Ride With Me!




I love sports! Growing up, I fancied myself an olympian. I was the girl with eyes glued to the TV set cheering for the Lakers as they won championships in the 80s, at the tail end of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's storied career. I sat mesmerized while watching a documentary of Nadia Comaneci scoring a perfect 10. With the exception of baseball, most sports excite me such that if I had been born with the strength, balance, coordination, agility, grace, and precision that athletes possess, I would be one. But, alas!

To demonstrate how inept I am at any type of physically demanding activities, it seemed I was the only 10-year-old who did not know how to ride a bike in the entire world. My cousins tried to teach me during the summer breaks, but it soon became apparent that I was not cut out for it. I was of the opinion, however, that had I been given enough opportunity to harness my skill, I would've learned how to bike eventually. Unfortunately my mother preferred me holed up inside the house learning the piano instead of biking around with the boys in the neighborhood. 

Over the years, I've tried my hand at volleyball, basketball, badminton, tennis, and swimming. All have reiterated the fact that I was simply born to be good at other things such as screaming my head off watching NBA games. 

Two years ago, I saw a video on YouTube of a 60-something woman learning how to ride a bicycle. And she did it in an hour! Armed with the confidence that if a 60-year-old could ride a bike, surely I could! I bought a bike, went to the park, and in 30 minutes I was biking!


First bike. It served me well.

So begins the journey that led me to this moment. What started as an item checked off my bucket list has become a weekly habit. I even got my friends to join in. They were hesitant, initially, because it involved investing time, money, and a lot of effort. But I have some good convincing powers. Plus they learned how to bike as children so riding again was not too much of a challenge. Every week, we pick a bike trail to negotiate and we ride!


Current ride.

Biking, I found, is as enjoyable as driving. I sing, think, plan, pray, and sometimes just let my mind go blank so I get the benefits of exercising my brain, body, and spirit while riding my bike. I still have several struggles because even though I no longer consider myself a beginner, I'm no expert either. But everytime I lose my balance, I right myself; each time I find myself crashing to the ground, I get up and dust myself off. And going up a hill will always be a killer but once you've crested it and you start coasting down with the cool early morning air brushing against your face, it's the most exhilirating feeling!

NYC Five-Borough Bike Tour? Twin Lights Ride? Tuscany Bike Tour? Tour de France? Anything is possible!

Who's not sporty now?


Perks of biking early on a Saturday morning.




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