taking it up a notch

Hi everyone - I came across this forum a few days ago and I’ve really enjoyed wading through many of the threads, what a nice supportive bunch you are!

My name is Jo, I’m in my early 40’s and live in the San Francisco Bay area. My husband and I took up biking about a year and a half ago. Up until recently my husband was much more into biking than I – he has 3 bikes to my 1, and he goes out riding nearly every day, while I just tended to plotz around for a few hours on weekends on my hybrid, staying mainly on the bikepaths near our home. Riding with me is a ‘rest’ ride for my husband, LOL!

I’ve been a bit timid about riding on roads, but lately I decided I’d like to take my riding up a notch. Part of the impetus is bike envy – my husband just got a Rivendell Romulus (early christmas present – he lost about 50 pounds from biking, and I told him he could get whatever bike he wanted, within reason ;) ) and my oh my, it’s a beauty! Veronica, you seem to be a big Rivendell fan, I think you’d agree…

So I’m thinking I’d like to get a road/touring bike too, and expand my territory beyond the bike paths. But I feel I should up my skill and conditioning level beforehand to justify the new bike (that’s the way my mind works, I have to “deserve” it, LOL!). So I’ve been trying to get out for longer rides, and I’ve been using a cyclops trainer for 30-45 mins a few mornings a week before work – I tend to work very long hours and don’t get home until early evening when it’s already dark, so riding during the week is diffcult for me this time of year. At least with the trainer I can work on my endurance.

As luck would have it, I came across a notice on the website for a local bicycle club which puts on a ten-week progressive training ride program for women, to improve their mechanical and road riding skills and to build endurance for longer rides. And even better, it’s also meant as a preparation for a women-only metric century called the Cinderella Classic at the end of March. I was so thrilled to find out about this, this is *exactly* what I had been looking for! It’s a tangible goal to work towards, and I would think the group training rides will help me in gauging my progress better than if I were on my own. Plus, since it’s women only, it would be “my” thing (rather than hubby & I), and I really like that. So, with a little luck and a lot of work, I’ll complete a 62 mile ride by the end of March.

Heh, the big question is, do I get the new bike as a reward to myself for completing the century? Or do I get it sooner knowing that the ride will be that much easier on a road bike rather than the hybrid? ( she asks, while paging through the Rivendell website - oh gee, who am I kidding? :D )

Thanks for listening. I'm so glad to find this site, I have a lot to learn and I won't be shy about asking!

all the best, - Jo.

Get the new bike. You will be putting in more miles & it will be important that the bike fits so that you don't suffer knee, hip, neck, etc., problems. You can build up your confidence on your new bike, rather than waiting and building up your confidence all over again on a bike that fits differently.

Plus, the score will be 2 to 3. You'll still need another bike to catch up. Maybe a MTB? :D

I agree w/Dogmama, start this grand adventure with a new bike too! Isn't it great to trysomething new and surprise yourself how much you are going to dig it??!! Keep us posted on your progress with this class, that's a great idea too!

Why don''t you get an early Christmas present too?

The Romulus is a great bike. I love that color. You may get lucky and they'll have your size in stock.

Veronica

Get the new bike now!! You can "prove" you deserved it instead of "earning" it by completing the metric century. If you enjoy riding a hybrid, you'll become totally addicted on a road bike. You sound very much like my husband and myself. He would take it "easy" to ride with me...he was on carbon and I was riding around on the 40-ton hybrid...that could be a slight exxageration. We were having so much fun together I decided I wanted something lighter. I bought aluminum due to money restraints, but it's got a carbon fork and seat stays.

Happy riding!
Steph

Oh yeah, get the bike. What better way to enjoy your first metric than on a beautiful, well-fitting bike.

I've done the Cinderella many times, it's a great ride and perfect for a first metric. The course has very little climbing, and great scenery, food and support. And it's kinda cool to see the faces of motorists when they realize the 50 cyclists riding thru an intersection are all female!

Ladies, I do so like the way you think. :D

I'll probably start test-riding over the break between Christmas-New Years (I have all those days in between off work- bliss!). The Romulus seems to make the most sense for me, but I'd just as soon see what else is out there first.

I rode around quite a bit on hubby's Romulus yesterday; up until now I'd only done a couple of spins around the block. But yesterday I was called for jury duty, made it up to the jury box and had the distinction of being the very first one excused by pre-emptive challenge (ah, the joys of an advanced degree, a job in the legal field, and a stone face - I scare the bejeezus out of those attorneys. Hee.).

Anyhow, I found myself with a weekday afternoon off, so hubby and I took off on own own bikes on the paved part of the trails that loop down toward the SF Bay and the Dunbarton Bridge. Since there was pretty much no-one around for me to to crash into or otherwise annoy (these paths can get pretty crowed on weekends), I got up the nerve to try the Romulus on some small hills and windy paths. I could not *believe* how easy those hills were ! [ chorus of "duh"s from the audience ...]

While obviously the bike wasn't fitted for me, hubby and I aren't all that far off proportionally, so it wasn't that difficult for me to envision just how incredibly wonderful it will be to have one fitted to me. :D Since I've been riding quite upright on the hybrid for well over a year, the more bent-over position, the drop handlebars, and especially the bar-end shifters are going to take a bit of getting used to, but to be honest after about a half hour it was already starting to feel normal (well, sort of).

At any rate, I'm jazzed. You ladies have talked me into taking the plunge! Like I said, I'm probably going to test ride a few different bikes to get a feel for what's out there, but in my heart of hearts I think we're going to be a two-Romulus ( Romulii ? ) family. Mine's most likely going to have a black saddle - Brooks, of course! - and black tape, so we can easily distingiush it from Lee's with the tan Books and tan tape - and to perhaps minimize that "his 'n hers" aura (which I'm just not very keen on).

Thanks for all your input! I'll probably have questions about other bikes I might check out, but I'll raise those in the "Bikes" area.

All the best, - Jo.

I really like the bar end shifting - but I've never used STI so I can't really compare. For me it's just a natural motion.

There's nothing wrong with matching bikes. Thom and I both ride 54 Rambouillets. I got mine first. He got his when Grant was selling his demo stock. Thom actually bought the bike I test rode. Brooks saddles are wonderful. I have the green one with the titanium rails. Thom's got an older one on his. It's a much longer saddle. His bike is the trainer, and if I sit back on his saddle I'm too far back and it bothers my knees. Sliding forward a little takes care of it though.

Whatever bike you decide on Jo, enjoy the ride!

Veronica

I got my very own Romulus today!

I had test-ridden one this past weekend at Bicycle Outfitters in Los Altos, but wasn’t quite sure about the size … they had a 57 in stock but not a 55, and I had been riding around on Lee’s 55. Both sizes felt fine to me, but I had some reservations about getting the larger bike. So Lee and I went up to Rivendell today, and Grant very kindly took some time out of his busy pre-Christmas schedule to talk to us and measure me and let me check out a couple of different sizes, and in the end I decided that the 57 was the better bet for me. Since Outfitters still had that 57 in stock, and I was entirely too impatient to wait to get one assembled at Rivendell, we schlepped back to Outfitters with Grant’s blessing.

We didn’t leave Rivendell empty-handed, though – Lee had been admiring the Baggins Bags on the website, and they had a Little Joe available, so Lee got one as a thank-you gift from me for letting me hog his bike. Oh, and for giving me one of his nicely broken-in Brooks saddles. I had bought a ladies Champion Flyer S some time ago and I decided it was too short for me, so Lee offered up one of his Brooks, a black Champion Flyer, which is as comfy as can be for me. So I’ll be returning the ladies saddle (yay for Wallingford’s return policy) and substituting the mens’ version, which Lee will put back on his old Bridgestone. Lee has what I call a BrooksButt™ - he has no problems breaking in leather saddles. What a talented guy I married.

So, my lovely new Romulus has a black leather Brooks saddle and black-and-white handlebar tape, which look tres snazzy on the light metallic blue frame. Silver colored SKS fenders for the winter complete the ensemble. It looks stunning, if I do say so myself. It was nearly dark by the time we got home tonight so I only took a short spin around the neighborhood, but I think I’m going to be a very happy camper on this puppy.


Thanks for all your encouragement! I can't say I wouldn't have done it without you, but you definitely helped speed up the process.

- Jo.

Jo, whoo hoo for you!!! Congratulations on your new ride. Now you need nifty new 'coordinating duds' for future presents!
tracey

Yeah! That's terrific! I'll be looking for you at the Cinderella ride now.

Veronica

Hi Im new.
was reading this and am interested in where I can get information on the Cinderella Classic? It sound like something I would be interested in. I am relatively new to biking (3yr) but have done the STP (one day) and am alway looking for different rides to do. It helps to keep me focused and moving.
Love this site and all the information on it.
Thanks ladys. :)

Hi Grannydea, and welcome! -

I don't know much about the Cinderella, this will be my first one, but it's a 100 km/62-ish mile ride in the SF Bay Area, centered around Dublin/Pleaston and thereabouts in the East Bay.

I am told it's an "easy" 100K (tho at this point anything but all downhill over that kind of distance hardly qualifies as easy for moi :D but I'm hoping that will change in a couple of months)


Here is the info page as it is right now, more info should be coming soon. It's put on by the Valley Spokesmen club of Dublin, and this year it will be on Saturday March 27.
http://www.valleyspokesmen.org/cinder.html

And here are a couple of websites with photos of past Cinderellas, it looks like a lot of fun.

http://homepage.mac.com/michaelmalon...lla/page2.html

http://homepage.mac.com/aforkosh/Cinderella2002/

The Cinderella sounds especially cool because its women only, and it looks like a fun ride to be on.

There are also a lot of other organized rides in Northern California during the month of April, I hope to make it to at least a couple of these:

Tierra Bella near San Jose on Saturday April 3 (60K/100K/hilly 100 miles/hilly 200K):
http://www.actc.org/tb/index.html

Steinbeck Watershed Century in Carmel Valley on Saturday April 10 (20 mi/40mi/100K/100 mi):
http://www.carmelriverwatershed.org/bike_ride04.html

Primavera near Fremont-Union City on Sunday April 18 (25 mile/70K/100K/100 mile):
http://www.fremontfreewheelers.org/primavera.html

Top Hat Classic (MS fundraiser) near Pleasanton on Saturday April 24 (10 mi / 25 mi/ 50 mi/ 75 mi):
http://www.msconnection.org/events/tophat/Default.htm

Wildflower Century near Chico on Sunday April 25 (30 mi/ 60 mi /65 mi / 100 mi):
http://www.chicovelo.org/wildflowernew.html


whee!

- Jo.

Here ya go! They limit the number of riders, so sign up early!

http://www.valleyspokesmen.org/cinder.html

Thank for the information. I live in a rural part of Nevada and I dont get much information other than by internet. My LBS is 85 miles from here.(closest town) Will have to check out some of the rides posted. Its nice to read/talk to other woman riders. I am the only rider out here and the ones in town seem to be mostly guys. All the guys have been helpful to get me started but some questions cant be asked or answered by them. Its snowing now but will be back at it as soon as they get the roads cleared. That and the temp gets back up to 35+. ;)
Thanks again.
Dea