Oh my...what have I gotten myself into!

[QueenCarlotta]

Hi everyone. I'm brand new to the site and to cycling. I'm overweight and I'm hoping to get into shape with cycling among other things. I do have some concerns. First of all, I'm SLOW. Second of all, I don't know a whole lot about the do's and don'ts of cycling. Finally, I'm easily intimidated, so I don't know if a cycling group is for me at this point. I haven't purchased a bike or any gear yet, so any recommendations for a beginner would be great. I've read over lots of the old beginner posts and I've gotten some great info. Just hoping to connect with some folks in my area who can make recommendations, be a riding buddy, mentor, friend, that kind of thing.

Thanks!
Carla

[Tuckervill]

Slow is okay. I've been slow forever. Sometimes I get faster if I've been riding a lot, but focusing on speed makes me enjoy it less. I want to focus on being on the bike in the outdoors, not my performance.

Just ride your bike a lot. That's the point. :)

Welcome to the forum!
Karen

[chicagogal]

Hi everyone. I'm brand new to the site and to cycling. I'm overweight and I'm hoping to get into shape with cycling among other things. I do have some concerns. First of all, I'm SLOW. Second of all, I don't know a whole lot about the do's and don'ts of cycling. Finally, I'm easily intimidated, so I don't know if a cycling group is for me at this point. I haven't purchased a bike or any gear yet, so any recommendations for a beginner would be great. I've read over lots of the old beginner posts and I've gotten some great info. Just hoping to connect with some folks in my area who can make recommendations, be a riding buddy, mentor, friend, that kind of thing.

Thanks!
Carla

First of all, welcome!!!!! And congratulations for getting into cycling. I may be a bit biased:), but it is a great sport, and one that could definitely benefit from more women getting involved.

Don't worry about being slow for now. As you get more and more into cycling and discover what kind of riding you like to do (racing, club rides, solo rides, charity rides, etc) you can decide whether getting faster is something you are interested in.

If you want to learn about the do's and don'ts of cycling, I would recommend riding with a group, at least now and then, to learn from the more experienced riders. It is amazing how much you will learn in your first group ride alone!!! (I learn new things all the time). And don't be intimidated. You should be able to find people to ride with who are eager to help out someone getting into the sport. Here in chicago we have group rides, clinics, etc, dedicated to helping introduce women to cycling, so maybe a women's only group would be worth seeking out for you - less testosterone = less competition on your group ride = no reason to be intimidated!!!!

[PamNY]

Welcome, and don't worry about being slow. Just ride, figure out what you enjoy, and have fun.

I enjoy being slow & recommend it highly.

[Over50Newbie]

What area are you from? I'm a slow rider and always enjoy company! :)

Lynette

[QueenCarlotta]

Thanks everyone! I'm looking into area cycling groups to visit. I appreciate the encouragement.

Lynette, I'm in Tennessee. How about you?

Carla

[Over50Newbie]

Sorry - I would have loved to ride with you. Unfortunately, I'm all the way up in Connecticut. :(

Lynette

[NbyNW]

Welcome!

It is better to be slow than to be standing still. Just get out there and enjoy! :D

[tharley]

Where abouts do you live Carla? I also am newish, overweight and SLOW, so don't feel bad. Because I am top heavy, I have back pain and chose to get a bike that I sit as straight up as possible. I don't know if that helps my back or not to tell the truth. When I got my bike, I honestly didn't think I wanted to ride longer than 10 miles and was hoping for flat roads; never did I realize, that when riding a bike every road is hilly. :eek: When DH and I went to the LBS (he refused Walmart) I wanted a "basic bike" with little to no gears because I didn't want to figure out shifting ratios, so I chose a bike specifically with a twist-style seven-speed indexed shifter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shifter_%28bicycle_part%29#Brake.2FShift_Levers). My lovely bike is a Raleigh comfort bike and I have had it for about 2 years now and about 150 miles on it (wish I had more, but am not the kind of person to go without a friend/DH). The sad thing is she is a heavy beast and I feel very slow for the amount of power I give her. After reading TE, I wish more and more that I had read about different bikes and chose a lighter bike with more gears. I am now looking at some nicer (ie much more expensive) bikes and think that I may even like to get a WSD road bike with drops in the near future (YIKES)- how's that for back pain?! I also love, love, love my clipless peddles, which have gave me the power to get up some dang tough hills.

The other issue I am dealing with right now is that this past weekend, I bruised my "lady bits" 1/2 way into a 30 mile ride. I am learning the hard way why fat girl seats may not be the best option and why seats with slits in them may be better. :cool:

[Bike Chick]

Welcome to TE and welcome to cycling. Don't worry about being slow....just ride your bike. You will learn a lot here and meet new friends. Enjoy and have fun.

[QueenCarlotta]

Hi Tanis. I'm in Tennessee, so I think it would be a bit more of a challenge to meet up with you than I'm ready for :) I have back problems too and was thinking of getting an inexpensive bike to start out upright and explore the different options, road bikes, mountain bikes, etc. before I drop a lot of money on a fancy one. Thanks for the tip about the seats. I was thinking of the fat girl seat myself, but bruised lady bits sounds terribly uncomfortable.

I saw a Schwinn at Target (I don't do walmart either) called a hybrid bike. From what I read, it's good on paved roads and light trails. It's inexpensive, so it wouldn't be tragic if it got stolen or if I crashed it to bits. It has over 20 gears, I can't remember now exactly how many. Are there particular things to avoid if I'm going the retail store route?

[Grog]

I saw a Schwinn at Target (I don't do walmart either) called a hybrid bike. From what I read, it's good on paved roads and light trails. It's inexpensive, so it wouldn't be tragic if it got stolen or if I crashed it to bits. It has over 20 gears, I can't remember now exactly how many. Are there particular things to avoid if I'm going the retail store route?

Welcome to TE! It's wonderful that you want to start cycling. Don't worry about being slow, it's the best part of cycling. :) Embrace your inner tortoise.

Would you consider getting a used bike first? And then, once you know a bit more about your wants and needs, get a new bike at a specialty bike shop? (Or buy a better used bike.)

A concern for me is that retail store bikes are often pretty badly made, and can even be assembled wrong. The components are very cheap (don't be fooled by the word "Shimano," it encompasses a wide range of products) and the thing starts breaking down quick. Many parts cannot be replaced by standard bike parts because of the way the bikes are built. Obviously you can't go back to the store to get it repaired, they don't know a thing about bikes. Your riding experience gets unpleasant (and possibly unsafe) fast, so you're not very likely to keep riding. It's also unlikely that the store staff will be able to help you find a bike that actually fits you properly.

I've checked Craigslist in your area (don't know what city you're in but I checked Nashville) and there were lots of possibly reasonable options. You can put $150-200 on a used bike and get something that works a lot better than a brand new big-box-store bike. You can also get some help from a bike shop to fix it if needed (brakes, truing the wheels, etc.).

If the environment is something you're concerned about, it's also good to know that by buying a used bike you're recyling, and slowing down the production of disposable consumer goods (poor quality bikes) that take a lot of energy and materials to produce and transport, and that are seldom worth your hard-earned cash.

You can also go "bike shopping" at local bike shops, ask lots of questions, try bikes in the parking lot, and start learning more about bikes. It will make it easier to shop for a used one.

Good luck and, whatever bike you get, come back often!

[Tuckervill]

Bikes from Target are in the same category as the ones from Wal-Mart. It may say Schwinn on it, just like some bike shop bikes, but they are made of less robust materials to keep them under a certain price point.

I know you are probably thinking bike shop bikes are too expensive, but in the long run they are not. A bike shop bike that you outgrow can be re-sold or passed down. If you buy right at the right place, you may even be able to trade it in on a better bike. A big-box store bike will likely have problems with certain components, like broken plastic shifters, cheaply made brake calipers, etc. Those are the problems I see when neighborhood kids bring their bikes for me to fix.

I spent ALL DAY yesterday driving to bike shops in Boulder, looking for my 25 yo son a bike. I saw a lot of bikes! There are some good deals right now, especially at Performance Bike. Is there one near you? I'd go there just to start, if I were you. Also, if there is a bike shop that advertises as a "family" shop or a "community" shop, you will more likely find a good selection in bikes you are interested in, and personnel who will be well versed in them.

Have fun with it!

Karen

[Tuckervill]

Grog, I wish the used bike market was a little better, at least for road bikes. I happen to be in Boulder on business. Boulder is one of the bicycling capitals of the world! Bikes and bike shops EVERYWHERE.

Not a single used bike in any of the shops. The only place we could find that specializes in used bikes is only open 4 days a week (not open on Monday). We went to EVERY shop. Boulder Craigslist is full of bikes--many many listings every single day. Very very few road bikes, and those that were listed were the high end ones, out of our budget. We were astounded. Lots of mountain bikes on CL.

Maybe it's just Boulder that is like this, but we are still wondering if people just keep their road bikes in the garage long after they stop riding them? So there's no market for them? things that make you go hmmm. (We did eventually get a screaming deal on a road bike, at Performance, the last bike shop we planned to visit.)

I hope QueenCarlotta has better luck in Tennessee.

Karen

[tiva]

Some Schwinns are quite light and good and inexpensive, but they live at your local bike shop, not your target or walmart. 7 years ago, I went to the lbs and bought a lovely Schwinn Supersport--reasonably light, aluminum, cross bike (ie, a more upright position than a road bike, but much lighter and more responsive than a cruiser/hybrid). I paid less than $400 for it (the price has risen, of course, in 7 years), and it's been a wonderful bike. I just went back to the same local bike store and upgraded to a pricey road bike, but I still love my Schwinn and will use it for touring when I need to put panniers on it. Cannondale and Scott also have nice cross bikes that are under $600.

So: go talk to some people at local bike shops. They may be able to find you a nice, light, comfortable bike that will let you improve your technique. I'd personally stay away from comfort bikes and cruisers, and ask about cross bikes, which tend to be lighter and have more road-like tires, but upright bars.

Do be a bit careful about craigslist. Sometimes you can find great deals, but often people want far more than their bike is worth (and more than you might pay at your lbs!). I have found my local bike shops to be great about pricing fairly, doing a lot of fitting, and letting me trade in my bike when I'm ready for a better bike.

[NbyNW]

Nice thing about a hybrid, too, is that once you decide to upgrade to something nicer, it still makes a good backup/errand/rain bike.

Whatever you decide, make sure you get a good fit at an LBS where you feel you are getting good customer service. Being comfortable on your bike and knowing that your LBS is a resource you can go back to will go a long way to keep you riding!

[staceysue]

About 4 years ago I got a beach cruiser from the local bike shop for $350. It was the cheapest bike in the shop. People had been telling me for years "it's not worth the $ to buy Walmart bikes" but I kept blowing them off. I thought they were snobbish or something - I don't know why I wouldn't listen to them. That was the first bike I ever bought that wasn't from Walmart or the likes, and even though it wasn't a super nice one, the difference between it and a retail store bike was amazing.

Cycling actually became fun again! I felt like a kid, riding that bike. That's what led to me eventually upgrading to a road bike. I still have my beach cruiser, and I still use it. I do not feel the money was wasted by any means. It's probably the best $350 I ever spent.

The only thing I wish I had done differently was to get a hybrid instead of a beach cruiser. Three gears were definitely not enough.

[QueenCarlotta]

This is great information! I'm going to the bike store today after work. Is there an on line resource for valuing used bikes (like Kelly Blue Book for bicycles LOL)? I'm not opposed to used at all and I'm grateful for the info about the difference in big box Schwinn and LBS Schwinn. I wouldn't call Knoxville a biking town, but there are a couple of shops that have been in business for a very long time. This is getting exciting!

[MommyBird]

Another vote for avoiding the big-box stores. Walmart, Target and K Mart.
Go to a real bike store. Actually, go to several real bike stores. For a starter bike, you will pay twice as much as a big-box level bike but you will be getting 10 times the bike and eliminate the headaches.

As stated above, replacement parts are not readily available for the cheaper bikes. They rattle and ride rough. Components vibrate out of place constantly. My husband spent hours trying to adjust our boys' friends sub-standard bikes. Our boys' LBS bikes, on the other hand, required minimal work.

The local bike shop will be a wealth of information and source of on-going customer service. You will have a place to go for adjustments, maintenance and all those accessories that you will just have to have.

The hybrid is also a great suggestion. Comfortable, stable, versatile, not too heavy, peppy and it has a full range of gears.
Cruisers are cute but they are heavy, lack gears and are not very stable.

http://bicycling.about.com/od/howtoride/a/hybrids.htm

[tiva]

You've got some great bike shops in Knoxville! Visit a few. Cedar Bluff has the Trek FX series, which are well worth checking out for the kind of uses you're thinking about. Make sure you try out a bike or two that costs a bit more than you want to spend, as well as a bike or two that costs less than you want to spend. It will give you a good feel for the trade-offs you might want to make!

[PamNY]

Hey, I did a lot of biking in Knoxville. Of course, that was in the 1960s when I was in college at UT.

You definitely want a hybrid and you want low gears -- a beach cruiser or comfort bike will make it too hard to explore those beautiful hills. I live in NYC (mostly flat) and I'm glad for my granny gears.

I did luck out on a used Trek -- bought it from a bike rental place. I agree with the caveats about Craigslist, though it's worth checking.

Good luck!

[ekcjwc]

I was a newbie in March of last year! I love what someone said about the speed ... "the more I focus on the speed the least I like it" (or something along those lines) because I feel the same way. I love riding but I like riding my speed. Enjoy the time and the miles and don't worry about the mileage.

[tharley]

Maybe it's just Boulder that is like this, but we are still wondering if people just keep their road bikes in the garage long after they stop riding them? So there's no market for them? things that make you go hmmm. (We did eventually get a screaming deal on a road bike, at Performance, the last bike shop we planned to visit.)

That is my problem right now as well. I am looking for an inexpensive WSD Road Bike, and let me tell you what a challenge it is, especially used. I think CO in general is geared toward mountain bikes. I do see a lot of people with nice road bikes though, but I think that they hide them away and sell them for the big bucks. ;)

[channlluv]

One more welcome from another plus-sized, relatively slow cyclist. You're making a great investment in yourself when you buy a bike and get out there. You're going to love it.

I bought my road bike used on Craigslist last October. I got a really good deal -- an '07 Specialized Ruby Comp that listed for something like $2400 new, for $1200. It came with $120 Speedplay X/2 pedals and a bag full of tools that had a $20 bill in it along with the extra tube and multitool. It weighs 17 pounds. I rode it in my first triathlon in October. It was awesome.

My mountain bike I got from an LBS about 10 years ago. It's a steel-frame bike and weighs 37 pounds when it's loaded with the tool kit and a water bottle. My longest ride on that one was 50 miles on my 45th birthday (last September).
It's lasted for all these years and is pretty good shape.

I've enjoyed cycling so much my mom bought her first bike since she was a kid last summer, also at her local bike shop. She got an older model that the shop owner still had in stock. She got it for about $350, a Jamis Earth Cruiser. She bought some gear and a helmet, too, and ended up spending about $450.

There are good deals to be had. That said, it's worth visiting lots of shops for more than just the good deals. As an older, overweight woman, I can tell you that I've received a variety of receptions at different shops. In some I'm completely ignored, in others, I'm treated with respect and my questions are answered and my needs are considered. Expect a variety of receptions, and don't get discouraged if the sales people don't acknowledge you because maybe you don't look like the typical athlete who shops there. Just move on to the next shop. (Although I did give an earful to one of the shop guys who had ignored me and then dropped about $200 worth of shorts, socks, and jerseys that he could have sold me if only he'd said, "Hello, ma'am, can I help you find anything?"

Good luck finding the perfect fit, in your new bike and your new bike shop.

Roxy in San Diego

[QueenCarlotta]

Thanks everyone. Wow Roxy! A triathalon?? That's great and definitely an inspiration! I've been doing some research on line and I like the idea behind the Electra Townie bikes. I don't think I can do the bent over road bike scene right now, but these have similar capabilities with upright positioning. They sell them at three of the LBS here, so I'm going to go and try one on :) Any experience with Electra?

[TrekTheKaty]

Queen Carlotta, Welcome! Don't worry about being slow. Just get out there. Cyclists are friendly. We were all slow once! Do you have a park with a couple mile loop nearby? It's a nice way to get started without getting too far away from home/car.

Consider everyone's recommendations about used bikes. A few months on a cheap bike will make your more educated about what you like and dislike. By then you should be hooked and will be ready to move up :D

tharley, I started cycling because I had a bad back. Like you, I chose a hybrid with an upright position. However, after test riding a road bike, I realized sitting upright actually caused more jarring. I'm now more comfortable on my road bike--be very honest with the LBS about your back problem during your test ride and fit. You can get a road bike with a more "upright/less aggressive" position.

[owlice]

Welcome from another old, slow rider!!

You might look at the Freecycle groups in your area, too, to see whether anyone is giving away a bike (or you can put out a request for a bike). I gave away an old road bike on Freecycle; it was easier than cleaning it (<g>) and fixing it up to try to sell it, and a grad student got a good (though dirty!) bike for free!

[janmanuel]

After I saw Carla's post last week, I e-mailed her to find out where in TN she lived. Turns out, she's about an hr from me. I've lurked around this list a while now....

Anyway, we met up yesterday and I brought a bike for her to try. We rode together for a bit...think we did 4 miles by the time we were done, and she did great.

I have a group of ladies in the Morristown, TN area that ride with me. We all ride mountain bikes, mostly on the road. We do enjoy trips to the VA Creeper Trail and other rail-trails like it.

I told Carla to ride my extra bike for a bit and when she is ready, we'll go shopping.

We had fun.

[channlluv]

What a nice thing to do!

Regarding the Electra Townie, just make sure it can fit in your car. My recollection of them is that they're very comfy, but big.

Roxy

[CamsShel]

As another new rider... :-)

I just got the Specialized Ariel. It's a hybrid, since I live on a gravel road and have to ride down that to get to pavement. It's also great when I get to ride the trail around the lake with my husband (who rides a skinny wheel road bike) because I can cut across the grass and be the first one back to the van. Ha!

I bought it new from the LBS--msrp $440. http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=47507&menuItemId=0

You'll enjoy it, once you get started on it.

Michelle in OK

[JennK13]

Welcome, Carla!!!
My husband bought me a bike Christmas of 2008 - Trek Navigator 2.0; she is heavy, but I feel stable on her, and the wider tires helped me gain confidence on the trail considering I hadn't ridden in years!!
I thought I looked "funny" on a bike, but thought about the Queen song "Fat Bottom Girls" lol.......I was initially only able to go 5 or 6 miles, but kept at it because I loved being outside and getting around; I have bad knees and jogging is difficult on them. That said, nothing compares to a good bike fit! My old bike was a Wal-Mart special, no professional fit, and it hurt to ride - knee pain all the time. As such, I hated riding!! But after moving to Colorado and seeing all the people out and about, I wanted to try it again. I did a lot of research on the kind of bike I wanted, and was determined to get me a cruiser or hybrid type bike so I would be more upright (those road bikes looked so uncomfortable, being huntched over!!).

Well, by June of 2009, I was going on 20-30 mile rides, and felt my confidence and stamina increasing with every pedal!!! I was hooked!! I bought a commuter bike in July so I could start riding to work, and in March of this year, I got a cross bike (now I'm huntched over, and love that bike!!!)

If you can afford it, buy from a bike shop and get a good bike fit. I didn't ride for years because of the pain from an ill fitting bike. It doesn't have to cost a fortune - you should be able to get something decent for $300. I have totally converted my husband on the value of paying a little more for a good bike than wasting money at Wal-Mart or Target.

Don't be afraid of clothes or feeling like you need to buy a bunch of fancy cycling clothing. I rode for a year in capris and seamless, comfy panties (I've now discovered Navaro makes padded cycling briefs that can be bought at REI for $25 - wear them under any kind of shorts without worrying about a diaper look!). Even though I'm riding several times a week on 30-50 mile (or more) rides, I'm not comfortable in short spandex and will only wear cycling capris that come to my knee, or mountain bike or commuter shorts with a padded liner underneath (I won't be seen with sausage legs!!!).

My husband can't believe what he created in me with that Christmas present 2 years ago. It has so helped with my weight and confidence. If nothing else, I really admire the power and capability my body has (even though I'm not "small").