Getting To Know You

[Biking Chick]

Greetings Sister Bikers!

I recently discovered Team Estrogen and have really enjoyed lurking and reading the different posts but decided it was time to introduce myself.

I've been biking off and on since my parents bought me my first emerald green Schwinn in the early 1960's :) Five years ago when my husband got serious about biking we traded our 20-year old 10 speeds for comfort bikes. That was in February ... by September we both had road bikes .. a yellow and blue Trek 2200 WSD for me and a 7600 FX that dh has since tricked out with drop bars, Shimano 105 shifters and a carbon front fork. By the next spring we had Trek 4900 mountain bikes and had given our comfort bikes to friends who really needed to get out and ride. The first time I got on my 2200 I told my husband that I didn't know if I 'needed' the bike since I wasn't a roadie. His reply was ... 'you could be'. Since then I've put on about 1500 miles a year on my road bike alone and I am glad he saw the roadie in me when I couldn't.

Last year when I was celebrating my 50th birth year I warned everyone that I did not want to receive one card about being over the hill or anything in 'black' .. unless it was in the form of a little black dress ... I was so excited about being 50 and starting this new adverture in my life's journey that I didn't want anything negative to take away from my joy. My husband planned my anniversary birth day to inclue a romantic get away, a heart felt letter all topped off with a Trek 5200 WSD. What an awesome ride.

When I'm not biking I'm enjoying researching family history and my creative outlet is writing the history into narrative form. I also enjoy raising and training our four English cocker spaniels - our three son's (30, 27 and 25) all enjoy riding with us - they are all into mountain biking and we hope to get at least the oldest son and his wife into road biking - my daughter-in-law and I are the same size so she can use the 2200. While I'm not into the racing aspect we do a lot of charity rides during the year.

So .. enough about me .. I look forward to meeting more of my sister bikers.

[bounceswoosh]

Hi!

I actually just started posting here yesterday, so I'm very new =) I've been drooling over the inventory at the TE shop, and occasionally indulging myself, for a while now, though.

I'm a 26yo who bought my mountain bike last year. It's the first bike I've ridden in years. I ride it once or twice a weekend when the weather's appropriate. I'm definitely a fair-weather cyclist; when winter approaches, I don my ski gear instead.

I'm definitely still a newbie, but getting better with every ride. I finally saw a doctor for some knee problems, and it turned out that my kneecaps have been tracking at an angle for years and have caused cartilage damage. Whoops! The good news is that, while I went to the doctor about pain and stiffness, the physical therapy has already made me much stronger and faster on climbs. Well, I guess that makes sense, since they're all quad workouts.

I went to my first mountain bike clinic last weekend, taught by Tonya over at http://www.mtbchick.com/ Not only was it a great learning experience, but it's inspiring to see such an athlete up close and in person.

When I'm not biking, you might find me playing ice hockey (started about a year ago), skiing (since I was 16), practicing martial arts (15, I think), reading, or playing with computers (I'm a software engineer for fun and profit). In the interest of eating more healthy foods, I've also just started cooking, so that's been an adventure ...

[spokes]

welcome to both of you! i'm mostly a lurker here myself, but since no one else had responded yet i thought i'd say hi.:)

i'm a roadie, i started commuting by bike last year. at the time i had probably been on a bike for all of 30 minutes in my adult life. thank god for bike week promos! now i love it. i mostly bike while i'm commuting, as i can't seeem to drag my butt out of bed on the weekends --even though the roads are clear and the driver are less cranky. ;)

anyway, glad to see you both here. as you can probably tell, this forum is a wonderful resource-- very informative and supportive. congratulations, biking chick, on approaching your 50th with such gusto. welcome to you both!

[bounceswoosh]

Spokes said:


i mostly bike while i'm commuting, as i can't seeem to drag my butt out of bed on the weekends --even though the roads are clear and the driver are less cranky.

See, that's the great thing about biking (as opposed to, say, skiing) -- you can get up at noon on a weekend and still have a nice ride!

From an aerobic perspective, I think it would be really good for me to bike to work (~20 miles), but those cars really scare me! I'm fortunate enough to live in an area where there are cyclists all over the place, so at least the drivers are accustomed to bikes, but still ... scary!

Are there any resources out there on biking in traffic? For example, at one point, I would have to make a left turn across a road with 2-3 lanes in each direction. Do I cross the three lanes to get into the left-hand turn lane? Scary stuff!

[Veronica]

I often have to cross two lanes of traffic to make a left hand turn. If I can, I cross and get into the turn lane - like a car. If I can't and the cross street is fairly minor I turn right on the cross street and do a u turn on it and then cross with that traffic. If the cross street also has multiple lanes, I'll cross with traffic, stop at the crosswalk and use the pedestrian light to go across. Whatever it takes to keep you safe! Last night I rode a couple of extra miles to avoid a busy turn.

V.

[Biking Chick]

Originally posted by Veronica
Whatever it takes to keep you safe!
V.

Sounds like a good signature line to me!

When I have to make a left turn and cross multiple lanes of traffic I also get into the turn lane like a car but am very 'wary' of traffic behind me ... you never know who is going to be on a cell phone and totally oblivious to someone (me!) on a bike with a flashing light and wearing high viz optic yellow jersey or jacket.

When crossing intersections with traffic lights I make eye contact with people in the cars waiting to proceed and watch the front wheels of people who are making right hand turns .. if their wheels continue to 'roll' I slow down anticipating that they are going to pull out in front of me.

Spokes I know what you mean about dragging yourself out of bed .. for me it's a matter of getting busy with other things and coming up with a number of really good excuses for not going out and riding. Since I am a notorious list maker I put 'on my bike' at the top of the list. Seeing something on my list that I have not crossed out will make we change clothes and get out and ride. I've found that NOT putting away my biking clothes helps .. when they are 'in my face' so to speak I can't ignore the fact that I have made the decision not to ride (today). I'll tell myself .. I'll go out for 20 minutes which more often than not turns into a 15 mile ride. But if it doesn't - 20 minutes with my butt in a saddle is far better than 20 minutes on my butt in front of the tv (or in front of the computer).

[spokes]

i get stressed out about the lefts too. no one really gave me a hassle about it, but i've decided to switch tactics for this year. so now, i'll find a way to go around the block instead of turning left. it seems like a waste of time but it actually is faster because i don't have to wait for a gap in rush-hour traffic or for the light to change. i think if more motorists did this, there would be far fewer accidents because people were making stupid lefts.

for more info on biking in traffic, google some search terms like 'bicycling traffic' etc, and check out the links on bike club websites. i think www.critical-mass.org has some good links too.

it sounds like you're already doing the things it took me a while to learN-- making eye contact, watching wheels, etc. the biggest help in my traffic/biking reaserch was emergency moves-- like to turn right if someone turns left into in an intersection.

i find the worst part about biking in traffic is dreading it-- doing it isn't actually that bad! good luck! ;)

[skibum]

Spokes said:


welcome to both of you! i'm mostly a lurker here myself, but since no one else had responded yet i thought i'd say hi.

I'm mostly a lurker here too. I've been riding since I was a kid but have pretty much been a casual rider. Another way to be outside enjoying a nice day with friends. That is, until recently...

My boyfriend is a serious roadie and is going on a group trip to see the Tour de France this summer. A spot opened up on the trip so he asked me if I'd like to go. I think he was expecting me to be one of the 'bus queens' (his term, not mine) that take the bus from the hotel to watch the day's stage rather than riding to it. But, I'm athletic and just the use of that term gave me enough determination to try to become a serious enough roadie to be able to ride my bike in France.

I've been training a lot and am improving my speed and endurance on the bike. With two months to go, I think I will be ready by the time the trip comes. The Team Estrogen forums have been a great resource for me for cycling tips to help with my training.

I'm enjoying the cycling so, even after the trip, it will remain as one of my many athletic pursuits.

[bounceswoosh]

But, I'm athletic and just the use of that term gave me enough determination to try to become a serious enough roadie to be able to ride my bike in France.

What a great motivator to get in shape! I'd wish you luck, but I'm sure you don't need it!

[Biking Chick]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by skibum
[B]Spokes said:

But, I'm athletic and just the use of that term gave me enough determination to try to become a serious enough roadie to be able to ride my bike in France.

I've been training a lot and am improving my speed and endurance on the bike. With two months to go, I think I will be ready by the time the trip comes.


You rock!!!!

I'm envious and hope you will think about your sister bikers back in the states who are wishing we were with you!

[fultzie]

wow, skibum, have fun!! sounds like a great trip :D

[massbikebabe]

Hi Biking Chick:


Just wanted to say hi and that I loved your post. I have a Trek 5200 WSD and love it to death...what a ride!

karen...fairly newbie to the boards

[JanT]

I'll jump in here, now. Nice to meet everyone. I've been lurking for a few weeks since I found this site and have enjoyed reading the posts. I've been mountain biking for several years, but only this year began commuting to work after I moved to a position closer to home. This has helped me overcome my absolute terror of riding on the roads. I still have some fear, but think it helps me to be safe with all the inattentive drivers. I have also had more trouble getting to the trails during the week, as the builders in Phoenix have fenced me out of my favorite local ride. During the past year or so, I've felt there is a little roadie in me trying to emerge. To test the waters, I rode a metric century on my mountain bike, and I really enjoyed it. So, I decided it's time to buy a road bike. I've been online doing some research (that's how I ended up here!). I expect to visit here regularly to keep learning more about road biking. However, I know I will always have this great passion for the dirt!
Jan

[jobob]

Welcome to the boards, all of ya's!

Biking Chick - I really enjoyed your story. Your husband is very well trained :D

bounceswoosh - love the name! - I used to be very timid about riding in traffic, then I joined a women-only progressive training ride series leading up to (again) a women-only metric century. It was a great, supportive atmosphere, and we did a lot of riding in traffic which made me much more comfortable with it. I do prefer even now to be in a group rather than on my own when I'm in traffic or on narrow, windy roads, the larger group is much more visible (and the cynic in me says there are more witnesses!! :p) Anyhow, if you could hook up with a group, that might help you get over the anxiety.

Here are a couple of links to sites about riding in traffic. The key is to be predictable and to let drivers know what you're doing. http://bicyclesafe.com/
http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm

skibum - wow, I'm envious! You must tell us all about it when you get back. Good luck with the training, I hope you see very little of the inside of that bus :D

JanT - those links up above are for you too! Hope you find the perfect road bike. And enjoy the dirt too.

- Jo.

[Biking Chick]

Originally posted by massbikebabe
Hi Biking Chick:


Just wanted to say hi and that I loved your post. I have a Trek 5200 WSD and love it to death...what a ride!

karen...fairly newbie to the boards

Hi Karen ... thanks for taking the time to post a reply.

I'm feeling a bit 'guilty' about having my 2200 *tied* to the trainer especially since it has helped get me to where I am today. I've logged a lot of time on that bike and look forward to the time when my daughter-in-law and I can ride together. Then I won't feel so bad about ignoring her (2200).

I really love my 5200 and am sold on Trek and WSD

Cindy
Ride Like A Girl!

[Biking Chick]

Originally posted by jobob
Welcome to the boards, all of ya's!

Biking Chick - I really enjoyed your story. Your husband is very well trained :D

- Jo.

JoBob ... thanks ... he didn't come that way and I've worked dang hard to get him the way that he is :D

P.S. Love your story on the bike name board re: how Pokey got his/her name!!

[JDom226]

It's so nice to see everyone introducing themselves. I've been reading posts on this site since last fall when i discovered Team Estrogen for plus size biking clothing. I was riding pretty regularly about 8 years ago on a Trek 320 Hybrid. After about four years of severe anemia I am finally back to biking. I started last fall with the hybrid again.

A week ago I purchased a Specialized Sequoia comfort road bike. I've never ridden anything quite like it. I'm still building miles and look forward to every day I can get out and ride. This site has been the greatest motivator I could have come across.

Keep up the good work ladies. I guess I'm not a lurker anymore. I look forward to posting to topics more often.

Keep them wheels spinning.

[Biking Chick]

Originally posted by JDom226

A week ago I purchased a Specialized Sequoia comfort road bike. I've never ridden anything quite like it. I'm still building miles and look forward to every day I can get out and ride. This site has been the greatest motivator I could have come across.

Keep up the good work ladies. I guess I'm not a lurker anymore. I look forward to posting to topics more often.

Keep them wheels spinning.

JDom226 ... thanks for posting and introducing yourself. I am touched by your determination to continue to ride and congrats on your new ride ... I checked out the web site ... nice looking ride!

I look forward to hearing from another 'roadie'!

[magrat22]

Well I'm a newbie too, only riding my road bike a week. I had a mountain bike before that but didn't really ride it that much only the odd weekend. I've been on my road bike every evening this week and am loving it.

I got into road biking because my husband a road bike fanatic (he's been biking for 20 years) kept telling me I was built for road biking :confused: Any women I've seen who road bikes alot seem to be built like toothpicks. I would classify myself more of a overweight Lana Turner if you catch my point...but if my hubby see's a toothpick then it's a pity more people didn't have eyesight like him :D. I eventually gave in and let him buy me a Giant OCR 3 road bike (oh the hardship..tee, hee). Now our goal is to compete in the World Masters games which are on in Edmonton (Canada) next year. He wants to win, I just want to finish :p

Biking Chick - Thanks for setting up this thread it's great idea.

Skibum - All I can say is WOW!! and if you see Lance..steal his bike..I want it ;)

JanT - let me know what bike or bikes you've narrowed down your search to. I did alot of research before I bought my road bike so maybe I could help.

[Biking Chick]

Originally posted by magrat22
I would classify myself more of a overweight Lana Turner if you catch my point...but if my hubby see's a toothpick then it's a pity more people didn't have eyesight like him :D. I eventually gave in and let him buy me a Giant OCR 3 road bike (oh the hardship..tee, hee).

Women everywhere would be much healthier and happier if we all saw ourselves as *overweight Lana Turner* ;)

I've seen the Giant OCR's ... nice ride!!!

And speaking of nice ... cute avatar .. I have not found one that says 'me' so will keep looking but yours is adorable.

Welcome to the group.

[Irulan]

MY first bike memory is from when I was a kid in Chicago... riding my neighbors bike and getting jumped by a couple of ghetto kids and having the bike stolen from under me.

I biked just for transport as a teen, and then as young adult, later teens early 20s, rediscovered road riding.
While my soon to be hubby was in College in CO, our house mate turned us on to road riding. He'd been racing for years... Red Zinger ought to date us just right! Anyway, Andy had gobs of bikes and got us out in the Front Range, 40-60 mile rides after school and so on. I continued this when we moved to Wyoming, riding the farm roads out in the Shoshone basin for miles and miles.

As I had kids, I would tool around a lot, but I didn't really get back into it until hubby bought me my first mountain bike.
I"m on bike #2, and the rest of the tale is on my site, follow the link at my sig.

Bio---43, happily married for 20+ years, two teens sons, self employed (again, see my site about my sewing business) and more crazed about mountain biking than ever.

penny

[betagirl]

Irulan - What part of Chicago did you grow up in?

I had a "hi I'm new here thread" somewhere around here, so I won't write too much :D

I've been biking for about 7 years now, started after college when I was living in Chicago. Since I'm from the flatlands of Chicago, I'm a roadie. I do have a moutain bike, but even that has more road-esque tires on it. I know, blasphemy!

I have a Trek 1200 road bike and an 850 Mtn bike. The guys in my club have to wonder why I ride an aluminum bike when they're all on carbon and steel. Guess since I don't have the jewels to knock around, I like aluminum :D

Personal info - I'm 28, not married but dating a great guy for the past 2 years. If we get engaged, we have to register at Nashbar. I'm starting my PhD in clinical psych in a few months, but work in IT now for the "man".

Pleased to meet y'all.

[ORBikeChick]

Newbie here also! So glad I found this forum...what a great way to talk bikes without feeling totally intimidated!

My name is Sarah. Married mom of two girls ages 3 & 4. Like most women, the two pregnancies added may too many pounds that did nothing but depress me. I've always led an active athletic lifestyle, so this March when I turned 30 I decided it was time to take my life back, so I bought myself a mt. bike. I've been riding at least 10 miles every night after work, and around 30-40 miles on the weekends. The pounds have fallen off (yahoo!)..but better yet, I'm finding myself now ADDICTED to riding! I've started off with the basic, generic bike to see if I'd really use it...and now that I am going crazy, I dream of owning a GREAT bike one of these days. I don't know all the scientific ins and outs of riding and bikes like equipment names, lingo etc...but am really enthusiastic and excited to learn. Everyone here seems totally cool...I feel lucky to have found you all!

:cool:

[Irulan]

Chicago - Hyde Park/Kenwood. (50th and Greenwood/Ellis)

welcome OR Bike Chick. Glad you are here. I"m going to be in Eugene in Augst for a few days and I'm looking for someone to do the Mackenzie River Trail with me as my hubby will be tied up conventioning.

IDEA
Sugoi Women's Dirt Camps (http://www.dirtseries.com/sds_program.html) is doing a women's camp in Hood River July 17-18 and the price is very reasonable. If you LOVE mountain biking, even as a beginner you will never regret the investment you make in your riding by going to a skills camp. I do one up in Rossland every summer. Just hand those cute little girls to your partner and take a fun weekend to do something for yourself!!

penny

[Trek420]

.50 cent tour of my cycling history. Like most I rode for basic transportation as a kid and through college. So i rode even after getting my drivers license.

First bike; Schwinn, second bike; Raleigh, then a Gitane 10 speed (crashed), replaced with another 10 speed (stollen) then I stopped riding alltogether about 1983'ish till....in 1996 my ex partner (then she was my current girl-o'-my dreams obviously) decided she was going to do the AIDS ride. She got a bike, wanting to spend time with her I got one too; first a mountain bike, then almost imediately a road bike (my namesake-a Trek 420).

I rediscovered my love of cycling and upgraded the heck out of the Trek as I literaly wore parts out (including one embarasing crash off the bike trail into a creek bed).

You know you are nuts about cycling when crashes are a good thing "oh look! I get to shop for new wheels!"

Last year that 11 year relationship ended but not before (and I can't proove he did this but i can't proove he didn't and it's likely he's the culprit) one of her brothers (the one with the drug problem) stole the Trek from our home.

I've got a new bike; a Mondonico Futura Legero! been riding a lot but never as much as I want. It's hard to juggle work, family, my dog and other interests. I plan to get back to riding to work more often to change that.

[maryellen]

I'm usually mostly a lurker but what the hell. I'm 46 yrs old, living in Manhattan. I started riding last June. Although I'd been on a bike on my youth (a kindly uncle who thought it was insane that I couldn't ride a bike), I'd never really rode a bike more than a few blocks.

For a few years, I'd been putting on my new year's resolution list "learn to ride a bike." Finally, during a period between jobs I decided it was time so I took a few lessons (in NYC you can find someone to pay to teach you anything!). And I got my first bike of my life--a Trek 4500FX (hybrid). I love it though I'm also gently breaking the news to my girlfriend that *of course* I'll need a road bike next year.

Riding in traffic (and we've got lots of it here!) still freaks me out, but I'm getting where I need to go. Ok, sometimes I take the coward's way out, like this morning, when I left the house at 645am--not too much traffic on Memorial Day at that hour--even in NYC!

Did my first metric century last week (the Bloomin Metric in Connecticut). Next goals: 1) at least one century this summer, and 2) ride my bike to work.

[snapdragen]

Originally posted by Trek420
I've got a new bike; a Mondonico Futura Legero! been riding a lot but never as much as I want.

And where are the pic's of the new Mondonico? :D

[Biking Chick]

Originally posted by maryellen
I'm usually mostly a lurker but what the hell. I'm 46 yrs old, ....
Did my first metric century last week (the Bloomin Metric in Connecticut). Next goals: 1) at least one century this summer, and 2) ride my bike to work.

AWESOME!

Congratulations on your first metric century ... especially on an FX ... when you get around to that road bike you will find it easier to reach those goals of biking longer distances.

Biking Chick

[Biking Chick]

Originally posted by ORBikeChick
Newbie here also! So glad I found this forum...what a great way to talk bikes without feeling totally intimidated! ..... I don't know all the scientific ins and outs of riding and bikes like equipment names, lingo etc...but am really enthusiastic and excited to learn. Everyone here seems totally cool...I feel lucky to have found you all!

:cool:

Glad you have found YOUR passion ... being a mom of three 'boys' who are now grown I know the importance of finding something that you can call your own, makes you feel great and is good for you. You're setting a great example for your girls

[Trek420]

"And where are the pic's of the new Mondonico? :D"

Being developed/scanned/finishing rolls. I can hear everyone say "developed? scanned? what's that?" I know, I know, Yeah, I must be the last one on the planet without the instant gratification of a digital camera.

[Trek420]

snapdragon wrote: "And where are the pic's of the new Mondonico? :D"

I did put a picture of me riding the Della Santa (loaner I rode while the new one's being built). In hindsight looking at the picture I look a little "stretched out, sure felt it too on the 50 cm. bike. As soon as i get some of the new bike I'll post 'em for y'all.

http://home.pacbell.net/dita_rae/bike.html:cool:

[ORBikeChick]

Hey Penny! You'll have to keep me updated about your McKenzie River trip! Sounds like a blast! Depending on dates etc..I'd LOVE to join you! I'll have to really put some time in so I'll be able to keep up with you! lol!
Thanks for the heads up about the clinic in Hood River! Where do you find out about all of these? I'm going to look into going...I know it will be great for me and I could sure use some tips!

Thanks!

Sarah :cool:

[Irulan]

Thanks for the heads up about the clinic in Hood River! Where do you find out about all of these? I'm going to look into going...

uh, I spend a lot of my computer time in mountain biking discussion on various boards. :cool: :cool:

this is the one I am going to end of June
Devine Ride (www.devineride.com)


penny