I figured hat by the age of 29 I had a good handle on how to ride a bike. But hey, I’ve been wrong before.
I got a text message from Dave “Pace of Chicago/The Walking Dead” Wallach on Thursday asking if I had taken a ride outside yet…
Ummm No…. I picked up the shiny new ride in January, so it wasn’t prime weather to be riding outside. I was pumped to get get out on the road so we planned to meet Saturday morning!
I kicked off Saturday by waking up at 4 am, making coffee and packing for the day. I had a masters swim scheduled followed by the ride. The swim was a decent 3050 meters… I felt good, but my mind was on the ride.
After the swim I needed to refuel and what’s better than an Egg McMuffin, hash brown and more coffee… BOOM lets ride.
I got to Dave’s hopped out of the car went to unload my bike… and realized I locked my keys in the car…………….
Yeah.
After a little help from the police department, we were back on track. Dave gave me some pointers on hand signal as well as a few do’s and don’ts of road riding and then we were off… YES!!! LETS GO!!!
I clipped in and we went about 50 feet to the end of the driveway, stopped for traffic…. and I fell.
I knew it was going to happen, I’ve never used clipless pedals on the road, it was bound to happen… I just thought I would have made it a little farther than the end of the driveway.
I got back up, Dave gave me a high five and we were on our way… again.
Dave had planned a nice easy 20 mile route and along the way he gave me tip on riding in groups, drafting and more. It was AWESOME, thanks Dave!
I was pumped from the ride and still full of energy when I got home, I thought about going for a run just to make a “Tri day”. But I came to my senses and relaxed in the back yard listening to the NCAA tourney.
Sunday was another super active day. I had a 5k planned with my family, luckily the weather wasn’t awful. We were running the St. Paddy’s Day 5k. I was a fun run, I didn’t go out to PR so there was no pace to follow which was nice. We finished in 33:09 minutes, had a beer and then it started to pour!
Perfect timing.
The rest of the rainy afternoon I just relaxed watched more basketball and a little baseball. The weather held out long enough in the evening for me to fire up the grill and toss on some burgers for dinner.
The burgers provided the fuel for the hour and fifteen minute bike ride Coach Jen had me scheduled for, it was a good pyramid ride, but because of the time of day, and wetness I did it on the trainer.
Today I’m back in the pool to do 3000 meters.
Mooseman in 76 days.
Phil Castello 
You are now “officially” a road rider. You were great! Congratulations. Let me know if you want to hit Sheridan Road this weekend!!!
Thanks buddy! I’m supposed to do a 1:30 ride Sat after Masters. How does that sound?
Hee, just a private giggle..you know, phil…we have all been there, done that. I will NEVER forget when i did it – it front of Jerome when I first got clipless pedals…it was hilarious.
And, in riding it is “those who have fallen and those who will!” 🙂