So THIS is what it's like to ride when it's more than 40 degrees out

Yes, dear readers, the sun FINALLY came out for one of our training rides.  of course, it immediately retreated, preventing us from going outside at all during the week, but we're staying positive.  no one got frostbite this weekend!  naomi only wore 3 layers instead of 5!

that's pretty much all the excitement that happened over this weekend's training ride up in Fort Lee.  we essentially rode the same distance over a new route to nyack, which included a steep hill named churchill, for naomi, and a yet-to-be-named but similarly difficult hill for meredith.  the advice given before this ride came, appropriately enough, from the hill's namesake ("when you're going through hell, keep going.")  demoralizingly, one of the mentors mentioned in an offhand sort of way to naomi after the ride, "yeah...i guess that's a steep hill.  for new jersey."  and another mentor managed to ride up churchill shouting encouragements at naomi the whole time and upon reaching the top with her, instantly rode back down to help the next group of sweating, wheezing cyclists up the hill.  naomi hopes he falls off his bike next time.  just kidding!

meredith got some clarification on how steep the hills are supposed to be in tahoe:  "nothing that crazy."  naomi remains skeptical.  meredith also took one for the team this week and escorted naomi to the entrance of the west side bike path after the ride to ensure that she did not get lost a la the last disaster.  this included an impromptu trip through the central park boat basin restaurant, with our bikes, as suddenly sprung up in the middle of the bike path.  meredith cannot talk and read street signs at the same time, but despite the detour, both of us made it home unscathed.

that's right, readers, no falls for naomi!  one extremely close call at the ride's midpoint, in front of about 4 dozen professional-looking riders, but she managed to stay upright-ish.

next week, naomi has been told to ride with the "titanium" group, where she will most surely be the slowest (as opposed to the fastest person in the slow group).  meredith has already graduated to the carbon group, where she is repeating to herself, "what doesn't kill me makes me stronger."  p.s.  meredith is already pretty strong.

today marks exactly 2 months until our ride; both of us are doing well in terms of fundraising but would like to do better so please  help however you can!

we promise to post pictures from our ride in westchester this sunday--pray that the weather turns nice again!

thanks for reading!

xo,
meredith and naomi