Got a bike, now what?

Ok, so I wanted a hobby, and i decided riding was going to be it. I live 4 miles from work so it seems RIDICULOUS to drive. But i am not very good at sticking with hobbies, so i didn't want to spend a lot of money until i was sure i liked it. So I found a used bike. An older Schwinn World??? Can anyone tell me if it's a good idea to start on it and if it will be good for 8 miles a day. I am literally at ground zero here. I have a helmet and the bike. I know nothing about gears or toe clips or no toe clips. But I want to learn, so any help is appreciated. I also fear the drivers here. No joke, A LOT of cyclists get hit so I am afraid. Is there a reason people don't ride on sidewalks? sorry if i seem like an idiot! :o

Alright, this is a good link that's been posted a lot on here that will help with some of your worries about cars and explains why not to bike on the sidewalk:
http://bicyclesafe.com/

Your schwinn world should be enough to get you started cycling... Fine for going 8 miles, and after youve gained confidence and know what you want, you can think about upgrading or not... Don't worry about toe clips or clipping in yet. I'm not familliar with the schwinn world, so I don't know what kind of shifters or gears it has... but basically, if you have multiple chain rings on the front of the bike, the bigger chain ring will be harder to pedal and the smaller ones will be easier. ON the back of the bike, it's opposite... the bigger cogs make it easier to pedal, and the smaller ones make it harder... So if you were going up a hill, you want to shift to smaller gears up front and/or bigger gears in the back to make it easier for you to pedal... When you're biking, it's easier on your knees if you pedal at a high cadence with less resistance...you don't want to be mashing or using a lot of force to get the pedals to move.


Hope that helps

thank you for the reply.... now if only i could carry the computer ON the bike. LOL. I hope i like this. Other than when i was a kid I have had just one cheap mtn. bike that i road once because it hurt my rear. So i plan to work through this a little bit more.

Just ride the bike and figure it out as you go. If you ride at night, get lights. A high-visibility jacket or vest is a good idea.

As you have questions, search this forum for answers, and post a question if you need more specific help. As far as I can see, beginners are truly welcomed here.

This group is great for learning about gear and clothing, but don't make the mistake of thinking you need everything you read about. You don't. Instead, use the wealth of information here to target those items which will meet your specific needs.

Most important, have fun.

Pam

I'm just about where she is except I've done some riding, long distance and around my small town. Is there a book, "Cycling for Dummies" or something?

Congrats on the new hobby! Get out and ride it :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sadie

I'm just about where she is except I've done some riding, long distance and around my small town. Is there a book, "Cycling for Dummies" or something?

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Close -- I'd recommend Bicycling Magazine's New Cyclist Handbook. Thin, cheap, and an easy read.

Just ordered the book from Amazon, thanks for the info....

and start riding on a day you're not working. Take a saturday to get acquainted, like a date. Start in a school playground or an empty parking lot. Just futz around. Remember how kids ride? do that. Go in circles, stop, start.. go as fast as you can.. stuff like that.
Get confident there and then expand your horizon.

Buying a junker bike probably means it will need work, so figure out which Local Bike Shop (LBS) is going to be the best one and start going there, buying stuff and getting to know them.
You need gloves and a helmet, for example.

Have fun, welcome to TE