These ladies pulled up in their convertible with a couple of bikes. They proceeded to ride the hell out of them.

Go speed racer! at the Tour de Cure Halloween training ride

Through the weirdly small world of Raleigh, I connected with Diane Huis of the NC Tour de Cure ride. She is a type 1 diabetic. She does ironmans with an insulin pump in her jersey pocket. Yea -- she's an inspiration.

I try to get out with the team she captains, Team Cheetah, but commuting takes up so much of my pedal time. I've made two events this year. The first time we rode together was a group of about 15 riders on a 65 mile route. We rotated through a double file pace line at an easy 18mph pace. Her riders are a particular type of smart and practical that comes with experience. They maintained bike position, kept the group together, and made sure everyone was hydrated & had good blood sugar. It was really a wonderful day.

When Diane told me about a training ride involving costumes, I felt like it was a good reason to get some extra miles if only for the costumes. One of her team members owns a farm with a huge barn - perfect for a big group. She opened it up to the CBC group, and they brought a keg.

We did two loops with a rest area in each loop. Even with a bigger group, the cyclists rode in groups. And the COOKIES! Somebody had an iPod and a speaker... and the arepa truck appeared at the end of the race next to some home-cooked soup and chilli.

It was as if Diane has ridden thousands of miles on organized rides and knew what was important to us.

Me and my shadow

n+1

One of my greatest friends in this life came to visit last weekend. I wanted to give her the quintessential Fall in North Carolina tour, so we took a road trip with the kids up to Stone Mountain.

{sidebar: I know cars are lame. I am with you on that. We only had a few days. AND, baby girl just learned how to ride two wheels. She's not making it up any mountain this week. Allow me this road trip, ok?}

We took our bikes on this road trip because you never know when you're going to need a bike. We left about 7am so we could stop at a great bike shop in Winston-Salem. 

You're going to need some background information about how my boy loves bikes.

He got a new bike this summer after he put in his time behind the lawn mower. He got an awesome Torker Interurban from Seven Stars. He rides the bejeesus out of it.

On the first day of riding it, he popped a tube when he ran smack into the front steps. This was also the day he learned to change a tube.

When I announced it was time for shoes, 7yo spoke up that he had forgotten his. This makes me giggle, because who is this boy if not my son? We get out of the car and I remember that he's still in his pajamas because we left so early. {more chuckles}

We roll up into the store and it was like children in a candy store. Actually, imagine that three mini-me's entered a bike shop. It was like that. Those three kids took off for helmets, beanies, bikes, bells, and water bottles all at once.

This is when it happened. Baby blues of wonder-- cycle capped, pajama bottomed, and barefooted...

7: Mom, I need a mountain bike.
Me: You just got a bike in summer. That thing rocks.
7: Yea, but I need another one. Look at this one.
Me: What are you even talking about?
7: Look, its a Kona.
Me: Can you lift it over your head?
7: Will you buy it for me if I can lift it over my head?
Me: We already have 4 bikes on the rack.
7: We can put it inside the car.
Me: We have one inside the car, plus our camping stuff. Let me see you lift it over your head.
7: {grunting} see?
Me: Not today.
7: Next time?
Me: Probably.

Rule #12

// The correct number of bikes to own is n+1 ~velominati

Oh How I Love Mud

Went riding with my best friend and my son at the local trail. Little man rocks the single track! What a fun day.

60 degrees and sunny

It has rained for a week. This shadow and temperature said I had to ride.

Overdressed for 50 degrees

Something to know about commuting by bike: you're going to deal with weather.

On this morning, I put on my tights because it was the first sign of cool weather. It was also drizzling. Wet + cool meant I needed tights. And full finger gloves. And boots. Except, it wasn't as cold as I remember 50 degrees feeling. I was peeling off layers and opening vents on my jacket.

Handling Skills

I'm feeling a dally ride. You know, tooling along with a big cup of iced tea in the bottle cage wearing flip flops and still trying to get somewhere (kinda). I'm enjoying the shade of the greenway, making conversation with all of the passersby. I'm probably treating the stripes on the road as maneuvering practice.

I'm waiting dubiously at one of these notoriously ill planned crossings adorned with a miniature sign reading STOP -- it clearly reads as art, not traffic enforcement. A dude wearing no shirt and his pants pulled down way low rides up next to me. He does a quick pedal stand before taking to the 4" sandbar between the road and the puddle. He is headed into traffic on the wrong side of a road with minimal shoulder and no sidewalk. Did I mention he was talking on a cell phone this whole time?

Am I mad about this or do I cheer him on for his handling skills?