newbie intro

[iamhydrogen]

hello!

I'm 24, live in Pittsburgh, PA, and am new to cycling. My fiance is an avid road cyclist, and through him, I've gotten really interested in it over the last couple of years - both because it sounds like fun, and of course, because he talks about it all the time! We've both wanted me to be able to ride with him, but I could never afford a bike, saddle, shoes, etc... This past Sunday, he surprised me with a new road bike! It's a Giant OCR 3. I like it a lot, even though I've only ridden around the neighborhood a couple of times. (still working on that helmet & saddle).

So, i'm very excited, and really glad I found a women's forum.

Nice to meet you all!
sarah

[Adventure Girl]

Originally posted by iamhydrogen
This past Sunday, he surprised me with a new road bike! It's a Giant OCR 3. I like it a lot, even though I've only ridden around the neighborhood a couple of times. (still working on that helmet & saddle).Sarah
Aren't those little surpises nice!:D Welcome to TE. By the way... get a helmet right away!!

[bounceswoosh]

Welcome to the fold! Get a helmet before I smack you with one! There are plenty of cheap helmets out there that do the trick -- just make sure they have the right stickers.

[pedalfaster]

Hiya Sarah and welcome to the board.

My daughter will be a freshman at CMU this year. We'll be arriving in Pittsburgh August 23rd. ANY tips you have on good bike shops, clubs, group rides and (last but not least) good places to eat in your fine city would be mucho appreciated.

Congrats on the new bike!

:)

[DeniseGoldberg]

Sarah -
Please get a helmet before you ride your bike again. I'm speaking from experience --- I crashed my bike back on May 20th, and if I hadn't been wearing a helmet I do not believe I would have survived. Even with the helmet I had a skull fracture and what all the docs tell me was a severe brain injury. I'm back at work and back on my bike, but I'm riding much slower and much lower distances than I usually am at this time of year. If you're interested in my story, you can read about it at denise2004crash.crazyguyonabike.com (http://denise2004crash.crazyguyonabike.com) .

Enjoy cycling - it's a wonderful activity, and it's my favorite mode of traveling.

--- Denise
www.denisegoldberg.com (http://www.denisegoldberg.com)

[fasteryet]

Denise, that's an amazing story. My husband always laughs at me for wearing a helmet, he says no one ever worried when he was growing up.
Maybe it has to do with being from Mass.- I grew up in Lawrence and Andover, and lived for a long time right off rt.125. I still remember riding my bik into town , to high school, and through Harold Parker.
Glad you made it.

[iamhydrogen]

hey hey hey - easy ladies!! ;)

i haven't ridden the bike yet except once around the block. i'm waiting to get a helmet before i do!!

looking forward to the first ride...
sarah

[MightyMitre]

Ah - nice fiance! What a cool present.

Yes, a helmet is a must but getting a decent saddle from the off will help you loads as you, especially as you start getting the miles in. Check out some of the other threads for oppions on comfy saddles.:)