How long have you been riding

[allabouteva]

Hi ladies,

To me TE has been a godsend, because y'all have been so amazing in sharing your collective wisdom, and so warmly supportive!:) :) :)

I'd like to hear how long you've been cycling?

I started riding when I was relatively old about 9, and didn't have my own bike until about 11. Then I stopped riding until my twenties, when I owned a couple of bikes, but didn't seriously get into it. Tried but didn't. Then last year about October, my DH and son got REALLY into MTB, and a couple of family weekends away, got me started and then HOOKED! :D So now I ride a Giant CRX1, which I bought knowing that MTB wasn't fully my thing, :rolleyes: as I wasn't very good technically (although I'm going this weekend!), and I consider myself first and foremost a roadie.:p

So I've started this thread hoping to hear how long you've been riding, and a bit about your experiences along the journey.

e

[LBTC]

Ah, Eva

What a great thing to talk about!

I think I was 8 when I got on a bike the first time - one that was WAY too big for me! I loved it, but wasn't allowed to ride it in the woods! In Grade 6 I bought my own bike, but my dad talked me into buying a bike I didn't like and very rarely rode.

I think I was about 20 when DH and I bought our first crappy mtb bikes. We still loved riding them, even though they were terrible.

It was a few years later, when we bought real bikes - I think that was 12 years ago or so. Since we started buying good bikes, I've upgraded 4 good mtb bikes and a road bike....they've gotten progressively better, I love buying skill! heehee. I got much more serious about riding in the last 3 years, and hope, if work, health, and finances allow, to do some serious riding and racing this year!

It's been quite a journey, with many ups and downs, not all good, but I believe I'm a better person because of them.

Ride on, ladies!
~T~

[im4smiley]

I remember this tiny bike I had when I was a kid,I was too big for it. Then when I was about 12, I remember my purple bike with the banana seat and the tall handlebars, I used to do crazy things on that bike, pretending I was in a circus. like riding real fast then standing on the seat and kicking one leg out. :eek: I would NEVER let my kids do that!! I didn't do much riding again until last summer when I bought a cannondale hybrid h600. I enjoyed it soo much that I sold that bike and hubby bought me my new felt :)

[makbike]

I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't have a bike, the joys of a large family and lots of older siblings. I didn't really get into cycling until I was in college. My older brother spent a summer in France working and cycling. A rather dishonest person took his bike and he was forced to purchase an inexpensive bike in order to get back to his starting point and in turn home. When he arrived home he quickly sold me the bike for a whooping $12.00. It was a piece of junk but I loved spending time on the bike and exploring various roads and routes. I found that cycling was a great release from the pressures of my college course work as well as a great way to build up my strength and endurance (I was heavy into raquetball as well). I purchased my current bike back in 1986 with the help my brother and rode it until I finished grad school in 1989. Once I started teaching full-time my little blue bike spent a few years tucked away in my garage for I had no time to ride given the demands of my job. However, two years ago I decided it was time to pull it out, dust it off, get it working again and to climb aboard. Shortly after making this decision I met my current BF who just by chance happens to work in a LBS so he helped me tune my bike up, replace some parts and most importantly patiently rode with me that first season back in the saddle as I worked to gain my strength and endurance. I simply can't image not riding now. I so looking forward to dry warm weather so I can leave the confines of my living room and trainer and get back outside to soak up the sunshine and sights.

[Brandi]

I fondly remember when I first started riding. I was 7 it was in our backyard and my dog Surgar was there.it was a bike that I got for christmas. It was purple sparkle paint that fadeed into an orange sparkle paint. THe goose neck was put on backwards. At least that's what all the kids said to me for the four years I had her. Many Many fun times on her. Then i got a 10 speed which got stolen not two years after I got her. My parents were mad and didn't get me another one. I have had three other bikes sence then. I am 37 now and the bike I have now? Well she is wonderful i don't know if I deserve her. But biking has been in my life sence my first big wheel. I did skating for a while after my bike got stolen and skate boarding. I am a true california born and raised on the beaches. But get this have never ever surfed! Boogie boarded though . Biking is # 1!!!

[DrBee]

My first bike was a Christmas present somewhere around age 9. Then I had a Huffy 10-speed when I was in Junior High. I destroyed my knees when I was 14 as a serious ballet dancer (riding horses was also involved). 22 years, 2 knee surgeries and 2 kids later I bought my Trek 7200FX. My DH bought one the same day. That was last summer. I feel possessed by the cycling bug! I love it! And now - I'm searching for my first road bike. EEK! I'm hoping to ride a century and some charity rides next year.

And - I must say that I am so happy to be on the TE forum. Y'all are a fantastic group of women that are unbelievably supportive!

[Gidiup]

I always rode a bike when I was a kid. When I was 12 I bought myself a Schwinn Suburban 10 speed-green, $101.70 in 1972. Riding a bike then always gave me freedom to ride to town or to my friend's house. Once I got my license, I left my bike in the dust of the garage for many,many years. Then in my 30's I went though my second childhood and re-discovered the activities that made me happy as a kid, tennis and biking. My husband gave me a Specialized Crossroads for my birthday. I started riding into town again to do errands. The more I rode, the more I enjoyed it. I bought a road bike to see if I could increase my average speed on my bike rides. I road in some charity bike rides. I've always dreamed of riding across the US. That is still on my "to do list". I always ride alone. That's not my choice just the way it is. I'm having a hard time finding someone to ride with. Although I haven't checked at the local bike shop if anyone else is looking or if there are some group rides available. I'm trying to get my husband into biking. He is a runner and talking about getting into cross training. My plan is to give him my bike, Specialized Allez, and get a new bike. I'd love a Specialized Ruby, definitely interested in a Women specific design bike. This June I look forward to riding in my 3rd MS150 with my friend from CT, Peg.

[uk elephant]

I got my first two wheel bike as a birthday present at the age of 7. Way too big as early bikes often are, but served me well for riding up and down the street or around the school yard. I was not supposed to ride it in the streets, but could walk it to school and then ride around the school yard. Of course I rode it to school anyway. Had a major wipeout on a gravelly path. Lied to my mom about what happened. Broke down and confessed an hour later because I felt too guilty about lying. And still to this day am terrified of riding on gravel. I have of course been riding ever since, although mostly just as a means of getting around. I had a sturdy Norwegian mtb for about 15 years which served me very well. Great bike. Had it's first service after 10 years! Brought me to Hell and back on several occasions (although never in winter when Hell is frozen over). It finally retired after 15 years and I upgraded to a Gary Fisher mtb with slick tires. Perhaps not the best choice when living in the flatlands of Illinois, but it served me very well for getting around. Unfortunately that bike "disappeared" (or more likely got stolen) when I moved to the UK last year. So now I have recently invested in a brand new bike, and have redescovered the joy of riding just to ride. I am now cruizing around on my Specialized Tricross and having loads of fun. I have just signed up for my first Charity Ride and have promised to do the AidsRide next year with Trek420 (my aunt). Perhaps I can even convince my mom (Bikeless in WI) to join in? It could be one of those family bonding things.....

And speaking of cycling. It sounds like the rain has let up a bit outside. Think I will hurry up and get a quick ride in before it starts pouring again.

[MomOnBike]

I've cycled off and on since the end of grade school. (Kind of got a late start)

My clunky old Schwinn girl's bike was at the center of one of the best summers in my life. A bunch of us rode to summer school (Driver's ed, of all things) and then took the scenic route home.

Rode a lot in college, to and from school, when I wasn't hauling a large musical instrument.

We then moved out to the absolute middle of nowhere and the bike just sat.

Now I'm using my bike as daily transportation again, and loving it.

[gromit68]

I just started cycling for exercise and to ride in a Century in June. Of course I rode as a kid but nothing like this. There are times(like this week) when I wonder why I started but for the most part I'm enjoying myself. If I can stop the crashes then I know I will completely enjoy myself. I am loving this forum to get tips and support from other females.

[Aint Doody]

This is really fun! I got my first bike when I was 6 years old. It was blue and had training wheels. I got another blue bike when I was in about the 6th grade. Back then all girls' bikes were blue and all boys' bikes were red. My brother had a red one, of course. I kept that bike and rode off and on through high school--just cruising around town. I didn't ride while in college--not many people at Ole Miss did in the late 60's and early 70's. When I married for the first time, I took my old blue bike with me. It was stolen! Then in 1973 I bought Gertrude--she was a brown Schwinn 5 speed--never did like the color, but she was fine for riding around the South Miss. towns. My 2nd husband had her painted 57 Chevy green--better color. I rode with another friend just around town and to the school where I taught. Then I moved to eastern OR (where my 3rd husband is from!). The hills here were too much for Gertrude--or should I say for me on Gertrude, and she languished in the garage for a few years. Suddenly one day I decided I missed riding my old Gertie and took her with her two flat tires, dust, and cob-webs to the lbs. They advised me to get a new bike. I didn't know what I wanted so I got a mountain bike - to ride around town again. Then I went on an organized ride and decided to sell the mt. bike and get a road bike. The next year I upgraded to my Pilot 5.0 and put 3000 miles on her. Last summer Gertrude went back to the bike shop and got overhauled. She's too much a part of my life to let go. I've put a picture of her in another post. She has outlasted 2 marriages and is working on a 3rd one! Oddly enought my latest bicycle is----you guessed it, BLUE! Ah, the cycle of life...........

[allabouteva]

Ah, the cycle of life...........

That's exactly it! Cycling is one big metaphor for life!:D

Keep these stories coming! They're fantastic...

eva

[Lise]

Hey, Aint Doody's right, my first bike was blue, too! 1967 Schwinn. Wait a minute...there was that tricycle I fell off of in 1963...I do not remember the color, but there's a picture somewhere...I'm going to find it to share with you all! L.

[caligurl]

well i had bikes when i was a kid.... and even had a cheapie kmart bike that we bought to take on our trip to NY so we could ride around town with my nieces... but as far as seriously riding.... a year and 8 months.....

[Veronica]

Lately I've had a thing for pink bikes. I guess I'm regressing.

Reading about everyone else's bikes, I realized my first bike that wasn't a hand me down, was pink, with a banana seat. I got it in 4th grade. My mom still had it. We found it when we were cleaning out her house this past summer. It must have spent a few seasons outside because it was totally rusted. Thom looked at and said that there was really nothing to save. We should have cleaned mom's house out a few years ago I guess.

V.

[CR400]

My first bike was a silver Schwin that I got when I was 5, I think, may have been 6. I had to learn to ride the hardway,meaning I didn't get any training wheels for it:) . I loved it bannana seat and all. Still have it somewhere but it can no longer be rode. The weld that held the frame together broke. Must have been all that BMX stuff we did on it:D . Then I went through about 3 different bikes through school. Stopped riding shortly after high school after my last bike wore out, didn't have money then to buy new parts.
Then a year and a half ago I went out and bought my yellow and black Cannondale and have been riding since, I kind of regret letting those 7 years pass without a bike. But that was the first opportunity I had to buy a road bike and wouldn't settle for less then a race bike.

[CorsairMac]

My first memory of riding is from about 5-6 yr of age. My family and relatives are standing in a huge circle in our backyard and encouraging me to ride around and around. Not a clue about the bike but as a second child in a middle class family, I'm sure it was a hand-me-down. My first real bike with gears was my dads old Raleigh that he rode in college. We tore it down, repainted it and built it back up. Unfortunately, it got lost during the course of a divorce and several moves. My 2nd husband took up biking in the mid 90s and I took it up again as a sport we could share. (he was a DH about riding with me - probably yet another reason he's an ex). After my second divorce I moved out to Phx and tried bike commuting to work but was taken out in a mighty way by some nasty train tracks so the bike got put away again. In Aug of 2004 our office moved right next to one of the main bike paths here in Abq and I took up biking again and have been riding since! One of my goals is to actually have a brand new road bike for the first time in my life, but til then, I'm still riding hand-me-downs - which we now call "vintage" and I still love it!!!

[Popoki_Nui]

I remember my love affair with riding began with a little red-and-white tricycle at about age 4. Then my first two-wheeler was a neat candy-apple red CCM single speed at age 5. I remember my grandmother helping me learn to ride it in Riley Park in Calgary. I was hooked!! :D My next bike was also a red CCM single speed which I rode until I was 12, when my parents bought me my first good multi-speed bike. It was British-made Falcon. I was thrilled! Ten speeds...woo-hooo! Real derailleurs! Campagnolo at that! Reynolds 531 frame, Weinmann brakes....a real European road bike (entry level for sure, but how exotic it was to me)! How I cherished that bike! I rode it absolutely everywhere and eventually outgrew it. I gave it to my little sister when my parents bought me the exact same bike in a larger size. I explored on it, I rode to school on it, I even raced it in High School. I still have very, very fond memories of those Falcons. Unfortunately, my second Falcon was stolen; I was so hooked on cycling that I went out and bought my beloved Gitane Tour De France in 1977 (and I still ride it today almost 30 years later.) I learned how to tune and maintain bikes, and soon I was doing my own upgrades and overhauls. In the mid-80's, I was bitten my the mountain bike bug, and I bought a Bianchi MTB. My poor Gitane hung in the garage for years as I discovered the joys of not eating exhaust and battling heavy traffic, and the sweet pleasure of riding in the rainforest and on the beaches around here. A whole different world! Fifteen years of corporate life followed those heady days; I put on too much weight, took on too much stress, and barely rode at all. In the late 90's I bailed from the corporate world into semi-retirement and got back on my bikes. But surgery for PCO, and metabolism problems happened. Lord...how those first couple of years back on the bikes HURT! But it was a good kind of pain, and I've never looked back. Today, I love to find vintage bikes and restore them, partly for the joy of bringing a faded rose back to life, and partly for the sheer pleasure of riding the classic bikes of my youth. I still battle weight and metabolism problems, but I ride now as much or more now than I did 30 years ago. I am a cyclist, I will always be a cyclist. :)
Happy and safe riding to you all!
~Sherry.

[bcipam]

Popoki nui -

this is off topic but your avator reminds me of what happened this morning. Before I left for work I looked for my cat. It is his habit each morning to see me off. He didnt come when called. I looked around and finally under the bed. First thing I notice is that the mattress lining was torn and hanging down. Darn, I thought, the cat ripped up the lining. I then noticed the lining had some "weight". I touch the budge hanging down and realized it was Sir Cat himself. He ripped a hole in the lining, crawled in and made himself a nice, warm little hammock to hang out in. Got to admit I was alittle jealous. I much rather had stayed home and hang out in a toasty comfortable little hammock as well. I can just imagine him kicking back, paws up just like your little avatar!

[Lifesgreat]

I have been riding since I was 5, so 37 years.

[matagi]

Unlike the rest of you, I didn't have a bike as a child so I only started riding at the age of 47, that's about 10 weeks ago. :cool:

[uforgot]

I had a huge tricycle. The rule at our house was...two bikes. A tricycle and a "two-wheeler" only when you were 12. No in-between bikes for us. Rules were rules. Well, when I was about 10, I decided I'd had enough. If I couldn't have a real bike, I would ride the tricycle on two wheels. We have videos. The neighbors must have thought I was very strange indeed. I'd get my tricycle out, lean over on two wheels, and I could make turns, ride everywhere with that third wheel in the air. It didn't come down until I was through riding. Obviously I had good balance, and I believe I got my big bike early. Christmas when I was 11, so I rode that tricycle on two wheels for a long time. Once I figured out how to do that, there was no turning back. Made me feel a little more like the other kids. My "big" bike was a Sears and Roebuck blue step-through that I rode until I was in my 20s. I sold it and have been kicking myself ever since. That bike never spent the night outside and looked almost new the entire time I had it!

[maillotpois]

Nice thread! I love reading about the banana seats, etc.

I had a bike, but didn't ride much as a kid because I grew up on a farm and mostly rode horses. Plus, we just had dirt roads and mountain bikes had not been invented yet.... So I mostly rode at my grandparent's house in "town".

After doing a few marathons with Team in Training, I decided to give cycling a go in 2001, and convinced my DH to do a century with me (Tahoe). I ended up doing 4 centuries that year and the Death Ride the next year. I have raced in several crits and road races, and hope to do my fourth double century this weekend. I guess I am hooked? :D

[allabouteva]

You ladies are such an inspiration to me.

My non cycling friends don't believe that you can even cycle 100km let alone 100 miles! So stories like your's Maillotpois, and Nanci who recently did 400km.

I'm not worthy....:rolleyes:

[Lise]

I cherish the feeling of riding my bike in the fresh early summer mornings, before it got hot, riding to swimming lessons at the public pool. The cool air on my body, my strong legs working, the ca-chunk, ca-chunk of the cracks in the sidewalk under my tires. I can still smell and see those mornings.

I was a fat kid, and life at home was even harder than life at school. Riding the bike was freedom and joy. I still feel that way.

I got my first two-wheeler when I was 7, that blue Schwinn that many of us in the US had. I developed an aversion to banana-seat boys' bikes after riding one straight into a tree later that year! :eek: YIKES! It is wonderful to read these stories. Happy memories.

[Susan126]

Geeish, it was so long ago, my first bike ride. I must have been seven (45 years ago, before training wheels?) My neighbor, Bonnie (who was 3 years older) decided it was time for me to learn how to ride a bike. So, she told me she would hold onto me and run along side of me while I pedaled on her bike. And to get some nice speed going (she explained speed helped keep you up right) we would start off by going down our blocks hill. At seven I was all for it! So off we went. Me pedaling, Bonnie running along side of me, then we reach the hill and she let go and off I went. I was riding! I was going fast! It felt great! Look at me! Oh no . . . she never told me how to turn or stop! At the bottom of the hill there was a two foot high cement wall. On the other side of the wall was a path that led down to a park. Well, she never explained the brakes to me so at full force I slammed into the wall. The bike and me went over the wall. Bonnie came running down. She thought I was dead and that she would be in trouble. But when she found me I was grinning and said, "That was fun, I want to do it again!" And I never looked back! Some day I'm going to have to find Bonnie and thank her for my first bike lesson! :)

[Tater]

I too had gotten my first bike around the age of five or six. I don't remember the color or anything, because it didn't last long and was soon replaced. The bike that replaced it had a red banana seat, a basket in front and a orange saftey flag on the back. I rode that thing everywhere, until I grew out of it and acquired a vintage Raleigh three-speed. Rode that one through high school, then quit riding for awhile. I rediscovered my love for two wheeled locomotion while in the Navy. Where I was stationed wasn't too kind on road bikes, so I got a Raleigh mtb and rode it until it wore out from all the salt water and whatever else was on the jungle paths. I had always wanted a road bike, but circumstances just weren't always right for me to have one. After the military and a divorce, I moved back to Idaho, started college and working. Living in a small-ish east Idaho town, I commuted to where I needed to be, on yet again, a Raleigh mtb. I finally realized my dream to own a road bike last April when I got my Specialized. Now, I am getting into centuries and wish I hadn't waited so long to get a road bike!

[Kimmyt]

I've had bikes most of my life, like many kids that lived in the suburbs.

But the one I remember best, I got for Christmas, maybe when I was 9 or 10?

I had been asking and begging for a bike for ages. I wanted a tenspeed, a sleek little bike with those cool curved handles. Christmas came, and no bike was under the tree. I was upset, so upset I didn't really notice that I didn't have nearly as many presents as my brothers.

In fact, I hardly had any. Just as we were about to leave the tree my mom said, "Oh... looks like we forgot something! Santa must have hid it!" (I don't think I believed in Santa at the time, but even to this day my mom signs our Xmas present cards with Santa).

We usually kept a blanket draped on the back of our sofa, and lo and behold, under the blanket was a shiny brand new bike, the color of seafoam, with black handles. It was gorgeous.

I rode that thing as soon as I could, and all of that summer I spent in the saddle, riding around our neighborhood and pretending my beautiful bike was a horse (I was horse crazy, too). I must have put a ton of miles on her, riding around all over the neighborhood, even back into the woods where my mom told us not to go, trying to catch the fabled gigantic snapper turtles as big as a dog that lived in the water drainage tunnels (love tunnels, we called 'em).

Got a mountain-bike type thing later on, don't remember when, but that sucker lasted me until last year (I'm 25 now). It was just a cheap dept. store bike, but I rode that sucker like it was an expensive mountain bike, trying to keep up with my friends on the Wissahickon trails and generally learning to love cycling again.

I literally rode that bike to pieces last year, and being too cheap to buy another bike, was given by a friend yet another Walmart beater bike that I rigged up to commute to work with. Only could do it once or twice a week, because of my early morning schedule, but it felt great! And I vowed to get myself a road bike the minute I could.

This year the second my bonus came in, I was off to the bike shop. And now I'm just waiting for it to be a few degrees warmer so I can get out on the road!

K.

[tamara_69]

Like most of you, I grew up with more than one bike, but can't remember much about them. After we got married 8 years ago, every year bikes would be on our "wish list" but were never actually purchased. Last year, my sister-in-law and her husband bought road bikes, so we thought maybe now was the time for us. Six weeks after our third baby was born, I bought my very first road bike, knowing NOTHING about it, and then attended my first spin class at the gym. I thought I was going to DIE! And then my super-fit sister-in-law took me out on my bike for the first time. We only did about 12 miles and 2 hills, and it was hard, but I loved it! I have never been athletic and never thought I would find a sport, or even exercise that I love, but I did! My sister-in-law was super patient last summer, teaching me how ride on the road, picking me up after I fell off, and pacing me up hard hills. I am in better shape than I've ever been, and I look forward to completing my first duathlon in June. I'm hooked!

[Kimmyt]

attended my first spin class at the gym. I thought I was going to DIE!

Dude, I just did my first spin class today. I figured I'd give it a shot.

Ten minutes into it I announced to my instructor that it was easier to ride my goddamn bike into work than this!

I'm still giving it a second shot, though... I don't do much cardio so I know it'll do me good. I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment!! :D