The last year I have really picked up bike riding. Good thing I’ve had my trusty Huffy, Leslie, since the beginning of my college days in 2004. She was my little blue and pink Wal-Mart special. We had been on a lot of great rides in Cedar City; to school, work at the B & B, to the gym, and up canyons. When I moved home, she saw more garage dust then light.
When I came home from Alaska I started spinning at Gold’s Gym where my friend Bonnie is the spin teacher. I loved it! So on the weekdays I started riding Leslie around to compensate for no job and nothing going on all day. I find riding so relaxing and the destinations you go are even better. And it makes your legs look amazing! Haha! I spent most the rides going around Day Break or looping around Herriman since it has some nice gradual hill climbs. Then my rides ventured out to the Besties house which is quite the ways away from my parents with a few hill climbs! I was always excited to see her – but she got the raw end of the deal since I was sweaty and probably smelly too! But none the less, that was my favorite place to ride since I got to see her beautiful face!
I loved the jobless days – I’d wake up, ride for a good two hours – come home – play with Wallie – and eventually go on another ride. After getting married and the weather changes, the rides stopped. I had knee surgery in January, morning sickness in February thru April and now that the weather is sunny again and I’m feeling great – let the rides begin again!
My little Huffy couldn’t keep up with JC on his big boy Trek. So with a few extra cash we had both earned, he let me get a new bike that was more my size and would be more of a challenge. We got the bike on May 3rd and it already has 100 miles on it! I LOVE it! I love our rides. Riding was great before, but now that I get to do it with the love of my life… makes it that more exciting!
We went on quite the ride last Saturday. We woke up around 8:00 and were out the door by 9:00. We jumped on the Jordan Parkway by our house (about 3900 South) and headed north. A few days earlier we rode to my Grandma’s in Bountiful. So this trip we were determined to get even further! We made it all the way to Farmington – about 30 miles. Towards our halfway point I was losing steam so we stopped and had a little snack. We learned quickly on the way back that a pregnant lady needs more nutrition then pretzels and fruit cups to have the energy for another 30 miles back. I was pathetic… but made it home as JC motivated me by shouting out that we had orange chicken waiting at home. He was so loving and patient and put up with all my pee breaks and moments I needed to lie down from exhaustion. He was the strength I was lacking. I’m so glad we made it home and even more grateful for his love and support! But next time we try to conquer 60 miles with a pregnant lady… sandwiches and more food are a must! And sunscreen for the hubby!
Last night we went for a ride down the parkway again – this time we went South. For some reason the parkway doesn’t connect about 9200 South until 9800 south so we had to ride the streets. Once we were back on the park way we went a couple miles but had to turn around to make it home before dark. Instead of going the way we came, we went a different route. One of the paths we took ended up being a dead head, but quite a ways away from the main road. So we jumped the fence, walked through some weeds, crossed the cancel water gate, and jumped on the canal road. Soon after JC noticed he had a flat tire. This ride was one thing after another… between the intense wind adding more resistance, the little nats going in our shirts, nose and mouth, this lady having to pee and the flat… it’s a surprise we made it home. We had to stop about every 5-8 minutes to pump up JC’s tire. So what could have been a 20 minute ride home was more like a 40 minute. Poor guy was exhausted from riding on a flat and the wind pushing back on us. But we made it home with smiles on our face and a good story to tell!
