Yet another new poster!

[Haudlady]

Hello All... another new one to the Board!

I have started commuting (well, half-commuting - there is a park-and-ride seven miles from work, so I ride from there), and feel happy and refreshed on the days that I get to ride in! I began riding to save some on gas money (my truck gets 15 mpg:( )... but I think it's really a wash, since I eat more food on the days I commute! Ha! Oh well. Now I want another jersey, too... all I have is one pair of cycling shorts and a wool jersey (which I love, but when it's 90 degrees and humid I would love something cooler). Plus, I only have a mountain bike, and a road bike would be really nice... I can see this becoming as expensive as my horses really quickly! I'll have to get a second job.

My husband is a cyclist... used to work at a bike shop, races both road and mountain. He seems happy to see that I am riding something other than my horses! Is there hope for me? Sometimes it seems that I will never be fit enough to go for a ride with him... he is just so fast! I am faster now than I was a few weeks ago, but...

I have already gotten some good advice and tips from all of you as I have been reading the board. Thanks!

[Bikingmomof3]

Welcome! This is a wonderful group of woman. :)

[mimitabby]

welcome Haudlady!
if you keep riding you might start looking better and never lose a pound.
Some of us GAIN weight as our legs become strong and muscular.

[chickwhorips]

haudlady i love your avitar! i miss riding and my bf doesn't understand my love of horses either. boys.....

welcome to the board. yes there is hope for you! as far as riding with my bf i have the same problem. he is just like your other half. even on his easiest day he kicks my butt!

happy trails!

[Bikingmomof3]

if you keep riding you might start looking better and never lose a pound.
Some of us GAIN weight as our legs become strong and muscular.

I wonder if that explains my gain? My legs look better but the scale claims otherwise.

[mimitabby]

I wonder if that explains my gain? My legs look better but the scale claims otherwise.

yes, muscle is heavier than fat!

[pooks]

Oh my -- I love your avatar, especially the gray. Are those yours?

Welcome to the board. And you can't get a second job -- you'll be spending that time riding!

[Bikingmomof3]

yes, muscle is heavier than fat!

That is indeed good news. It has been one of those day where not much has gone right. I did order a Brooks Saddle, to help chear me up. :) I am hoping to see more toning/muscle definition in the upcoming months.

[chickwhorips]

It has been one of those day where not much has gone right. I did order a Brooks Saddle, to help chear me up. :) I am hoping to see more toning/muscle definition in the upcoming months.

well i'm not the only one not having a good day then. and this explains why i just bought a bunch of stuff online. including a helmet (needed one since i got my bike, just getting around to buying it now).

[Bikingmomof3]

It is fun to shop online. Hopefully you bought a lot of fun things to brighten your day. What colour helmet?

[chickwhorips]

i got this one: Giro Skyla (http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47980760&parent_category_rn=40003117&vcat=REI_SSHP_CYCLING_TOC) in white/gold

[cusepack]

Welcome to the board Haudlady. And yes, there's hope for you!!! Continue what you're doing, have patience and enjoy. You'll find a plethora of information here from all the wonderful posters.

[Bikingmomof3]

i got this one: Giro Skyla (http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47980760&parent_category_rn=40003117&vcat=REI_SSHP_CYCLING_TOC) in white/gold

You chose a lovely helmet. :)

I also have a Giro. Mine is pink and white.

[WrensMom]

Welcome, Haudlady! This forum is great--many helpful and supportive women here. You will love it. WTG on commuting also!:)

[roshelleuop]

Hi! I am also new to the board and it was funny reading your post becuase it was almost as if I wrote it! I am also a new bike rider (about a year), my husband is a very advanced rider, I own horses, and my husband has been bugging me to trade in my horses for biking! How weird! So about a year ago, I starting with a mountain bike. It was okay, but my horses took up all my time AND MONEY. I started really enjoying bike riding so about a month ago my husband bought me a road bike. I also recently decided to sell my horses, so I pretty much traded an expensive hobby for another expensive hobby! ;)

But I will tell you, once you go road bike, YOU'LL NEVER GO BACK!!! If you ever get the opportunity to switch, it's welllllll worth it!!!

Good luck with the riding!!! your bike and your horses!!! :cool:

[Luci]

Hi all from Utah :)

Another horsewoman here and horseless right now. Much less expensive riding my trainer's haha! I'm also an equine photographer. So . . do I want a new dressage saddle, new bike, new laptop for my photo bus. AKKK Must win the lottery soon!

Nice to find this forum.

[Bikingmomof3]

Welcome Luci!

[chickwhorips]

welcome to all the great horse girls!

[Haudlady]

Thanks, everyone, for all the encouragement and for the warm welcome! I rode into work today, and had a (blissfully) uneventful ride... the big danger spot seems to be the Dunkin' Donuts parking lot in the morning - with one hand on the coffee, one on the radio, one on the cell phone, and one holding up the newspaper, the drivers don't seem to have many hands left for steering (or eyes for looking, for that matter). :eek:

Yes - the horses are mine... the bay is a seven-year-old Saddlebred, and the gray is a three-year-old Arabian. My husband is actually very supportive of my horse habit, and loves the "boys" almost as much as I do. :p

I have no intention of choosing cycling over horses - I want to do both! I just need more time and money. Ha! Don't we all?

[mimitabby]

Roshelle, I had horses 25 years ago and I really loved them. It was heartbreaking to give them up. But i think they cost more than bikes.
You might spend as much to buy a bike as you do a horse, but then upkeep?
if nothing bad happens, you just don't have the expenses of horses, worming shots, hay, rental of property/stall, farrier, tooth floating.

You can leave your bike in the garage and go on vacation for 2 weeks. When you come back, your bike will be just fine (might need a little air in the tires) but with a horse, i would worry about it every day that i was away from it!

on edit: oh yeah!! trainers!! i forgot that costly little investment!

[spokewench]

When I was in my middle to late 20's, I broke my back and gave up horses. They had taken up all my time and attention. Shortly, thereafter, my husband to be took up mountain biking and shortly thereafter that I took up biking thinking it would be good therapy! It was and here I am 20 years later, no horses but a huge stable of bikes!

Actually, they are less expensive than horses, because there are no vet bills and no feeding bills; and boarding bills if you have to pay that. I can't imagine riding both horses and bikes? I wouldn't be able to find that much time and work too!:)

[Bluetree]

Wow, what is this connection with horses and biking?! I work with them, too. Horses are more expensive, but at least bikes don't ask you to play with their tongues!