New Rider, New Bike, New to Clipless

[Kristi]

I'm just getting started into road biking. I'm totally convinced I'm going to love it.
I got my new bike about a week or so ago. (see pictures).

I freakin love it. If you haven't got a look at this bike, you should. Go to the Cannondale website, it's the Optimo Feminine 2. The paint job is really cool. I've yet to meet anyone who didn't think it was one hot bike.

I was pretty scared of clipping myself to my bike. My boyfriend has been pushing me to get clipless pedals, so after much discussion, I went for it. We went for a short ride around our neighborhood with me all clipped in and it was great.

I DIDN'T FALL!!!!

I'm so exited about riding more and going on my first long ride. I can't wait to get out there and enjoy the ride.

[keeper]

Oooh, very, very pretty!! I know what you mean, I got my bike about a month ago and I love it. So much fun. Good luck with the clipless - I fell my first time out and then again last night (at least I am consistent, I fell in the exact same way and busted up my knee and elbow in the exact same place - ouch!) The thought of falling was actually worse than the reality.

[DarcyInOregon]

Kristi, your bike is real pretty. You need to get out on some event rides so you can mingle with other cyclists and they can see your bike. There is probably an event ride every weekend for the rest of the summer. You can probably do one of the short rides of 35 miles to start.

When you need new tires, maybe think about adding tires with some color. The tires that TE sells are really good. The blue ones would add a little something extra to the look of your bike. And maybe get blue handlebar tape to coordinate. Just an idea for you.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=13372

Don't forget the matching and coordinating clothes and helmet. :)

Darcy

[mimitabby]

what a wonderful paint job! welcome to TE

[Dianyla]

Cool paintjob! Can you post another photo showing the Chinese characters more clearly? I've got 1, 3, and 4 figured out, but can't make heads or tails of the second one. :rolleyes:

[Starfish]

Wow, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the bamboo!!! And yes, I second the addition of blue tires and tape! You're right, that is a hot bike. One of the nicest paint motifs I've seen. LOVE IT!!!!!

[Tri Girl]

That's one sweet looking bike! Never seen a paint job like that before- I LOVE it. No wonder you want to be out there riding it- who wouldn't??

Now you two go enjoy some long, enjoyable miles together! :D

[dex]

So pretty. I saw that bike at a local shop and cursed my body for not being compatible with WSD frames. I *love* that paint job.

[HillSlugger]

I just saw this bike in person today. Beautiful. Ride it in good health!

[LadyInMotion]

that is a pretty bike with a very unique paint job! I too am very new at cycling. My first bike is only two weeks old, also started out clipless from the gate; however, I did fall very first time.

I hope you enjoy the ride.

[mixie]

What a gorgeous bike!!! So pretty!!!

[sundial]

That is the prettiest paint job I've seen on a Cannondale. :) It looks so Zen-like. How does it ride? I think you need to show it off every chance you get.

[sundial]

In your second pic, I noticed some fur. Is it a sable german shepherd by chance?

[wiseowl]

I was SO tempted by that bike, but couldn't test ride one. I love my purty new bike, but I thought the graphics were so cool on those Cannondales. Snowboards and skateboards looks so sweet these days with the graphics they have, so why not bikes? Plus, it is GREEN! Congrats! And glad to hear that the riding is going so well.

[Kristi]

So I'm not really sure if it's possible to respond to each person individually. I don't know how to if it is.

Thanks for the compliments!! :D It just makes me that more exited to get out there and show this baby off!

I did go for a short ride around my neighborhood with my boyfriend and I did it clipless. I DIDN'T FALL! But I've really only got down how to get my right foot out. I'm a little more clumsy when it comes to getting my left out.

I would love to know what the symbols on my bike mean. I'll try and get a better picture in the next day or so. If anyone knows what they mean, please fill me in.

And about the dog fur - I have an 8 year old Siberian Huskey that's white and tan. A 5 year old Huskey/Doberman that's black. And a 10 week old Chihuahua/Beagle that's tan and white. I'll find some pictures of them later.

And one other thing, I've thought about playing with the colors of the tape and accentuating the colors on the bike. My boyfriend works at our local shop and he almost put on white tape and temporarily put on a white seat just to see how it would look.
I'm participating in the Tour de Tucson in November and will probably fancy it up for that. I'll add pictures if I do anything fun.

Thanks:p

[Dianyla]

I would love to know what the symbols on my bike mean. I'll try and get a better picture in the next day or so. If anyone knows what they mean, please fill me in.
The first character (http://www.chinalanguage.com/dictionaries/ccdict/view.php?query=7F8E&encoding=text&mode=pinyin&lang=en&beijing=pinyin&canton=jyutping&meixian=pinjim&sound=0&fields=mandarin,english) means beautiful. The third (http://www.chinalanguage.com/dictionaries/ccdict/view.php?query=5973&encoding=text&mode=english&lang=en&beijing=pinyin&canton=jyutping&meixian=pinjim&sound=0&fields=mandarin,english) and fourth (http://www.chinalanguage.com/dictionaries/ccdict/view.php?query=4EBA&encoding=text&mode=pinyin&lang=en&beijing=pinyin&canton=jyutping&meixian=pinjim&sound=0&fields=mandarin,english) characters mean woman (3rd means female, and the 4th means person, the two combine to signify woman).

I'll lookup the second character once I can see a clearer pic. :)

[rij73]

That's a sweet bike! Good for you! :D

[sgtiger]

Welcome to cycling and TE. And congratulations on your ride. You definitely have one pretty frame!:)

[Bad JuJu]

Love that green! Pretty, and high-vis, too. Enjoy!!!

[RoadRaven]

Very awesome bamboo and dragonfly!
To give you some "zen" moments?;)

Fun to read about your excitement
Enjoy

[bnylo]

I'm just getting started into road biking. I'm totally convinced I'm going to love it.
I got my new bike about a week or so ago. (see pictures).

I'm so exited about riding more and going on my first long ride. I can't wait to get out there and enjoy the ride.

Hey, what a nice bike, I'm glad to see some new/old ideas for painting a bike. Can you provide a better pic of the red seal? that usually is the mark of the painter on a painting - or the mark of a subsequent collector of a particular painting.

Margaret

[Jiffer]

SWEET!!! Another Cannondaler! :D

I hope it rides as nicely as it looks. :) I have a Cannondale, too. A CAAD9. LOVE IT!!! It's black, white and silver, but I pinked it out with pink handlebar tape, seat and bottle holders. And I, of course, wear a pink jersey!!!

Beware that white handlebars will get dirty faster than a darker color, but from what I hear, it cleans up fairly easily too. Someone mentioned Soft Scrub. I think lots of things would probably work. I need to clean my pink handlebars, but haven't done it yet.

Regarding the clips ... you'll get used to them. I clip in and out with my right when I stop, which must be what you do since you're better on your right than left. Everyone is different. Just do what feels natural to you. Eventually you'll get to where you can slow down for a red light and not feel the need to immediately unclip because you know the light is about to change. When I could ride super slow, like barely moving, and not be afraid of falling over, or that I wouldn't be able to unclip in time if I had to hurry and do so ... it felt great! Like a real cyclist! Haven't fallen yet ... fingers crossed! (Okay, well except for on the tandem once a year ago, when I was new, and Dh was unclipped, didn't communicate what he was doing with me and lost balance of the bike. I couldn't get my foot out in time and, in slow motion, went down like a beached whale on the side of a major street! Not good for my ego! I just know all the people in the cars passing were laughing hysterically. I just know it!)

But, lets get back to the part about how I've yet to fall over on my new Cannondale that I got 3 months ago. :D Congrats on your new bike. She's a beauty.