For those of you that know me (really know me), you know that for probably the last 15 years I've HATED riding a bike. It doesn't matter if it's a road, mountain or cruiser....I hate biking!!!
I grew up road racing. I got my first custom Italian road bike when I was 10. I know it was a big stretch for my parents at the time to get it, and I wish I had more gratitude for what they were doing for me at the time but I was 10 years old and just trying to fit in as a "normal" American kid.....whatever that was!?! My dad grew up road racing in the Czech Republic and all over Europe and he knew it was a great summer cross training tool for ski racing. Looking back, thank god my parents had me involved in all these awesome things and not being (what I thought) was a "normal" kid. Growing up in Boulder there was a culture of being very athletic in a lot of circles, and there were enough of us kids (especially ski racers) to have a kids road bike series called The Red Zinger Mini Classic. It was the junior version of the Coors Classic with some of the same (shortened) stages. If you don't remember or know the Coors Classic, just rent the movie American Flyers circa 1985 with Kevin Costner and you'll get an idea of the American version of road racing (in a very cheesy, Hollywood kinda way).
Me on the left. Vail criterium 1988.
A month out of every summer was spent traveling all around Colorado road racing, it sounds so cool now.....I wish I enjoyed and soaked it in more as a kid.
Fast forward to today. I am a middle aged mama and I just joined a road bike racing team after not riding a bike for 15 years....ahhhhhh! I got this awesome new carbon road bike for Christmas and am diving in head first. My new team kit comes in in the next few weeks and then sh@* gets real. Heading down to Denver this Saturday to hit the open road. It's suppose to be in the 60's and who knows, I just may enjoy it! Fingers crossed!
Love and Gratitude!