Want to start Riding but feeling a bit overwhelmed and defeated.

Yeah, I should add also that after tens of thousands of miles on road bikes, including commuting, recreational riding, solo unsupported touring and local/regional racing, I burned out hard and didn't ride anything non-motorized for 10 years. In the interim I *did* ride motorcycles, so it wasn't like I wasn't riding anything on two wheels. But when I first test rode my hybrid, probably over 40# with an upright riding position and a long wheelbase, I literally thought I was going to fall right off the thing.

They say you can't forget how to ride a bike, but I sure came close to forgetting. It wasn't long before I was comfortable on the hybrid, but it was NOT instant, either.

Getting back on a road bike was more of an emotional barrier than a physical one, for me, but when it happened, I'd already been riding the hybrid for three years and at least 1,000 miles. And I still have my errand bike.

A hybrid or a mountain bike might be great to have around because they are good bikes to ride casually with the kids when your kids get into biking.

What about a used bike? When I started riding again after about a 30 year hiatus, I purchased a used bike from a pawn shop.
I knew it wouldn't be my final bike but I needed something to get my feet wet again, to work out fit issues, and to get an initial feel for gearing.

I too started riding again about 3 years ago at 39 years old. I chose a Specialized Vita Elite (hybrid) sicne I liked the idea of having numbers to see which gear I was riding in. I rode about 2000 miles on that bike and decided that I wanted to do metric centuries and maybe one day a full century. I traded my hybrid in on my road bike (full carbon frame). I would suggest a good local bike shop (LBS) that would be willing to trade up when and if you decide to trade for a road bike. A friend of mine rented a bike on the weekends for three weekends in a row to get "used to" riding again, she then went to the LBS and purchased a road bike because she fell in love with riding. Either way get the bike you feel confident riding.

I started on a FX, I switched to a road bike pretty quickly but I kept the FX as a commuter and errand bike. My first one was destroyed in an accident, however I bought a replacement and still use it between 50 and 100 km a week to this day. Awesome bike!!

I have also done rides of more than 50 km in one day in the FX and it's not a problem. I would not do that by choice all the time, I do prefer my road bike for long rides, but it's not going to stop you from starting into long rides.

If I was to start again I'd do the same.

Ojo, do you have any updates? I'm dying to know what you end up with! :)

I thought I posted last night. I am sorry, I guess it didnt go through. I have decided to go the FX route. Especially since I live in Denver, I could keep it as a winter bike when I get a road bike. I go in tomorrow to get measured so my LBS can order this beauty. I test drove a trek FX and liked it. Only thing was I really wanted a WSD version. So they are going to order it so I can test drive it and I am almost sure I will get it.

http://treads.com/product/trek-7.0-f...s-192566-1.htm

I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and experiences. It really helped me figure out what was best for me and that it was ok, that there wasnt a right or wrong way to go about it.

Congrats! I'm sure you'll be very happy with your choice. PS...we love pics :-)

Just came from being measured. I am sooooo excited, this will be the longest week of my life, lol!! I will post pictures as soon as I get it.

Very cool! Congratulations! It will definitely be a long week, but oh so exciting when you go to pick it up :)

Oh, and i just realized that is a 2014? Great...now I have to go look at the Trek site to see what other 2014's are out ;)

Well, I finally got my bike. We picked up yesterday, and they made sure it seem to be fitted correctly. I rode around the block a few times last time. Then this morning, I went for a ride with my husband and son. We were planning a 5 mile to 10 mile ride. Well, on the way up the hill I somehow tried to stop and trip and fell with bike and all. But am fine, barely scratch my knee. I was a bit shaken up, but my husband being the Marine he is, encourage me to get back on and atleast finish the loop. I did. It ended up being about a little over a mile. But my sit bones were really killing me. So, I came home and they went on.I did get padded shorts.

Maybe I will venture out tonight. Also as promised here are a couple of pictures of my new bike.Attachment 16573Attachment 16574

Beautiful bike and good for you getting out there!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ojoscafes

Well, I finally got my bike. We picked up yesterday, and they made sure it seem to be fitted correctly. I rode around the block a few times last time. Then this morning, I went for a ride with my husband and son. We were planning a 5 mile to 10 mile ride. Well, on the way up the hill I somehow tried to stop and trip and fell with bike and all. But am fine, barely scratch my knee. I was a bit shaken up, but my husband being the Marine he is, encourage me to get back on and atleast finish the loop. I did. It ended up being about a little over a mile. But my sit bones were really killing me. So, I came home and they went on.I did get padded shorts.

Maybe I will venture out tonight. Also as promised here are a couple of pictures of my new bike.Attachment 16573Attachment 16574

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Try tilting the nose of you saddle up a bit and see if that helps with sit bones

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sky King

Try tilting the nose of you saddle up a bit and see if that helps with sit bones

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I will definitely try that tomorrow!! Thanks so much