New from Madison WI

[warneral]

Hi ladies,

I feel like I already "know" many of you as I've been coming here for the last few months to learn and search and read about cycling :)

I've been riding for years on mountain bikes. We have lots of rails-to-trail bike paths here which my husband and children and I all enjoy. My kids are now 6 and 8 and I'm finding more opportunity to ride with them and to take off and ride alone too ;)

This summer I purchased a used 2006 Trek 1000 wsd. I do believe it's a tad too small for me (it is a 48cm and I am 5'4" with a long torso). I really enjoy the ride. I've really only started riding it over the last month since I finally got a clipless situation that works :D I'm using frogs and Diadora MTB carbon shoes. Finally not falling over with the clipless!

I am researching my next bike but also enjoy what I have.

Madison is a great town to live in (well April through Oct). Lots of bike paths, bike lanes, and trails.

I look forward to getting to know you all. Will need to get a picture up. I think I have some train tunnel pics somewhere. I also have a trek navigator (HEAVY) and an old Trek 800.

[sjane]

Hi!

I'm in Wisconsin too, but Green Bay. I'd *love* to live in Madison!

[warneral]

Sarah - nice to see another Wisconsiner! How long do you tend to ride into fall/winter?

I actually live in a burb right outside of Madison but I can bike there. I do wish I lived in other parts of the area - like right next to paths or trails. But I got a road bike so I could enjoy the location we are at. That made a big difference in how much I ride :)

Alison

[sjane]

Sarah - nice to see another Wisconsiner! How long do you tend to ride into fall/winter?

Alison, this is my first year cycling with any consistency, so IDK yet! I have a lot of cold-weather running gear that should work for layering, but I think running out of daylight is going to be my biggest problem -- at least until the snow and ice hits. I bought lights for my bike, but have still been too much of a chicken to go out in the dark. :o

[warneral]

Sarah that is me too! I am not confident to ride in the dark (or wind or rain) yet! Let alone snow!!!

[Chile Pepper]

Madison! I lived in Madison for two years (my master's), and I loved those rolling hills outside of town. It's such a beautiful area. My second year I actually rode my bike to school all winter--I put knobby tires on an old road bike and really bundled up. It was a bit scary on occasion when the snow got slippery and there was a car behind me that I knew couldn't stop if I went down.:eek: I think a gym membership would be wiser.