Ride #1, San Ramon to Sunol

I have lived in the SR area for two years now and I can honestly say that this was the first time I had really gone "exploring" in my own back yard.This, being the first ride was exciting and scary. The MS 150 will be my first "big girl" ride and a big step up from lazily riding the Iron Horse Trail on a breezy Sunday afternoon. I was so excited though! I had even just procured some new pedals and shoes (in an attempt to prevent my right foot from falling asleep a mile 17) and ooh were they gorgeous accessories!But, the drama was to come! It took 3 trips to the bike store in Concord to get 1) a full set of pedals 2) the corrrect pedals - in that order 3) the pedals on the bike. Number one and two I was able to make happen 1 & 2 on Friday night just squeaking in before closing to get correction #2. But I was determined to be somewhat self sufficient and get the pedals on myself that evening. But the old pedals were insistant on staying on the bike for this first ride. So with my old pedals and broken down shoes I was ready to pedal my heart out that following Saturday morning. And boy did I work! Our group sped along at 15 mph (which is a new challenge for me); I spun my little legs and lugged my "ol' faithful" bike along the route. I relished every break, munched on my trail mix granola bar (it was, in that moment, better than any fine dining experience you could imagine), and I hobbled around for a few minutes to decrease the pins in needles settling into my right toes until we were off again. But, I was surviving! And then came that final hill. Sucking wind faster than any Hoover vaccume I trudged my way up. Just a little more I told myself; it was the small wins that got me the top (and the two super wonderful encouragers in the back who vowed to leave no rider behind). I quickly converted O2 into C02, and slowly cranked the pedals. Finally the top! But the sweetest piece of all... the journey down. Ol' Faithful is a bit heavier than some of the newer bikes, but that weight sent me FLYING down that hill! And just like that, I was nearly at the top of the group. Rad.With a simply fabulous group of people I pedaled and pushed myself the 27 or so miles to then end. But quickly I realized... I've got some more work to do. But, I now can do my work with fabulous new pedals and shoes :D