Who needs a reason to celebrate one of the few rites of passage for most childhoods?  Yes, that's learning to ride a bike.  Cycling is a great way to exercise and to experience your environment.  Plus, it is an environmentally friendly form of transportation. I can say cycling is one of my favorite things to do.  I'm teaching my son to ride his bike as well.

May is National Bike Month!  The League of American Bicyclists provided step by step ways to celebrate at their site.  Today, May 21st is Bike to Work Day, too!

Have a great time cycling!

Savor life's best,

Aimee

P.S. It is true that you never forget how to ride a bike.  My first time back on a bike about 10 years ago proved that.  I'm planning a century ride in the near future.

www.OccasionsToSavor.com

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It is so true - You never forget how to ride a bike.  Yesterday, I took my mountain bike hybrid back on the road again.  I knew it had been a long time.  How about 4 1/2 years...  In October 2004, it was my last bike ride during a suburban Philadelphia cycling tour.  I remember it vividly for several reasons:

1. I rode over 100 total miles in 6 bike tours that year (my personal best)

2. It was extremely cold during that October 2004 ride.  The weather was misty and cold, like under 50 degrees or so.  I stiffened up during that ride and remembered it took a little longer to complete.

3. The determination to finish that ride was great.  I can almost picture myself cycling through the PA / NJ roadways for this particular ride.

Yesterday's ride was the first one since October 2004.  I stopped riding once I became pregnant.  Since I felt unsteady on a stationary bike and had to switch my workouts throughout my pregnancy, I figured riding my mountain bike would have to be put on hold.  Raising a child as a single mother, plus my other responsibilities did not leave much time for resuming my passion for cycling.  However, the longing I felt when I saw someone riding down the street on their bike with their cycling gear and add-on equipment to their bike was too great to bear any longer.

After sitting unused for so long, my bike needed a few adjustments:  air in the tires, adjustments to my brakes, and purchasing a new quick release handle for my front tire (I moved twice since 2004 and lost the quick release handle somewhere along the way).  I also needed a new pump and helmet as I could not locate my old ones in my stored boxes.

You never forget how to ride a bike when you truly love it.  After spending several hours getting everything taken care, I hopped on and rode down the street.  The funny thing is I never realized how hilly my neighborhood was as I usually ride in a car not a mountain bike.  With a few detours, I maneuvered over to less hilly streets and just felt the wind on my face and heard the breeze in my ear.  It was unforgettable!  A friend asked if my legs felt rubbery afterwards.  My legs felt fine.  In the past, I usually get sore two days later, which is today, and I still feel great.  Now, I'm thinking about how I can squeeze a cycling journey into my full and active schedule.

If you have a passion on hold, I encourage you to plan to reconnect and indulge.  There is nothing like savoring something that brings you joy!

Savor life's best,

Aimee

www.OccasionsToSavor.com

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Two years ago, when forming my company, Occasions To Savor, I started to use the term "Savor".  I realized what way I approached life and how I viewed my life's experiences.  While it isn't a common term used outside the context of cooking, it describes my philosophy of life, including new experiences and favored activities.

Nearly 9 years ago, I started cycling (bought my own mountain bike - hybrid) to join my neighbors on a summertime daily trip to a nearby ice cream shop.  The most direct route was to cruise down a steep hill and around the corner to the ice cream shop.  In order to get home, we had to climb the steep hill, which at first I couldn't do while riding.  For my neighbors, they eventually discontinued cycling.  I embraced it and began riding in local bike rides and tours.  I enjoyed the challenge of our local terrain.  Did you realize a particular neighborhood or route is different riding in a car than being close to nature - on foot or on a bike?  I found I enjoyed the breeze as you coasted along.  I enjoyed the challenge of the hills or dodging potholes on broken roads.  I sought ways to incorporate cycling in my life.

At the present, I don't ride like I did at my peak in 2004.  I get close to nature at a local park when I take walks or play with my son.  We feel the breeze.  We observe the formation of the green grass or the how the dirt arranges itself on the ground.  We watch the trees sway.  We stare at the blue sky or comment on the shape of the clouds.  Although this isn't a daily activity, it is a treasured experience for us.  That's what I like to "Savor".

Savor life's best,

Aimee