First ride on my new bike!

[MommyBird]

Hey-
I just got a new road bike. 2110 Cannondale Synapse Feminine 6, carbon frame Blue. I have not been on a road bike for about 20 years. (Pre-kids)

I have been battling Plantar Faciitis for the past two years and have been getting my main cardio on an elliptical instead of running. I need some air!

My husband is a long-time cyclist and we have an Airstream travel trailer and tend to choose our campgrounds for their biking opportunities. We ride all over the place on our mountain bikes. He also often takes long training rides or does an organized ride. Lately I find myself drawn to joining him.

So we invested in a road bike for me. I picked it up this rainy Saturday and went on my first ride Sunday. We went to a local state park so that I could get used to the brakes and shifting. There have been a lot of technological changes since my last road bike! I rode nine miles. Definitely not even close to my limit but I didn't want any painful surprises that would keep me off the bike today.

Right now I have platform pedals since my shoes are on order. I will have a set of pink Speed Play pedals installed later this week. Then a whole new learning session will ensue. I am glad that I have had the chance to get used to the position, braking and shifting before I have to tackle clip-less pedals. I have practiced on my husbands bike, but have not mastered them yet nor have I been out on a real road.

Hopefully my next post will not be giving you all the embarrassing details about my first clip-less ride!

[Biciclista]

hey congrats on getting on the bike!
welcome to TE!

[arielmoon]

Congrats and I hope you have many happy rides ahead!

[spindizzy]

Yay, Yay & Yay. Pics please so we can drool!

I see you've got a very futuristic model..:D

[Maxxxie]

I also have a Cannondale Synapse feminine bike. You won't regret it, it's a sweeeeet ride :) Congrats on the new addition to your stable!

Max

[MommyBird]

Yay, Yay & Yay. Pics please so we can drool!

I see you've got a very futuristic model..:D

No pics for a few days. Cannondale put the seat and handlebars for the black version in my box. They are sending the white replacements. Should arrive today. It will be so much prettier outfitted properly in white.

[indigoiis]

Congratulations!!!

[MommyBird]

I will be meeting my husband for ride #3 at 4pm est. Mistletoe park again. He went out for a training ride and I will drive to the park and meet him. We ride around together and then put both bikes on the truck and drive home.

I took a short ride on the "real road" yesterday. It is much scarier than it was in my 20's and 30's. When I get my pedals we will go to the Fort Gordon Army Base. Very little traffic and nice long loops.

I frequent the Airstream Forum, which uses this same forum format, and they have more features available. One that is nice is the ability to "thank" people individually with a special little button. They have a lot more members and offer a "Supporting Member" option. They also have more advertisers. They must subscribe to the Cadillac Plan.

Thanks to everyone for your comments!

[krisl6]

Enjoy! There's nothing quite like the feeling of hopping on a new bike!

[Bike Chick]

How fun! Enjoy!

[MommyBird]

There I was, sitting in the parking lot waiting for my husband to pedal up and I realized I had forgotten my helmet and gloves! So I fired up the truck and headed for home. When I passed my husband on the access road he gave me a "what's up?" gesture. When he called I explained my mistake and he was glad because he had miscalculated his time and was almost ten miles short. He rode a park loop while I drove the ten mile round trip home.
So all worked out fine.

We rode over 11 miles this time. I was more confident on the descents and my shifting was improved.

My shoes came in yesterday so I took my bike in to get fitted with my pedals today. Tomorrow I will be riding on my hard packed Georgia clay side yard. We mow the weeds and call it grass. Much friendlier than asphalt.

We live in the country so we have a 1/2 acre of "lawn", 3 acres of "yard" and 4 acres of forest. The forest is reserved for the mountain bikes.

I may even venture out on our 300' asphalt driveway if I get brave.

[Aquila]

We'd love to see a picture of your bike!

(Gosh, it sounds like we're talking about going to see someone's discretely housed etchings... )

[MommyBird]

I will post pics when the white seat and tape are on the bike. It just doesn't look right with the black.

I hope they come in tomorrow. We are going to the North Georgia Mountains for the Falluminum Airstream Rally. The NGMs are a very bike friendly area with an abundance of wide berms and bike lanes. Weather permitting, I would like to ride on a road with traffic. The roads around my house are narrow and they just drop off at the white line.

My husband has a round trip planned that will take him to the top of Brass Town Bald. He did the Six Gap ride last month.

My first day with my pink Speed Play pedals went very well. I practiced in my yard while my husband was getting in his miles. Then I met him again at Mistletoe and we rode 15 miles. No mishaps. It was a beautiful Fall day with temps in the 70s.

A bonus today was a box on the front porch with my order of "girl" clothes. Everything fit and I no longer have to wear my husbands least favorites. I could carry my books in the seat!

[MommyBird]

We spent the weekend at the Falluminum Airstream Rally in North Georgia. Had a great time.
We carried two bikes each up but only one got used. There was a lot of rain for the road bikes and we took our dog, Cooper, so we spent a lot of time walking him instead of riding the mountain bikes.
Dave did his planned 40 mile ride. He made it up Brass Town Bald. Wrecked twice going up hill. It was slick with wet fall leaves and he was on a very steep part and slipped and flipped over on his back, still hooked into the pedals. He was like a turtle.
I made apple crisp in the dutch oven for the pot luck brunch while he was riding. He pulled in just in time to eat with all the campers. What a treat after a ride.

Came home to bad weather. Had to settle for the elliptical. Wednesday was beautiful but I have a morning-to-night schedule. I was able to take my bike to the LBS to get my white parts...finally! The shop is next door to my church, which is where I spend the majority of Wednesday.
Cannondale sent the seat they use on a more expensive bike. That was a bonus.

Finally got to ride today. Same routine with the park meeting. Experienced a few milestones...rode 20 miles, went out on the real road, and got chased by a pair of country dogs (Jack Russell and a Pitt Bull:-0)
We were able to sneak by one of my husbands favorite "training partners"; he calls him Captain Jack. He was distracted by his owner putting him in the truck for a ride.

We met our UPS guy in the driveway when we got home. He knew Captain Jack too. He knows a lot of the same country dogs as Dave.

Next ride will be at least 25. So far everything is holding up well on my 49 year old body. This is much kinder than running.

[staceysue]

What makes me excited about starting cycling at 40 is that it really is kind on the body - I hope I'll still be doing it in my 80s! Makes me feel young to be staring out something new and knowing there's a possibility I'll still be doing it when I'm twice as old as I am now.

[Maxxxie]

MommyBird: PHOTOS, dammit!!!!!

Staceysue: Cycling is one of those sports you can do until the day you die. One old coot made the news here not long ago - 80-something and rode from Cairns (top end of Australia's East coast) to Brisbane.. or might've even been Sydney.. anyway.. it was 1000+Km. This dude has only been riding for 18 months or so! So there's nothing stopping you mate! :)

Max

[MommyBird]

Photos!

Rode 25 miles today with my hubby.
Tomorrow is our 23rd Anniversary!
My hubby says carbon is the proper gift for #23.
The bike was my early anniversary present.
I guess all the stuff I had to get to go with it counts too!
He's getting a Tribest Personal Blender with some extra accessories.
He will love it for his after ride recovery shakes.
To celebrate we plan to ride a loop at Fort Gordon.

Hope you enjoy the photos of my 2010 Cannondale Synapse 6, 54cm, with Speed Play pedals. It will be wearing a Vetta wireless next week.

[MommyBird]

More photos...

[Tuckervill]

Nice bike. Cute dog!

Karen

[skinimini]

Sweet! I also have a Cannondale Synapse--you'll love it!

[MommyBird]

Nice bike. Cute dog!

Karen

His name is Cooper.
He loves to chase a tennis ball or Frisbee for hours. We have to use a racquet so we don't hurt our arm! He runs to the pool to take a dip with his toy whenever he gets hot. Then he tosses his dripping toy at our feet for more. He is a master of dramatic catches.
He loves parties because it gives him a steady supply of willing play partners.

[Yemmi530]

So happy for you, welcome back and have fun with your ride again.

[arielmoon]

Lovely bike! Your DH sounds like a great guy! Many happy rides to you!

[annielynn]

Very nice!! :) What a great anniversary present. Enjoy your gift!

[MommyBird]

I did my first organized ride on the Synapse.
Riding Beckley in Cochran, GA.
I did 33mi and Dave did the metric century.
We camped at Little Ocmulgee State Park. A CCC project.
Nice man-made lake, golf course, and Lodge.
We took Cooper and he loved his walks around the campground.
Lots of squirrels to spy on.
He got to try out his new doggie car seat.
He enjoyed the view and coziness and we enjoyed having him properly restrained.
Our next ride will be the "Best Dam Ride" at Clarks Hill/Lake Thurmond in April.
This is our favorite bike shop's ride and KFA signed on as a sponsor this year. About time!

[MommyBird]

I did my second ride yesterday, 3/21/10.
The Dublin, GA, St Patrick's Day Century.
(My First was the Beckley 100 a few weeks ago. I did 33mi.)
This time I did 57! And in the rain!!
Beckley was my first sub 40 degree ride and Dublin was my first rain ride.
Both times I was watching the weather go into an area that I had been avoiding for regular rides.
Both times I had the fear that I would wimp out.
Both times I met or exceeded my goal!
I felt so good this time I just kept taking the longer route.

A bonus (for me anyway) was that my husband had bike trouble and had to take a short cut off the 100mi ride. We happened to meet up at the final rest stop and were able to ride the last 8mi together! He rode in the 85mi range. He has his bike in the shop for some repairs today.

My desire has been to get back to being able to run at least a 5k by my 50th birthday in June but maybe I will switch it to a full century. My plantar fasciitis is not going away. I don't think my foot will ever fully recover. Too much scar tissue.

[backinthesaddle]

Your bike is great looking. Love all the pink accesories. I just got my first road bike last Wednesday. I tricked out on accesories too. I got pedals as well and shoes, but I am too afraid to use them just yet. I want to get more comfortable with the gearing and shifting first. My pedals are dual sided, so I am able to ride in my sneakers until I am ready for the clipless day.

You are putting on some serious miles already. Keep up the good work.

[annielynn]

WTG MommyBird! You are rocking it. I think that your goal of doing a century is completely doable. You rode in the cold rain, that means you can do anything. I have a 50 degrees cutoff and I refuse to start out in the rain! LOL Florida girl at heart. My body doesn't like the cold weather.