It has been quite a few years since I had last ridden a bike. Granted, back in Hawaii, I used to go mountain biking on trails out back. The catch is I was still in grade school and crushing on guys who saw me merely as a tomboy. I just told myself to suck it up, life is short, and this would be a great way to have fun and get a good workout.
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| Me after biking: Jedi or Jawa? Maybe both! |
And workout I did.
The hills were plentiful. The trails curvy. The gravel paths were strewn with large pebbly rocks. To make matters worse, by the time the hubby and I got to this tiny grassy horse path, I could barely steer straight. My thighs were on fire but moved as if it were made of jell-o, and the freezing wind felt like -15C.
It wasn't like I was unprepared for the weather: I had three jackets on plus two tops. I warmed up pretty easily while I was peddling away at high gear, but my face felt frozen and my nose started to run in protest. This is something I never had to contend with in my entire life, and it made it all the more challenging.
I will not lie. I complained. I whined. I even swore. But it was worth it. Totaling up my calories burned and the great workout I got made all that pain and perseverance worth it. So, as a fitness goal, I want to do this one very difficult trail before the end of summer.
Ambitious, I know, but it will keep me motivated and ensure lots of use out of my new mountain bike.
