Christmas 2007 was very good to me. I got a new road bike (his name is Bob) and an engagement ring. So don’t be surprised if many blogs in 2008 revolve around Bob and the planning of a Saint Louis wedding.

To test out our new bikes, PJ the fiance, and I decided to ride along the Riverfront Trail ride.  The weather was unseasonably warm for January, so we couldn’t wait to try out our new bikes for the first time. The only other event on our calender that day was a very important meeting with the priest at my church to see if we could have our wedding there.

The first 20 miles on the bikes were a breeze! Compared to May, my hybrid bike, the road bike made it feel as if we were riding downhill.  Or maybe it was the 20 mph winds that were on our backs?

Once we reached our turn around point, the Chain of Rocks Bridge, not only were our bike skills tested, but so was our relationship…

The 20 mph head wind practically tipped me over several times.  My pace slowed in half, I became suddenly very hungry, and my mood soured. Poor PJ…hungry dietitians are no fun.

He gently urged me to pick up my pace because he feared we might miss our meeting with the priest.  I quietly whined under my breath that that I was going as fast as I could.

Soon after PJ’s comment about my need to pick up the pace, his pedal attachment flew off his bike and scattered along the trial in several different pieces. Guess who has assembled his bike? Me. I must not have screwed it on tight enough?

He managed to re-attach the pedal, and continued to encourage his new cranky fiance to keep up the pace.  We finally reached the end of the river trail, but still had 15 miles left to get home with only 30 minutes till our meeting with Father. 

We had no choice but to call a cab and threw the bikes into the trunk.  PJ and I cringed as the bouncing trunk door crashed up and down on our bikes.  The cab driver didn’t seem to notice the noise as he sped over the cobblestone downtown roads. 

We made it home and layered clean clothes on top of our muddy legs in order make it to our meeting on time. Luckily the meeting went well, and Bob the bike survived as well as our relationship.