednesday, November 11, 2009

I was passed by a Skinny Size 8 Woman Cyclist.....

......who soon became a blue blurr..... in her blue windbreaker, blue helmet and matching blue Trek.

You may remember how well I handled myself when I was passed by Santa when I was going uphill in the Jingle Bell Triathlon last year. There are some things that leave lasting scars!

NEVER MIND that today my riding goal was to ride for speed........those of you who know me know that when a skinny size 8 passes me they have no idea that they have just thrown down the gauntlet. They become the rabbit and me the greyhound on the track....who just might be thinking of having them for dinner.....no I am not competitive! My mom always said that!

NEVER MIND that it is unlikely I will ever catch that blue blurr.......it is the TRYING that counts! And try I did as she took off down into the speed zone that is the straight and flat (mostly) path of the bosque that runs along our Rio Grande river!

I told myself to amp it up and that I did and came within 2 bike lengths of her. There were several times I could have passed her as I just coasted along her...but I thought,.,,,why pass her now when she will just pass me going uphill later and that will really piss me off! Soon, she stopped and spoke to a woman runner...but soon enough I heard "on your left" and she passed me again. I tried and tried to keep up and there was quite a head wind...I watched her hunker down and thought "if only I can get right on her wheel instead of 2 lengths behind I can draft off her...but alas I could not. We rode on and on until finally we came to an unexpected detour on the path. It was strategically placed at a bridge where we could make an easy turn around. She made it very gracefully, but as I pulled to turn another rider jolted across the bridge, which made me quickly clip out and stop my bike so I would not hit him. After he passed, I made my turn and took off after the rabbit which by now was almost a blue speck on the horizon! Soon enough, I caught sight of the blue and noticed it had stopped again to speak to the runner! AH ha! This was my chance! I whizzed past the man who ruined my graceful turn and my opportunity to catch up....and threw my big chain ring into operation. All I could think about was "will she catch me again? Will that light blue wind breaker catch me or will I make it back and be victorious? My phone rang...it was work. I had to take the call. Then I saw some beautiful photo ops...and had to take a few pics...all the while looking out for that whiz of blue to pass me....but it did not happen.

I got safely back to the open space parking lot and saw her car. I took a picture thinking "I need a memory of this day." Well what do you know? She owns a kennel and specializes in problem dogs! She sure handled this greyhound real well today!

In a minute, I looked and there she was in her light blue wind jacket. We greeted each other and said what a beautiful day it was. I thanked her for being the rabbit for me and I the greyhound chasing the rabbit around the track! She laughed! I asked her if I could take her pic and gave her my blog address. Her name is Deena and she lives in Los Lunas. I invited her to join Women Riding Well and gave her the web address and made a new friend! I hope we get to be friends and get to know each other!
cece

















Sunday, November 8, 2009

I Just Think that Aleve Should Sponsor Me!

Well, I woke up this am and was surprised by shoulder pain. I have been keeping the mileage down and so the pain is down too...but not this am! I popped 3 aleve (which I call a therapeutic dose) and voila! The pain disappeared. I think Aleve should sponsor my new cycling career! I would wear the jersey very proudly!

Women Riding Well took off about noon today on THE most beautiful day I have been on a bike in a very long time! It was warm and there was a very slight breeze and we planned to ride an out an back that I was familiar with...but I thought the miles were about 30 but they ended up at just under 42! However, that aleve did the trick and I had a wonderful pain free ride with no real mishaps...except perhaps after I applied more chamois butter and then slipped off my saddle.....wow that stuff is slippery. Well, that is not exactly what happened! But I did not fall....and I am really exaggerating! LOL. This is Catherine . You can see the beauty of the Sandia mountains as we go north past the Sandia Pueblo and into Bernalillo.
This is a pic from the way home crossing the Rio Grande river. The cottonwoods are so lovely in their rustic colors.

Another shot of the valley as we go north along the reservation land. We ended up stopping at one of our favorite places the Flying Star. The one in Bernalillo is my favorite because they have wonderful colors on their outdoor awnings and the interior decor is very beautiful...with painted murals.
It turns out that we had a birthday girl among us and we sang and made a surprise for Priscilla who turned 37....no...not 37...maybe it was 37 in reverse...no that is not right! ...I really do think it is 37....although she told me how old she is and I do not believe her!


Here we are outdoors in 70 degree weather singing happy birthday! We are spoiled this week in New Mexico! I hope the weather holds! Let us hope!


A mural that I like at the Flying Star in Bernalillo! We had a great day on our
bikes today and could enjoy the beauty that is New Mexico. We really are very spoiled living here. We can practically ride year round! I know I recently complained about the cold, but on days like this, I tend to forget about my complaints!
Cece