First of all, thank you to all my recent new sponsors! It is not possible for me to meet this Challenge without you. Really. All in, this has been a great breakthrough weekend cycling wise. I have actually figured out how to clip in and out of the pedals with these very cool shoes (they’re not called “Specialized” for nothin’) Basically you stomp on the pedals (a little like getting into cross country ski bindings) to get in and twist your foot (NOT ankle) to get out. Paul at Anderson Cycling set me up. Again. Gave me helpful advice. Again. Made adjustments right then and there. Again. Another one of the many in the village who are making this possible.

The shoes/pedals really just let you forget about your feet and mindmeld your legs and effort to the pedals and crank. My tempo has picked up considerably.

Two Long Rides this weekend, one on Saturday, one on Sunday; 30 miles and then 20 miles. I also field tested some Gatorade for the first time ever. Oh, I get it. I should have tried that when I was hiking in the White Mountains last summer. And two summers before that. And the year before. I thought it was just for, well, never mind. I bought a case of orange flavored at Lowes (??Lowes?? Yep.)

I will be taking the bicycle to work tomorrow to cycle around the Naturally Beautiful Sharon, MA after school. New pedals, spandex suit, sunglasses. A disguise.