Last year, my friend Carol bought herself a new commuter bike and VERY graciously gave me (!!) her old hybrid, a purple Trek 720. My bike—an ancient, ill-fitting mountain bike that weighed half a ton—had been stolen not long before, and, just out of grad school, I wasn’t really in a position to go bike shopping. I named my new bike Gertrude, and she’s been a fantastic companion. She got a tune-up and new Bontrager tires a few weeks ago, and today was our first venture outdoors.

Spring finally hit Chicago this weekend (although I’m not making any bets on how long it will last), and happy Chicagoans packed the lakepath today. I did an easy 10 miles with a couple stops to take pictures. (My legs have painful memories from yesterday’s 12-mile run, so taking it easy seemed like a smart idea). The new tires are fantastic, and I also owe a huge thank you to everybody who convinced me to buy the super-expensive, ultra-padded bike shorts. Who knew that something that feels like a diaper could be so wonderful?

Here’s a couple pictures from today’s ride. It was 63 degrees with a cool breeze and a sunny, clear blue sky. Perfect.

Gertrude, parked near Lake Michigan. She and I are working up to a two-day, 150-mile bike ride.

Lake Michigan from Foster Avenue Beach:

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Fundraising update: I’ve raised $1,000 to support the Multiple Sclerosis Society, bringing me halfway to my goal of $2,000! Thank you to everybody who has donated—your generosity is tremendous.

If you haven’t yet donated, please go to my Tour de Farms page and click “Make a Gift!” Every dollar helps me get closer to my goal, and every dollar helps a person with multiple sclerosis.