New Rider Topic Musings...

So, reading the new riders threads lately and a couple of thoughts came to mind.

First one -- and I'm in this category too -- I seem to notice a lot "My husband/boyfriend/other SO decided I should ride bike" and WE end up being the one of the couple who's hooked! At my house, hubby went out with a friend one weekend (poor dear, saddle bad, seat post fused to tube so it couldn't be raised to a good height, no idea that he should SHIFT now and then) and then decided that I should go too. We should take up bike riding as our summer fitness thing, to get in shape for ski season. ONE RIDE. That's all it took. Now, he likes to be out riding, but I usually instigate the ride. I'll get home from work and say, the question is not ARE we going riding, it's WHERE are we going? He'll smirk -- he's watching TV -- and suggest going AFTER he's done with this show. This is a great time of year for me to point out that it will be dark then, and I have no lights, so we MUST go now!

He's always glad he went -- hmmm, we saw that discussion lately too!



And the other thing I've been thinking about lately, as I read about pink bikes and people's disdain...

When I was shopping, I tried WSD. I wanted WSD. I REALLY wanted a "girl's bike," but the ones I tried just didn't work for my body, so I bought a "boy bike" -- a dark blue Specialized Roubaix. I love my bike, but it's not very girlie, and even though I don't think of myself as a "girlie girl," I miss the "feminine touches" that are on the WSDs. So, yeah, one of these days, I think I'll girlie up my bike. No harm in that: I like being a girl, even in jeans and t-shirts!

(pinked my shoes: DH was taking them instead of his!)

Karen in Boise

Numb toes / hot foot is a pretty common theme here on the board too, and I've been pestered by that this first two years. (oh my GOSH! I'm finishing my second summer already?) Mostly just one foot, but I've tried a few things in an effort to get rid of the issue. First I changed the insoles to those Superfeet Berry ones that Knotted often recommends. I love those! They added to the "pinking" of my shoes, which was fun too, but they helped some, and that was what I really bought them for, right? Still had some problems, though, and a couple of weeks ago I started experimenting with the cleats. (SPD's) I think I remember reading something about cleat position in a numb toes thread about that time, and thought I'd see what happened. This made a HUGE difference for me. Then I noticed that it helped even more when I "used" the float in my pedals to turn my toes in very slightly. That was work though, so I changed the angle of the cleat a little, so that my shoe would do the work.

Anyway, I guess if there's a point to that tale, it's amazing how much adjustment is available there, and what a difference a couple of millimeters can make! Important side note: when loosening cleats to move them around a bit, be sure to tighten them WELL!

The OTHER thing I've noticed lately about my shoes....

Thirty pounds lighter this fall, I'm discovering that not only do shorts get too big, shoes do too! I didn't just have float at the cleats, my feet are suddenly afloat in my shoes!

Fortunately, my Specialized Taho shoes have laces that I can snug up, and they'll get me through my winter riding. My tights, which are just coming out after a long summer rest, well, they might do, and next spring I'll start buying more stuff! (hmm, but maybe it is time to start looking at shoes -- end of the season, after all!)

Karen in Boise