Congratulations on the ride. I am a big chicken and every time that I saddle up I say a little prayer because I need all the help that I can get. I am riding for health reasons and I do like having fun but fun is not my main reason for riding. I mean after all it is a lot of fun to eat and do a lot of things besides riding.

I have a motto of not riding faster than you want to crash but this does not work for me because all I have been doing for the last 2 years is hill repeats and the down hill speed of 28 mph is much faster that I would want to crash.

I really like the way you handled the situation of repairing your own bike. This has got to be a confidence builder knowing exactly what was done. I think that after a few more miles with no problems that you will be riding with the hair blowing in the wind.