Four members of our Terry racing team just arrived at my house to go on a bike ride with me and I’m feeling a little panicky. I mean, they rode the Rochester Crit last night, so I know they can make mincemeat out of me within the first half mile, leaving me groveling and gasping to catch up with them on our 30 mile jaunt. How stupid I was to accept their offer to go for a ride. Drat!
Nonetheless, I’ve ridden a ten mile warm up prior to their arrival and I’m loaded for bear with every piece of nutrition magic I own — gels, drinks and bars. I have my breathing down pat – three out, two in. Graeme Street’s tips to make me a better rider are rolling around in my head. You think the team looks nervous before a race — you should see me.
We’re ready to ride. Five resounding snaps and we’re in the pedals and off. A right turn out of my road and up the first teeny tiny little grade. I’m toast. Wait…I’m not toast. I’m actually hanging in this little group. Probably because they’re chitty chatting away and just haven’t noticed that we’re moving at a snail’s pace. Of course, that tailwind’s not hurting us at all either. Gotta love the suction at the back of this pack.
In a blur of pink and green, the miles roll by. I’m starting to feel right at home, riding shoulder to shoulder and wheel to wheel. Yeah — I can even steal a drink from my water bottle without taking out the pack. But the coolest part is the other cyclists we’re seeing on the road on this perfect riding day. They’re all giving us a wave and shouting out things like, “You rode a great race last night!”. I hope the team is as proud of themselves as I am of them!
All too soon, our ride is over. It was a great chance for me to spend some good one-on-one time with each of them. Four very intelligent, very motivated women who are perfect ambassadors for the sport of cycling and for Terry Precision Bicycles. And…four women who are very, very nice to let me ride with them on a beautiful Sunday morning in June!
Tailwinds,
Georgena
Leave a Reply