A cyclist undergoes metamorphosis, just as a butterfly does. A a butterfly goes through several life phases; and there are phases in the development of a cyclist. Here are mine.

When I first began riding, I got an adult tricycle. At the time I had some balance/dizziness issues; and I didn\’t dare to try riding a bicycle. A three-wheeler was the answer.

I rode that trike far more than I had expected that I would; and apparently all that vigorous exercise did me good. After about two and a half years the wobbliness in my head was much reduced; and I started to consider a two-wheeler. Thus began Stage II: riding a hybrid.

It took some doing to adjust to two wheels; but the century bug was gnawing at me big time. I had already done a 100-miler on the tricycle; and was so eager to do one on the hybrid that I began prepping for the ride before I was fully comfortable on two wheels.

Not quite a year after I bought the hybrid, my metamorphosis entered Stage III: I got a road bike! Thus began another adjustment period, during which I worked at adapting to the very different feel of a road bike.

Stages IV through VII are yet to come, unless my participation in six Tours de Cure  and a Bike MS  count as one stage. OK, let\’s call those rides Stage IV.

Now, how about Stage V? Work up the gumption to try a race? Or a bicycle tour?

Stage VI? Things are getting really sticky now. Learn to ride a tandem? Or a bent? 

Stage VII? Stage VII seems so far off, I figure I can afford to come up with the wildest ideas possible. Besides, sometimes the craziest ideas metamorphose into something really good!