I’ve started cycling more this season than ever before - I’ve even purchased my first gravel/road bike! It’s been fun to take a childhood skill and improve upon it as I learn more and become stronger. It also has me reminiscing about a day last September when I rode a road bike for my first time. I was visiting a friend in Nova Scotia, and borrowed her husband’s bicycle one day while they were both working. I was going to pick up lunch in town and then bike 18km on secondary highways to a nearby beach. It wasn’t the nicest day out, but I wanted to move my body and see more of the landscape around Pictou County.

I hopped on the bike and head towards New Glasgow’s main street, only to realize that I had no clue how to shift gears on a road bike! I saw that the wires went into the brake but I couldn’t figure out what to do with the thing! I ended up pulling onto the sidewalk and googling instructional videos to figure it out. I was so embarrassed but finally found the hidden levers and continued on my way.

It can be frustrating learning new skills as an adult. We often think things should be easier than they are, and it’s intimidating when it feels like everyone around you is a master at something you’re only just beginning. I’m noticing this a lot since moving to the mountains - there are so many cool sports that I’ve hardly even dipped my toes into. Sometimes fear gets the best of me and I wonder why I should even try - I’m only going to embarrass myself. But then I remind myself that I’m not doing this - be it mountain biking, skiing, kayaking, or anything else - for other people to see how good I am, I’m doing it because it looks like fun and I want to try it out for myself. There’s no harm in trying something and not being good at it on your first go. Or the next 50 for that matter. If you’re having fun, keep trying. And if you’re not, try something else. It’s as simple as that (in theory at least).

The rest of my ride to the beach that day was more difficult than I expected. It had some big hills and I was passed a couple times by other cyclists. I missed a turn and ended up going further than I needed to. But I did put on my jacket right before it started raining, so I count that as a win! Plus I biked over 35km that day - if you’re not impressed with me, I am! Also, the views were lovely and I got a great work out.