Hi from New York!

[Breana]

Hi everyone!
I'm a soon to be new rider.... I'm 49 and looking forward to getting a new bike within the next few weeks.
I'm looking at possibly hybrids, maybe a road bike. I am definitely interested in getting myself back into shape and riding distance, but not racing.
I've always been active, but in the last year (menopause-yuck!) haven't done a darn thing!
I am going to start visiting bike shops this weekend, but am open to any and all suggestions for a bike!~
What a great idea- a bike forum for women- love it! :)

[Smilie]

Hey, I am new to this forum as well. Lots of great information here! Good luck on your bike shopping, hopefully I will get to do that soon as well.:D

[short cut sally]

Hi Breana, welcome to the board. What area of NY are you from? When you go to the bike shops, ride every bike you can. hybrid and road. Ride and ride until you think you like some bikes, so you can narrow your selection. Ride some more. Ask questions. What terrain will you be riding will also factor. I ride a road bike even though I will never race. Its easier to roll down the roads (less tire on pavement). I ride anywheres from 18 miles to 100 miles depending on day, time frame, or if there's an event. Good luck shopping and have fun. If you find a bike that you really love, and it's alittle more expensive than what you had planned, ask yourself if you can justify the money in the long run. My first bike, i bought an in between road bike, wasn't sure if i would like riding, would i ride my bike that much and thought i better not spend the extra money just in case. 2 years later, i bought the bike that i probably should've bought the first time. once you start, you can't stop.

[JaneE]

Hi Breana,

I'm curious, too, as to where in New York you are. I'm in (this year: very rainy) Niagara County and started riding for just about all of the same reasons that you mentioned (plus knee surgery that severely curtailed power walking/running). Love long rides but not interested in racing, either.

I may not post much, but I do read and have learned a whole lot from the friendly people who post to these forums. It's a great resource. :)

Welcome!

[rij73]

Enjoy the new adventure... You will probably adore biking once you get into it. I want to know what part of NY too. I'm in the city...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

....and I'm in Columbia county NY..... :)

[Iris616]

And I'm in Albany County!!! So, where are you in NY?

BleeckerSt_Girl, we're almost neighbors:D

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

And I'm in Albany County!!! So, where are you in NY?

BleeckerSt_Girl, we're almost neighbors:D

Yeah, I'm only 40 minute drive SE from Albany! :eek:

Wanna come over here and do some beautiful rolling farmland rides sometime, and have lunch at Ralph's Pretty Good Cafe? :D

[Iris616]

Yeah, I'm only 40 minute drive SE from Albany! :eek:

Wanna come over here and do some beautiful rolling farmland rides sometime, and have lunch at Ralph's Pretty Good Cafe? :D

Might be fun in the fall, with all the beautiful foliage! Didn't you say in an earlier post that your town is redoing main St and putting in bike racks? I love small New York villages:)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Might be fun in the fall, with all the beautiful foliage! Didn't you say in an earlier post that your town is redoing main St and putting in bike racks? I love small New York villages:)

The sidewalks are pretty much done, the street is open again, but the signposts and trees are not in yet.
I still have to get some bike rack suggestions together for the Village Board. :o

[Cyclenewbie08]

Iris and BSG: I am in Saratoga County. There are some great areas to ride up here, I am discovering. :D

[Iris616]

So Breanna, many people are curious; Where are you in NY?:D

Cyclingnewbie-I love 'Toga. We have close friends there, so I'm there on most weekends. And, it's where I bought my bike:). I'm also envious of your "bicycle benefits" program. It's incredible for a small town.

[cyclingmama]

Some of you are practically my neighbors! I grew up in (and now work in) Dutchess County and live in Ulster County.

BleeckerStGirl - I rode your beautiful rolling hills last weekend, in the Harlem Valley Rail Ride.

[MM_QFC!]

Welcome, Breana!
You've already gotten lots of great advice and know what a supportive, fun forum we all have here, so I trust you'll learn lots and enjoy it all!

I'm a native New Yorker - grew up downstate, in Westchester county, and have lived out in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years now (raised my sons here).

I'm headed back next week though, for my 3rd Empire State AIDS ride...from Niagara Falls - lower Manhattan, beginning 8/10.
Any of you NY TE woman along the route? Check out the site (link is in my signature below) and let me know - would love to see any/all friendly faces along the way and I promise to respond-in-kind!

Tailwinds!
Mary

[bluebug32]

Hi from another Dutchess County rider:)

[Breana]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

I am in the middle of NY state. Halfway between Rochester and Syracuse, just about on the shore of Lake Ontario.

We have beautiful rolling hills, flatlands, lakeshore roads, forests and farmlands. A perfect place to ride really.

Maybe you could all head up this way sometime for a group ride! :D

I still have so many questions.... I'll try to get everything together this weekend.

I'm excited about riding.. and this forum!

[JaneE]

I'm headed back next week though, for my 3rd Empire State AIDS ride...from Niagara Falls - lower Manhattan, beginning 8/10.
Any of you NY TE woman along the route? Check out the site (link is in my signature below) and let me know - would love to see any/all friendly faces along the way and I promise to respond-in-kind!

Tailwinds!
Mary

Hi Mary,

I've looked on the Empire State AIDS ride website...can't seem to find a page with the route or a map. I have been known to overlook things 2 inches in front of me though. Am I just blind as a bat??

Anyway, I live not too far from Niagara Falls (Sanborn) and would love to see the start of this ride. Can you point me to a map link?

[short cut sally]

Hi Breanna, I haven't seen much activity from Songlady here lately, she lives in Rochester. Her and I have never met up, and we live like an hour apart, our schedule never coordinated. The only TE'r I've met was MM-QFC last year on the Empire AIDS ride and that was a blast. Do you live near SOdus? That is a beautiful town. DH bought a truck from there and he has to get it serviced soon for some warranty issues. We thought about taking our bikes up that day and riding around.

[TreeSaw]

I'm in Saratoga County as well. You should check out www.nylunachix.com for some women's group rides, clinics and events.

[MM_QFC!]

Hi Mary,

I've looked on the Empire State AIDS ride website...can't seem to find a page with the route or a map. I have been known to overlook things 2 inches in front of me though. Am I just blind as a bat??

Anyway, I live not too far from Niagara Falls (Sanborn) and would love to see the start of this ride. Can you point me to a map link?

Hi Jane!
Nope, you're not blind at all; there isn't a stored route map on the site, as the ride director doesn't usually publish it and there is always the possibility of a last minute change or 2...in fact, she has changed the last 2 days of the ride, so I'm interested in seeing the new route too.
I know the particulars of the first day though, so here's the info for you:

opening ceremonies/ride out:
Sun, 8/10 @ 8AM - Terrapin Point between US falls and Canadian Horseshoe Falls...riders will mainly be on the Seaway trail (isn't it state route 18?) for this 1st day of the ride/106 miles.
Morning rest stop: Wilson-Tuscarora SP
Lunch stop: Golden Hill SP, Barker, NY
Afternoon rest stop: Hamlin Beach SP
Sunday overnight camp: Rohrbach bathhouse and grounds, Ontario Beach Park, Beach Ave, Charlotte area of Rochester.

Yes - it was great to meet Shelly last year! This year I'm not riding, as I was hit by a car 3 months ago and not 'cleared to ride yet'; I will be driving the lead road support vehicle, so that I can hang out with and care for my rider buddies on the route.

When we leave Rochester on Monday morning, we'll head south and stop in Penfield again for the AM rest stop.
I know that Shelly has out-of-town commitments this year, so I'll miss seeing her...and it'd be great to meet you, f'sure!

Let me know if I should watch for you somewhere, ok? Thanks
Tailwinds!
Mary