Bubbles and I are having a marvelous love affair. Two weeks into it, I still love her and want to lavish her with gifts. Check it out:
In case it’s not obvious, that’s a super cushy and extra padded gel seat cover. Both Bubbles and my ass thank me.
And then I got her this:
A shiny rear-view mirror so that I can see cars before they try to plow me down.
And what self-respecting biker doesn’t accessorize herself:
Yep, fingerless gloves with gel-padding AND a digital watch. I’m perilously close to charting my rides in an Excel spreadsheet.
And then Pete got in on the love and presented this little bit o’ bling to Bubbles and me:
Okay, NOW I’m fully geeked out — a computer that shows my miles-per-hour, how far I’ve ridden, and who-knows-what-else. I’m certainly not going to fiddle with it while I have both fingerless-gloved hands gripping the handle bars.
So I’ve given Bubbles many presents, but what has she done for me?
Well, yesterday, she took me up a mountain and back.
Okay, technically, not all the way UP a mountain, but it was — for me, at least — quite a trek.
Here in town, there is a very well known old historic house that sits on the top of a little mountain. At the base of the mountain is a terrific trail that I’ve walked many times. If I were to tell you that the trail has, at most, 5% grade, you’d probably think “Oh, no big deal.” Well let me tell you that 5% is a big effing deal to a novice biker. Last week, when I attempted it, with only two bike rides under my belt thus far, I made it less than a mile before my heart and lungs waved a white flag.
Yesterday, however, I did the whole damn thing, which was almost 4 miles ’round trip! I’m not going to lie to you — the heart and lungs thought about staging a mutiny, but then they realized that I wasn’t going to kill them, so they did their part of the job after all. Yay internal organs! Thanks for not failing me!
I even stopped to take a photo of the trail:
The trail ends at the bridge that takes cars into the old house’s parking lot. Here’s a shot of the big mountain behind the little one:
You can’t even see the top! (If you want to see what it looks like from the little mountain, click here.)
And then Bubbles and I headed downhill.
There are signs along the way that caution bikers to stay below 10 mph. As I was averaging 3-5 on the way up, I scoffed at the idea of going so very fast as to actually hit double digits.
Then I looked down at my computer thingy and saw that I was doing 13.8. Oops.
Ah, new love causes one to do crazy things, doesn’t it?
Oh wow, you are amazing!! I think I rode my bike half a block before I nearly fainted. So I gave up biking. I told Nate it was because Toby hated the trailer but really it’s because I didn’t want to die. And I didn’t have access to a butt-saving gel seat.
I’m really jealous of your bike and all its tricked out awesomeness though.
Well done Jen! I think you need some of those plastic flowers for your basket that we used to have as kids.
You’ll be going out in top to toe lycra and adding carbon wheels next!
Handlebar streamers!!!
Good job Jen. And a 5% incline is nothing to scoff at.
I still think the coolest thing on your bike is the basket.
WAY TO GO! on climbing the mountain.
That’s awesome!! Love that you are pimping your ride and loving Bubbles. So cool.
I am impressed by the hill climb–your bike is NOT light and a 5% climb is significant, even on a light road bike. Good on you!
You’re serious about this huh? That’s good you into it and having fun too. And what’s wrong with excel spreadsheets to chart progress? And for your next acquisition – tunage! You need to be rocking out while enjoying the scenic Jeffersonian aura.
Nike doesn’t have a sensor for bikers…do they?
Awesome! I’m so proud of you. And now I need to go buy one of those super-cool rearview mirrors.
I’m glad you’re having a good summer together
Who are you trying to kid here? 5% is a serious grade! Awesome job!
(My favorite bike around here is from our small town up to Crazy Horse (yes the mountain carving) and back. The way there starts with a gentle ride but quickly gets nasty steep. But the ride back down? Makes it totally worth every lung breaking second of the way up!)
You’re making me want a new bike…
Woo hoo!!! Great job
You bike is even better than Pee Wee’s! I just love all the gadgets!
Ryan, Rick, and I used to try and find the highest hills we could and see how fast we could go. I think we clocked 20mph once. From the top of a mountain road, twisting all the way.
*snort* you were gloves like Michael Jackson.
I want a mirror, too. My hubs got me a bell. I do have a basket for farmers market trips and I am making a liner so my dog can ride with me, too.
My lonest trip has been 14 miles – but with very brief uphill climbs—no mountains! Wow!
I’ve totally got bike computer envy.
What a great ride!
I have bike envy! I had the same heart/lung mutiny when I rode to Brownies the other night up a hill which isn’t there when you drive a car. But, I almost got killed in London today when one of my shoes fell off at a traffic light! Ah the perils of cycling! Good on you, keep us updated!
That looks like so much fun!!! I love Monticello
What a great bike Bubbles is 