APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE GOT
I love my bike. I love my bike. I love my bike. No, I really mean it. I LOVE MY BIKE!
From the second I arrived in Lanai, Hawaii all I could think about was riding my bike. My hotel was right on the ocean, far from Lanai city, and there was a huge climb right outside the hotel. It was the only way in and out. It was an incredible several mile climb that takes you through a climate change. A typical day was 85 degrees by the bay and sunny into windy as all hell and 65 degrees in the mountains. It was nuts.
I figured if there were only 2 grocery stores on the island that the chances of there being a bike shop would be very slim. I thought if I talked to enough people that someone would know someone that owned a bike. Low and behold I hit. The convention services manager, Jennifer, had a bike and offered it up to me. She dropped the bike at the house of our main hotel contact, Brent and he brought it in for me. I only had three days left in Lanai and I was ready to make the most of it.
It was a heavy mountain bike that was a bit rusty, a couple sizes to small, and it wasn't a Trek but dammit I wanted to ride that hill and see the island. Brent knew what I was up against. He rode on a cycling team in college and was one of two people on the island that owned a road bike. He got it. He was kind enough to bring me a pump, white lightening and a water bottle. And so my journey began.
I rode up that hill and worked my ass off. Literally. It was a killer climb and the higher I got the better the views. I rode from my hotel on the ocean to the Lodge at the top of the mountain and enjoyed every ounce of beauty. I believe that that was the best way to really see the island.
The roads were clear except for the hotel employees and the shuttles to the ferry, the airport and the Lodge. It was pretty much me and nature.
That night when people asked me what I did on my break they had looks of pure disbelief when I told them that I rode up the hill. They couldn't really grasp the concept of someone riding the hill, much less a women.
When housekeeping came to my room the next day I opened the door and 2 guys were standing there. They looked shocked for a second and then one piped up and said, "Oh my god, you're the girl that rode the hill!" Apparently no one does it other then Brent and one other male rider. Eventually word got around and I became a bit of a legend at the hotel. I would hate to have seen what they would have done had I not made it.
The next day I did it again. No cycling shorts, shoes or jersey but I had a helmet and the most amazing scenery complete with a rainbow. It made me realize one thing. I LOVE my bike a lot.
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