from road bike to tri bike…

I learned to bike with the boys and Missy on quiet country roads in rural Minnesota. Tuesday nights were sprints, and we’d race to the stop ahead signs for a smelly XL green jersey. On Saturdays, we’d ride long, up and down hills, legs burning, borderline bonking, and refuel 65 miles later with coffee and bagels.

I lived for those rides, that first summer of cycling, where I fell head over heels for the hum of the peloton, the whir of wheels mere inches away, the stunning sunsets as we pedaled back into town, tired and thirsty and grinning ear to ear, already counting the hours until we could do it again.

My first road bike, a trusty black Trek Pilot 2.1 with pink handlebar tape, got a LOT of #bikelove that year. I think I logged close to 4,000 miles in four months and only once, when I was chased by a snarling farm dog, was I scared.

My first race: the Lakes 38 in Alexandria, Minnesota. Don’t I look 12?!! Circa 2007.

Fast forward to now, to my new bike, a black Argon 18 E-118 with pink aero bar tape. After a month on the trainer, it finally warmed up enough in Minnesnowta to bike outside.

OMG.

I had no idea just how different it would be riding a tri bike outside.

Normally, I’m fearless on two wheels and have been known to chase down gas guzzling drivers after being yelled at that cyclists (i.e., me) don’t belong on the road (it took me five miles, but I caught her).

But, this… this was terrifying. I held on for dear life the first three miles, cadence out of control, because I was too scared to reach for the shifter on the aero bar. And, forget getting into aero. It already felt like I was going to somersault end-over-end over the aerobars. River Road MPLS from Ford bridge to the Greenway was even scarier… potholes the size of a Fiat; pretty certain my front wheel could have disappeared in one.

But… but…

We got to the Greenway, and Nick made me try aero. After waiting to round a bend and after a bit of hesitation, I took a deep breath and leaned down, left arm first. I eased my right arm down, still holding my breath, bracing in case I lost my balance.

But then, after a few shaky pedal strokes, it clicked.

Biking bliss.

And, although I’ve only pedaled 70 miles outside on it so far, I know it’s only going to get better. There’s gonna be a LOT of fearless #bikelove this year!