Oh Boy, Oh Boy!

Spring break is a mere two hours away and I am so ready! My husband is taking some time off of work so we can have a little getaway and spend some much needed RR&R (rest, recreation, and romance ;) time together. Originally we had planned on going up to Yosemite as he has never been and I practically grew up there (my dad worked there when I was little and my mom and I lived in Fresno, not far away). I wanted to go before the heat of summer so the waterfalls would be huge, but we like to travel on the cheap and it wasn't really working out for Yosemite. The tent city place (Curry city, I think?) was in our budget and sounded cool, but maybe a little too cool, as in totally freezing at night this time of year. We postponed the Yosemite trip and tried to think of another idea. I suggested something that we had plans for in late summer (sorry Gale): bike wine tasting in San Ynez. With my new passion for biking and our long love-affair with wine tasting, this was the perfect trip to relieve some stress and reconnect. I tried to research hotels, but I am no good at it, so I left it up to my hubby. This is why he is in charge of planning trips. Look where we're staying!

Nothing I love more than a tastefully decorated hotel room. OMG I cannot wait for this little trip. I am making a map of the wineries I want to visit. Fess Parker and Firestone are a couple of great ones and they're really close to each other. We always like to hit up a couple of unknown ones as well to get some good deals on wine, although I'm going to need a bike basket if we plan on buying any (hint, hint to the hubby). Last time we visited the area we didn't go to Sanford and I'd love to make it there too, but we might have to drive. I'll be sure to blog about the trip and report back on drunk biking. I have a feeling it is going to be pretty hilarious.

Bike Rack

Any time I have gone on a bike ride that wasn't right in our neighborhood, my husband has to stuff my bike in the back of his car so I can drive it to our starting point. This Saturday, he wanted to come with (or I wanted him to and he kindly obliged), but we can't fit both bikes inside the car. We were going to need a bike rack eventually (it was going to be one of my bday presents), so we rushed to target that morning and bought one designed for a sedan.

I was so excited when I read on the box "no assembly required", but I realized that doesn't mean "easy to figure out". It took us a while to get the thing on the car and secured properly and even when we did, it seemed like the slightest bump might send the bikes into orbit. We made it to our friend's and back without losing any bikes, so I guess it worked out, but I probably won't be able to drive like that. I'm a wuss.

Have you ever put anything together? Ikea much?

What a steal!

Even though Schwinny (my new bike) and I had a little accident on Saturday, I still love her and appreciate what a great ride I had on her up until the fall. I was looking on Amazon.com today for bike accessories and saw my exact bike listed for $199! Remember, my husband bought her on clearance at Target for $50. What a steal!

 

Source

I am really excited for this Saturday's ride. Not sure where we're going yet, but I know my friend Roxanne and I will look super cute with our twins-y bikes (she ran out and bought the last one the same day I did).

What great steals and deals have you found lately?

New Bike! ...and first big fall

In my previous post, I said I was asking for a bike for my birthday coming up in March. For some reason, I had it stuck in my head that I wanted a Schwinn so I found one for almost $200 at Walmart and put it on my wishlist. Well, I went to target Friday after work to buy some junk food because I was seriously PMSing and went to check out the bikes, just for fun. Guess what I found?? A women's Scwinn "Comfort" bike, originally $200 on sale for $50!!! I had to ask a manager why it was on sale because I was worried something was wrong with it. He said they probably discontinued the model and Target had a large stock and needed to get rid of them to make room for new models. I immediately emailed my husband to see if he wanted me to put it on hold since it was such a good deal and I could have my present early (and get all the cool accessories I wanted, since the price was a third of what I thought he would have to spend). He gave me the ok and now I have an AWESOME bike!

Isn't she pretty?? I need to name her...

Well, I was dying to try her out, so my husband and I decided to ride to the post office because I also had to check and renew my PO box. It was about a 5 mile ride there and all on busy streets. I kept making my husband go first because I get nervous and tend to space or freak out. On our way back, after stopping by DeLightVille to say hi to some friends, he told me to go in front and I almost died. I was thinking about who-knows-what and went into a cross walk at the end of a very busy freeway offramp (I did have the right-of-way, but should have looked to make sure a car wasn't coming... they just had a yield signal, no light or stop sign). There was a car coming and it screeched to stop in time and I freaked and hit my front wheel brake and went right over my handlebars. Luckily, I let go and put my hands out in front of me so I didn't face plant, but I got a little scraped up and very shaken up. I also snapped off my front reflector.

One of my battle wounds.

I dusted myself off, caught my breath, and continued on the way home. I'm glad I wasn't hit by a car on the first ride with my new bike, but it definitely taught me a lesson about paying attention when riding. On trail rides I can let my mind wander, but on the streets or sidewalks even, I have to keep my head in the game.

Have you ever been in a bike accident?

What should I name my new baby?

Ojai Bike Ride

On Saturday, a few friends and I went on a bike ride in Ojai, CA. It was a beautiful day, though a bit chilly, and we had an amazing time.

We parked the car in Oakview and rode about 7 miles to a golf club in Ojai. We had an incredible lunch (thanks, Gale!) and headed back the other way. We stopped at this coffee shop and parked our bikes next to some horses! So charming!

On the way there, we were on an incline almost the entire way. Two of the riders had electric bikes and two of us did not. Every time I heard the whir of someone's battery, I would think, "No fair!" But, you know what? I did the whole thing unassisted (except the last 10 minutes when I got to try the ebike on a hill even it couldn't climb) and I got a great workout. I am excited for the next ride!

Bike Ride

As I mentioned in my last post, one of my New Years resolutions is to have no regrets in 2010. I want to look back on this year and remember tons of great new experiences. One of these that I will surely remember is the 8 mike bike ride I just did on Sunday. The trail started in Newbury Park and ended at the beach. For hardcore riders, the hard part is coming back. We didn't even think of doing that. I mean, let's be real: the most in-shape I have ever been is nowhere near that kinds of in-shape. The easy part for the pros was really hard for me. My body was a bowl of jelly by the time I was done. But it was a great feeling. It was a beautiful day and I felt alive. All photos below taken by the Haley family.

At the start of the ride. I'm in purple on the far right. I was soooooo nervous!

This was the first really big hill. I had to walk almost the whole thing. You can see me waiting at the top. I thought I was having an asthma attack, that's how out of breath I was. This was one of those moments when I thought, "I can't do it. Let's go home." But, I kept going...

This was right after that other hill. Can you imagine biking UP this?? I guess many people can, but not me. I'm going to need years of training before I go there. What's funny, is that even though this is downhill, it was still hard! I was afraid of going to fast and falling off a cliff, so I had to ride the brakes hard and ma hands were killing me!

I'm so glad my friend Michelle's dad, Dave, was able to bike and take pictures at the same time! I certainly couldn't.

So pretty and peaceful and rejuvenating. Can't wait to go again on Saturday!

Scarfing down lunch at the beach at Sycamore Cove. I was soooooo hungry.

What a reward for all that work! It was an amazingly beautiful day. January in CA... unbelievable.

Point Mugu, north of Malibu, CA.

Wow. Loving life.