Just starting and finding myself addicted

[clbikerchick]

Hi! I just started biking a few weeks ago and was searching for a women's cycling site and came across this last night. SO much great information. A little background: My husband bought a road bike 2 years ago and started riding quite a bit. We have a friend who is a professional cyclist and we have attended quite a few of his races. This sparked a recreational interest for my husband. A few weeks ago I decided I wanted to try to do some biking. I have a hybrid that is about 8 years old and had minimal use. ;) I went about 3.5 miles and thought I was going to die, but I kept trying. About 2 weeks after that I was able to "ride around the lake," which is about a 14 mile ride. I thought it would be more fun to ride on a road bike(my husband has been trying to talk me into one for 2 years, but I haven't been ready until now) so I went and looked at bikes and found a 2011 Trek Lexa SL being clearanced out to make way for 2012 models. I also test rode the Madone(not sure which model, but a lower end one) and loved it! I couldn't justify spending the extra money on it when I wasn't even sure if I'd stick with biking though. I'm very happy with my decision to get the Lexa and have logged over 70 miles in the past week! I'm finding this biking thing quite addicting. :) Anyway, I'm sure I'll be posting some questions, just wanted to introduce myself!

[Zippinalong]

Hey clbikerchick, nice to see you joined!
I'm right there with you in terms of addiction. Bought a road bike last year and except for some hip issues I'm riding like a woman possessed! :)
Welcome to the club!

[Nick]

Welcome! I recently got back into biking as well. This forum is fantastic :-)

[jyyanks]

Welcome! I'm a newbie too as I rediscovered biking after a 20 year hiatus. Long story short, we went to Martha's Vineyard over the summer and everyone was riding bikes. After much trepidation, we decided to rent bikes for the week and I was hooked. Just bought my first "nice" bike ever (its a folding bike, I live in NY) and am absolutely addicted. I spent some time on another forum but there wasn't much traction and traffic so I was thrilled to discover this one. Looking forward to learning more from all the people on this forum.

[sadieme]

I'm also a newbie and am loving it! :)

Maybe we need to start a cycling newbies anonymous! ;)

[pixiegloss]

Glad to see there are other newbies out there enjoying riding as much as I am. I started training for my first tri a few weeks ago and a friend lent me her first road bike to get started... aside from the bike being too small, it was a great way for me to get acquainted with cycling--I hadn't been on a road bike since my Huffy Omni 10 was stolen in 1984!
I discovered quickly cycling is my favorite of the three sports and decided to invest my own ride... bought a Giant Avail with the upgraded components on mega sale today and finally got my own shoes with clips--no more sneakers!
Anyways, just wanted to share, I'm pretty excited I found something fitness oriented I like this much :)

[turbojackie]

Pixiegloss - I looked at a Giant Avail at a bike shop here and took it for a test ride. I really liked it!

I'm new, too. I've been a solely recreational biker for 10 years, but for some odd reason this year I am hooked!

I told one of my friends I wanted to ride in a Century ride and she just looked at me and said "so, you just woke up this morning and decided you are going to ride a 100 mile race? Who does that?" I laughed and said "I guess I do!"

[pixiegloss]

turbojackie - I haven't done a century ride myself, but I met a friend of mine at the end of the Shiner Bash in Texas (3 century rides starting in Austin, San Antonio, and Houston and all end in Shiner, TX at the brewery!). We had so much fun and despite riding 100 miles in the Texas sun, my friend Andy did too. Also, my sister-in-law did the Tahoe century ride and said it was awesome. Lots of hills though... good luck!!

[amb]

I started riding in march....not surprisingly, my other workouts have dropped off significantly since! Not sure how I am going to get my fix in the winter. I might have to try spinning class to keep most of the strength I have built up in the last 6 months.

It is slightly addicting and I swore up and down I would NEVER wear padded spandex. I had to eat my words.

I have a 62 mile charity ride this weekend - can't wait!! :)

[turbojackie]

amb - I love Spinning! We re getting Spinning at our club this fall and I am getting certified in October. Can't wait!

Good luck on your ride! Have fun!

[Mama Coosa]

I just wanna say that it makes me smile to read about women getting "addicted" to cycling.

[lph]

Me too! Welcome all :)

Ride lots.

[turbojackie]

amb - I said the same thing about padded shorts. I said "I work my butt off in the gym doing endless lunges and squats and now they want me to put padding on my butt? I don't think so." THEN, after my first 44 mile road, I took my sore fanny to the bike store and bought a good pair of shorts! LOL!

Yes, I am addicted!

[Titania]

amb - I said the same thing about padded shorts. I said "I work my butt off in the gym doing endless lunges and squats and now they want me to put padding on my butt? I don't think so." THEN, after my first 44 mile road, I took my sore fanny to the bike store and bought a good pair of shorts! LOL!

Yes, I am addicted!

Yes, but just think how great your legs look now in all that spandex! :)

[turbojackie]

Yes!