So I reported back in February that Linda bought a new bike with the goal to participate in Biking Across Kansas.  This is a week-long ride where bicyclists ride from the Colorado border to the Missouri border about 60-80 miles per day.  Riders then sleep in tents or gym floors in the small towns that break up each stage.

Linda trained daily since February riding about 20 to 30 miles either in the basement (on the trainer) or on the great paved trails we have here in Kansas City.

Her parents and both girls travelled out with her on the first day and gave her a great option of staying in a hotel room each night (albeit with a kid in the bed).

Each day was hot and rainy…but she really loved it.  She completed 194.5 miles of the ride – stopping, as planned, on day 4 so that she could return to Kansas City to run the Music Teacher convention she’d been planning.

We’ll be training again next year – for both of us to complete the entire ride.

I have been talking to Linda for the past year about getting her a new bike.  Actually, it’s been more like begging…and it’s been more like 3 years.  Ever since I fell in love with biking, I’ve wanted her to join me.

Now, I really prefer to be ride my thick-tired, full-suspension mountain bike on dirt trails over big roots and even bigger rocks.  Linda, however, prefers pavement.  Actually, Linda prefers her 1980 Schwinn 10-speed that she got in 6th grade.

I’ve asked many times to help her find a new bike that is lighter, faster, and more adult-sized.  However, she has threatened me with bodily harm if I ever brought a new bike home – and then she’d take the bike back after I lay bloody on the floor.

In the past year, Linda found the exercise bike at the gym to be a great workout that also allowed her to read at the same time.  She also recently decided to do a portion of the Bike Across Kansas trip this year.  If she was going to do this, a new bike was in order.

Today was the day we found just the right bike – a Trek FX 7.3.  She won’t admit it, but I think she’s VERY happy.  Along with the bike, we also purchased a CycleOps Magneto trainer so we can use our bikes inside during not-so-great weather (I also have a road-hybrid for pavement riding).

Congratulations, Linda, on getting such a cool new bike!