[Sportsandrec] Gearing Up for that First Tandem Ride

[Ron & the bears]

Congratulations Jennifer! Is that the furthest you ever rode? How far did 
you ride?

When is your next ride?

The bears think you are awesome!

Sounds like you had some good cycling mentors. It is not a race, but it is 
fun to have rabbits to chase, especially when you are running low on 
enthusiasm. Both teams end up pushing each other and getting stronger.

Welcome to my world!

We are the champions, my friend

Queen

Ron & the we will rock you bears
Austin, TX

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jennifer Boylan" <jaboylan at gmail.com>
To: "Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List" 
<sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 9:28 PM
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Gearing Up for that First Tandem Ride


: Hi Ron and All!  Major Tom returning to earth...Ground control, I have a
: problem!  I found out I do not have "Buns of Steel".  This gives me new
: appreciation for the term "saddle sore" for sure.  My shoulders ache a
: little bit (from the extra helmet weight, I'm told) but my legs are fine 
and
: my cardio was good.  I hear miles in the saddle (or off of it) are the 
only
: cure.  Next time I will be more prepared!
: Enough whining--I can only sit here so long to tell my tale (besides that 
of
: my tail).  The ride was awesome!!! My captain gave me a guided tour of all
: the scenery and the proximity of other riders, including my teammate who 
was
: riding with his brother.  The weather held out and I was comfy in a 
t-shirt,
: windbreaker and shorts.  There were rolling hills and only one steep grade
: on the way back from the rest stop.  I only slipped off the pedal once 
when
: the captain switched several gears but recovered without getting too 
caught
: in the chain.  My teammate got a flat, so that offered a second butt break
: on the way back.  Lunch was chicken, pasta, salad, bread and 
brownies--what
: more could a girl ask for?  Seconds?  JK.  Our O&M instructor gave us a 
big
: hug when we got back--I credit her also with getting me up and moving out 
of
: the house and onto bigger and better things.  It was nice because it was a
: ride, not a race and our captains were pretty low-key guys.  One did 
comment
: that "any time there are two or more bikes, it's a race" attributing this 
to
: his competitive manly nature.  He noticed me pushing when he told me our
: teammates were only 200 yards ahead, so goaded me on with this whenever
: applicable!  I have a competitive streak myself!  We beat them back by a
: minute or so.  It took a little over 2 hours subtracting the repair time 
and
: rest stop break.  I would definitely love to do this again and hope to
: recruit more blindies and pilots between now and next year for the ride. 
I
: see what you love about this sport!
:
: P.S.  My teammate and I stayed on another 5 hours to meet people and help
: clean up before getting our rides home.  Wouldn't you know it that I would
: knock a stack of tables over on my shin/ankle while carrying pans of pasta
: (sans cane) out to the parking lot?  I have a nice knot there which will
: definitely outlast the effects of the ride.  Maybe I should quote Ms.
: Morissette..."Isn't it ironic, don't you think?"
:
: "I hurt myself today
: To see if I still feel.
: I focus on the pain
: The only thing that's real
: ...
: Beneath the stain of time
: The feeling disappears
: You are someone else
: I am still right here
: What have I become,
: My sweetest friend?
: Everyone I know
: Goes away in the end.
: ...
: If I could start again
: A million miles away
: I would keep myself
: I would find a way."
: "Hurt" Nine Inch Nails 



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