Planning ahead has a way of cramping my style. For example, a few weeks ago we decided to have some people from our church over for dinner. This was a great idea three weeks ago. As of 12:03 this morning, when Frank and I arrived home, it became a terrible plan. It meant playing grown up ALL DAY, when all I wanted to do was be on the trails.
So we had an awesome crock pot barbecue lunch, and I served food and refilled glasses like a champ. I even think I did a decent job of holding adult like conversation. It was actually a jolly good time, I just had to work really hard to stay present.
Then everyone left.
Mom bequeathed me a pair of shorts with built in diaper padding, something I had learned would be very much appreciated even after just a quick 30 minute ride this morning. Suited up and loaded down, I rolled out to the trails.
It was love at first bike.
Within the first hundred yards I came upon a group of the Earth Rider boys coming in from a lap. They already knew FrankinBike by name and by the pictures which Tim posted to the forum wall (which I ripped off to share with you in my previous post. Thanks Tim).
I cannot help but suspect that if Frankenstein's monster had received as warm a reception by the townspeople as FrankenBike got from these guys, that old classic would have gone in a very different direction. We discussed the fact that one of the sprockets on my rear cassette is not playing well with others, but that being a gear I will not be using for a while (as I have yet to develop the requisite muscle groups), it is not a pressing problem right now. There are tweaks to be made here and there but those will come as Frank and I get to know each other better. Right now I am just tickled.
Frank is a hard-tail but his front shocks have already revolutionized my bike riding experience. I can get over obstacles without cringing at an inevitable bum-punishment afterward; therefore, I find myself willing to try getting over bigger things. The disc breaks not only enable me to stop quickly, but allow me to enact cool slidey maneuvers which, once controlled, could probably help me get around corners more quickly. When I pull up on my handle bars, the front wheel pops right up off the ground. Crazy stuff.
So we hustled about on the trails for a bit, getting to know each other.
Although this was just our maiden voyage, I have already begun to learn things.
Today's lesson? There are two reasons that Fidgit falls off her mountain bike:
a) Riding too slow
b) Riding too fast
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