Just a quick update - I have just got back from almosy an hour (59mins) in the saddle and acheived 8.69 miles. Average speed 8.8mph - Max 26.9mph. My first decent ride! :)
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Just a quick update - I have just got back from almosy an hour (59mins) in the saddle and acheived 8.69 miles. Average speed 8.8mph - Max 26.9mph. My first decent ride! :)
Congrats Nats!!! Keep up the good work!
Shannon
Congrats!!! I just got my bike this weekend and I can't wait to have a great ride =) Right now we're getting umm...acclimated lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Nats
That's brilliant, Nats!
I'm near Chippenham.
I look forward to hearing about the first red-boot ride!Quote:
Originally Posted by redrhodie
I'm so looking forward to getting the trailer. It's definitely going to be much safer for me (and her) than the bike seat, that's for sure.
What kind of boots are those, redrhodie? They're purdy.
The brand is El Naturalista. They run small, just in case you need to know. ;) Once you get the right size, they're really comfortable. I have their clogs, and they've taken over Keens as my shoe of choice.
I'm in love. I spent the last 20 minutes or so on their website, but the shoes are apparently sold at a store about a 15-20 minute ride from here. This could be dangerous!
K I'll stop hijacking the thread now :)
Thanks again :p
Glory I hope you get accustomed quickly! ;)
Oh and BTW those red boots lovely!
I do luv those red boots! I just want to say you are tough if you can manage those and clogs. That might inspire me to buy even more shoes and justify them in my already vast shoe collection:D Welcome Glory and Nats!
Got out early this morning and drove 15 miles to an 'easy' bike trail. It was so worth the drive! Rode 7 miles, my longest solo ride. Of course I've only owned my bike for 6 days =) I almost felt comfortable today, its been a decade since I've been on 2 wheels and I had the LBS try something different with my right brake(I have a minor handicap) and braking was a little easier today. Although I'm thinking this stock saddle has got to go. I thought it would be ok since I wasn't riding very far but maybe not..
But I hafta say my sleep-deprived, menstrual cramping self is freakin' wiped out now. I hope that gets better with time!
Go Glory! I'm glad you're enjoying your new bike so much. Which saddle did it come with?
I am collecting my Specialised tomorrow after its service, and also our new trailer :D I may need to make two trips as it's not a local bike shop. This evening I have put my saddle onto a new seatpost and put the old saddle (which the Mister loves) back onto the old suspension seatpost.
Looking at my mileage chart, I've logged 142 miles so far in 2011...
Not bad for not being able to get outdoors for two months!!
Shannon
It came with a Bontrager H1, now that I have bike shorts its not quite as bad but still kind of ouchy.Quote:
Originally Posted by hebe
How exciting! I hope its a beautiful weekend over there :)
After a less than fun first ride on Rosey the Road Bike last Sunday, I was pretty low. Had vaca this week and took advantage of good weather (a little windy, but doable) and light traffic to try again today and had a much better experience. Went on the highway twice, went in traffic, road on hills, crossed two sets of train tracks (one smooth/one rough - buzzed by a Jeep on the rough one), clipped in/out and stopped/started and didn't kill myself. Ended up with 12 miles. Good stuff!
I finally rode in the red boots, and while it was fine, I decided I felt like a poseur for the fashion attempt ;). I think I'm just a bike shoe kind of girl.
Redrhodie I bet you rocked them,besides you aren't in NYC and they aren't kitten heels so wear whatever you want.
New to TE & cycling after many years and a serious illness about 11 years ago. This past weekend I rode on an old railroad trial with friends. Was a bit nervous about keeping up but I did it! I rode about 12 miles and loved every minute of it! Was hoping to get back out again this coming weekend but don't think the weather will cooperate. Was so excited to finally be able to use the new bike that has been in my basement since the end of January! Woo hoo bring on spring!
Good for you! I agree -as long as they aren't kitten heels, you are okay. I want some red boots.Quote:
Originally Posted by redrhodie
Today was finally over 60 degrees,the first time this year and I got a 35 mile ride in.I realized just how little I've been riding since I've been sick this month. I did a 1 mile hill and had to stop cuz I was coughing(pathetic) I did a few more big hills then came home.I'm still having some confidence issues being clipped in but I think its slowly getting better. I came home and celebrated the great day with pizza and italian margaritas:D
Greetings. I loved reading all the posts of victory. Congratulations to everyone. My achievement this week is getting back to the saddle after 18 months.
I was getting ready to ride my first Century in October 2009 when I got H1N1. Hit me hard. Although I was lucky to recover, I was on steroids and inhalers for a long time. I then moved to Denver in February 2010 and the altitude hit my now less than perfect lungs like a truck. I tried to get back on the bike during the summer of 2010, but I was anxious and every time I tried a ride I felt like a huge failure and needed to stop and use my inhaler a lot.
But, I am back! So, I think I qualify as a newbie again. I have acclimated to the altitude and I have found a few routes with just a few hills to get my lungs back. I rode 30 miles last weekend and 10 miles every day after work this week. I didn't need the inhaler once, but I will still keep it in my pack just in case.
So, my message to anyone who gets hit with an injury or illness is to keep trying to get back in the saddle if you want to. Hopefully your ending will be as happy as mine.
Wow, what a story of accomplishment and perservance! Congratulations to you and happy riding.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightowl
Actually there are a lot of good stories of accomplishment and victories and all the TE'ers reveling in a new spring riding season.
I am feeling a wee bit like I got grounded and am watching all my friends outside playing and having fun...insert sad face here with lower lip jutted out and quivering...I wanna come out and play too...
Actually I am very happy for all of you who are getting spring miles under your belt and are able to be out enjoying the outdoors...I'll be there with you as soon as we shoo out these cold temps!
Hang in there, Bike Writer! I'm from Wisconsin originally and remember how spring weather can be in the lake states.
My newbie milestone: a 33 mile ride today, my longest to date. I did a few 20-25 mile rides late last season, but this is the first over 30. I'm prepping for a half century in early June so need to pile up some miles. Most of my biking friends are either way out of my league (riding 50+ miles with hills) or more in the 5-10 mile coffee shop trip category (fun, but won't get me thru the half century ride) so I'm a solo rider making it up as I go.
I have been doing this from the beginning, it is fun :) It can get interesting, but lots of fun!Quote:
Originally Posted by ZenBiker
I rode there and back to nursery twice this morning, with trailer and child. Just under 8 miles in total. I'm going for little and often this year.
I hope spring rolls in for soon for everyone. This is my first spring with a bike, I love it!
24miles this week on the nursery run. I may have to drive tomorrow as there's quite a lot of grocery shopping to do and time may be a problem. I think this the most I've ever done on a bike in a week, and am pretty proud (again :D ). It's pretty cool being out in the spring sun with my girl in the trailer eating strawberries.
No miles this week :(
DH developed a cold and was so gracious as to share with me about five days later and now I'm full blown sick. I'm hoping some rest over the weekend goes a long way toward feeling better... This really, really sucks. Not only was I feeling the worse I'd felt in quite some time, but weather was GORGOUS tody and would have made for some excellent biking, so I'm pretty bummed.
I'll just be sitting here with my nose against the glass if you don't mind!
Shannon
Get well soon, Shannon. I hope the weather stays good for you.
I did ride the nursery run again yesterday, the weather was far too nice to drive. I took my Garmin and found that I've been undercounting the miles - I've actually done 37miles with the trailer this week! My legs ache a bit, but not much. The next couple of weeks are nursery holiday so mileage will be a bit lighter.
I've got something to brag about -- but bear in mind how new I am -- I haven't even ridden my new roadbike on the road yet!
Yesterday, I went for a Specialized BG Fit (that my LBS comp'd me!). It was really interesting to get the bike fit properly to me.
And the best part?
I took the front wheel off, loaded it into my car, and put it back together ALL BY MYSELF!!! :D
(Riding bragging soon, but I couldn't help but share. I'm so proud!)
Wooot! Congratulations! This is really a big step, I remember what it felt like the first time I did this :)
Welcome linzq! Just wait until your get on the road and have more firsts. I haven't had a lot of time to ride the last few days but last week I logged 120 miles!!!that's the most I have ridden since I injured myself last year. Knock on wood my achilles feels goodso I feel very optimistic about healing. A local bike club started up their beginning ladies rides and I did that on Tuesday. It was fun and I met some new women to ride with. Hopefully the weather will get better soon,we had thunder, lightning and 3 inches of hail on Wednesday
I know how good that feels!Quote:
Originally Posted by linzq
Welcome, and enjoy your riding.
Wow Jelee. that's brilliant!
Thanks, all, it feels great!
I'm away from my bike this week, but will be renting a beater bike in Hilton Head for some wide-bike-path riding and even on-the-beach riding! Looking forward to it!
And I definitely can't wait to share *real* riding on my new roadbike stories!
This evening we got home from work we decided to go to the Community Council meeting. We used to attend every month, but they relocated the meeting place, plus the meeting time was changed to an earlier time difficult to make after work.
Meeting tonight started at 7PM, so we got home from work, pumped up the tires and took the bikes over to the rec center. It's only a mile each way, but we're not all that used to riding the roads with cars, so it was a good challenge.
Figured it was be going to be dark by the time we headed home, so we finally got to break out the headlights and super flashy taillight. We rode the mile back home with lights on and flashing like a Christmas tree!! The first time I've ridden at night and it was pretty cool!
Shannon
Cool, Shannon! Which bike did you ride? It's wonderful how there is always something new to do.
linzq, are you on your roadbike now?
I had a small but hugely satisfying "first" this afternoon. DH needed a prescription picking up in town, and I nipped into town onto my Marin to collect it, wearing a DRESS :D A proper normal, knee-length polka dot teadress. Having the wind in my hair is one thing, but having a dress flutter around my legs in a summer breeze is just the bees knees (so to speak). I got given plenty of space on the busy stretch of road too.
Took Louisville, the Trek FX Hybrid as it already had lights attached... Tho I did get to use the new Stella light I bought from Catrin and I love it!! I ended up having the Planet Bike lamp on strobe and the Stella on steady. Ample light even on the dark road without street lamps overhead!Quote:
Originally Posted by hebe
I'm picturing the smile on your face! Brilliant!!Quote:
Originally Posted by hebe
Shannon
Just started to read this thread, glad to see all of the accomplishments from everyone! It gives me a lot of hope!! :D I'm still trying to feel comfortable stopping without feeling like I'm going to wobble into traffic. :( Can't wait to report my first stop without feeling so nervous.
I managed to not use what I have heard people descrive as granny gear:p ya know the easiest front cog, had a really good ride tonight. managed hills a lot better too and faster
I purchased, and here's the exciting part, installed my new Cateye Strada wireless bike computer. Fairly simple, but it worked! Went for a ride to see if it's accurately recording distance and it is.
Almost... I was out of town for another week, and am now home with a cold... AND it's cold outside. So I'm being a wimp (I think it's smart) and waiting for it to warm up a bit here so I don't have to invest in cold weather gear just yet... 4 degrees Celsius (here in Toronto) doesn't beckon me outside when I'm sick. But I'm super excited, and may get my BF to help me get on the trainer this weekend to get used to my new position.Quote:
Originally Posted by hebe
YAY for riding in a real dress!! That must have been SO fun - I can't wait to report on that kind of thing this summer!
Come on WARM weather, I am waiting for you!