View Full Version : Questions from an overweight beginner
Bianchi Babe
08-05-2003, 11:34 AM
Hello.
I am very new to cycling and I am finding it a bit overwhelming as there is so much to know and it has its own lingo and everything. My husband used to belong to clubs and do century rides all the time but I am short and about 20 lbs. overweight and that is simply beyond me at this point. I am so new to cycling that I don't even know whether my saddle is adjusted right or if I need a new saddle. All I know is that after 25 miles my saddle is killing me. I do have some questions about cycling. First, my husband says I should be using straps on my feet. Is this really necessary before I get into good enough shape to ride well? I still can't make it up hills unless they're small. My husband says it would be nice to join a club but I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to keep up with the club or make any of the hills. We live in a hilly area. How long does it take for someone to be able to ride a bike up the hills? I can only stand up for a few pedal turns before I have to sit down again and usually the hills are much steeper and higher than just a few pedal turns so that I end up walking the bike. And how does one keep up their cadence when they come to a hill and have to shift down? How do you manage riding on public roads safely? I was nearly killed last weekend by someone wanting to run me down or shove me into his car and it scared the daylights out of me. How does one adjust for the wind blowing against you? Does anyone know of a good book for beginning women cyclists? I realize I have tons of questions but any help at all would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
Grasshopper
08-05-2003, 11:59 AM
Hi, I'm new to this too but if you search you may be able to find beginner rides where they have a "no drop" policy. Basically they will not leave you and will even come help push you up the hill if you really need the help.
As for the pedals...I am amazed at how much easier it is to ride and how much further I can go by being able to pull up on the pedals instead of just pushing them down!! Don't be scared of them - they're an adjustment but if they were impossible there's no way so many people would love them!! I practiced on a trainer first - getting in and out of them...but be ware!! Pay attention to not leaning your body over when you pull them out of the pedals!! I was doing just that and didn't know it...the first time I got on the bike for a real ride I came to a stop and fell over!! I laughed more than I hurt - promise!!
Good luck!!! My boyfriend dropped 30 pounds FAST riding and he wasn't even trying to lose weight!!
administrator
08-05-2003, 01:29 PM
Hi Bianchi Babe, if you are looking for a good introductory book, you may want to try "A Woman's Guide To Cycling" by Susan Weaver. http://www.teamestrogen.com/books.asp
imdawn
08-05-2003, 01:41 PM
1) My bike has stirrups (aka clips) and I really like them. They aren't as complicated as clipless pedals but they do help give you a little more leverage and they actually make me feel more secure when I am riding.
2) For the hills, anticipate them. Shift into an easier gear before you get there (my buddy is constantly reminding me of this as sometimes I end up riding my bike like it is a one speed). This way you won't have to get out of the saddle. Just take it slow and steady. I haven't encountered any huge hills, but I haven't had to stand up yet. Try asking your hubby to help you find some very flat routes until your legs are a little stronger.
3) My butt was my biggest problem (see "SORE BUTT" post). Do you have padded shorts? That helped a lot.
Good luck :)
waterlilli
08-05-2003, 01:55 PM
Welcome! I am new to the road also and got many great responses to the road saftey question check it out the thread is New to road I hope this link works:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?threadid=532
Bianchi Babe
08-05-2003, 05:57 PM
Thank you so much for all the information and helpful advice. The book sounds just like what I need and I am going to check into it right away. Yes, I do have a pair of padded shorts by Shebeest which I like very much. Thank you all for your replies.
BikeLady
08-07-2003, 02:49 AM
The only cure for being a beginner is to keep riding :D
As to riding hills...I've come to the conclusion that climbing hills is 5% conditioning and 95% mental. Find a hill, however small that you can ride up successfully and do it over and over and over...when that hill gets to be easy, find a bigger one and repeat.
I love it every year when we go on vacation and I realize that hills I thought were mountains 4 or 5 years ago are now so easy that I don't have to downshift to get to the top.
And do not let your husband push you into club rides before you are ready. "Learned helplessness" is a very real problem that I encountered when my daughter started riding. We pushed her beyond her abilities and it took years for her to recover!
Just go ride and have fun! :)
MightyMitre
08-07-2003, 09:19 AM
I agree with BikeLady - as a beginner don't worry too much about individual things, take it easy and just get out there and ride.:)
TITS or Time In The Saddle is all you need to concentrate on to start with. It'll help you get used to your bike, get used to the road and if you're interested in weigh loss, there'll be a few pounds lost in the process. As you get stronger you can gradually start to concentrate on more specific things.
About pedals, if you don't feel ready for clipless ones yet, then why not try out the toe- clip & strap combo for a while and see how you get on. ( it really does make things easier.)
Happy riding :D
Bianchi Babe
08-07-2003, 06:51 PM
Hi Bike Lady:
Your answer brought another question to my mind. Since we live in a very hilly area, there are few flat roads around, will you really improve? My most difficult road is the Chalk Hill Road which is one hill after another, big and small, until you come to this really intense, steep, almost straight up, to my mind, hill. If I keep trying this road, which I have been since I started cycling a month ago, is it ever really going to get easier? I still can't do this road without panting and gasping for breath the whole way. The only improvement I've seen is that it now takes me less time to reach the steepest hill, which I refuse to even attempt any more. Or at least not until I can make it to the foot of that hill without gasping for air.
Mighty Mitre:
When can I expect to start losing weight? Does it depend on how often or how long I ride? I generally ride between 45 minutes and two hours each time. This weekend I plan on doing a really long ride, yes even with steep hills, hope I don't end up walking. When I realized I was eating to much junk food and put on the 20 lbs. I quit eating junk food and returned to eating nutritious balanced meals. Not dieting though. But I haven't lost any weight. I thought starting exercising and giving up poor food choices would have resulted in weight loss but not so far. Maybe it takes more than a month though. Thank you both for your replies.
Grasshopper
08-08-2003, 04:08 AM
Bianche Babe,
Thank you for asking the weightloss questions I was searching this morning, before asking it myself. How long DOES it usually take. Shopping for cycling clothing is such a bear!! I'll be glad when the weight starts coming off!! Guess I'm pretty impatient!!
BikeLady
08-08-2003, 04:18 AM
Yes, Bianchi Babe, it really will get easier! I promise! But see, that big hill at the end of your ride has you mentally whipped ;) I used to have one of those too...I just kept struggling up it until one day when I realised I'd ridden up the whole thing without dropping to my granny ring! And if you've only been riding this road for a month, it's probably a little early to be expecting major improvement.
Be patient with yourself. It's easy to be your own worst critic.
aka_kim
08-08-2003, 08:17 AM
Bianchi Babe, some of those wine country climbs are killer! And Chalk Hill is a semi-notorious one, so you can be proud of yourself to be tackling this as a newbie. Just remind yourself how lucky you are to be cycling in such a beautiful area, one in which people pay companies like Backroads major bucks to ride. Happy trails.
MightyMitre
08-08-2003, 10:28 AM
I'm not a total expert on weight loss, but I have been a cycling beginner. Again, time in the saddle will burn up those calories. A popular approach is to do long , steady rides.
This is the kind of riding a lot of people might do over the winter to improve endurance and keep weight under control. The temptation might be to whizz off as fast as you can for a long as you can in an attempt to work off the weight, but while you need to putting in some effort, in the long run this kind of riding isn't the most effective as it'll leave your tired and frazzelled.
Aim for a pace where you're still able to talk enough to be carry out a convesation ( except up those especially nasty hills! :D ). At this kind of level your body can burn fat at a steady pace, you'll be able to enjoy the view and you'll be suprised at how long you can actaully ride for. Don't worry too much about distance, go more for duration.
By the way - even if you're trying to loose weight you might want to check out some of the threads on Nutrition. There's loads of good stuff.If you're going on a long ride, ie 1.5 hours + you need to make sure you eat. When I was starting out I used to get extremely hungry after relatively short distances and still make sure I eat after an hour , even if it's just a nibble.
Likewise, when you get home make sure you eat some nice carbs as soon as you get in, otherwise there's a chance your body might think it's going into famine slip into preservation mode and actually start retaing body fat!
I'd also second Bikelady - be patient with yourself , especially regarding weight loss. If you've got a lot of weight to loose, just think about how long it took to put on . Chances are quite steadily over a long period of time, so for it to stay off ,it's got to come off in the same way.
Good luck and enjoy your long ride this weekend. :p
Bianchi Babe
08-08-2003, 09:55 PM
Aka_Kim:
Thank you for such an encouraging email. I had no idea Chalk Hill was semi-notorious I just knew it is one of the roads included in the Wine Country Classic Ride. I feel greatly encouraged by your email as I sensed that perhaps beginners don't usually attempt this road. I will keep trying it. It has to get better sometime. Since I am new to cycling I don't know what the Backroads company is. Would you please explain? You are right I am lucky to be able to ride in such a pretty area. I always knew I lived in the wine country but since I've started riding I've become aware that there are so many wineries even more than I realized. I usually pass quite a few on any given ride.
MightyMitre:
Thank you for those nutrition facts. I'm a type 1 diabetic and I had no idea that you should eat that often when you ride. On week days I usually ride for 40 minutes to an hour and on weekends an hour to two without eating. Well unless you count those gu packets which I use if my blood sugar drops to low. Tomorrow we are planning a ride for three hours one way then we'll stop at a winery and have lunch before returning home. That is, if I make it. Do you know if cycling books cover nutrition at all? I'm awaiting the arrival of the book the administrator recommended but I don't know if cycling books cover that kind of stuff as well as the others.
MightyMitre
08-09-2003, 11:06 AM
Hi Bianchi Babe - I think most cycling books should touch on nutrition, but failing that you could always look for a general endurance sport nutrition book . l don't know any titles of any but I'm sure some of the other girlies out there might be able to help. There's also tonnes of stuff on this website on fave food during rides etc.
The eating thing is quite important - if you don't eat enough you can't ride as well, simple as that. What you don't want is to 'bonk' or hit the wall, call it what you will. This is when your body has to start burning stored fat , which in motoring terms is the equivilant of low-octatane fuel or diesel. This has only happened to me once or twice but basically you loose all enegry . No matter how hard you try you just can't get up any speed and generally feel a bit miserable.
By making sure you eat enough carbs you 'll keep flying! After a bit of experimentation and listening to your body you'll soon start to know how much to eat and how often.:)
aka_kim
08-09-2003, 02:38 PM
Oh, I am so jealous, a lunch stop at a winery?!!
Backroads is a bicycle touring company, check out http://www.backroads.com/trips/BWCI.html for their wine country trip.
Dogmama
08-10-2003, 05:07 AM
Be patient!! Rapid weight loss is water and muscle (think Atkins). You don't want to lose your precious muscle because it is a fuel burning machine, whereas fat just sits around & goes along for the ride (literally!). Atkins restricts carbs. Carbs retain water. Start eating carbs and guess what!!
More important is your body composition - fat to lean body weight ratio. Muscle weights more than fat. If you look at a body builder, she will register as "obese" in the charts because of the height/weight schedule.
I would augment cycling with hitting the gym. You want compound exercises - those that work many muscle groups at once. Squats, bench presses, overhead presses and pull ups are examples. Get a good book or get a trainer so you don't get hurt. Building muscle will help your cycling too.
A good website is:http://www.stumptuous.com/weights.html
Good luck!:D
Bianchi Babe
08-10-2003, 01:59 PM
Dogmama:
Thank you for the sound advice. I am going to start hitting the gym tomorrow.
waterlilli
08-10-2003, 02:36 PM
Dogmama thanks for the link! What a fun site. :cool:
Maxine
08-11-2003, 10:39 AM
B-Babe, you've gotten a lot of great advice from all the other posters, so I'll try not to duplicate any of it.
First of all, don't let any notions about your height or weight get in the way of what you want to do. I'm 5'1 and about 30-40 pounds off the insurance charts (and 41 years old to boot!) but I rode my first century on June 1, through the mountains around Lake Tahoe. I was slow (averaged 11.7 -- my usual average was about 12.5), but I finished under my own power, before the offical end time of the ride, and felt fine.
As others have noted, the secret to getting better at riding is to ride . . . just keep at it, and listen to (and trust) what your body is telling you, and you will improve. (Since the Tahoe ride, my average speed has increased to about 13.5-14.0 mph.) The same is true with whatever your specific goals are. To get better at hill climbing, climb more hills.
Your saddle should not be killing you at 25 miles. Saddle choice is a highly personal thing. What's great for one person might be horrible for another, so you can only figure out which one is best by test-riding them. But as a mandatory first step, get yourself and your bike to a good bike shop (not Wal-Mart or whatever) and have them fit the bike to you.
My road bike (which I bought in spring 2002) came with toe straps, and I nearly killed myself trying to use them. I took them off, and rode with just my sneakers. When I started the century training this year, I bought clipless pedals and bike shoes. They make a world of difference, *especially* for an inexperienced cyclist; they keep your foot right where it does the most good, and help you "pull up" as well as "push down" on the pedals -- both things an enormous help, especially when climbing hills. They are also much easier to use (IMHO) than toe straps. Be aware, though, that there *is* a learning curve involved -- I can almost guarantee that you'll fall down at least once while learning to use the clipless pedals. Don't worry about it; everyone falls. (I fell about 5 or 6 times, and still have occasional near misses -- especially when I'm tired and fuzzy-headed near the end of a long ride!)
I can't speak too much about cycling clubs; I don't belong to any. Be sure you pick one that is kind to beginners. If the club groups like to ride in a paceline, and you've never done that, be sure to let your fellow riders know that you're new to that type of riding. (It takes some practice.)
Riding in traffic is another one of those things that gets less intimidating as you do it more often. (I was a bike commuter for four years, back in the early '80's.) Be as visible as possible. Be as predictable as possible -- ride in a straight line, and take whatever room you need. (For example, if there are a lot of storm drains that would trap your wheel, it's better to just consistently ride 3 feet out from the curb to avoid them than it is to keep darting in and out from the curb. Motorists generally don't pay attention to storm drains and such; they won't be able to anticipate your weaves.) Obey the traffic laws -- ride with traffic, in the proper lane, signal your intentions, stop at red lights, etc. (Cyclists who blow through stop signs and red lights are a pet peeve of mine. I'll admit to doing so on isolated rural roads; but even then, if there is a car around, I won't, even if I wouldn't interfere with it. Motorists like to complain about cyclists flouting the traffic rules, and use that as justification for hassling cyclists; why give them the ammo?)
You adjust for headwinds in much the same way you do for hills: find a gear that's easy enough to keep you pedaling at a fairly rapid cadence without a lot of strain on your knees. You can try to tuck down further, so as to be more aerodynamic, but that can make it harder to breathe.
I don't know of any good women-specific biking books, but a book that I found invaluable while training for my century was "The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling," by Ed Pavelka and Ed Burke. If you can't find it in a bookstore, you can order it from roadbikerider.com.
And here's the most important thing of all: HAVE FUN!!! Cycling shouldn't cause anxiety. There are many different ways to enjoy a bike; you should find out which ones make you happiest, and then stick with those. Ignore any folks who would try to tell you (or make you feel) that you're not a "real" cyclist unless you're climbing rock trails, or blazing downhill on gossamer tires at 45 mph, or doing double centuries, or whatever.
MightyMitre
08-11-2003, 11:46 AM
Well said Maxine.
As you improve it's all too easy to get bogged down and be overwhelmed with what you should be doing, when, for how long and at what speed. But obviously if becoming a serious road racer is your goal then there's a tonne of material out there covering all aspects of training ect.
Cycling for me is my hobby. It takes me out to interesting places and I've met some cool people, and while I want to do as well as I can, having fun and enjoying what you do is far more important than any of the training manuals put together.
So get out there and enjoy... :D
hibiscus09
08-11-2003, 12:07 PM
Hi there --
I've been lifting weights & doing cardio for about 7 years and biking for about 2 months. Here's a great site that shows you exercises you can do for different body parts -- I think the fact that I've lifted legs for so long before cycling is what helps me to get up the hills sitting.
http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html
I like the fact that this site has moving pictures showing proper form. :)
It's also important to eat right when being active. I have always done more of a higher protein, moderate carb & fat diet until I started cycling. Now, after reading a couple of books & doing some research, have switched to a 55% carbohydrate, 25% protein and 20% fat diet. If I have a ride that is shorter or moderate in length, I still do what I've always done & switch to protein & fibrous veggies for my night time meal. Not eating tons of carbs at night will help you with the weight loss. The day before my long ride, I take the carbs up to 65 to 70% carbs and increase the calories & the fat, so I can get through the ride. I also have a high carb meal before I go to bed & have a couple of servings of oatmeal about an hour or more before I head out. I take plenty of water -- 70oz. in my hydration system, a couple of carbohydrate drinks (I like Gatorade) and an energy gel for my long rides.
Another cool site where you can keep up with your ratios of what you're eating is called:
fitday.com
It's free and has a large database of foods with caloric values, fat grams, protein grams & carbohydrate grams in each food. It also breaks it down into percentages for you and has a cute little pie chart. LOL You can custom input your own foods also.
I'm still pretty new at all of this, but so far everything is working.
Oh, and one more thing. I just went through the clipless pedal horrors. LOL
When I bought my bike I had nothing on the pedals for about 2 weeks -- just your basic pedal. Then I went back & let them put the strappy cage things put on. I had no problem with these -- kept them loose enough to get my foot out easily. I then decided after another month or so to give clipless pedals a try. I tried "Look" clipless pedals & busted my fanny about 7 times. In my opinion, those things are hard to adjust to when you're a new cyclist. Mine were very hard to get out of consistently. After that, the LBS talked me into trying Speedplays. It was like night and day. They are much, much easier to unclip. The first few times trying to go around my cul de sac, I had to adjust to clipping in -- it was a little different from the Look pedals-- but by the time I finished my first ride, I could do it easily. It's just my opinion, but I'd try the Speedplays before the Look clipless pedals.
I do think you should just get really comfortable on your bike before you try a clipless system. It does make a world of difference in pedaling efficiency, though. :D
williamtash
08-11-2003, 02:11 PM
Hi Bianchi Babe
I know how you feel about hills I have been training for the bikefest 2003 in hillsbourgh NC 31 miles. I had this hill on my training route that iI could past around. and I did for the first few times in my training. the one day I told the hill I will see you on the last lap of the 33. when I got to it I looked and said here it goes. It took me a big bit to get up it and man was I breathing like giving birth but I made it and I scared to men working on a roof because I yelled Ya I did it. When I did the bikefest that hill looked like a peice of cake compaired to the ones on the ride but I did the same thing so I guess mental work is really more then yyour body work. When you make your hill I bet you will have a little yell to you'll feel great.
Williamtash:p
Bianchi Babe
08-12-2003, 09:21 AM
Maxine:
Thanks for the good advice, especially on traffic. Every bit of information I learn is helpful. Congradulations on your century ride around Lake Tahoe. That is a very pretty area.
Bianchi Babe
08-12-2003, 09:24 AM
Mighty Mitre:
I appreciate your information on nutrition. Just curious, does England have bike trails or bike paths along your roads? I've never been to England so I'm totally unfamiliar with road conditions there. I don't know about other states here, but in california, at least where I live, most roads have a designated bike path. I think because our county has so many cyclists and several commuters commute to work by riding their bikes.
Bianchi Babe
08-12-2003, 09:32 AM
Hibiscus09:
Cool pic of Betty Boop one of my favorites. Thank you for the links and the information on speedplays. I'll look into them when I've mastered getting on and off without clobbering myself. When I get on my bike I tend to waver a little bit until I get control. Its really scary at stop lights. But getting off is even worse. I must be doing something wrong and I hope the book the administrator recommended covers getting on and off. Although I don't suppose to many people are that clumsy. The book should be coming in today and I am really looking forward to reading it. Not just for the cycling information but also to learn more of the lingo. It really surprised me to find out that cycling is like a whole nother world. With unfamiliar words like cadence, drifting, pace line ect.
Bianchi Babe
08-12-2003, 09:35 AM
Williamtash:
Your bike fest sounds interesting. I think I could ride 31 miles though I'm not sure about the hills. Depends on how close together they are and how steep and high they are. Were you aware of the bike fest route before doing it?
MightyMitre
08-12-2003, 02:20 PM
Hi Bianchi babe
Ah now, cycle paths....yes we've got some cycle paths over here but to be honest, most of the time they're just there for show, so the city council can claim to be providing for cyclists.
There's a cycle lane down the road I take to get out into the countryside, but they let car's park in so you have to swerve. Very useful. How would motorists like it if I decided to park my bike in the middle of their lane?
If you've got a moment you really must look at this website, It's made by a guy who lives in my town, about - cycle lanes. It's www.weirdcyclelanes.co.uk it's very funny - some of the places they've put cycle lane! You can also see some of the less glamours parts of Brighton. Some of the cycle lanes are actually shorter than my bike!:p
Bianchi Babe
08-13-2003, 12:14 PM
MightyMitre:
Your bike paths sound funny if they're shorter than your bike. Although I can't say the cars are particularly considerate around here, we do have bike lanes in the streets. We even have a bike signal in front of street lights so that if there aren't any cars around a bike can activate the light so that you can cross. At least that is the general theory but they don't all work. Some of them do change the light but the light changes so fast that I can't cross the street before its red again. Even my husband can't and he is a very good cyclist. There is a really nice bike path made especially for the cyclist that goes from one town to another. We took that one last weekend and it was heaven for me. No cars, smooth paved path that ran paralel to a major highway, and it was flanked on the sides by Alpine Lace, wild blackberry plants, oak trees and dairy pastures. Plus, we got to cross over three wooden bridges that spanned the creeks. I thought it was a beautiful pleasant ride but its very boring for experienced cyclists as there aren't any hills and its only about 21 miles. Of course, for us to get there we ride down from our town so for us its 28 miles. Thanks for the link. I love looking at pictures from other countries.
missliz
08-19-2003, 11:15 PM
You know, maybe you need your own cycling life separate from your husbands. You can join more than one club, you can take the beginner rides while he hammers the long routes, you can go on the all girl rides; If you be yourself the cyclist you will get more out of it and sooner than you think you'll be able to ride together on equal terms and you'll have a lot more fun.
Somtimes having your husband/ boyfreind try to teach you stuff can be difficult- They overwhelm you with information. With the best of intentions, but sometimes a more neutral party is better for you. Clubmates who can 'splain stuff are good to have around.
The point is, it sounds like you want to ride, so you should do activities that meet your needs as a beginner. And he needs to respect that. A lot of cycling couples ride together and ride separately. Some days you may just need to toodle around the neighborhood. And some days you should go out with a group- just hang on the back and you'll amaze yourself!
Go to the library or Amazon and look into the work of Covert Bailey. He explains metabolism and how you make the transition from fat to fit in easy to understand language. If you understand some simple biology you'll be able to train to make it up those hills more efficiently. And you need to understand how that body fat gets burned off. Ignore the fancy math, you don't need it.
missliz
95% of climbing a scary hill is knowing how to use those gears. I learned the basics from Mountain Biking magazine. Bicycling Mag is also good for learning stuff. Lots of basic instructions.
Bianchi Babe
08-20-2003, 12:31 PM
MissLiz:
Thank you for all the tips. I have been checking into local clubs but there doesn't seem to be a beginning club here. Or one that is specifically for women. Probably because this area is such an avid bike area that people are all experienced. However, I am not letting that deter me and I have been putting up posters to start my own beginning bike club. So far I only have one interested person but one is better than none and it may grow in time.
hibiscus09
08-20-2003, 12:47 PM
Hey, that's a good idea! I've noticed a lot of the posted rides on the local club in Columbia are in the 18-22mph range. Yikes! There are a few that are for 14-16mph riders. That would be me, but I've still been too scared to go so far. :eek:
missliz
08-20-2003, 08:12 PM
Well, one other riding buddy is a club. You can find more along the way. And you can look for a touring club- there are big ones all over- that will probably have slower rides. There is no such thing as a beginners club, since the members cease to be beginners. Even if they're too hard, show up, hang on to the back, and if you get dropped that's why you bring a cell phone and cab fare. I've done that!
The all woman rides are also usually either freinds, or part of a touring club schedule. Or a WOMBAT tea party, but I don't think you're ready for that yet :D.
The League of American Bicyclists is the parent orginization for touring ( as opposed to racing) clubs. Google them, maybe they can hook you up. And keep those flyers up, that shows a lot of very admirable initiative :) . Probably the quickest way to find riding buddies.
Lizzy
Bianchi Babe
08-21-2003, 12:07 PM
Hibiscus09:
I'm only a beginner so I don't know if my advice is worth anything but I would say not to be afraid of the 22 mile rides. It just sounds like a long ride but it isn't really. The very first ride I took was a 15 mile ride and it was on a really old decrepit bike with nonworking gears and brakes, as I soon found out. I think the real difficulty is in whether your riding with people who have a higher cadence then you do. . The bike clubs around here ride at a very fast cadence that most beginners would not be able to keep up with. I know I can't and I've recently run into a few people who decided cycling wasn't for them because they went on a ride or two with the local bike clubs and were dropped because they couldn't keep up. I hate to see people give up on something they might have had an interest in because they had a bad experience once. Anyway, if you can, try riding a 22 miler on your own. I'll bet that you can do it without any problem at your own speed.
Bianchi Babe
08-21-2003, 12:14 PM
MissLiz:
That makes sense that there wouldn't be a beginning bike club but the local clubs here have a nice rating system with examples of how they rate rides and believe me these cyclists are way above level. First, there is the cadence which I would never be able to keep up with. But most importantly is how they rate the rides. The rides they consider easy are rides I still have difficulty with and consider very challenging. I do hope to be able to get to the point where I can eventually join them though. Not being courageous, I am trying to work up enough nerve to follow your advice and join a ride and do the best I can until I get dropped. Were you embarassed when you first started and got dropped? There aren't any local all women rides but so far the answers I've had to my fliers have all been from women so perhaps soon. I'm dying of curiosity. what is a WOMBAT Tea Party? Thanks for the info on touring clubs.
hibiscus09
08-21-2003, 12:33 PM
Thanks Bianchi Babe. :) Actually, I meant 18-22mph averages on the rides. Way too fast for me. I've done a 46 mile ride in length and so far, that's the farthest. I averaged a 14.25 mph pace on that ride. I was riding in an area with a lot of stop signs, though, so maybe that pace will pick up some if I brave it out and go on a group ride that is 14-16mph. :D
Bianchi Babe
08-22-2003, 10:41 AM
Hibiscus09:
Wow! 46 miles thats wonderful. I'm impressed. Sounds like your doing very well to me.
missliz
08-22-2003, 01:01 PM
Again, I think it's fabulous that you're putting up the flyers and forging ahead, I think you'll do really well and have a great time with cycling. The fact that women are answering your flyers for beginner rides means that there's a need for a beginners riding program, AS well as a lot of women interested in cycling, and kudos for you for going out and starting it.
WOMBATS stands for Womens Mountain Biking and Tea Society. It's a thing started by Jaquie Phelan who was the first great proffessional woman mountain bike racer, really in the early days of the sportback in the eighties? or so. It's a loose national network of women who ride dirt, you pay your dues and get your T shirt and a membership list. She teaches now, all dirt riding, but the whole BAT idea is that in a very male dominated sport women can start their own clubs and ride hard and still be women. And have a lot of fun. Jaquie is very much a free spirit, and famous for racing in frilly blouses and pearls- just to make a point. She can leave most guys in the dust.
The most important point though, is the teaching. Cycling is terrible for telling beginners anything, especially women. You may have noticed that. The lack of beginner rides? The lack of freindly coaching, teaching, advice? Mt biking requires a lot of technique, none of which is rocket science but none of the men wanted to tell the women how to do anything for years! Jaquies clinics are meant to be empowering experiences as much as teaching the technical side. Once girl can hop a log, not much else will scare her.
The membership rides, however, are pretty intense. I've never been on one 'cause there are no BATs here, but I've heard. And this is all mt biking so it does you no immediate good, but it's good to know about. Up with women on bikes!
Lizzy
aka_kim
08-22-2003, 03:31 PM
WOMBATS... I'd forgotten all about them. I chickened out of going to one of Jacquie's skills clinics a few years ago, even after getting an encouraging email from JP herself :( . Checking out their web site (http://www.wombats.org) I see she's offering one or two clinics a month in the Bay Area and Colorado. The clinics teach skills like track standing and wheelies, and are for either mtn bikes or hybrids. Maybe I'll steel my nerve and finally try a clinic, since after nearly 10 years of riding I still can't lift my front wheel...
And is it my imagination, but a few years ago I remember a picture of a group of wombats gathered drinking tea, with mtn bikes at their sides, naked and covered in mud???
missliz
08-22-2003, 11:47 PM
Snicker snicker LOL:D My wrench boys have that picture up in the workroom at the shop! Jaquie is a legend, but she wrote about how the first two years she rode dirt nobody ever told her about lofting the front wheel, much less how to do it! I had always understood that her clinics are very much geared to individuals abilities and fears, so you should GO! I would love to study with her, and as soon as I'm back in somekind of shape it's worth a road trip to the left coast.
Jaquie is all about it being just fine to make a fool of yourself. Nothing to be chicken of there. Just make sure you wear your cashmere arm warmers
:D
Lizzy
Bianchi Babe
08-25-2003, 12:04 PM
Dear Lizzy:
Thanks for the information about WOMBATS. Jackie sounds like an interesting person. After what you said about her classes using hybrids perhaps one day I might consider going to one of those classes as my bianchi is a hybrid and I just love it. My husband keeps encouraging me to get road tires but to be honest, our roads here are the worst in the whole world. They are cracks, pot holes, and patches upon patches upon patches making for a very rough ride even when going slow. Then there are the sharp metal pieces or glass that dot some of the sides of the narrow roads so I think I'll keep to my hybrid tires in the hopes that I won't get a flat any time soon. My husband already got one on his road bike and we were traveling down a fairly smooth road that time. Once I have the hang of this I think Jackie's classes could be of real use to me. What kind of a shop do you work in?
missliz
08-25-2003, 03:28 PM
Well....
1- I don't work at a shop. I just bug the people who do by drinking all their beer :p .
2- Jaquie Phelan's deal is all hard core mountain biking. She's great, but a hybrid won't cut it at her clinics. You'll need a mountain bike.
3- Tell you're husband you'll go to narrower tires when you're good and ready. This is truth, you will wake up one day and decide to change, but you need to do this in your own time. Ask him to explain what he wants to do to your bike and mull it over. Tires come in an almost infinate variety of widths and treads so there may be a comfort/ speed compromise that's better, just get him to talk to you and let it be your desicion. And you may keep the hybrid as is and make him get you an Orbea. :D
Hybrid tires ARE road tires, just wider than those used on drop bar bikes. You can keep the width, and get slicker tires that will be faster. If you have a suspension fork you can go narrower and not really feel anymore beat up, though they will handle a little differently. You'll take a whole week to get used to them ;). But if you like your bike, just ride it. Men oh so love to jump in and fiddle with things. It's just their nature, and not a bad thing. But he should explain it and let you decide, it's your pet and you ride it.
I have slicks for my mountain bike and have done a lot of 50-60 mile rides on the road on it. It's not just about tires, though. It takes time to learn technique and get fit enough, and a lot of riders forget what it was like. I've been off the bike with a couple years of injury and coming back has been a rude awakening.
Carry on girl, you're doing great.
Lizzy
Bianchi Babe
08-26-2003, 05:31 PM
Dear Lizzy:
I missed two weeks due to some injuries and I can't believe how much I missed riding my bike! I even dreamed about it. So I can sympathize with you over your injuries. I'm sorry they were so serious as to keep you off your bike for so long. However, due to past experience I can honestly say healing up right will be far better than trying to do things before your completely healed. Otherwise, you risk more serious injuries with even a longer time to heal.
I like your advice about the tires. My husband says my bike doesn't roll down the hills as fast as his bike because of the knobby, slightly thicker, tires that I have. But at this point I don't really care how fast I'm going down hill. I'm still trying to get the basics down. I have to do it in my own way or I won't be comfortable.
Kind of like my first bike ride on a big bike when I was a kid. I was scared and didn't think I could do it even though my dad thought I could. I crashed. The bike was really way to big for me and I believe that probably contributed to my fall. But I didn't feel comfortable with it and did it anyway to please my parents. They felt bad that I crashed but since they were poor they bought a big bike expecting it to last me until I was grown up. It did and I never really grew into it until I was about 18. Though I had managed to learn how to make it work for me.
What are slicks?
Well take care.
BB
Veronica
08-26-2003, 06:48 PM
Slicks are road tires for mountain bikes. They don't have much a of a tread - hence the name. Knobbies are off road tires for a mountain bike. They usually have a fairly bumpy tread.
Hope you're feeling better!
Veronica
missliz
08-26-2003, 11:44 PM
You know, if you have knobs on your tires but you're riding on the road they will be slower and will slide out more easily on the wet asphalt. I assumed that since it was a hybrid, you had a fat but road type tire that's smooth. Maybe you would like to change. Just make sure every body involved explains things to you. Great opportunity to learn stuff. Bike shops have whole racks of tires and you can compare widths and how much tread or knob you can have- all lined up for inspection. bat your eyelashes at your sweety :D and get a lesson out of him. And the shop guys.
This is the downside of cyberspace- you can't really show somebody how to do something, or give 100% accurate advice if you can't actually see what's up. Bars and swimming pools still have a place after all.
Hope you feel better soon. Was it bad?
Lizzy
Grasshopper
08-27-2003, 04:48 AM
I'm so sorry you got hurt!! I've been wondering about you. Are you back on the road now? How are your injuries.
I had one of those too big for me bikes too. Road it one weekend and my dad got tired of running beside me. He let me think I broke it when the tires went flat from lack of use. Didn't hurt me too much to think that either. I hated the thing! I liked it later - when it fit me better. :)
Hope you're feeling all patched up by now!
Bianchi Babe
08-28-2003, 05:37 PM
Dear Veronica and Lizzy:
I'm feeling much better thank you and rode the last two days. Thank you for explaining what slicks are and for telling me that my tires will slide out more on wet asphalt. I will be careful if I encounter that. I don't think I want to ride in the rain at this point in my cycling career but with all the sprinklers going it's more than likely I'll be riding on wet asphalt sooner or later. No, my injuries weren't to bad, just painful enough to prevent riding especially since they were in the posterior portion of my body. But I'm all healed up now and trying to ride as often as I can. I've lost some of what I had gained but my time has improved so perhaps I didn't lose to much.
Bianchi Babe
08-28-2003, 05:44 PM
Dear Grasshopper:
I didn't see your email at first. I'm sorry. That's pretty funny your dad telling you, you broke the bike! I hope you didn't feel badly when you thought that. My dad kept encouraging me to get back on so I did and pretty soon I was riding that big bike all over. I can remember when I was 12-15 we had moved north and all the adults who saw me riding my bike, which I did a lot back then, would laugh at me and say that thing is bigger than you are! But you know I think it really helped me to learn the basic skills because by the time I was 12 I could handle that bike, despite its size, very well. When I first got on my Bianchi my husband said I had really good cadence and he asked if I was purposely doing it. I said, I don't even know what that word means as I've never heard it before. I'm just riding the way I ride. So I think that had it not been for such a challenging bike when I was growing up that I would be finding things even harder than I do now. But I do remember it didn't all come together at once and I need to remember that. How are your rides doing? Do you use a mirror on your helmet? I have been thinking of getting one but I think I would like input about them from people who have used them before I buy one.
missliz
08-28-2003, 11:18 PM
Sweetie, I did not say that your tires would slide out on wet road. I said they might be more likely to. It depends on the tread pattern, how much water is on the pavement, if you're fast enough to hydroplane, several factors. Tires for all types of bikes range from giant knobs for deep mud riding to totally bald slicks for pavement. There are many variations in between. I have no clue what's on your bike- but a hybrid with stock knobbies is unusual and I logically assumed you had wide tires (about 1"?) with a fairly smooth tread pattern. When you started talking knobs on your tires I wanted to set the matter straight, but you need to snag your husbands Performance catologue or go to a shop and find out what the deal is.
And spinklers don't count as wet pavement. Wait 'till winter:D and you'll see what wet is. That's what I'm talkin 'bout.
Lizzy
hibiscus09
08-29-2003, 02:21 AM
LOL Lizzy -- I read about how much slicker the tires get when the pavement is wet & how the road is slicker initially as the oil rises than it is later in a rain. Well, so far when the neighbors are running the sprinklers, I've been dodging the wet spots on the road, thinking I'll go sliding all over the place. :D Hopefully, a year from now, I won't be sucy a cycling goober. :rolleyes:
Bianchi Babe
08-29-2003, 12:53 PM
Dear Lizzy:
You know a lot more about tires than I do. To me an inch wide doesn't seem so wide because the mountain bike tires sold around here are two-three times that wide. My tires are an inch wide with a raised pattern of zig zags. It has a zig zag, indention, zig zag. The raised zig zag is opposite of indentions. Two lines of raised zig zags opposite smooth flat indentions. The raised zig zag is smooth like the flat indentions but because the zig zag is raised next to the flat indentions it gives the tires a knobby looking appearance. Its actually kind of a pretty pattern if you look at it but who looks that hard at tires. You probably don't get a very good idea of what it looks like from my description but since you were right about the width you probably have a better idea of what the tire is like than I do. I actually thought my tires were less than an inch wide because they seemed so narrow compared to the standard mountain bikes. Yet they are wider than my husband's which suited me fine because this is the first time I've ridden on such narrow tires. Okay maybe an inch isn't narrow but if you've only ridden tires that are much wider an inch it seems narrow. Its all a matter of perspective I guess. I'm pretty sure we don't have any performance catalogs around. Are they catalogs that sell bike parts? I live in a place where cycling is really popular yet I've noticed that the local bike shops really don't have much in a variety of saddles,clothing, camelbaks, water bottles, different bike parts ect. The local REI has more cycling apparel and camelbaks than the bike shops do and since REI caters to all sports I find that surprising. If you hydroplane on a bike do you lose control? I hydroplaned in a car once and felt as though I didn't have any control while hydroplaning. On second thought I can see that your right and that wintry wet conditions would be a lot different than just riding through pavement wet from sprinklers. But I think I will still approach any wet places cautiously.
Dogmama
08-29-2003, 03:23 PM
I don't know if this would be appropriate for you - but if/when you decide to go with skinnier tires - I just got some Continental grand prix 4 season tires & they're great! I've rode on Conti's for the last ten years, so I'm a little partial to them - but these are great for sand, mud rain, etc.
One thing about wet - know that when you go through a wet spot, your tires will pick up glass & other crap that might be in the bike lane & hang onto it a little longer. So, if you have to go through water, try to avoid that lovely pile of windshield that the EMT's so kindly swept into the bike lane!
Bianchi Babe
08-31-2003, 06:24 PM
Dear Dogmama:
That is a valuable tip. Thanks for letting me know. Sometimes knowing what to watch out for seems so elementary but when your starting out it isn't. Especially when your learning so much stuff! I'll keep those tires in mind for when I'm ready to switch. Just out of curiosity do you have dogs? Just wondering as several years ago I bought a t-shirt that says dogmama on it. I have two dogs, no children, so it seemed appropriate for me.
Dogmama
09-01-2003, 04:57 AM
Elementary, but not easy! I recently flatted because I ran through water & then some glass - but the traffic was so bad I had no choice. Then it rained. I felt like the cartoon character Ziggy.
Yes, I am a dog mama. No kids. Dogs are better. They don't ask to ride your bike!
Bianchi Babe
09-02-2003, 02:27 PM
Dear Dogmama:
Sorry to hear about your flat. I was in a similar situation this weekend minus the water and I was convinced that I would end up with a flat. But I was very lucky, my husband got the flat. Although not wet, traffic was such that we had no choice but to go through the broken glass same as you.
I felt incredibly lucky on this trip though because I made it up some hills, one of which was very very steep. Actually it was a drive way into a winery tasting room but it was very steep and longer than average. I ran into an unforeseen problem coming down. I was trying to feather my brakes not realizing that the hill was to steep to feather and I kept gaining momentum until I was up to my husband who wasn't giving me any room to pass him up by so I stayed to his right. But I didn't see the warning sign about a large foot high curb like bump. My husband screamed at me, Watch out for the bump! But by the time he yelled I was already hitting that bump at a really good clip. I didn't have time to stand up out of my seat so I hit that bump with tremendous force expecting my bike to be damaged. My husband expected me to crash, especially since my bike and I went flying up into the air. It felt like a foot but my husband said it was only six inches. I don't know how I managed to stay on, especially with one foot jarred off the pedal, but I did and when I hit the ground I was able to regain control immediately. Can't say I liked the feeling much but I was gratified that I stayed on was able to regain control as soon as I hit the ground. Checked my bike immediately for damages but there weren't any. Not even bent tire rims! But a good endorsement for me to keep to my bigger tires until I get better.
annie
09-02-2003, 06:58 PM
Originally posted by Bianchi Babe
I don't know how I managed to stay on, especially with one foot jarred off the pedal, but I did and when I hit the ground I was able to regain control immediately. Can't say I liked the feeling much but I was gratified that I stayed on was able to regain control as soon as I hit the ground. Checked my bike immediately for damages but there weren't any. Not even bent tire rims! But a good endorsement for me to keep to my bigger tires until I get better. [/B]
I don't know how you stayed on! Good riding! I would say you acted purely on instinct and did just the right things to stay upright. You must be a natural at this. And I bet you also learned to not get ahead of yourself on a downhill.:rolleyes: You want to feel like you are in control of the bike, not the bike running away from you. Then you won't need those bigger tires at all.
Bianchi Babe
09-03-2003, 10:03 PM
Dear Annie:
You are so right. I'm a little scared to ride down another large steep hill but I suppose I am going to have to do it so I can learn how to be in control of the bike speeding down hill instead of the other way around. I'm fine with gradual hills but this one was pretty much straight up. In fact if it had been any larger I wouldn't have made it to the top.
momcat
09-16-2003, 08:27 AM
This is a great thread with lots of encouragment. I try to be sure that I have plenty of water with me, money for a convenience store and a note pad and pencil. My husband rides a lot more than I and on really busy highways, so I mostly just have rides around on local, less busy roads. (In Arkansas, we have a bunch of narrow roads.) I made the move to toe clips a couple of years ago and like how they position my feet in a different place to pedal more efficiently. i am trying to get some of my friends to ride with me, and none of them will, since I ride a lot of miles.
Bianchi Babe
09-16-2003, 10:13 PM
Hi Momcat:
How many miles do you ride? You must be in pretty good shape if your doing a lot of miles and have been riding for a couple of years.
momcat
09-17-2003, 06:46 AM
Hi Bianchi Babe!
My normal ride is 6 miles on weekdays and 10-15 on weekends. When I start telling friends that I need to ride 10-15 miles, they get freaked. I would ride to work, except I drive my child to school!
Bianchi Babe
09-18-2003, 03:58 PM
Hi Momcat:
Do your friends have any cycling experience? The reason I ask is because that doesn't sound like to long of a ride for a beginner. My first ride was about 15 miles on a really old decrepit funky bike with little or no breaks and very little gear shifts as they weren't working. Sometimes people get scared off by the sound of the number. When I hear 35 miles I think that sounds like a lot. Yet I've done it and if it had been flat it would have been a cinch. As it was though, it was pretty challenging for me because of the steep hills. Maybe you could ask your friends to ride with you for as long as they can and they might surprise themselves. I wish I had some friends who were interested in cycling so that I had someone to ride with. I tried to start a cycling club but only one person signed up and she was pretty old and dealing with a lot of health problems so she decided that she wasn't in my league and changed her mind about riding. I really miss riding when I'm not doing it like now. I've been suffering with a long bout of bronchitis and I haven't been okayed to do any exercise yet. Just in my dreams! I hope you can find someone to ride with you but if not you can think about me and I'll think about you when we're riding and we'll have company mentally. How's that?
Veronica
09-18-2003, 04:02 PM
I hope you feel better soon BianchiBabe.
Veronica
momcat
09-18-2003, 04:30 PM
Bianchi,
Bronchitis is what usually kills my fall riding, but I don't get it until October. I hope you feel better soon. I'll join you in spirit.
I have told my friends that I thought they'd surprise themselves by the amount that they could ride and the first mile or so is the worst!
Later,
Momcat
Bianchi Babe
09-19-2003, 08:23 PM
Dear Momcat & Veronica:
Thank you for the well wishes.
kimba
09-25-2003, 08:41 PM
Hey BB-
I was able to lose almost 40 pounds by cycling last year! And I still got more than a few to go! So don't worry!
A couple of things I noticed.
My legs felt weak at first. So- and don't laugh- I would cycle around the block- just around the block - sometimes as fast as I could go. Sometimes trying to stand up all the way.
I rode to the coffee shop in the morning, I rode when I came home from work at night.
When I went to friends' to babysit their cat- for a week-I took the bike, parked the car and commuted. Went EVERYWHERE by bike.There was this one mama hill outside the apartment- I couldn't make it at first- but by the time I left- I conquered that sucker! (cue "Rocky" theme) I'd deliberately ride a long distance- knowing I had to ride back, and couldn't wuss out...
It didn't take long, I felt the muscle building almost immediately!
In additon- I dranks LOTS of water...no soft drinks or sugary drinks. Keep hydrated.
And I changed how I ate- I thought I ate nutritious meals before..
but:
I started eating smaller meals 4 -5 times a day.
Lean meat - grilled on a George Foreman grill- lots of salads -
I found I did poorly eating potatoes, better if I ate rice- but best if I ate pasta.
I ate enough to not be hungry. And I still had snackie stuff- If I craved chocolate- I ate it. Maybe not a whole bar- maybe a few squares to kill the craving. Yogurt, soy beverage, fresh fruit.
I started yoga - which REALLY helped with the muscles and flexibilty.
And when I was riding- I didn't feel like I lost weight that day- but curiously the next day- I'd feell- lighter somehow.
I went down 2 sizes in a month...
and don't get suckered into the pounds loss myth- you might be building muscle- and muscle is heavier than fat. so- look at it this way- not- I lost X number of pounds- but my pants are looser, I FEEL better, I can pedal standing up for 5 minutes as oppsed to 2... so look for the REAL progress--
you'll do it!
Good luck!
Kimba
oh yeah- and you could try a ladies seat with an anatomical cut out. You can find Lemond ones on Ebay for 7 bucks - it's worth a try. I love mine- and it is so comfortable . 2 hour rides- 2 and a half- no problem...
Bianchi Babe
09-26-2003, 02:54 PM
Hi Kimba:
Thanks for your words of encouragement. I haven't been riding for about three weeks because I've had a really bad case of bronchitis. Not quite over it but tomorrow I'm going to try and go for a short ride. Maybe 15 miles. I think I need to start over on building up my strength after having been down and out for the past 3 wks. I think I must have a really strange body though because I never lost any weight cycling and my clothes never began to fit better. But I'm really bad at drinking fluids. I've really tried the last five days to drink water. I'm hoping the six lbs. I lost by being sick will stay off and then I'll only need to lose six more to be at a decent weight, 7 if I want my perfect idea of weight.
So when you buy a saddle off of ebay is it already worn? I've never been to the ebay site. If someone else breaks in the saddle is it going to fit you as good as one you've broken in yourself?
kimba
09-26-2003, 07:53 PM
Originally posted by Bianchi Babe
Hi Kimba:
So when you buy a saddle off of ebay is it already worn? I've never been to the ebay site. If someone else breaks in the saddle is it going to fit you as good as one you've broken in yourself?
The one I got was brand new still in the package..
It was a Lemond one...
There are lots on Ebay right now- I just got a Terry Liberator Molto for my husband- has a bit more padding for more of a touring type of ride- but still the cutout - for 11 bucks.
The same guy has more Terry Liberators for women- leather and Kevlar!! for a starting bid of 9.99-
if you do your homework you can get some great deals!!!
Kimba
missliz
09-27-2003, 12:06 AM
So who has all these Terry saddle closeouts? I got some Terry shorts, new in the package, for twenty bucks- Ultimate Chamois, stretch ultrasuede, neat old forays into fashion. Love them!
I do a lot of Ebay, and some stuff is peoples icky old junk and a lot of it is brand new. From what I've seen in saddles, a lot of them were ridden two or three times and the seller hated it and wants to liquidate it. You can get a good deal on high end stuff, but it's a crap shoot, decide what you want and it may or may not come along.
Contemporary saddles don't break in- they wear out. What seems like a break in is more you adjusting to the saddle, and I wouldn't buy anything with many miles somebody else put on it. Stick to dealers at first while you learn Ebay- it's a giant flea market with it's own little tricks.
And B Babe- stay off the scale. It isn't going to budge for weeks while your metabolism sparks up and you build muscle. You may even go up while the muscle builds and the body fat stays the same. So just don't worry about it, just go ride. If you can't leave it alone, get your percent body fat checked and worry over that instead. Read Covert Bailey on exercise and nutrition.
Have you had a pneumonia vax? It helps enormously with things like bronchitis and sinusitis, both of which tend to run together. And get the flu shot, too. I used to get all that stuff, the vaccines helped. Vitamins are helpful too.
missliz
kimba
09-27-2003, 11:34 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by missliz
[B]So who has all these Terry saddle closeouts? I got some Terry shorts, new in the package, for twenty bucks- Ultimate Chamois, stretch ultrasuede, neat old forays into fashion. Love them!
I do a lot of Ebay, and some stuff is peoples icky old junk and a lot of it is brand new.
I hope I'm not breaking any rules here so I'm not gonna put up a link-
but try
doctor_sox (Terry)
and
eDiscount bike ( Lemond)
I've been very happy with the stuff I've gotten. New- not used...
some nice primal wear too
Kimba
Bianchi Babe
09-30-2003, 12:18 AM
Thanks for the info Kimba.
Bianchi Babe
09-30-2003, 12:38 AM
Nice to hear from you Miz Liz. I appreciate your info too. No, I haven't had a pneumonia vax. I always get flu vax though since I nearly died from the flu one year. I've gotten flu shots ever since but they aren't offered until later on in the year. I was surprised to get bronchitis so early in the year, well I guess its actually late in the year technically. I feel much better now. Although I have to admit my attempt this weekend on my bike did not go well. I really thought I was better and set off on my bike with my husband following me. He said I surprised him by keeping up a fast pace for someone who was recovering. But after only four miles I barely had the strength to pull over to the side of the road and be sick. It was not a pretty sight and I felt miserable about it. Hope no one saw. I am going to try again tomorrow though. How long before I retain my former strength and ability?
missliz
09-30-2003, 08:58 AM
Your husband should be telling you how to train by heartrate. You probably don't need a monitor yet, but if you're heaving you've probably blown up (maxed your heart's endurance level). Go read Covert Bailey. Do a search at Amazon. Besides, every body rides 'till they heave. You've tossed your cookies, you've had a cycling rite of passage. Next you get to learn to blow snot rockets without ticking off the rest of the group, and maybe get some road rash. Sports are physical- if you want to be an athlete, well, it's just as "earthy" (read gross) as having babies. Get over it. You're out in public with your butt in spandex and you care if some stranger saw you heave? I assure you they didn't care, even if they actually noticed.
Now, when you can puke while still spinning, that's impressive. Somebody will notice that! :D Like the rider behind you.
You've been really sick. Listen to your body. If you're heaving after only four miles, you're still sick. Why does a stranger a thousand miles away have to tell you this? Go out and power walk for a few days. Ride the trainer in front of the TV.
If you get this ill all the time, and you haven't been given pnumo vax, your MD is not doing his/her job. You also need blood work before and after to check your immune system, it's called titers, and there's probably something else up. And no, I don't know what. My own respiratory problems turned out to be driven by a whole set of other things, including allergy.
Lizzy
kimba
09-30-2003, 10:54 AM
Hey BB-
I went mountain biking on the weekend- the first time really that I went singletrack through the woods in the rain and mud!
I had a great time!- though my bruises are coming up today!
I missed out on the cameraderie of the rides- I was hoping to meet a bunch of people from my area- THAT didn't happen- but I think I did pretty well on the trail- made a lot of hills, learned some technique-
thought I was gonna die ( speeding down wet slick muddy hills with crappy sidepull brakes on my poor old hybris/commuter bike...)
but I have some pics- and here's a link.
If you are worried about being overweight-look at me- and I've lost 40 pounds...
but I felt pretty good-
screaming through the muddy trails on my poor old bike at age 47-
and- you'll notice the shoes?
I won the on Ebay- got a great deal- when I got them I also got a bag of screw on things and a wrench.
Well- apparently they were mud spikes. I know ALL about them now.
But I did notice a differnce - the other shoes I wore while cycling were like a lowcut hiking shoe- but I was worried that the pedal "teeth" would eventually rip the sole...I got these ones - they are bike/hike shoes- and I noticed that even in the wet muddy conditions my feet never came off the pedals- they really did make a difference!!!
I also know my frame is okay for road stuff- but way too big for me for mountain biking...
so have a look- and laugh...but I did have a great time!
Kimba
my first mountain biking experience (http://members.rogers.com/thetruthisoutthere/):D :rolleyes:
missliz
09-30-2003, 02:55 PM
Ha! I have that exact same bike bag from the ebike folks- but I put on the shoulder strap and use it as a purse.
The big picture wouldn't load- what are you riding? A hybrid? It looks like a Mt beast. You may just need to lower the seat a schkooch. I ride a Zaskar and the fit is the same as my road racing bike, just different seat height and style.
A tip- Leave the bag home next time, use your pockets and the Camels Back pockets if you have one. Bags are the devil to clean after a day in mud. So are fenders. You need to know this because the dirt is a welcome ride, and you'll be back- no cars! And the muscle it'll make on you will burn off fat even faster.
I learned to hop at 38, so you can be a WOMBAT yet.
Lizzy
kimba
09-30-2003, 03:31 PM
Hey Missliz!
Originally posted by missliz
Ha! I have that exact same bike bag from the ebike folks- but I put on the shoulder strap and use it as a purse.
Yeah- I love those guys! They have GREAT stuff...
I have gotten a lot from them - can't beat the prices- and the stuff is excellent! I like the bag in that I can go touring, get off the bike and sling it over my shoulder- it's easy on, easy off.
The big picture wouldn't load- what are you riding? A hybrid? It looks like a Mt beast. You may just need to lower the seat a schkooch. I ride a Zaskar and the fit is the same as my road racing bike, just different seat height and style.
More like a hybrid- it has a diamond frame. My seat is down to the crossbar now - so when I put my feet down to steady the bike, and I'm on a hill- I'm riding the rail as it were.
Trust me- I need a smaller frame.
I've got one coming - just I'm building it so slow that I can afford it.That one is a 20 inch- the new one is 16.
A tip- Leave the bag home next time, use your pockets and the Camels Back pockets if you have one.
Yeah- I figured that one out pretty quick! It had the camera in it though- that's the only reason I brought it.
Bags are the devil to clean after a day in mud. So are fenders.
Fortunately the fenders kept the bag clean.
The fenders are there because I used this bike to commute with when I lived in Vancouver. It rains everyday there- you need fenders. As soon as I got to the site, I realized that this bike just wasn't right for what I was about to do. It will stay as my commute bike - I'm upgrading the components and putting slicks on it...
and the new bike- that'll be my mountain beast.
You need to know this because the dirt is a welcome ride, and you'll be back- no cars! And the muscle it'll make on you will burn off fat even faster.
I learned to hop at 38, so you can be a WOMBAT yet.
Yeah- I am looking forward to the next foray into DIRT! And- my metabolism is revved so I know I'm burning fat at a faster rate.
A WOMBAT??? That'd be FINE thanks!
Kimba
Lizzy
goddess1222
09-30-2003, 10:11 PM
you stud!!! great pictures. and look at all that mud!!!!!!! how much fun can one person have?????
missliz
09-30-2003, 11:58 PM
Well, welcome back! How are you feeling, girl? Thrown a leg over the bike yet?
Lizzy
goddess1222
10-01-2003, 08:44 AM
been on the wind trainer in front of the tube. it's great, because now i can ride whenever. i will probably start back on the road soon. weightlifting will resume on sunday.
Bianchi Babe
10-01-2003, 02:46 PM
MissLiz:
Thanks for the information on the blood test. I never had a clue as to having blood work done for immunity and this is the first time I've ever heard of a titers test.
I tried again yesterday and although I went slower I made the route without any messy incidents which made me feel better. I have to rebuild my strength though because I just can't seem to stand up for a hill anymore. But a friend of mine who has been riding for years says it won't take as long to rebuild my strength as it did to get there originally so I'm very glad to hear that.
Bianchi Babe
10-01-2003, 02:50 PM
Kimba:
Thanks for sending your picture. You look pretty young for 47. I turned 48 Monday. I don't have a scanner so I can't send a picture. Though I wish I could because I love my bike and think it looks great. Sounds like you had a great ride. I'm glad you had fun. I love it when I learn a new technique. It makes me feel like I'm really getting someplace. Your shoes look really nice. Did they clean up well?
grannnieannnie
05-10-2004, 08:50 PM
Originally posted by Bianchi Babe
MightyMitre:
There is a really nice bike path made especially for the cyclist that goes from one town to another. We took that one last weekend and it was heaven for me. No cars, smooth paved path that ran paralel to a major highway, and it was flanked on the sides by Alpine Lace, wild blackberry plants, oak trees and dairy pastures. Plus, we got to cross over three wooden bridges that spanned the creeks. I thought it was a beautiful pleasant ride but its very boring for experienced cyclists as there aren't any hills and its only about 21 miles.
I also live in Northern Calif and would love to find some bike paths to ride on. Where is this bike path? It sounds like fun.
Bianchi Babe
05-11-2004, 05:01 PM
Hi. The Joe Rodota bike trail goes from Sebastopol to Santa Rosa. Some people will start from Santa Rosa and ride it into Sebastopol. I think it's a really nice bike trail I hope you get to try it.
BB
grannnieannnie
05-11-2004, 06:33 PM
Hi Bianchi Babe. That bike trail is a little too far away for me. I live in Sacramento. We have a nice bike trail here too, I was just hoping to find somewhere new to ride.
Bianchi Babe
05-12-2004, 02:56 PM
Dear Grannieannie:
I'm sorry that trail doesn't work out for you. I haven't spent much time in your area but years ago I did visit old town. Is that a place that might work for cycling? If I remember it correctly it was a very pretty spot.
B.B.
Biking Chick
05-17-2004, 05:02 AM
Is it too late to reply :D
Another over 50 biker checks in ... looking to celebrate my 51 birthday this coming October. I've been *seriously* biking for the past four years.
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