It happened

Ok so Winnipeg is a very very windy city. Yesterday I believe was a bit more breezy than usual...according to the weather forcast-winds were gusting to 59km/hour. Well my scheduled gear changing/bike ride at Bird's Hill Park occurred in these conditions.



Now I have been out on Snagster a total of 2 times-this was going to be the 3rd. She looked pretty in the wind, gleaming, sparkly...ahh I digress.



The first thing Mr. P did was felt my tires. He said that there were not enough pressure in them and that I would need to put more air in. He handed me the airpump and got me to do this. Since I learn way better doing then seeing, this was extremely helpful! He indicated that I really should carry my air pump with me at all times and check the tires before each ride. Apparently tires with less than adequate air are more at risk for getting a flat. Who knew?



Next we did a few practice turns in the parking lot-figure eights and leaning into the turn, and before I knew it, we were off! It was a tough ride because of the wind, and at one point it caught my bike pretty good, that I felt I was going to fall off. It's also amazing how fast a road bike can go if your lucky to catch a bit of a tail wind! Mr. P was so helpful in explaining how to change from my front to back chainrings. At one point my chain did come off, but I was able to get it back on with changing into other gears instead of getting off my bike! He also showed me how to draft (which is a big no no in Tri's) which was really freaky. You need to get close behind the wheel of the person ahead of you-and then it feels so easy in terms of effort you need to exert!



Mr. P also at one point decided to clip onto the back of my bike-I was very afraid at the thought of this as I was really concentrating on maintaining my balance with the wind. He did it anyway (evil laugh was included) and said I should be thankful that he did not weigh over 200lbs. So as I was pulling him and his bike up the hill, I once again thought I was not going to be able to do this. It felt as though I was pulling a five thousand pound man. However being stuck in this position, and not wanting to embarass meself, I did it! Not just once either! Must remember this moment when I feel like giving up!



I completed the 1.5 hr ride, I learned a lot and I was in sight of my van to get going to pick up my son from school. I was chatting away, not really paying attention, and.........did not clip out in time. I was falling and knew I could do nothing about it! So embarassing-my cell phone went flying, a part of my handle bar fell off. I think I must of turned a 1000 shades of red !

Upon reflecting on the circumstances, I guess I am very glad that I fell in a controlled setting. I am also thankful that I din't fall when I was going full speed ahead down the hill, and so glad that I didn't hurt Mr. P or myself. In the end, the two things I was most fearful of-my chain falling off and falling, happened yesterday. I am glad for that, because I now have confronted both of those fears and survived. A lesson for life-confront your fears head on instead of wasting energy worrying-alas easier said than done!