Spending some time riding with my daughter Jess
Mostly when you read this blog you are going to hear about racing, training, and all of our other misc cycling adventures. I want to take a step back from that and tell you a little bit about why I do all the crazy things on my bike that I have done; and will continue to do.
Let’s go back about 7 years. I was newly divorced with two young children. At this point it seems people make one of two choices: A) have a mid- life crisis or B) completely turn their lives around. I chose option B, but it wasn’t without the help of a friend. I was clearly walking down the path of option A in life – making bad choices, until a friend invited me to do something different. We went for a bike ride down the Katy trail to Augusta for lunch. I had not been on a bike since I was a teenager. It was liberating. I loved every single second of it. There was so much time to think about stuff and enjoy the scenery and just relax. I will always remember that ride as one of the best times I have had, and as being a turning point in my life.
Within just a couple weeks I had acquired a bike of my own. A hand me down Schwinn mountain bike, given to me by my boss at work. I rode that bike as often as possible. Every time thinking about my life and where I was going and what I wanted. It didn’t take long before I decided that smoking caused me to make additional stops along the rides I enjoyed so much. I can still hear my son’s little kid voice telling me “Daddy loves cigarettes and beer. Mommy loves cigarettes and Sun Drop.” It had to stop. What kind of example was I setting? I had to do better; I know I can do better. Quitting was hard but I managed it on 5/25/2012.
I started taking my kids with me on bike rides. If I wasn’t too old to learn a new hobby then neither were they. 
My son especially was really into Mt. biking for a while – pre driver’s license. LOL My daughter enjoyed the Katy trail and some road riding with me. I do my best to teach them by example. Having children is easy – raising them is the hard part. Everyone makes many, many mistakes along the way. What works for one child won’t always work for the other child (dang it). I do this for them. I want them to know mom has made bad choices and many mistakes but they don’t define me. Those choices helped to build me up into the person that I am today. I can do it better; I just need time to figure out how. I can do it better; please let me try. I can be better; let me show you. My bike will take me there. The path will be covered with rocks, sticks, mud, snow, doubts, uncertainty, and fear. I will overcome and ride through. Even when I’m scared I know that my friends and family will be there to support me. I will be ok. Take a deep breath and leap of faith and go for it. The first time might not be great but I can do it better. I will do it better; let me show you.
I work in sales and customer service and am a busy mother of two. I got hooked on cycling after a friend invited me to go for a ride on the Katy trail. After that ride I entered a couple charity rides before seeking a new challenge and dove into the wilds of racing. I am excited to start my third full season of racing and can’t wait to continue to learn and ride with the best racers around.
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