My first REAL road ride

[Southside Sally]

I have had a bike for almost a year, courtesy of DH who is an avid cycler. Following advice on this forum, I started out using the clipless pedals, which scared me to death! Of course, the first time I rode, I unclipped from the left and leaned to the right, toppling over like that old guy on Laugh In. (Showing my age, yes?) I got pretty scraped up, and put the bike away for a few months.

Next time I got on, I rode around my yard, stopping and starting, clipping in and unclipping. I did this for about 2 miles. Put the bike away again.

Yesterday, I got fed up with being a chicken. I got on that bike and rode a loop around the neighborhood totalling 6 miles. I got home, got on a local forum and found a ride for this morning.

I recruited my 12 year old soccer-player son to join me. He has his own road bike, and was happy to go. I was so excited and nervous before the ride. I had barely even shifted much before today, and had next to no traffic experience. However, the only way to get experience is to go and do it, so there I went!

The people in the group were so kind and welcoming. I ended up doing 12 miles. We were originally set to do 20, but one of the other riders was a new mom who was coming back after several months off, and she wanted to shorten the ride a bit. Since it was my first, I wasn't sure how I'd hold up, so I welcomed the opportunity to cut it short, too!;) My son, hammerhead-in-training, went 21 miles with the men and kept up near the front.

Once we got back, I realized that I could have done the 20, so next time out, that's what I'll do.

Anyway, I am excited to be a cyclist, although I am so green I glow! I got lots of shifting practice, took a few hills and in general, had a big ol' time!

Thanks to everyone here who shares their wisdom and experience. If not for you, I would not have perservered with the clipless, and my bike would still be gathering dust in the garage.

Safe riding,

Sal

[michelem]

Congrats Sal! :D :D :D

Thanks so much for sharing your exciting experience. I look forward to reading about your 20-miler! :D

[Starfish]

Yay for you!! Awesome! :D

[Blueberry]

Congrats Sally!

Where in NC are you?? There are a couple of us here in the middle of NC (I'm in Durham, and I know there are 3-4 TE members within an hour or so of here).

[makbike]

Sally, way to go! I hope you have many wonderful and safe miles in 2008!

[Southside Sally]

Thanks for your good wishes, folks! I am in Garner, NC, about a mile north of the Johnston County line off Hwy 50.

I rode with a group called Slow Spokes today. What a great bunch! We have a Wendell ride next Saturday if you want to join us from Durham. ;)

Sal

[beth h]

..::whistles and applause::..

I LOVE reading stuff like this. It gives me encouragement for my own bicycling adventures and shows me how far I've come myself.

Congratulations. If you and I were in the same town I would TOTALLY set up some rides for you to come along on.

Happy riding!

[sbctwin]

Congrats, Sal. It sounds like you had a very good 'first ride'. Glad someone has decent weather to ride....

[KnottedYet]

Congratulations! :D

[froglegs]

Let the addiction commence! :D:D

[elk]

I fell (again :eek: ) exactly the same way this weekend...unhooked right foot, leaned to the left...only I use power grips, AND I fell in front of a LOT of people!!

Some of the people who saw were young boys with their skateboards...they were incredibly sweet......said, "I fell off my mom's bike the same way..." Didn;t even laugh...!!

I got up and rode another 10 miles...upshot? Falling is OK...riding is too fun to let it stop you!!
Glad you're back on the saddle!

[Tri Girl]

Hip, hip, hooray for you, Sally!!! Glad you were able to get out with the group and get in some good mileage. There will be many more rides in your future, I presume. :cool:
BTW, I love the name of the group: Slow Spokes. Ha! Sounds like a lot of great people out there having fun on their bikes. If I were near you, I'd like to join your weekly rides!

[Tuckervill]

No one understands falling better than skateboarders! :)

Karen

[Blueberry]

Sally-

You aren't too far - I actually work in Raleigh (I'm an atty), so Garner is pretty close. I usually don't make it that direction on the weekends, but I've heard there are some great rides put on by that group! Maybe after the holidays, I'll have a non-hectic weekend or 2.

I think they also do an MS ride team - we did the MS ride (New Bern) for the first time last year, and had a blast! If you're free that weekend, I'd strongly encourage you to try it - there's a wide distance range, but it's flat, so you might surprise yourself!

Take care,
CA

[li10up]

There's no turning back now... :D

Congratulations and wishing you many happy and safe miles!

[Bad JuJu]

That is just GREAT! You're so fortunate to have found a group you can ride well with--I think that really makes a difference.

I'd been cycling solo for a few years before I got hooked up with a club--well, actually the slow sub-group of the club.:D But I've improved more in the year of riding with this group than in several years on my own.

Have fun and don't forget to post here when you've done your 20-miler!

[KathiCville]

Awesome, Sally, good for you! I'm so impressed! Going clipless right off the bat AND feeling ready to take on 20 miles! I've been riding about 10 months now and only did my first 20-miler about three weeks ago. With your enthusiasm and strength, you'll be ready to do a century by the time summer rolls around. Have a ball and keep us posted on your progress! :)

[Southside Sally]

Let the addiction commence! :D:D

Yes, indeed, it has begun! I am already signed up to do another ride on Saturday. AND my budding addiction has created a plethora of Christmas present ideas...I'd like one of those cool little rear view mirrors, and a small pack for the front of my bike, and some long tights for colder rides, and...you get the idea! :rolleyes:

Roll on,

Sal

[Southside Sally]

Sally-

You aren't too far - I actually work in Raleigh (I'm an atty), so Garner is pretty close. I usually don't make it that direction on the weekends, but I've heard there are some great rides put on by that group! Maybe after the holidays, I'll have a non-hectic weekend or 2.

I think they also do an MS ride team - we did the MS ride (New Bern) for the first time last year, and had a blast! If you're free that weekend, I'd strongly encourage you to try it - there's a wide distance range, but it's flat, so you might surprise yourself!

Take care,
CA


I am an attorney as well, although I am currently working at my other career (I am also an RN). I still have one last case that is set to wrap up soon.

My husband has done the MS 150 twice. I hope to do it with him next year.

Slow spokes has great rides, as does a group my husband rides with, the Selma Cyclepaths. I am going to start up with them in the spring. Last year the closest I got was to supply and drive the SAG wagon for them!

Let me know if you want to come out this way some time.

Aloha,

Sally

[Southside Sally]

Awesome, Sally, good for you! I'm so impressed! Going clipless right off the bat AND feeling ready to take on 20 miles! I've been riding about 10 months now and only did my first 20-miler about three weeks ago. With your enthusiasm and strength, you'll be ready to do a century by the time summer rolls around. Have a ball and keep us posted on your progress! :)

Don't be too impressed, Kathi, I was a big chicken for several months. I just got good and P.O.'d at myself and got my a** on the bike again. ;)

I will indeed keep y'all posted.

Aloha,

Sally

[firenze11]

Sally -

Yayyyyyyy!!! I love hearing about rides like this. I'm very new at this, I've only had my bike about 2 months and there's already over a foot of snow on the ground so these stories keep me motivated on the trainer. It's funny how we all seem to have those times when we fall over and either humiliate ourselves (ahem, like me) or get scrapped up but something about that bike brings us back.

It sounds like you're doing really well and have found a great group to ride with. Congrats!

~E.

[Jo-n-NY]

Congratulations!!!! you got it right, just go out there and do it. It is great that you met a nice group to ride with and it is wonderful for your son to join you.

Sending good wishes for enjoyable and safe riding miles.

~ JoAnn

[mimitabby]

congrats! and you might slow down for winter, but then spring will come and you can start anew.