1. Road bikers are nice to beginners. They are supportive and encouraging and cool.

2. If you have only ever been on one bike ride, signing up for a training weekend that has you do 110 km in two days MIGHT be a bit much.

3. But you’ll be glad you did it.

4. Even though by the end of the last ride it felt like you’d been the victim of a gynecological exam gone horribly wrong.

5. Clipping in and out of pedals is STILL kind of tricky. Especially at stop lights. I came 0.2 seconds from falling again, but narrowly missed a bail.

6. If you bike 110 km, you will be hungry, literally, for five days afterwards. Pass the  Costco-sized bag of Chicago Mix. Oh wait, no need. It’s already on my lap.

7. Supportive husbands are a necessity if you’re going to leave your family for hours-long bike rides. Thanks, Steve!

8. Shoot, I’m all out of Chicago Mix.