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January 23, 2008

The Tan Lines

Ahh yes, The infamous farmer tan lines. Any real cyclist should have a good set, and every pro should have exceptionally significant lines. I’d say my pair are pretty decent. I’ve been working on them since I was about 10 or so when I started to ride for reals in the whole spandex kit. I didn’t know that I was going to get tan lines from riding centuries on a back of my dad’s tandem.

After about a year or two of riding I went for a swim and I started to notice a bit of a difference in shades on my thighs. But I was blasé about it and just kept on riding. As I kept riding I started to get a more defined line and I started to get scared so that on every ride I would move the end of my shorts higher or lower to see if the line would go away. But what happened is I turned into a zebra. I had about 4 different shades on my legs. By this time I was starting to get into constant training because I was starting to race.

Finally I got sick of trying to get rid of it and I started to make it more prominent everyday I rode. I’d put the end of my shorts in the same exact place every time I went for a ride. And now, about 3 years later, my legs have turned into 2 complete different shades. I have the US/Mexican border on my own legs! I would personally say it was an accomplishment, but my friends from middle school said I look like a goofball. And by that time I figured this out I just could not wear short shorts or skirts any more.

Now I’ve moved to High School and I have to wear a uniform now and make new friends. I can either wear shorts or skirts. At the moment I’ve opted to wear shorts, but once spring comes I’ll start to wear skirts that are as long as my tan line. Only my good friends at school know about my tan, but when my classmates see a glimpse of my mexican border they will either freak out or think it is the coolest thing ever.

I find it hilarious to show some of my classmates my tan lines. They think it is outrageous. I think it is outrageously awesome. It has taken me so long to get my tan lines super prominent. And it shows all of the hard work and time I spent on making it so perfect and precise. I’ve planned to try to keep my arms as even as possible, but my next goal is the sock tan. Stay tuned for more progress…

Thanks for reading up my blabber,
Coryn