Training Wheels

The coaches sent out an email last night saying we would be biking this morning as long as the temp was 35 degrees or higher. When I woke up it was 34. 34. That's less than 35 but not enough to matter, right? - what's 1 degree? I called M and she planned on running with the group- too cold for biking she said. I didn't care. I've been wanting to take the Contessa for a ride all week. So I bundled up in my new and old gear and headed out to meet the group. I didn't have enough time to ride to the practice so I stupidly took the subway. Though there were only a few people riding up town, I still managed to hit an old man with my back wheel. He was grumpy and muttered something at me. There were just as many bikers as runners at practice, so I was happy I was ready for the ride. The group left 72nd and Riverside and headed over to the park. We did two small loops and one big loop. The day was planned as a bike clinic but I'm not quite sure what that means. There were a ton of riders zipping around in the park. No matter how fast I moved my legs, I felt like I wasn't going fast enough. For my first time out, I think i did ok, i think! I still need to figure out my gears and when to shift. This is all so new to me. Long way from my mountain bike days. I'm getting used to keeping my back in the right position and my elbows in. There's so much to learn, baby steps. Right? My toes started to freeze. My new long fingered gloves couldn't keep my fingers from turning numb. I was ready to head home after biking and biking and biking. So i left the park and headed down 8th Ave. Only I started to question riding with the traffic and rode toward the Path on the West Side instead. Only I hit all this construction and couldn't cross and should i be worried of potholes on a road bike? I started to get nervous. I made my way onto the path- the wind blowing in every direction, my digits even more frozen. 42nd street. 34th street. My office. Chelsea. Finally - Home. My body was exhausted. The wind, the cold. What was I thinking? I brought my bike upstairs and collapsed on the couch and fell fast asleep. I know I'm going to like this. I've always biked and gone swimming and jogged. I can do these things. So the positioning, the form, the techniques are new, but I can do this. I can. I hope? I can. My body has thawed. Finally.