Today was our first ride outside on our bikes. We filled up our tires, adjusted the seats and .. forgot to stretch. After getting our bikes and bodies through our double doored apartment to head outside (while simultaneously trying to keep Artie, the cat, inside) it was already dark. We both realized we each had only one bike light because we lost the other. However, it worked out well because we both happened to lose the opposite light! I had a white blinking light, typically for the front of your bike, and Sara had a red blinking light, typically for the back. So we rode as a unit; myself leading with the white light and Sara picking up the tail with the red. Teamwork already! We started out through our neighborhood. City biking can be quite the beast. We made a dodgy turn down a one way (going the opposite direction) and quickly became those bikers. You know the type. But I swear we only did it for 2 blocks and felt guilty the whole way. We crossed over the railroad tracks and onto the Schuylkill river trail. The lights were out but the path was still abuzz. Each time we passed under a bridge you could feel the remnants of the cool, damp winter snow piles that were slowly melting on the side. We hit a groove with another female biker who was leading our pace. For any of you who have rode, walked, roller bladed, etc on the Schuylkill into Fairmont Park you know that passing folks can be a delicate task. The female biker (we'll call her "yellow shirt") was a good leader. Sara excitingly said, "it's like we're a team riding together!" My feelings exactly. I couldn't help but get excited thinking about the larger team we would be riding with in just a few short months. It was the perfect motivator to our first week of training. Yellow shirt fell off (not literally) to the side after Boathouse Row but we kept on going. We passed families out for walks, double rowers and pedaled aside the constant stream of cars on Kelly Drive. Somehow amidst all this buzz it was still peaceful. People were happy and there was warmth in the air. We decided to turn around at the bridge that has the lit archways. Tonight the lights were red, probably for Valentines Day. Cities like to do things like that. I approve. It's festive. On the ride back we might have turned into those bikers again. We double rode. But only because Sara had to fill me in on the exciting news that we were offered the opportunity to blog for the organization we would be riding for! So it's kind of OK. And I promise we moved out of the way when people came to pass. On the way back we rode under the last bridge and discovered a circuit training class! It was hilarious. Not because it was circuit training...outside...in February...on the path...with mats, balls and weights...under a bridge. No, that's all normal. It was hilarious because we happened to ride through at the moment where they were changing their circuit. The whistle blew, people hesitated on which way the circuit was moving (left or right) and a small group of people ended up hitting into each other. We had a good laugh, the best way to end a ride. In total, we did a little over 8 miles. We came home and made sure to stretch. All in all the perfect way to enjoy the spring tease.
