Totally New - but thrilled to be here!

I am totally new to all of this! But it is all so exciting! My husband has ridden for years - even raced when he was in college. I really sat down and watched the Tour this year and just decided it was time to try it. Plus we went on a cruise about a year ago and the average age was about 80. It was a life changing event. Seeing all of these old decrepid people that could barely support their own weight, hobbling around, looking like they'd rather be dead than still living. NO WAY do I want to age like that! Made me see that I needed to start doing things now in my 30's to make sure I don't end up like that!

I'm just riding for fitness, but it is so much fun! I got a new bike - my first ever - and it makes things so much easier! We're doing about 6 miles every night after work and then doing 15 miles on Saturday and Sunday. I'm trying to work up to 25 miles. We're doing a ride on 9/18 to benefit the LAF. I'm only going to do the 25 this year, but maybe by next year I could do the 50 or the 100.

I'm so glad to have found this site! I only have my husband's input - and it just doesn't help with some of the female specific issues! I was so glad there was a woman working in the LBS when I got my bike - she was so helpful!

I have a ton of questions - but I'll spend more time looking for existing threads before I ask them!

Great to be here!

Welcome to the wonderful world of cycling, and welcome to the board too!

Your approach of starting small and working up is very reasonable, and an approach that is likely to allow you to make cycling an important part of your life. I think that your plan of doing the 25 in the LAF ride this year is smart, and increasing to the 50 (or more!) next year is a great goal.

You're right on the aging front too - cycling can keep you in great shape. I can't tell you how many people have accused me of lying about my age. I'm 53, and I've had some ridiculous conversations with people who can't believe I'm anything over 42! Now tell me, who would lie about their age in that direction?

--- Denise

Hi Allie! Welcome! In case you haven't seen it yet, there's a "Getting to know you" thread over in the open discussion forum where you can tell us more about yourself. I'm a screaming newbie myself, but I've found this to be one of the best communities around.

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Originally Posted by Allie1DukeFn

I'm just riding for fitness, but it is so much fun! I got a new bike - my first ever - and it makes things so much easier!

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:D :D :D
Yep, riding without a bike is a lot harder!
:D :D :D

(sorry, I just couldn't help it. My sense of humor is as socially inept as I am-I'm sure it's my mother's fault somehow...)

WELCOME!! Always glad to see another woman (or dude, even) on a bike. Hope you enjoy it as much as the lot of us! I love being on a bike and it's so cool to see people of every age, shape, and size and ability on a bike or bike-like substance.
Don't forget your helmet and do chime in!

Exercise is very important... and will ensure that when you get older 55+... that you will be strong and healthy.

Instead of a hobbled 80 year old... you will be an 80 year old who can take trips and get out of the house!

I too saw what lack of exercise can do to a body... my Mom who is 59 broke her arm... and she has NOT ONE MUSCLE on her body. She can't even lift herself from a sitting position with her legs. It's so sad to see someone so *young* caught in a body that can hardly do anything.

Seeing her in that state... reminded me why I will always exercise.

Sorry for the rant on that... I just had a relevation last weekend!


You know what... I bet your hubby is so excited that you took up riding! So many men ride alone, because their spouses refuse to exercise... and I hear them say, "I wish my wife would ride a bike".

By taking up riding, you have opened up a new avenue for your relationship to grow and flourish!

Hi Allie and Welcome!

I've been back on the bike for about 7 weeks now - also inspired by the Tour and wanting something fun to do for fitness.

What kind of bike did you get?? I have an old road bike, and just got a new trek 7200FX hybrid for kid-toting (trail-a-bike for the 5 yo, trailer for the 2 yo), so I can take at least one of them with me if I want to ride.

Hi Allie and welcome.
Im a newbie too and this forum is great for laughs and a wealth of riding knowledge.

If what my husband saw at the LBS the other day was anything to go by riding sure does help to keep you a fit oldie. He went down to get a few things checked on his bike and while he was there this older lady came in. She was asking the guy at the shop about some really small frame bikes and the LBS guy told her that a frame that small was a childs bike. She told them that as she got older she seemed to be getting smaller and was unable to keep riding her larger frame. She was not going to give up riding , she had ridden a bike since she was a little girl and if it meant getting a kids frame to keep her riding then thats what she would do. She was 78 years old.

:D

welcome Allie to the board, to the wonderful world of cycling, to living life! You're going to see a marvelous mix of MTBers, racers, roadies, tourers, bents, smell-the-roses riders.....we got em all here and love seeing new faces! Like Green said, if you get a chance check out the "getting to know you" thread and yuppers.....we wanna know what bike ya'll got!!

[QUOTE=singletrackmind (sorry, I just couldn't help it. My sense of humor is as socially inept as I am-I'm sure it's my mother's fault somehow...)[/QUOTE]

LOL... of COURSE it's your mothers fault!!!

Allie welcome! Good for you for setting achievable goals and going for them! You can certainly ride the century next year if ya choose to...

welcome to cycling and the boards! It's a fun and social sport! :)

Get riding and then you can go on a cycling tour and see the "old and decrepit" folks in their seventies ... riding seventy-plus miles. You won't know their ages unless you ask 'em though, since they tend to look a lot younger. I don't think it's natural selection (the ones who age better are cycling) - more likely, it's the regular, gentle-as-you-want-it exercise.

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I'm sure it's my mother's fault somehow...)

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Ahem.

It is either heredity or environment. Either way you mother is responsible.

Odd, my mother gets crabby when I point that out to her after I've done something she disapproves of.... :)