New and loads of questions

[kziggy]

I am new to the world of cycling. I mean I did it as a kid and always loved to ride my bike. Just two days ago my husband bought me a new bike. I got a Felt Verza path 1. I am excited to one have a bike that I could pull my 2 year old daughter along with and 2 have a bike that will help me loose some weight. I am not over weight by any means but I still have baby fat from having my daughter. I have some questions about riding. Right now I am in a place were until spring its just to cold so I am wanting to get things that I will need in spring now. I am not looking at being a hard core rider right at the moment but want to be able to ride the bike path with ease. What are some things I am going to need? Also riding alone kind of scares me how do I get over that fear? What are the best riding shoes for someone who is just starting out? Is it ok for just regular athletic shoes to start? Ok I think that is a few that I have right now. :o

[Melalvai]

Does it have regular flat pedals? Any kind of shoe will do fine. Even high heels! :D

I don't know really how you get over being scared of riding alone. I guess you just do it. I never really gave it much thought. I just went, sometimes I'd go out 20 or 30 miles by myself. I'd always take my cell phone, and my husband was/is always willing to come fetch me if I get in a jam. (Then a couple years ago I went 744 miles by myself, but that was after I was a pretty experienced cyclist!)

Your daughter will LOVE riding in the trailer. I'd take my niece when she visited and she'd yell "Faster, Aunt Wachel, Faster!"

As far as what you need, for recreational riding on the bike path you don't need a lot:
Helmet
Water (does your bike have a water bottle cage?)
A flat kit and KNOW HOW TO USE IT (YouTube videos, lesson from your bike mechanic, and/or practice at home). I know they make those patch kits but I prefer a spare tube if I need it on a ride. Your flat kit needs a spare tube, a little pump, and tire levers. This probably goes in a little seat pack that attaches to your seat, and your cell phone & car keys can go in there (if you drove to the bike path)

You mentioned in another post that you are thinking about bike commuting too. For that, depending on what you usually take to work with you, you'll probably need more cargo capacity. A basket, rack & basket, rack & panniers, rack & trunk, something like that. A backpack is ok for a while but you'll soon appreciate a rack.

When you bike commute, you might start off thinking you are a daylight-only, fair weather commuter. Get lights anyway. It's easy to get caught out as it's getting dark. You really need those lights so everyone can see you.

[Biciclista]

for short rides your athletic shoes are fine. Take little rides by yourself and build up. as you get more comfortable on those streets you will find being alone is less and less of an issue.
For me, if I have somewhere to go,it's a lot easier riding alone than when I am just out to exercise.

welcome to TE!

[Penny4]

Congratulations on your new bike! As the others have said, regular running shoes will be fine to start off with. After that...a helmet, a saddle bag (attaches under your seat), water bottle, and a flat kit/extra tube should be enough to get you going. I looked at your bike on line and it says it has puncture resistant tires, which is great, but it can't hurt to have an extra tube/flat kit with you. Make sure you carry your ID and cell phone with you, and maybe some cash.
Is there anything in particular you are nervous about? When I started riding i was nervous because I didn't understand the mechanics of my bike and I didn't want to get stranded far away from help if something went wrong. This forum, You Tube videos and your bike shop are great resources. Many bike shops offer basic maint classes, which are very useful for beginners. Good luck and enjoy!

[kziggy]

Penny I think I am afraid of being hurt and not being able to get help. I also have the fear that someone may try to abduct me while riding. I hope that neither of these things happen. Its not like I live in a bad part of town or anything its just that well I have always been freaked out by that.

[Crankin]

Sometimes when we are nervous about learning something new, we tend to "catastrophize" about what could happen. Is your fear of being abducted based on any reality, like it's happened in your area, or to you in the past? Having a cell phone takes care of just about any of the things that would normally happen on a bike, if you can't take care of it yourself. If you crash and get hurt, you call someone, or in an emergency, there will always be some good samaritan who does it for you. You should look into getting a Road ID www.roadid.com, so your information is accessible.
The key to getting started is to practice, practice, practice. I also second the suggestion in the other thread you started; take the Traffic Skills 101 class, or call one of the LCIs who might give you some private lessons. Go to a bike shop and ask if there are any rides for beginners or anyone there would be willing to ride with you in the spring.
Everyone has their own learning curve, and the key is to do what is right for you, but not let the fear be paralyzing.

[Penny4]

Totally understandable concerns. Wearing a helmet and carrying your phone and id should help with #1. As for #2...well, you are on a bike, so hopefully you could get away from someone if you had too :)
Maybe just start on well used paths, avoid going at off hours, see if there are any groups that ride in your area, or perhaps stick to riding around your neighborhood for a while if it is rideable.
There is a path near me that is pretty busy at the trail head with walkers/runners, but by mile 2-3 it is pretty quiet. I do get a bit nervous riding it by myself, but ultimately I am not going to let it stop me.
Also, always let someone know when/where you are riding if you are going to be out alone.

[kziggy]

yes well I have to say that we did have someone abducted. I live in a area where a little girl went missing I was about the same age as that girl she has been missing since its been a long time that she has been missing. I however think I will get over it once I get on the road and get riding. I just have to wait until it gets warmer out and I can get riding. I know its silly that a 28 almost 29 year old is afraid of being taken. My husband has said the same thing you will get over it once you get out there.

[jyyanks]

I'm new to cycling too and am about to buy my first road bike when I get my bonus.

I too am afraid of riding alone but realize that my fears are probably unfounded. I always try to ride on the bike paths in the middle of the day when it's light outside. I carry a fully charged cell phone which actually is trackable via "find your iPhone". The bike path close to me is quite deserted and goes through some shady neighborhoods going south and runs along the parkway going north. As I ride more, I've become more comfortable with riding alone though I do look forward to the day that I can participate in group rides.

As far as equipment, I started off with a helmet and my regular sneakers.
As I've gotten more and more into it, I've also purchased some breathable T-shirts, cycling pants and shorts(Can't ride in my yoga pants because they keep getting caught in the chain) and a wind proof jacket. My bike came with a water bottle cage but I carry a spare water bottle (along with a cell phone, tissues, and money) in a small backpack.

Good Luck and Happy Cycling.

[GrooverBrisbane]

My advice regarding being scared of riding alone would be this: Maybe you can find a friend between now and spring, someone who would be happy to accompany you on your first few rides. Maybe another young mother like yourself, or just a friend who likes riding a bike, too. Preferably someone experienced.

It will help you greatly getting used to the bike. Once you are confident riding your bike and you know your route, then ride the same route several times alone.

By then, you will probably be ready to explore new areas on your own or your daughter in tow ;)

Always let someone know where you are going and when you are planning to be back!

But the most important things is: Always have fun! :D

[Catrin]

yes well I have to say that we did have someone abducted. I live in a area where a little girl went missing I was about the same age as that girl she has been missing since its been a long time that she has been missing. I however think I will get over it once I get on the road and get riding. I just have to wait until it gets warmer out and I can get riding. I know its silly that a 28 almost 29 year old is afraid of being taken. My husband has said the same thing you will get over it once you get out there.

It isn't silly, you lived through an event where you saw a girl your own age abducted and that leaves a mark. As you ride more and more on your own that fear will finally take a hike. I was a little concerned myself about riding solo, my mind came up with all manner of bad things that could happen, and none of them did :D

I highly recommend your purchasing a RoadID or something similar so that in case something does happen an emergency responder can gain access to your health/contact information.

Another thing that might help with the fear is to come up with some little saying to yourself to drive that fear away when it comes. It is easy for someone to say that you will get over it, and you will, but it is still a process. Some of us have a little saying to get us up steep hills, this same approach might help in your situation.

Welcome to TE and to riding!

[Crankin]

KZiggy, you experienced a trauma (an abduction of someone your age, in your neighborhood) when you were little and it hasn't been processed. If you are 29 and this happened when you were a little girl, you are experiencing the feelings of a scared little girl. My bet is that no one really talked to you about it back then, and of course, this would be scary to any kid. The problem is, that these feelings are stuck in your brain and you are re-experiencing the fear, like a flashback. You might want to see a therapist who is knowledgeable about trauma to help you. My guess is that this would be a short term thing.
FWIW, bike trails in the middle of the day are always going to be more isolated than riding on the road. So, if you want to be around people, it's worth it to develop your road skills.

[goldfinch]

Life has risks, biking or not. Just be prepared. The most important thing is to develop your skills as a rider, especially before you start your commute in a high traffic area, which you were talking about in another thread. People made lots of good suggestions there. I don't think anyone mentioned getting a good rear view mirror for your helmet, bike or glasses. We can give suggestions if you would like.

Don't just lurk here, ask questions every step of the way. People here love to share. When I was starting I had lots and lots of questions and people here were always very helpful.

I recently had an experience where I was not prepared and learned a valuable lesson. I am riding in a area with a lot of thorns. I've had three flats in about 200 miles of riding. My most recent ride was on my road bike. I brought nothing but water because my spouse was back at the rv and he would come get me and the bike if I had an issue. After all, who wants to fix a flat on the road when they don't need to.

I rode about 13 miles and was about a mile and a half from the rv. My front tire flattened. I tried calling the spouse. No answer. I picked up the front end of the bike and started walking. The mosquitoes were out in full force. Trying to swat mosquitoes and carry the bike was not fun. I repeatedly tried calling the spouse and never got him. I walked the mile and a half, acquiring at least 10 mosquito bites. Got back to the rv, snapped at the spouse, and changed the tire. He had turned off the ringer on his phone the night before when we went to a movie.

I learned a valuable lesson. I was not prepared. I could have been 10 miles away and not prepared and it may have been a long time before my spouse figured out that I was not back on time and gave me a call.

But, nothing really bad happened. I made it home. I learned something. And I am ready to get out again and ready to change out a flat! And, I also put the phone number of a local cab company and the rv park in my phone in case I get more than one flat.

(I was also surprised walking along the road that runs to the rv park that no one stopped to inquire if I needed help. Many people from the park in their big trucks passed me, often slowing to stare. I shouldn't have an expectation that strangers would help but I was irritated to no one inquired. I would have said: "stop at site 319 and tell my spouse to come get me!" I hope I would stop if I saw someone carrying a bike down the road).

[kziggy]

oh with her being miss its just always bugged me its not that it wasnt explained to me its just bugged me. I think part of my fear is never doing anything really alone. I have a great route mapped out for my first ride. I am excited! I wanted to say thank you for all the help you all have given me so far. I think that I will keep having questions until I just get out there and just go. I am hoping this weekend will let me have a small ride by 35 degrees is just cold. :eek: However I am going to try and convince my BIL to ride along he has a nice road bike and barely rides it. I think if at first he rides with me I will be ok to finally take morning and night rides. I am hoping to be able to ride before work maybe to work and or at night. I have a great bike shop and the guy who owns it is really good friends with me and my husband. He said as soon as spring gets here he is going to come over set up my bike and give me lessons. He told me for now just go out learn the gearing when going up and down hills. So that is my plan. And its nice to hear from women who are our there riding every day. This site have given me so many answers and help I am slowly getting my mind ready. oh I do have another question are biking shorts a must or can I wear like yoga shorts???? I know pants wise they are my pants get caught in the sprocket. I however I think I am going to get straight leg yoga pants.

[PamNY]

kziggy, I second the advice about taking classes (basic bike repair and traffic skills).

As far as riding alone, just keep riding and see how you feel. You can assess the situation as you progress and determine your personal comfort level.

Good luck, and keep posting your questions/concerns. This group has made all the difference in how much I ride. No matter the topic, I have always found reliable advice and encouragement here.

[moderncyclista]

I understand being afraid.

I commute at four in the morning and leave work in the afternoon. I've had people yell at me, beckon me and so on. The nice thing is, on a bike you can just yell "NO!" and haul a$$ outta there.

I never take exactly the same route home or to work. I never leave home or work at the same time each day. Basically, I'm a woman and this is the burden we carry regardless of our method of transportation. Bicycles are no more or less dangerous than just living your life as a woman in today's society.

Learn everything you can about your bicycle.

Have emergency numbers with you.

Public buses often have bike racks (Check with your city) - if you get a flat and can't change it for some reason.

Carry a cell phone always (even a pay as you go phone)

Water

Shoes with a good, stiff sole. Skate shoes, Keen sandals, Close-toed Birkenstocks, Chrome Shoes (made by Chrome bags of SF). *my feet get tired on long commutes or rides if my shoes are too thin. Short rides allow for almost any shoe.*

A messenger bag or backpack, later - a rack and rack bag of your choice.

Moisture wicking base layers. For all seasons.

Good sports bras! - (if you're gifted in this area at all, you don't want your lady bits slamming about!) :o

Good underthings

Flat kit

Knowledge of how to change a tire. (I practiced repeatedly on a junk rim at my local cycle-project. I'm still slow at it. :o )

Lots of it is just getting out there and doing it. I share your fears, my grandmother was murdered by a terrible person, in the same city I ride in today. Does it do me any good to worry? No. Does it add to my quality of life? No. Does cycling make me happy? Yes. Does it add to my quality of life? Yes.

Anyways, best of luck! I'm sure I've rambled and there is stuff I've forgotten.

[Owlie]

I ride bike paths alone. One of these paths gets quite rural quickly. And it can be a little scary. But remember, you're on a bike, and you can go faster than they can. Get a RoadID or similar, carry a cell phone with emergency contacts (and perhaps list one as ICE or something). Let people know where you're going, and check in periodically if it makes you feel better.

Beyond that: Helmet, gloves, water, a flat kit (spare tube, patch kit, tire levers, either a mini-pump or CO2 cartridges (or both!), and the knowledge of how to use them), and somewhere to put your stuff (I have a little bag that goes under my saddle). I'm putting together a tiny first-aid kit (bandages, a couple doses of Benadryl and some ibuprofen). Those are the bare essentials...good clothing becomes extremely important for longer rides.

[Berrybiker]

I'm pretty new at this myself and I think you have gotten a lot of good advise here already. Your fears are far from silly but you will be able to work through them, even if you need a little help doing so. I usually ride alone myself, and I would only like to add that it is a lot like doing most other things alone. You need to stay aware of your surroundings and use common sense. I feel safe enough riding around the neighborhood and on most roads without a lot of busy intersections, etc., but a couple of times I have found myself headed down roads that didn't feel safe to me, and I decided to change direction. When something just doesn't feel right, I listen to my instincts. I think you'll get more confident as you gain experience. You're willing to try, and that is the most important step.

[kziggy]

I can not thank you all enough for the great advice. I am so excited to ride. I think its going to be in the upper 40's maybe 50's this weekend where I am at and I am hoping to do a ride this weekend alone. Just going to do a short ride first then longer ones.

[Melalvai]

oh I do have another question are biking shorts a must or can I wear like yoga shorts???? I know pants wise they are my pants get caught in the sprocket. I however I think I am going to get straight leg yoga pants.
When I started biking I didn't ever put on a pair of bike shorts for several years. Then I bought a pair and I practically refused to take them off for a year. (Well, not really. But I put them on even for really short rides!) Now I wear them for any ride that is an hour or more. The rest of the time I don't bother.

I even rode 744 miles to Omaha and back without bike shorts.

I will say that one of the first things I bought when I started bicycling was a brooks saddle. It's leather and it conforms to your individual anatomy. I believe my saddle is the reason I didn't bother trying out bike shorts for so long. Try it with your yoga shorts. If you have some saddle-area discomfort then give bike shorts a shot.

[DolceVida]

Everyone's covered the whole fear thing, and that's kind of something I'm working on too! Being very new to all of this myself, the best advice I can give you is to buy a really good pair of bike shorts with a chamois - at least if you plan to ride for more than 5 miles at a time. I think buying mine early on may have been what kept me from giving up altogether and I still love them. The right gear really does make all of the difference.

[Crankin]

Everybody's different, but I am one of those people who can't even ride 5 minutes without bike shorts. I've done it on short errand rides, but why be in pain when you don't have to be? I also tried a Brooks saddle and it was an instrument of torture for me. I know they are super popular, but I guess what I am trying to say is that all of this is really individual preference and depends on our anatomy. Luckily, some nice person on TE bought my Brooks saddle and I am happy with the Terry Falcon on both of my bikes.
Buying bike shorts is a process, and it's easy to forget that a thicker chamois does not necessarily mean better.
Try everything and compare.

[Catrin]

There is good advice here. I am another who will not ride without bike shorts. Period. Not for any distance, why ask for trouble? It is great there are women who have found they can ride without them for some distances, but for me I will not.

Bike short choice (and saddles) is very personal, and there are a lot of options. Our butts like what they like, and what works for one woman may not work for another. Not all bike shorts are tight fitting lycra, and you can also purchase liners that you can wear under other shorts. Terry and Pearl Izumi make these, and I am sure that others do as well. I've a pair of Terry liners that came with my mountain bike shorts and when I need a separate liner I turn to them.

[hebe]

Welcome to TE and enjoy your riding!

I was a brand new rider about 18months ago, and I nowsometimes tow my 3-year old in a trailer, run my errands by bike whenever I can, ride off-road, and can't imagine not riding. Pretty much all of my riding is on my own. I have to say that I didn't worry about my personal safety as much as I did about someone not seeing the trailer with my girl in it - however that was an almost entirely unfounded fear as a large fluorescent yellow trailer complete with flag pole and streamers is more visible than many cars and people can be surprisingly considerate when they think you are towing a child. I think an awful lot of confidence comes down to sensible riding, your LBS owner who is offering you lessons should be able to help on things like the best road position to enusre visibility and safety.

Go for it, you will be setting a great example to your child.

[moderncyclista]

I've only needed bike shorts on super-long rides. For short rides or commuting, I'd skip em'. But maybe I've got lady-business-of-steel, or something. :cool:

I ride Brooks on my bikes, cept' the vintage one. A well aged Specialized Lithia saddle does the trick.

Helmet! Helmet is essential! I knew I derped and forgot something. Helmets have saved my life. Always wear one on your bicycle. Even on a path.

Happy Cycling!

[PamNY]

Our butts like what they like

That's my new favorite phrase.:D

Seriously, the bike shorts/underwear thing is very individual -- experimentation is the only road to truth.

[DebSP]

Welcome to TE. I tend to lurk here, but I learn a lot. I have asked questions and the women here are great! One thing I carry is a whistle. You know a Fox 40 type. Maybe I am just a little paranoid as well. Some one my family knew when I was a teen raped and murdered a couple of women in our town. A third woman escaped alive and he was caught. My sister had gotten a ride home from him one day and so it really freaked us both out when we were teens. Things like that seem to stick. I ride alone on some pretty remote rail trails (I wonder if the cows would come if I use my whistle??:rolleyes:). I have gotten used to it and I just stay aware of my surroundings at all times. I love to ride and I hope you get to enjoy it as much as I have!

[kziggy]

thank you all very much! I think I will start out with a buddy at first and then after I feel a little better out riding I will ditch my buddy and ride solo!
Right now the weather is still to cold for me but this weekend is supposed to be in the 40's maybe 50's if we hit upper 40's I am going!

[Dogmama]

Is there a cycling club in your area? Sometimes they will rate their rides and have shorter, easier rides for new people. You may meet people who you can ride with outside of the club.

I personally love to ride alone. Gives me time to think, reflect and generally just rest my brain. Something about the rhythm of the pedals lulls the worrying part of my brain to sleep. I've never really thought about being abducted & I've been riding over 20 years (even before cell phones & when women had to buy men's shoes & shorts :eek:). I suppose if somebody tried to grab me, it would be like the Ransom of Red Chief - they'd be trying to return me & nobody would take me. :p

[missjean]

that's my new favorite phrase.:d
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