"Workout by Frederick"

That sounds like a workout video? Well, today seemed like one....

Yesterday, Frederick and I made plans to ride today. He did not want to tell me exactly where we would ride though; I just had to meet him at his place on the West side. One thing I must add, is that he figured out something that can help me become a "better cyclist." I thought that simply practicing on the bike, would make me a better cyclist. I was wrong... there is more to just practicing riding.

Today, started off a little slow. I was supposed to meet him at 11am, but I had a long night the night before. I just wanted to cancel and stay home, but I figured we can meet up a little later. We decided that 1pm would be a good time; he told me I did not have to go in biking gear. He said to just go in sweats, but I will need my bike, helmet and shoes.

Anyhow, being that I didn't have to go in the biking shorts, I decided to just went go in jeans. I get to his house, and he noticed I was in no mood to cycle. I rolled up my jeans and started to ride out (I looked funny with my jeans rolled up). I still had no clue as to where we would be going.

We started to ride out into his neighborhood and went into a vacant parking lot. That was our area to ride in. I was happy that we didn't have to ride out on the streets but still had no idea as to what he was doing....... until he tells me, this is where I would learn how to practice my right turns.

We put our bikes down, and he starts to show me some "body movements" that cyclists do on the ride. " they were funny to look at, move your hips to the right and your upper body to your left, then do the opposite. This is what I need to learn so that i can make my left and right turns more easily- it is the movement of leaning your body towards that turn.

After a few "workout sessions", we started to ride in the lot. He wanted to me swerve in and out, so i would be making right and left turns as i rode. Imagine the movements like a race car drivers as they drive throw the red cones, in and out. That is what I was doing.

We did that for a while, then i started to do bigger turns. Once again, I just could not get the right turns. I am just having a difficult time leaning in towards the Right. It's okay, i have a few months to master it.. and i will!

Anyhow, after a while, we just called it a day- my energy was too low. I told him that next time, i would be more prepared, with more energy.


It's amazing how one gets taken care of in the group. The word is out that i have problems clipping in and out of my pedals, and JR helps me with it. The word is out that i have problems with my right turns and Frederick helps me out on it. This type of fellowship makes it worth doing the ride.

Until next time...