First Fall

I wish you could have seen this.. We started climbing up a portion of Chalk Hill. I shifted and my chain stuck I had enough pressure on the pedals that I was unable to unclip and over I went... Ouch I landed on my right knee and right hand. My Rt foot uncoupled but the left was still attached and the bike was on top of me.. There were 2 riders trying to unclip me. I was helpless to release on my own my foot was twisted such that I couldn't move.. They freed me up and assessed damage. My knee and hand stung and I was shaken up and at once felt a loss of confidence ....

But after a rest and an excedrin I was off. Actually I had a great ride. Felt stronger but finished 4 th from last ;)

Let the spending begin

I just had a new chain put on my trusty steed.
And I know this is the start of bike accessories
Shopping.... I learned last year the importance of good cycling shorts.
Sure there are bargains out there but you may suffer latter. I like to have 3 different styles
Of short with good chamois that are not too padded,without bumps or ridges
Or stitching that can irritate after riding for miles and days on end. And a good chamois lube. I prefer Brave Soldier but "Chamois Butter" works well.

I also found some specialized BG gloves with ulnar grooves that protect my hands from nerve
damage. I have the long finger version with a nice mesh breathable backing...

And most important is having my bike professionally fit.
Yes it cost me more money but I'm happier now because I don't hurt so much ;)

Mo' later

Next Big Ride Northern Tier w/ WomanTours Fargo,ND to Bar Harbor, Maine

I made a decision last week to invest in riding the Northern Tier this May. I need big
adventures that require a lot of energy to motivate me into keeping fit. After the Southern
Tier I got lazy and hardly rode my bike at all. It shows and now Im having to start all over.

I started riding a couple of weeks ago and I had a professional fitting so Im ready to roll.