Saturday dawned perfect and warm, the sky a beautiful cerulean blue. I was excited because I was going on the first real ride on my new bike (other than tackling 'the hill' I hadn't really ridden her) and I was going for my first ride with my fabulous race club. I had sent the organizer an email warning him that I was going to be the "B"-est of the "B" group and he replied "Great! Come on down!" so I was super stoked.

I rode from my house to the store where we started, getting passed on the way by a guy in team kit. I yelled out "tell them I'm on my way - don't leave without me!!" and tried to pick up the pace. I had thought it was about 5 miles from my house but it was closer to 7 and I was worried I'd be late. I characteristically took the wrong way into town but didn't have any trouble cutting over a block and finding a large, obvious group of cyclists congregating in the street.

I met the women going with the "B" group. There were 3 other women - 2 of them in Wildflower jerseys - my kind of people. Then team kit guy pulled up and said, "you made it - I didn't have to tell them at all". I'm pretty sure he must have stopped for some eggs Benedict on the way.

I told the "B" group leader I wouldn't go all the way because I had 14 miles round trip just between my house and the store and I wanted to do about 30 total for my first ride. After appropriately admiring my new ride (you just can't help it - trust me!) we took off.

The greatest minds on the planet could not have conjured up a more perfect ride . The women were super nice, the course was about as flat as it gets in these parts and it was beautiful - just perfect. I rode out to my 15 mile mark but by then I had been dropped by about 1/2 a mile so I had to keep riding to the turn so the other ladies wouldn't wait forever for me. I said my goodbyes and headed back but of course - took a wrong turn - and then another wrong turn. I'm not kidding when I say I could get lost in a walk in closet. Put a door on 2 sides and I will invariably walk out the one I didn't use to enter.

Distance = 34.5 miles; Time 2:42:56; Bliss - Total

I'm totally in love with this bike - it is perfect! I did get a case of SGS (smashed groin syndrome) but I think that is to be expected on a first ride. I'm going to give it one more go before going back to the shop for an adjustment. Admittedly, I was a little surprised this morning that placing my pull buoy made me wince a little.