Conquered!

I am not a big mountain biking fan, or a fan of regular exercise (that is, exercise for exercise sake, as opposed to working hard and exerting energy/calories while working - that's fun). I consider the former fun if I'm with somebody who knows what they're doing (like Dave Oliver) and I have the right bike. I consider the latter a necessary evil.

However, I've had to start doing both in order to get myself in better shape for a variety of reasons. So, I've taken to riding a little over 4 miles a day, with the goal of working up to seven miles as the months progress. It's easier on my shins than jogging, and much warmer than swimming in the local lake in December. Plus, with our exercise bike, when the weather gets bad, I can continue.

The point of the title... So, in order to ride anywhere of significance longer than a couple hundred yards, I have to get on our hill. (This picture is not our hill, but it looked cool, so I used it). So, my ride takes me down our hill, a distance of about .8 miles (not that I'm counting or anything). The trip down is fast and fun, with more braking than not. Shari and I both need new brakes on our bikes. The trip up is a bit more challenging. I'm not sure of the slope/how steep it is, but it's a beast. My first day I made it a less than 1000 feet. Each day I made it a little farther. Last Friday was the celebration day - I made it all .8 miles up this steep beast. This week, I've proven it's not a fluke - I've made it every day, and, like Dave told me years ago when I started mt. biking with him, every day it got a bit easier. My goal is not only seven miles, but to make the trip up the hill in second gear. I'm not setting any speed records, but I am burning calories, strengthening my legs, and getting my heart and lungs in shape. Someday maybe I'll even be able to fit back into those 32 in. jeans I used to wear.