A Change of Heart: The Story of Saphira
Remember my last post where I was telling you all about my nice bike that hubby, Sam, bought me for Mother's Day. Apparently, the store where I bought it was very eager to sell it and when they saw that I was a shorty and a newbie the salesperson thought that he could sell me this cute little bike.

I went home with a nice, entry level bike. It was small but I am small too so I figured I was alright.

My first ride (the 20 miler I was talking about on my last post) was painful on my bottom as well as my hands, but as a new cyclist I didn't know that my bike was too small. On my second ride, a 27 miler, a few more of my friends joined us on the ride and one of them, Amber, saw me scrunched on my bike and pedaling as fast as I could. I was working harder than I had to. The frame was way too tiny for me--can you believe it! Usually everything is too large but apparently and XS Specialized is too small for me, I need a Small.

After that second ride, hubby and I looked at my pretty bike and with regret loaded it up and took it to the store. After speaking to the Manager abou the situation right away she said that the bike was too small and a mistake had been made. She apologized and started looking for a replacement. Since it was already the middle of May most of the bikes had been sold and a bike in my size was nowhere to be found. She could order one for me but it would take 6 weeks to arrive. I refused to wait that long! By then Summer would be over. So she kept searching, after calling a few distributors, she found 1 bike. A Ruby Comp Triple. A bit of an upgrade all around from my first bike but my size. After consulting with my husband, we decided to go for it. Two days later my new bike arrived.

My Saphira, all carbon frame with 105 components all around was finally here but none of that really mattered more than the fact that it was my size!

by Isela Phelps on Fri, Mar 21, 2008 @ 3:34 PM

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How it All Started
My bike and I can make a difference in this world. I started riding in 2007, it all began as a way to be with my friends, then it evolved into my main hobby, now, it has become my lifestyle. I enjoy cycling, running, swimming but most of all, I love the example that I am giving my children.

I have other less active hobbies such as knitting and loom knitting. These two used to consume my life and while lots of fun I was not feeling completely satisfied. Day after day I would sit in front of the TV knitting or looming. My children knew that this was "Mommy's time" and they were happy to just play around in the living room while I sat and knitted. Although I can move my fingers really fast it is really not considered aerobic exercise and after spending about 5 years of my life sitting on my butt knitting, my rear end kept expanding along with my waistline. I wanted to do something about it but I lacked the inspiration/desire.

The moment that changed my life: seeing a group of neighbors outside my house all decked out in their biking gear and nice shiny bikes. I felt so out of place. I wanted to join them but I felt fat and so clumsy, not to mention I had onlyl learned to ride a bike the Summer before (2006), my 6 year old child can ride a bike better than I can. I went inside and although I wanted to cry, I choked on my tears and decided to stop feeling sorry for myself. There was only one person holding me back and only one person could change it, that person was me. At that moment, I decided to change my habits and start putting a little bit more time into other aspects of my life.

My sweet hubby probably sensed my pain and he suggested me joining the gals. I told him I didn't have a bike and reminded him that I just had learned to ride a bike the year before. He chuckled and said that I could handle it! That very same afternoon, he took me and bought me my road bike. It was my Mother's Day present! It was beautiful! I tried it, rode it, and loved it. It was a bit more fast than my other bike but I fell in love with it.

My first ride: My friend Jo and DD took me out to Amalga for a "quick" 20 miler. I had regular shorts on, no gloves, but I did have a helmet. I was at the back all the time but they kept checking on me at regular stops and encouraging me. I felt so powerful! I was feeling the adrenaline and it was pumping up my self confidence. We came home and I was beat! My butt hurt, my hands hurt, but my heart was rejoicing! I had done it! I had ridden 20 miles.

by Isela Phelps on Thu, Mar 20, 2008 @ 11:49 AM

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