What is this picture you ask? Well, it is a picture I took at the halfway point on one of my favorite road bike rides. Mounted to my handlebars is an alligator squeaky horn given to me a couple of years ago by my youngest sister. I am on a concrete boat ramp looking out over a partially frozen reservoir. It is 5 days before Christmas in Colorado. The temperature is 38F. I had a beautiful ride.
Road biking has become something that I really enjoy. I started doing it several years ago and it gets easier all of the time even though I am over 60 years of age. I am not a hardcore road bike person by any means. I typically ride around 8 - 10 miles a few times a week, weather permitting and the roads are clear of snow and ice. Sometimes I ride on paved trails in town and then the miles increase to 15 - 20. Riding established trails is easier so racking up the miles isn't difficult. The paths are smooth, there are generally no traffic issues and usually any hills encountered are small.
My favorite time to ride is in the fall. I love the dry grasses and scrubby vegetation, the bare branches of the trees and cooler temperatures. I always stop to take in and contemplate the scenery. I find biking alone allows me to do this without interfering with the exercise expectations of fellow biking friends so I make a point to do solo riding sometimes.
I have a couple of girlfriend biking buddies and go with one or the other upon occasion. We always have a good time. They both work jobs and I don't, so I have a lot more time and freedom to bike.
Winter is a challenge, though. I have recently joined the health club where my husband goes and will do the stationary bike thing there when I can't be outside. It's not pleasant. I do not like indoor exercise, but I have to do it if I want to stay in any sort of physical condition. Winter has just begun so I had better get used to it.
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| Me and my biking shadow |
