Impressions of my first real ride

I took my bike out on the road for the first time this morning. It was an exhilarating, terrifying, wonderful experience.

I had to use a fair amount of brainpower on shifting gears, braking, etc but I still had a few moments where my head was clear and the road was mine for the taking. For those of you who know me well, this is why I've been obsessed with things with wheels and motors so long.

I first started searching for this feeling when I started riding my bicycle as a kid. It was all I cared about when I learned how to drive. It's back now.

The terror and thrill of learning how to control a moving vehicle is fleeting. Once you're comfortable, it's business as usual. But while it's there, it's incredible.

However, the real joy of the road comes once it's gone. Once I'm comfortable riding, once I don't have to think to shift and it's second nature to brake with my foot and my hand at the same time, that's when it will once again be just me and the road.

I can't wait.