Loving/Hating Cycling

[Jen12]

I'm having a love/hate relationship with cycling. Well...not hate so much as aggravation.

Anyway, I bought a road bike earlier this year because I have friends who are into cycling and I've been wanting to ride a century, so I signed up with TNT. The friend thing has fizzled out since they live about an hours drive away and we've had trouble scheduling, so we've only gone on a handful of rides together. As for TNT, I didn't make the fundraising so I had to drop out. I wasn't crazy about the group of people I was with there, so it wasn't too big a loss. I was getting really discouraged about the whole thing.

Today I finally went out to meet up with a local cycling club. It was a very nice experience. They had a newbie safety meeting before the ride and I think I got more info in a few hours with them than I did with several weeks worth of rides with TNT. The people I saw seemed about a generation older than me, but they said they have 500+ members, so I'm sure the age range is pretty wide and its a matter of who shows up for what rides. I almost didn't go because last night I had a fight with my serfas floor pump that ended up with it going back to REI and a planet bike pump coming home with me.

The equipment upkeep aggravates me. I'm sure when I get more adept at everything I'll be less aggravated. I also had a hard time clipping into my pedals today. This was the first time I went on a longish ride with the clipless pedals, and finding the place to line them up with the cleats was a challenge. I'm sure that's something else that takes practice. I will say I feel a little more hopeful about having others to ride with now. My Saturdays are not completely open, but I think I can squeeze in one or two rides per month with this group. They seem very social, as opposed to the hard-core groups I see around. There are different length rides to choose from and they stop for coffee in the middle of the rides. I'm not sure if that's standard for cycle clubs or if this one is unusual, but I think it's a nice thing to do. So...we'll see how it shakes out.

[Bethany1]

LOL on the aggravation. I understand completely. It's not as simple as buy a bike and ride off into the sunset happily ever after.

Don't give up or push yourself too hard. It takes time to get used to everything and clipless pedals are one of them. If you need to, take them off and use platforms. I had to admit to myself that I wasn't ready for them yet last week after crashing into the ground a couple of times.

Go when you can to the rides. You'll make some friends and get lots of help. I don't have that option unless I drive up at least an hour to civilization.

Good luck and the important part is to have fun.

[CyborgQueen]

It's pretty typical for cycling clubs to have various distances. Most of the time it says A, B, C, and whether it's a challenge ride (tough hills for example), slower pace rides, etc. It will show whether there's a leader or sweeper (which is helpful for newbie riders so they don't feel like they have to catch up on the faster riders). More often after a ride, we get food, coffee, etc. Especially when we start off in a spot that has it such as Starbucks parking lot, Dunkin' Donuts, etc. You learn a LOT from Club Rides because they're more advocates for riding safely. If you got any problems with your bike, bring it up to your club members and a bunch of them will help.


If you are having a hard time clipping in, your pedals may be too tight. Ask your club members and they'll give you tips and tricks. Some of them will provide bike maintenance classes (at least one of the clubs in Las Vegas do every few months).

In Las Vegas, there's quite a few bike clubs since it's a large city, so they pretty much cover the entire town. There's a ride to join in daily.

So, stopping for coffee or snacks isn't that unusual, but not something I would recommend if doing longish rides - 10-15 minutes break is the best, then off to ride some more, THEN social time after the rides.

Good luck and enjoy!!

[Velocivixen]

I ride with platform pedals, however I have ridden a bike with clipless pedals and and recall that it took a lot of practice. Worst case scenario is that you try a different type of clip less pedal that you might like better or just go to platforms.
Glad you've got folks to ride with.

[Catrin]

How long have you been riding? If you only started this year and haven't been able to ride a lot, you might consider setting aside the clipless pedals until you get more miles under your belt. When I first started riding in 2010, my first move to clipless failed because my body was still learning riding basics - adding clipless to the mix was just too much. 4 months later it was a non-event.

+1 on checking with your LBS (if they have a fitter) to make certain your pedals/cleats are adjusted properly. Some systems have tension that can be adjusted, others are passive release; you didn't say which pedals you have.

I hear you on the aggravation, but of course it does get better. Just ride and ride and ride....and ride some more ;)

[westtexas]

I was just thinking the same thing myself yesterday about the equipment upkeep of these machines. Since mine is carbon I inspect the frame everyday and I have to be super careful about where I rest it and how I'm holding it (it already has one scratch in the paint but the frame is not cracked). Every week I clean the frame and the chain and relube and polish. You have to always tote around tools incase you're 30 miles out and get a flat. It can get quite aggravating.

But... the zen you feel out there on the road, enjoying the sights and the sounds and just spinning and breathing... it's worth it, I think.

Also, being honked at by people in beater cars who think they're very cool (mostly young teenage boys) and knowing that your bike is probably (likely definitely) worth more than their car. Hehe.

[Jen12]

How long have you been riding? If you only started this year and haven't been able to ride a lot, you might consider setting aside the clipless pedals until you get more miles under your belt. When I first started riding in 2010, my first move to clipless failed because my body was still learning riding basics - adding clipless to the mix was just too much. 4 months later it was a non-event.

+1 on checking with your LBS (if they have a fitter) to make certain your pedals/cleats are adjusted properly. Some systems have tension that can be adjusted, others are passive release; you didn't say which pedals you have.

I hear you on the aggravation, but of course it does get better. Just ride and ride and ride....and ride some more ;)


It's only the lightweight road bike and clipless pedals that are new. I've had bikes and been riding in one form or another most of my life. Even had a "10 speed" back in the day with the drop handlbars, so the position is not new.

I do think it's worth getting a fitting. My LBS helped me with the seat and then I raised it again. I still think it's off by a smidgen. The pedals are Shimano SPD egg beaters. When I have money to play with (hahaha!) I think I may get the dual sided ones with the platform on one side and the clip in on the other. Until then, I guess practice makes perfect.

[Veronica]

. Every week I clean the frame and the chain and relube and polish. You have to always tote around tools incase you're 30 miles out and get a flat. It can get quite aggravating.



Really... all that every week? Are you riding 500 miles a week or something? My chain gets cleaned when it gets noisy. My bike gets cleaned when it gets really dirty or before a race.

I inspect the frame weekly, when I'm pumping up my tires...

Veronica

[Miranda]

It helps once you get a system organized for your gear.

All of my bike gear essentials sit right next to bike ready to go. Of course it probably helps that my bikes sleep inside. The carbon roadie does so right at the foot of my bed. The helmet, shoes, gloves etc. all sit right next to it on the dresser. Tire pump right next to the bike.

Helps take some of the prep work outta riding.

[Possegal]

It helps once you get a system organized for your gear.

All of my bike gear essentials sit right next to bike ready to go. Of course it probably helps that my bikes sleep inside. The carbon roadie does so right at the foot of my bed. The helmet, shoes, gloves etc. all sit right next to it on the dresser. Tire pump right next to the bike.

Helps take some of the prep work outta riding.

I second that. I've recently started working on getting everything organized right next to each other. Then it makes getting on the bike and riding a little less time consuming. If I'm trying to commute on the bike into work, I find that if I'm too disorganized, I give up and drive. I'm hoping to get into more of a habit with the commuting and putting things all in their organized place has helped a bit.