Blackberries, bicycles, & the Burke
Buying a bicycle after not owning or riding one for 20 years can be a daunting task. Just ask my mom. The array of choices is mind boggling, and the helpfulness of staff at bike shops varies from “do you even like your job?” to “GIVE THIS MAN A RAISE ALREADY!” My mom had stubborn determination, though, about getting a bike. Many test rides, a sprained ankle, and four bike shops later, she settled on a stylish, entry-level road bike from R&E Cycles in Seattle. No girly comfort bike for her!
By the time our schedules opened up for a bike ride together, she already had two bike rides under her belt. (Way to go mom!) She’d been riding on the Burke Gilman Trail out of Logboom Park, so we decided to meet at Marymoor Park and ride a section of the trail in Redmond. Depending on the day and time, this section can be crowded with walkers/joggers, dogs on extendo leashes, two-year-olds on tricycles, bike racers getting in their workout, commuters, and recreational riders. We lucked out, though, and had the trail mostly to ourselves.
Smile enhance:
We rode north, enjoying the view of the newly “nativized” Sammammish Slough. My mom only rode off the trail twice - once because she was looking at the flowers, and once because “I distracted her.” Um, right. By the time we reached 60-Acres we’d been riding for about half an hour. This could only mean one thing: it was time for a blackberry snack!
After the critical refueling, we headed home again. This time we actually stopped to look at the flowers. When we got back to the Velodrome, I goaded her into finishing off the ride with a lap on the track. I don’t think she liked it very much. She was good humored about it, though, and it made me smile.
I’ve done longer rides. And I’ve done more scenic rides. I have never been so excited about a ride, though, than I was on Sunday morning. I hope the two of us enjoy many more bike rides together.
The trackback URL for this entry is: Trackbacks are disabled for this entry
Trackbacks:
Comments:
Next entry: Starcrossed Cyclocross
Previous entry: Must ... get ... carbon ... frame ....