Last weekend we went on our first bike ride, and it was fantastic! Joe from 4K ’09 joined us, and of course Casey and Jose were there, so we had plenty of experienced riders who could give us some pointers. We biked around Lake Montebello around five or six times, all the while learning maneuvers and procedures, such as pace lining and clipping in and out of our bikes.
The bikes themselves are beautiful, but they handle a bit differently from any bike I used to ride. Firstly, it took a while to get used to changing gears. You really have to pop the shift lever hard! The bikes are also “jumpier” than I expected. Maybe it’s because they’re lightweight, or maybe it’s the skinner tires.
The hardest part of the ride, though, was learning to clip in and out of the bike. The bottom of the shoes actually attach to the pedals of the bike. That way, rather than only propelling yourself forward when you push down on the pedal, you can also gain momentum while pulling up. Clipping in is difficult because in order to balance, you have to be moving forward before both feet are in. Clipping out is easier, but if you forget you’re attached to the bike, falling becomes particularly easy. Once you get clipping down, though, it’s like riding a bike.
Kevin Cochran
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