Bicycling!

Okay, funny story and a spoof on me and how out of shape I really am.

I thought it would be fun to ride bikes with the kids around the neighborhood, down to the lake (only about 2 miles from the house), and to the stadium. I usually end up walking (not that that isn't rigorous exercise) but my children end up having to stop for me to catch up and that makes riding bikes for them no fun.

So I saw an add in the Target weekly advertisements that a certain bike was on sale. So I hemmed and hawed over talking it over with my husband because I knew he would look at me as if I'm crazy. I'm mentioned this a few times since our kids have been born, but his look is because I'm not athletic, outdoors, bike riding type! And he knows it. But I muster up the courage to talk with him about it and the speech I would give him. He amazed me as he always does and said "Sure, I'd like to see this." Okay, amaze might be too strong of a word, he was poking fun at me, but agreed anyhow. (Secret to our marriage beside God being in the center is that we always talk over how our money is spent, even on little stuff.)

Off I go on Saturday to purchase my bike. I was so proud of myself. I got it home, rode over to the neighbors driveway and back and then put it up! Yes, I didn't go then, but in my favor it was 101 degrees outside and I didn't think that would chalk up to a great first experience. So I decided to wait till this week.

Opportunity led itself to Tuesday morning and after my morning devotionals, breakfast, and getting the kids ready we set out on my new found adventure. We all brought water bottles, which were put in a backpack on my back! I pumped and pumped and re aired all the tires on all the bikes. (I have an extra kid remember.) And off we went. We started down my street the other way out of the neighborhood (not the quick way). I knew I was in trouble by the time I got to the end of just MY street. My legs were already shaking, tired, sore, and I was very unsure of myself. We went in and out of every col-de-sac which required me to make turns that were deceptive and tricky but I did it. We came to the end of the neighborhood and decided we wanted to venture on into the next neighborhood. We had a water break first and then we rode. I was always behind except when we crossed over the street that led from my neighborhood to the next. We bicycled up two blocks and then my legs said, "What are you doing? This is insane," and they started to rebel. But I pushed on and on and we wound up at our entrance after doing a three block circumference (up three blocks, over three blocks, down three blocks and over again three blocks) and took another water break. All the kids and myself voted to go straight home, no col-de-sacs, no frills, no stops, no nothing, just straight home. And that's what we did, we made it! I made my first bike trip since well lets just say a very long time. My gluteous maximus hurt, my legs and all the muscles associated with them (some I didn't know I had) were shaking like a leaf on a strong fall day. I felt like everything was out of joint, but a smile was on my face. Why? You ask? Because I hadn't crashed the whole way! I was so afraid I'd end up in the hospital! But I didn't, I made it and then as I was putting up my bike and reached for the back gate it happened! The crash! The bike fell on me and literally scratched a deep scratch all the way down my leg and left a bruise to match. But hey, I didn't do it while I was riding my bike!