A close friend was chatting about a commute into work one fine weekend morning. She saw a woman climbing the only significant hill around with a big grin on the rider's face. As she was speeding down the hill, wondering why the grin - she realized that the grinning rider was me (too late to say hi, apparently).

Well, I've been riding for four months (after ~30 year hiatus) and I am still out-of-shape but loving it. I remembered that morning ride quite well. The big grin was because for the very first time, I wasn't in the lowest gear. Yeah!

Not in the lowest gear and a big grin? Certain it wasn't a grimace to hide the pain?

Way to go but don't push it too hard yet. Still a bit of training to do on the body so be carefull.

And glad to hear of another returnee to cycling- You won't regret it.

Maybe I should've said - not in the easiest gear. I have a closed hub shifter and the gears are numbered. 1 is the easiest pedaling and 8 is the hardest. I was going up the hill in 2 for the first time (and not 1). (Is this numbering different on other bikes?)

And yeah, I'm having a blast.

.....and I thought this was going to be another bicycle smile thread.