Logging in the miles: with yarn (an FO) and the biking

If you had told me a year ago that today I would be out enjoying myself cycling, I would have laughed and said, yeah right! But, I have surprised myself with what I can accomplish and with how much I am enjoying my ride. I have not broken a century, not even half of a century, but every single time I finish a ride I get both a sense of accomplishment and a great feeling inside. So far, I have done 4 rides: 1--20 miles, 2--27 miles, and today's 14 miles. My average speed is not much, I started at 10, but today I logged in 13.4, it is not a competitive speed at all but just thinking that just last year at this time I had never set foot on a bike makes me glow with a sense of accomplishment.

Today's ride was by far the most enjoyable of all of them, especially when I saw that my average speed jumped from yesterday's 11 to 13.4! I am learning how to shift and shifting at the appropriate times and it makes such a huge difference.  Here is a picture of me and my bike...as you can see I am a tubby little ball but I feel so happy right now, even with my tubbyness (can you see my big smile), I had just finished my 14 mile ride and I was feeling so great (1. for making it all the way  2. for still being alive and in one piece). Can't wait for the next ride (even if my bum complains!).

I am sure you are thinking...isn't this a knitting blog? hehehe, I have been knitting too, quite a bit actually. I am waiting for a little bit of yarn to arrive so I can finish the sample knit. But here is a finished project, or I guess is projects since it is two of them. This was a sample knit too for KnitPicks and they just posted the pictures over on the site, their pictures are a lot nicer than mine. The pattern is the Peek-a-Boo Cloche from the book LaceStyle. This pattern taught me a new way to start a hat: from the top down. This is a clever pattern for sure...never would have taught to knit a hat in this way--the liner is all stockinette and then it has a small cuff and from the cuff you start knitting the outside of the hat--really ingenious! The pattern definitely taught me something new and exciting!

I also bought more beads and some little bit of wire, so stay tune for another post on wire loom knitting!

Comments

[Denise]

ooooh girl!! You made the cover of the KnitPicks cataloge! !! Woo hoo!! I am not even in this months cataloge!!! WAHH

[Marsha in Ohio]

I do wire knitting with a smaller spool and have made several bracelets. You don't use needles, just wire an your pick at which you pick up the bottom wire and put it over the top and keep going around. You have the right idea, you do need to put your beads on first. I use Swaroski crystals. They are really pretty.

[KnitPastis]

Poping in to shout a Happy Mother's Day to you!!

[Nancy]

You tubby,, I think not. You look fabulous and with all that biking too! I cant remember the last time I was actually on a bike, and when I was younger, that used to be my mode of transportation for the longest! You look like a professional cyclist if I ever saw one!

Happy Mother's Day!

[KnitPastis]

Hey that's freaking awesome that you are riding that many miles! I think two might have been my tops except when I was a kid and just lived on my bike practically. Bet then I covered 10 to 15 miles a day easily:) I am so proud of you sticking to this. Talk about adorable, you rock in that outfit!
The hats for knitPicks are pretty cute!

[Zonda]

Hey! You are too cute! Great job on the biking! The hat turned out really well! :)

[Leslie Terry]

You are truly amazing! We are just starting to ride bikes together as a family. The kids love it so much.

[sincityspuds]

Way to go on the biking! I wish I could find a form of exercise that I'm as enthusiastic about. Congratulations!

[Cindy in Oregon]

You, my friend, are NOT tubby!!!!

Love the test knits you've been doing. I hope I get something equally interesting for my next one. :)

[Marisol]

Oh Stop you are not a tubby! You look awesome! Good for you that you are pursuing such a great sport and having such wonderful time all at the same time!

[Jeannie]

Tubby? Please! You look fabulous.

The hats are beautiful. The pattern looks like it takes alot of concentration to knit.

Can't wait to see the new loomy things you do.

Huggz!

[Elisabeth]

I'm excited for you and all of your bike riding. I like to ride bike as well. We have a doggy that enjoys coming everywhere we go though, so it's hard to go very far unless we drive our bikes away from the house when we want to go somewhere.

[B. Lee]

You go girl!!!

[Lynda]

Good for you and your bike! And, I agree, definitely not tubby. Keep up the good work!

[sprite]

Hooray for the bike riding! I went for an 11-mile ride on Sunday. My pace was ridiculously slow, but when do I expect when I stop every 50 yards to take photos of nature?

[Miriam]

You are not tubby, you are just under tall. You're small and in fairly good shape, you will just never have the long thin waist of a super model because you're just not shaped that way.

[ck]

You look adorable not tubby! And that body just rode 14 miles so it's a good body!

[Jennifer]

You are not tubby! You look fantastic. I'm glad you are enjoying biking so much.

[Laura]

I agree with Kim - you are not tubby, just normal sized! Nothing wrong with just learning how to ride a bike last year - I didn't learn how to ride a bike until I was 17 (my younger sister taught me). I haven't rode a bike in years though, so I'm afraid I'd hurt myself getting back on one! : ) Good for you for having the motivation to ride 20+ miles at a time!

[Kim]

Wow, good for you with the biking! I don't think you look tubby at all.

Cute hats, too!