New Bike- First Bike Ride

Thanks to my wonderful father who has a deep interest in getting me involved in road biking, he fronted the money to get me into my very first road bike. After two trips to Canyon Bicycle to get sized, fitted and all dialed in with all the gear I needed I finally had a full set up. I decided to come up to Sandy to ride with my dad Saturday. I little preface to my Saturday ride would include a Friday night 9:10 p.m. indoor soccer game, and Saturday morning a 9:00 a.m. soccer game. I then grabbed all my warm clothes and headed up to Sandy for a bike ride. My dad is an intense road biker and a good ride for him consists of about a 20 mile ride in a hour. So I knew I was in for a hard ride. Although my family has been into road biking for years I had never been on a ride with them in all my years. With my bike all set up and my new bike shoes with clip ins (which I had never used before) I got all geared up for the ride. If you know anything about me you know I don't do spandex, but I gave in. It was cooler weather so I had on long spandex, a long sleeve biking jersey, a jacket, ear warmers and gloves. I had the whole setup on. I have to admit I looked quite goofy but you could say I looked HOT I guess!

My parents live on the benches in Sandy so the first part of the ride was downhill and mostly flat. As we just kept going farther and farther from home I was getting a little concerned because to get back to their house it is purely up hill. We decided to take 110th south up. The first several climbs were going well but after I passed Alta High school I started up a pretty steep climb. With my out of shapeness and my tiredness I started to fade fast and soon found myself not pedaling. Well since I was not moving up hill gravity took its toll and I started to fall. There was a moment in slow motion where I knew I was going to fall right over. Being new to the whole clipping into you the pedals I totally couldn't get my foot out fast enough and real fast found myself hitting the ground with a big thud. Having both my feet still clipped in and lying on the ground the poor van that passed me and wondered what the heck I was doing and not know if they should stop and help or what. Finally, after much struggle I got one foot and out and stood up. Exhausted I could not get clipped back in since I was on a straight vertical hill. My dad having long reach the top of the hill and having not seem me reach the top turned around to catch his daughter defeated mid hill. What an experience! Having conquered one of the three hills I had to get up I felt so defeated just as it started to snow on my first bike ride. I was cold, exhausted and thirsty as ever to say the least. Anyway thanks to my encouraging father I made it home with must more ease up the last few hills than the other. Overall it was a really good ride. I have learned in order to get ready for this Ride to St. George I am going to have spend a lot of time on my new bike, and get in better shape.

**** It is my Dad's 60th birthday and I wanted to give a tribute to him. He is such an amazing father and has always been there for me. He has supported me in every aspect of my life from soccer games, to making sure I reach my fullest potential. He is so wise and gives such great advice. I love his passion for all of his many great talents such as photography and biking. He brings out the best in people and I love that about him. One thing I have always loved is that he tells you what he is thinking. Often times you don't want to hear it, but as I have grown up I truly love the advice and support. ****