NO WAY!! turns into YES, LET'S!!!

Hubby wanted us to get mountain bikes. It took a good few weeks and lots of soul searching to get from a) “NO WAY!! I could never do that!” to b) “Well…maybe…” to c) “Yeah! I think I can give it a go” to d) “Yes, let’s go to the bike shop” All the daft, mostly negative, thoughts of the day went through my head. What will the neighbours think? What if I fall off? Pictures of Dumbo pre-flight and flying. No bike will cope with my short-legged bulk! My face will go all red and sweaty, no - purple and sweaty! People will laugh at me. What will I wear? No way they’ll make bike gear in my size! You name it - I thought it. Funnily enough very rarely did I think of physical obstacles, mostly psychological ones! Shows where my head was at. I’m not sure how I managed to get from a-d above. My hubby, as always, was a great help, I'd never have done it without him. It's been a rough year til now, but that's another story, and he got me through that too. One of the first catalysts, or inspirations, for me was the sight of a local shop assistant out power walking – red faced, but going for it big time. When next we saw her she was slimmer and had a spring in her step previously unseen. Around halfway through the “process” of changing my mind-set about this, we took a trip to Halfords (a shop I had previously felt “allergic” to!) It wasn’t so bad. No-one stared at me as I stared at the bikes. There were all sorts of interesting gadgets, computers and the like (more my kind of thing – cerebral rather than physical!) But overall it wasn’t as scary as I thought. I started looking on the internet and came across a reference to a bike forum with a sub-section for cyclists over 200lbs. Sounded like the place to look. It was… It was inspirational. That sounds like I’m being a bit of a nut, but truly it changed my outlook. Here were people, scattered mostly over the US, but some from elsewhere, who were full of enthusiasm and encouragement. Some are athletic giants and others more podgy lumps (like me). But they were supportive of the little steps people were taking as well as the big ones. Many had BLOGS filled with tales of their individual triumphs. They were giving practical advice, as well as moral support to each other. I’m so grateful I stumbled across it. It struck me that, here in the UK, so many people are so worried about being “cool” that they forget that some of us will never be “cool”, don’t want to be “cool”, but have a right to “be all we can be”. I’m on my soap box now, but it really has made me think about my attitude, as well as other people’s.

So that was it, in my head I had made that leap, it would be good for us. I will do it.

I asked a few questions of http://www.bikeforums.net/ What stars they are, can't thank them enough...Have a look!

We had a look on the web to learn a bit about sizes and specs and such things. Next step was walking into the local bike shop to get measured and ask their advic,e. Off we went... I was nervous, but realised just getting through the door was a big change for me. I'm not used to trying to do things without being sure I'll succeed, usually I'd chicken out. But I did it. The guy in the shop was a gem. He was short, like me (I'm 5'2") but half my girth. He reassured me the bikes would be strong enough(!) and that I could get one short enough too. Hubby being "normal", though he has long legs and a short body, (my opposite) wasn't a problem.

Spent half that night discussing it. We decided if we were going to do it we should do it right and decided to up our budget and buy better bikes than we'd first thought of and went back the next day, descision made.

We went for Marins, me a Juniper Trail and hubby a Rocky Ridge. He checked they were in stock and that was that. Mine would arrive in less than a week, hubby's mid November. Blimey, we'd done it.

Waited, more impatiently than I had imagined, and went to get fitted and pick it up. It looked great. When I sat on it in the shop it seemed so alien, but there was no going back! Thought we'd need it delivered but managed to get it in the back of the car.

We'd bought good helmets too, so we were all set.

The chap we'd first seen at the shop said it night be a good idea to have the saddle lower initially to help with my confidence. I hadn't been on a bike for over 35 years! So that's what we did.

My first few turns of the pedals were very tentative, needed holding up(!) but I stayed upright and managed down to the bottom of the lane, a u-turn(!) and back again. All of less than 100yards probably, but I didn't fall off!!!! I felt absurdly pleased with myself - you'd think I'd done a marathon!