Because cycling is a 'sexy' sport

Yesterday I was able to finally get "fitted" to my bike. Basically, this entails a bike fit specialist, (Adam at the bike pedlar), taking all the same measurements as a tailor measuring a man for a suit. Then he does some calculations and has you sit on your bike and pedal for a few minutes. BTW I had to wear my bike shorts for this...my Lycra/spandex tight-fitting, chamois-containing bike shorts. (A chamois is basically a pad built into the shorts for cushioning and comfort; when not on the bike, it feels a bit like wearing a diaper! ) Then he makes adjustments. I regret not having any pictures of this process...OK, maybe I don't regret it too much. Here's a great image of how it feels, though: http://www.bicycle.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/cycling-shorts-women.jpg

Oh, before we did the fitting, I had to try on my new shoes and choose new pedals.

Check out my new shoes. These are considered "road shoes" because they have a very stiff sole (mine is carbon fiber..ooh!!) and no tread. Bottom line: it's like walking around in glass slippers...literally. I had to buy covers for the cleats, which are the metal gadgets attached to the sole of the shoe. This is what clips into my new pedals. That's right, the little round metal opening on the bottom of my shoes fits around the pedal that resembles a pretty pink lollipop. So, while I'm riding my shoes are locked into the pedals. WARNING: stopping is an art. You have to "clip out" of your pedals in order to put your foot down on the ground. If you don't do it in time, you fall over while still attached to your bike. I've done it twice, it's not pretty. Here's my current battle wound from the most recent incident.

Do you have the whole mental picture now? Me in bike shorts with my gnarly bruised leg, walking around in road shoes that could kill me if I wasn't walking on carpet. Then, put all of that on a bike sitting atop a platform being watched by a 25year-old guy...and paying for it!!! This is why cycling is a sexy sport.

So, if you haven't yet contributed to my fundraising efforts with Team in Training, please do so now, if no other reason than sheer pity. Some may also wish to contribute to ensure that I will have to be in seen in public at the El Tour de Tucson in my sexy cycling garb. I accept that, that's OK with me. The whole point is to raise money for cancer research and save some one's life...like my mom's. She's worth it.

All of this was done so I would stop losing feeling in my feet. Tomorrow we have a 40mile ride scheduled...I'll let you know how it goes!