Back from my Sunday ride and a quick drink with the women in the cycling group.
I have under a month until the 85 mile ride, my first real distance ride. I am feeling cautious optimism. My local bike shop is queer owned. The owners are super nice, real allies in my transition. We've worked out a plan for bike tune up and minor tweaks that allows me to keep riding. We did a tire swap out with tubes, a new chain, disc brake pads, and some derailleur tuning between Friday and today. They'll repack the steering tube bearings, bleed the brakes, and upgrade my pedals. They talked me into better shoes - "3 holes road shoes" over "2 hole mt bike shoes". I think I'll get maybe a little extra power.
Today-- I got a quick 50 mile lesson in pace lines. Riding 6 - 8 inches off the tire in front of me. Kinda a cool thing. Plus one friend is a very good coach, so I got tips on pace, and climbing. Things feel like they are coming together. I need a lot of miles though.
The weekend ride's turned into a really fun thing for me. Good workout then social time after.
Other than that-- life is hectic. I go have a board meeting for my 'Pride' non profit in the week. Still need to get my yoga on (Monday), training class for the LGBTQ speakers bureau I am joining.. and next weekend I will see cousins. My cousins all know. We're not close and most have never seen. That'll change. Frankly, it is not a big deal anymore. It just is a thing that is a going to happen.
anyway,
off to relax,
~Jenn