Iowa Legs

Last year when I moved to Dubuque I knew it would be a challenge.  From my work, to making new friends, and finding new roads to ride.  And Dubuque held up its end of the deal and pushed me farther and harder in every area than I had been in a long time.  But eventually I made progress - fantastic friends, tough but needed job decisions, and many, many miles on some very hilly roads.  Now as I settle into my life back in Minnesota sometimes I fear that I am losing my Iowa-ness.

I was reminded this week that even though my feet may be in Minnesota, Iowa is still in my legs.  I went on my first group ride with the Central Minnesota Bike Club, a group that was the brain child of bike junkies from Bowlus who were looking for a way to meet more like-minded bike riders and to embrace the miles and miles of rail-to-trail systems here in Central Minnesota.  As I started to unpack my bike at the trailhead, I met some of the club members and learned about the ride options for the night.  During all of the information, I latched onto a rider, Beth, a seasoned rider who was going to ride the same course option as me. We soon turned onto the road and into our first little climb that would lead us over I94, and then rolled down and back up into another climb.

Over 24 CMBC riders for the night (photo credit - Jan Lasar) 

As we settled into this second climb, I was amazed at how strong my legs and breathe felt.  Beth even gave me the most wonderful compliment of "you are a good little climber!"  As soon as she mentioned the hills, I immediately thought of my rides in Dubuque where the hills go on forever and you felt like you never had enough gears to shift through to help ease the ride to the top.

But on that day, these Minnesota hills seemed much simpler.  They still required some shifting and extra pedaling, but I began to notice that my feelings towards these hills were different.  My legs didn't loath the climbs, instead there were happy to push up them, to see what was at the top.  It was as if I was smarter about these hills and even though I had never ridden or driven them before, I wanted to be on them because I knew my legs were strong enough to take them on.  Legs that were built and trained in the Mississippi valleys of Dubuque.

In the last year I have learned so much about the hills in my life and which ones I want to be on and which ones will teach me something.  But that is the funny thing about hills - when you find yourself in the middle of a climb you learn so much.  You learn about what you are capable of, who is there to support you, and to train yourself and your legs on how to be a better climber.  As we finished our ride for the night,  Jan, one of the club leaders, asked me how I liked the ride.  I wanted to burst with expression as to how much I enjoyed the night - the group, being back on my bike, the conversations, the post ride meal to come, and the beautiful route.  But, of course I simply replied - "I loved it!"

You know found the right group when bike maps
are passed around and routes are traced with butter knifes
and stories are swapped with great hand gestures

Once I loaded my car back up and made my way to the American Burger Bar to our post ride meal, I smiled as I felt the breeze hit my face.  This had been a long and cold winter and I never thought this day would come.  A day filled with new faces, two-wheels, and lots rolling hills.