I bet most of you remember when you got your very first bike, am I right?  I remember mine, it had little pink tassles on the handlebars and a cute bell that I rang everywhere I went.  Then as I grew I got a bigger bike, and somewhere between childhood and adulthood that bike got lost in the shuffle.  I eventually got a hand-me-down bike that my stepdad bought at a garage sale and put a big cushy seat on.  This however, did NOT make that bike comfortable to ride.

The other thing that changes from childhood to adulthood is the ability to eat whatever you want and stay a nice trim size.  AM I RIGHT??  I was always a swimmer when I was younger – I learned very early on that I didn’t like to be hot, and actually passed out from overheating a few times.  I’m a total wuss, especially when it comes to exercise.  So as an adult swimming is still fine, but it’s kind of an ordeal to pack your swim bag, go to the pool, do your workout, shower, change, deal with the wet suit and towel, and go get fast food for dinner because you feel silly going anywhere else with wet hair and smelling like you doused yourself in “Eau de Chlorine”.  It was easier when you were little – I’m so excited to have Rylie back on the local swim team this spring and she really seems to love it.

So my struggle lately was to find some form of exercise I enjoyed.  Walking/running is horrible for me.  I’ve got a long list of feet problems and was actually told by my podiatrist that walking should not be a main form of exercise.  So we bought a bike rack and took my garage sale bike down to St. Marks Trail a few weekends ago.  It felt great to glide along with the wind in my face keeping me nice and cool, and not hurting my feet at all!  But the problem was this bike was way too big for me.  If I had to stop abruptly I couldn’t just put my feet on the ground because the bar was too high.  Not very safe.  So we rode 8 miles and I knew it had potential, but I needed a new bike.

We explored several Wal-Marts and I would have gotten a particular bike if they’d had it in stock, but when does Wal-Mart ever have anything in stock that you need?  So just for kicks we went to a pro bike shop in town to get fitted and see what my options were.  Long story short (well, I guess it’s already a long story), I walked out with a gorgeous new bike last Saturday!  Ryan helped me buy it, he knew I wasn’t motivated to do any riding on the bike I currently had and wanted me to enjoy it.  I’ve been jokingly calling my new bike “The Midget” because it’s built for shorties in every way.  Not only is it short to the ground (the frame is an XS, which is cool that they come in sizes like that), but it’s short from the seat to the handlebars so I don’t have to lean way far forward.  Because people with short legs generally have a short torso!  Makes sense!  We went back to the trail and rode 10 miles and I felt great.  I wish my neighborhood was a little flatter, but it’s full of hills so I’ve gone out a few times this week and worked up a huge sweat going up and down all the streets.  So far I can only last about 4 miles of that craziness, but I’m hoping I’ll build up some endurance.

I might eventually post a picture of me on my actual bike, but I didn’t get that done this week.  But I still thought you’d like to see my beautiful new bike!  The salesman was really nice and made the comment that, “Most people get bikes as children on special occasions like their birthday or Christmas.  But it’s great when you’re adult and you’re buying one because you need it and it fits you perfectly.”  So here’s to feeling like a kid again this week!  I know I’m enjoying it!  Who wants to start a little bike club?  I think my friend Terri is already in, who else?  🙂

It’s a Giant Sedona ST style