Bikes, bruises, and blue skies

What I would call summer (and everyone else in MN likes to call spring) has finally reached us here in the Twin Cities. After all, what's not summer about 60 degrees? I'm going to ignore the fact that summers here live in the 80's to 90's and that the triathlon is in July which is bound to be a hot month. I would not have any issues with a cool summer. It would make everything a lot easier on me.

Saturday was the first group ride I was able to attend. The ride started in Afton on the MN-WI border about 20 miles southeast of St. Paul. The ride was, literally, 20 miles of hills some of which were a 30 degree incline. Not much fun to go up or down in my opinion.

I fell. Twice. Once at the turn-around point because the person in front of me stopped short and I wasn't able to clip out in time to not fall over. The second time I was going up a hill (I was almost done!), felt like the gears weren't shifting correctly, slowed down a little too much and crash! down I went. My left knee is taking the brunt of these hits though my right leg has some fun bruises on it as well.

All in all, things are going well. I'm allowing enough time outside of rehearsal and work to train (I think). The real test, though, is July 12. Less than two months away!