I have always enjoyed the outdoors; fishing, hunting, mountain biking, hiking, camping . . . you get the idea. I took advantage of the amazing Kettle Moraine area with roommates through college. A perfect Saturday morning consisted of staying ahead of the swarm of mosquitoes that would carry you away if you stopped, while you were chewing up hills and trying to keep at least one wheel connected on a fieldstone washboard downhill that was trying to kick you to the woods.
I found having that “something” is a great motivator. Your something could be just you, your health, your significant other, a life event, whatever it is get one and do it! For me it was a 40 mile mountain bike race through the Chequamegon Forrest. That was my thing and where this began for me.
It was the Winter before the event and I thought I would try finding a way to maintain that Kettle Moraine progress from the Fall. I found a small studio on the north side of Milwaukee that offered an indoor cycling class. I thought I would give it a shot. After that first class I was sold. Great music, amazing energy with a committed group of people and someone to inspire and take me through the paces. Wow how 45 minutes of never moving an inch can make an impact. Yes, indoor cycling was different, but man did I get some good work in. That was over 20 years ago.
For me, it is now really about moving onto the next thing. I have since graduated from those washboards in the Kettles. I have moved to a road bike. Work, family and a few too many outdoor activities along with pushing a body that is no longer in its twenties or thirties (honestly, barely hanging onto the forties) needed to find another way. Indoor cycling has done this for me. I have also discovered that I really like helping others get motivated and enjoy the ride as much as I do. So a number of years ago I got certified and moved to the front of the room. It has been great see others work to their “something” and leave with a smile on their face! It has been especially rewarding when they can actually measure their progress. Some riders are shocked that they can track and record their ride and see improved over weeks and months. Indoor cycling has come a long way since I first began. Speaking of that, the person that motivated me in that class over 20 years ago, well her name was Sarah!