A beautiful, sunny day in Mount Dora, Florida. Perfect setting for some practice.
Let me fill you in on something – while I have been riding consistently now for about 2 1/2 years, there are some things that terrify me. Oh, yes…hills, cornering, and downhill speed in general. So I decided it would be a good idea to get some personal instruction, tailored towards me. I had participated in the Women on Wheels ride put on by Peloton Cyclist Club. Tracy Draper, an avid cycler, had given me a few tips, along with the rest of the group. I knew then that once I figured out the right time, I was going to try to work with Tracy. She offers instruction to those interested in improving — yep, that’s me!
The night before, I was already getting prepared. My lights were charging. My gloves and helmet were in my bag. Tires pumped. Kit laid out. I made the trek out to Mount Dora. Completely worth it.
The day started out chilly. In March 40-50 degrees is chilly. We had planned to start mid-morning, so that took the edge off. I drove up to Mount Dora (did I mention it is kind of a trek) and enjoyed the beautiful countryside on my way. Entering the lovely town of Mount Dora, I spotted Tracy already on her bike. She greeted me with a wave. I found a place to park and started to get my gear ready.
Tracy was welcoming and put me at ease right away. I was filled with excitement and some anxiety. Here was a well-known cyclist who has a lot of miles under her belt working with a newbie (you are considered a rookie your first 3 years of cycling – that’s me!). Tracy is the most down to earth person. We got on the road for a warm-up. This gave Tracy a chance to get to know me and my skill level. She already knew my fears.
Safety was one of the first things we talked about as we started the warm-up. Stopping at stop signs, lights. Communicating to other riders and drivers through several means including eye contact with drivers, hand signals (all the cyclists should do this, not just one), and verbally.
I practiced clipping and unclipping on the left. It’s important to be able to do this on both sides because you never know when you might need to unclip or what side to unclip from – GENIUS! So that is homework for me.
Going up and down hills was also on the agenda. She called them little hills. They gave me enough of a workout that I felt them the next day.
Riding while standing is a skill I had not learned. She went over the basics, and I practiced (and felt those the next day, too).
I learned how to do U-turns. While I had initially learned this on the Women’s’ ride last fall, I needed a refresher. This one-on-one instruction gave me some of the finer tips I either forgot or missed.
Tracy gave me a lot of things to soak up. I have 3 main takeaways (aka homework): practice clipping and unclipping on the left, practice pedaling while standing, and u-turns.
The time passed so quickly. I cannot wait to work with Tracy again to improve. It was a great confidence builder.
After the ride, I had to have my ritual cup of coffee. I had seen the cutest little shop on my way in. A short walk after putting my bike away, and I was there. The Coffee Branch Cafe, owned by Mitzie & Vivian, is a wonderful little coffee spot on West 5th Avenue. Vivian greeted me with a warm smile. The choices were inviting, and I selected a caramel macchiato (hot). She chatted with me while she made my order. This wonderful little cafe was named after the road her dad grew up on. I thought that was such a great tribute, and how it must make for wonderful memories. Soon enough my order was ready, and it hit the spot! Thank you, Vivian!
Read more about Tracy Draper’s cross country adventure – cyclist and author: “Live It: Riding the Highs and Lows of a Cross Country Dream“.
Regards,
Diana | TeamOne
