Excited Newbie!!

[Kathie]

Hi there!!

I got my first bike a couple weeks ago, a Trek 7.2 Hybrid! I.AM.IN.LOVE!:p
Today was the day I decided to get some "stuff"! I ordered a shirt, baggy shorts, shoes and sunglasses. I'm very excited because these hot cotton t-shirts and unpadded shorts are very uncomfortable. :(

I hope my package from TE gets here soon!

Question...did many of you start on a hybrid then move up to a road bike or did you just jump in with the road bike? My thinking was start with the hybrid see how it goes, then move to a road bike later if I want to. I see it happening!

I'm looking forward to exploring the boards!

[mimitabby]

I started on a hybrid, rode one for years. Switched to road bike when i finally decided i wanted to ride with DH and his friends.
welcome to TE!

[dingster1]

Well Howdie fellow Trekie! :) I'm riding a 7.2 also, love it. May get a road bike sometime down the road when I get the space for 3 bikes.That appears to be the pattern for a lot of folks

[DarcyInOregon]

I started with a Trek hybrid, and them moved to a Trek road bike about 7 months later. I had years of cycling from when I was younger, so cycling was not new to me.

I use my hybrid to bike the steep up and down gravel hill roads going out from the bottom of my drive, but only every now and them as a change of routine from riding the road bike. When I get on my hybrid it feels strange, like I am perched on top of this huge machine.

Starting with a hybrid is a good idea, however be prepared to want to move to a road bike sooner than you expect. And be prepared for the cost. Wow!

1. Prescription cycling glasses;
2. Cycling shoes and sandals;
3. Shorts and more shorts;
4. Jerseys and more jerseys;
5. Knickers;
6. Winter tights;
7. Jackets and more jackets for wind, rain and cold;
8. Socks and more socks to match all of the above;
9. A new helmet every time you fall over;
10. Water bottles;
11. Packs and stuff to fill the packs;
12.Powders, gel blocks, fitness bars and so on to fuel your rides;
13.Heart rate monitor;
14. Computer for the bike, then a better computer with more data;
15. Summer gloves and winter gloves then more gloves when the first gloves wear out;
16. Registration fees for the cycling events;
17. What did I leave out?

Darcy

[SnappyPix]

Kathie, congratulations on your new "baby"!
Don't forget the most vital ingredient for cycling - fun. And lots of it!
I'm sure you've got many happy times together ahead of you! Enjoy :)

[indigoiis]

I just got my first "stuff" order in, too. Dang! Forgot sunglasses.

I suppose my regular glasses will do for now... ;)

[oxysback]

1. Prescription cycling glasses;
2. Cycling shoes and sandals;
3. Shorts and more shorts;
4. Jerseys and more jerseys;
5. Knickers;
6. Winter tights;
7. Jackets and more jackets for wind, rain and cold;
8. Socks and more socks to match all of the above;
9. A new helmet every time you fall over;
10. Water bottles;
11. Packs and stuff to fill the packs;
12.Powders, gel blocks, fitness bars and so on to fuel your rides;
13.Heart rate monitor;
14. Computer for the bike, then a better computer with more data;
15. Summer gloves and winter gloves then more gloves when the first gloves wear out;
16. Registration fees for the cycling events;
17. What did I leave out?

Darcy

Lets see...
1. A bike rack to go to events with
2. A fancy floor pump with a gague
3. A pump that attaches to your bike that actually works
4. A new saddle to replace the horrible one that came with the bike
5. Another new saddle (because the one you just bought isn't working out)
6. Spare tubes
7. TONS of fun riding with friends :)

Welcome to the forum, Kathie...don't let these lists don't scare you off!

[Imanewcreation]

Congrats. I just got my new hybrid last Thurs. and looking at the list above..........wow, what did I get myself into. Addictions are expensive, but I am glad a picked one that is good for me. Enjoy the hybrid........I think my roadie will be soon following........

[Kathie]

I started with a Trek hybrid, and them moved to a Trek road bike about 7 months later. I had years of cycling from when I was younger, so cycling was not new to me.

I use my hybrid to bike the steep up and down gravel hill roads going out from the bottom of my drive, but only every now and them as a change of routine from riding the road bike. When I get on my hybrid it feels strange, like I am perched on top of this huge machine.

Starting with a hybrid is a good idea, however be prepared to want to move to a road bike sooner than you expect. And be prepared for the cost. Wow!

1. Prescription cycling glasses;
2. Cycling shoes and sandals;
3. Shorts and more shorts;
4. Jerseys and more jerseys;
5. Knickers;
6. Winter tights;
7. Jackets and more jackets for wind, rain and cold;
8. Socks and more socks to match all of the above;
9. A new helmet every time you fall over;
10. Water bottles;
11. Packs and stuff to fill the packs;
12.Powders, gel blocks, fitness bars and so on to fuel your rides;
13.Heart rate monitor;
14. Computer for the bike, then a better computer with more data;
15. Summer gloves and winter gloves then more gloves when the first gloves wear out;
16. Registration fees for the cycling events;
17. What did I leave out?

Darcy


Lets see...
1. A bike rack to go to events with
2. A fancy floor pump with a gague
3. A pump that attaches to your bike that actually works
4. A new saddle to replace the horrible one that came with the bike
5. Another new saddle (because the one you just bought isn't working out)
6. Spare tubes
7. TONS of fun riding with friends :)

Welcome to the forum, Kathie...don't let these lists don't scare you off!

I'm not scared! Bring it!:D I skydived for about 8 years and no sport can be more expensive than that. :eek:

I did buy a bike rack, a Yakima King Joe. I have so much to learn!

Thank you everyone for the warm welcomes! I'm looking forward to the challenge!:p

[RoadRaven]

Kathie and creation... new bikes... such a thrill

Welcome and enjoy the forum... being here is one of the best "accessories" to biking. :)

[DarcyInOregon]

I can't believe I left out so much stuff.

To add to what Ellen wrote on her list:

1. Lube;
2. Chain cleaner;
3. Bike repair stand;
4. Bike tools;
5. New tubes, tires and cartridges

And Ellen mentioned the saddle. Some people have to buy dozens of saddles before they find the right one.

6. Handlebar tape to match the bike.

And the saddle and handlebar packs. Some people get all sorts of fancy packs to match the saddle and the tape and the frame color.

7. Front and rear lights that can go on and also blink.
8. New chest of drawers to hold all of the cycling clothing.
9. The cream stuff for the chamois and crotch.

I bet the list is even longer for male cyclists.

Also, once you start getting fit and the miles start accumulating, then stuff wears out real fast, everything from tires to the chain to the shorts.

And it is worth it.

Darcy

[indigoiis]

I have an old helmet that goes with my old bike. I did get a new seat, though.

Are new helmets better fitting? It took a long time to get used to having that thing on my head. Now I feel naked without it. Even at the office, sitting here doing nothing, I'm thinking - WHERE'S MY HELMET???

[oxysback]

I'm not scared! Bring it!:D I skydived for about 8 years and no sport can be more expensive than that. :eek:



Skydiving?? Yikes!! There's no reason that I can think of for me to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. :eek: :eek: :eek:

[sandra]

Welcome Kathie! I've only been here a week myself. We have hybrids too. I have the Giant Cypress DX. I'm slowly (like every day:D) working on my list getting all of my equipment. These lists are interesting! I'm already itching for a road bike too. :eek:

I've enjoyed this forum and I'm sure you will too. Any question you might have, I'm sure someone has the answer!

[Jiffer]

WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME! :D

I had a basic 10 speed road bike as a teenager, but years and years went by and I got a hybrid. I rarely rode it and for not for real exercise. I just cruised the neighborhood a few times with the kids. It was just too much work to get it up a hill and really GO on it. At that time I tried out Dh's road bike. It felt so completely strange and I didn't want to have anything to do with it.

A couple of years later, Dh convinced me to get a road tandem, with clipless pedals and all. As I suspected, once I got used to that, I was itching for a single road bike of my own. I just got it a couple of months ago and LOVE it!!!

I suspect a road bike is in your near future if you're already thinking about it.

As for your comment about hoping to get your "stuff" from TE soon, I was surprised at how quickly I got my "stuff" from them. Seems like it was about 5 days. However, it seems to take an eternity for me to get stuff from Terry. In in So Cal, so I don't know if you'll have same experience as me.

Congrats on the new addiction to cycling. Now go ride your bike! :D

[Kathie]

Well Howdie fellow Trekie! :) I'm riding a 7.2 also, love it. May get a road bike sometime down the road when I get the space for 3 bikes.That appears to be the pattern for a lot of folks

Hey there!:D


Congrats. I just got my new hybrid last Thurs. and looking at the list above..........wow, what did I get myself into. Addictions are expensive, but I am glad a picked one that is good for me. Enjoy the hybrid........I think my roadie will be soon following........

You're right, this is a good one!


Skydiving?? Yikes!! There's no reason that I can think of for me to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. :eek: :eek: :eek:

It was my passion for quite sometime. I have about 1000 skydives. My husband has about 5000. My life got hectic and I gave it up for awhile and then the urge to go back disappeared. Maybe it will come back, I'm not sure. Right now, I'm very excited about my bike!

******************

Thank you everyone for your warm welcomes and sharing your stories with me! This board looks to be a great place to be! :D

[rij73]

I got a bike similar to yours in April, got hooked, and just upgraded to a road bike this week! Enjoy your riding!

[chort]

Hey Kathie! I'm new here, too!! I bought a mountain bike about 10 years ago... rode it around for a while.. then stopped riding.. then got with my dh who loves to mountain bike and bike in general... I went out and bought a recumbent (had balance issues at the time) those got better, tested a road bike and never went back to the recumbent! I love my Trek 1000.

I have to unload my recumbent before I even think about getting another bike -- just not enough room for another!

[surgtech1956]

I bought a Trek 7100 in March, and just ordered a Giant OCR3w.

[newbiechick]

Congratulations on the new bike! You're gonna have a blast!

I started riding a little over two years ago on a Trek hybrid. It allowed me to start out on a bike that was comfortable for me. My first year I really enjoyed riding but only rode a little--once or twice a week and fairly short distances.

Last year I got a bit more serious and started riding more regularly and setting goals for longer distances. But I live in southern Indiana which is fairly hilly, and the hills just were NOT getting any easier, no matter how many times I rode them. My friends said, "you're such a strong rider; when you get a road bike you're going to fly up those hills!" I simply couldn't believe that a road bike would make THAT much of a difference.

Well, in January I got a road bike (Cannondale Synapse Feminine WSD [aluminum]). It took me a few rides to get comfortable with the riding position, but now that I'm used to it, I love it. And the first time I hit the hill that kicked my butt all last year, I climbed right up with no trouble. Don't get me wrong, it was still a challenge, but I never felt like I needed to stop and never doubted I could make it. Now I go out and ride freely without worrying about bonking on the hills. I'm still SLOW, but I can ride wherever I want (around here anyway).

I'm sure you will love your hybrid. And once you've got some miles in the saddle, don't hesitate to make the leap to road. Regardless the type of bike, to me cycling is just so much FUN!

Enjoy the ride!

Shelley
aka newbiechick