That is great jelee!
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That is great jelee!
Yesterday...first time I've done 20 miles in many year and I could have kept on going but couldn't decide where to go. It was tough as it was very windy and that's one of my asthma/copd triggers but I did it. Wooo Hooo!
I'm not one that's stuck on numbers - I don't have a cycle computer - but I'd love to know my averages for that ride :rolleyes:
Good job!
This is something I should have managed to do two years ago, but...I can finally take my hands off the bars! I haven't managed to grab water bottles or anything out of my back pockets yet, but I'm getting more comfortable doing stuff. Who knew that a new saddle would make that much difference? :D
Woooo hoooooo!!!! I still can't do this. Awsome :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Owlie
Shannon
Hi gals. I just signed up. I've just discovered this forum and have been reading many posts for two days. I just finished reading every post on this thread, and I knew I had to join this community. The moral support here is fantastic!
I'm a relatively inexperienced cyclist, although quite experienced in falling off my bike, haha. Like many in this forum, I never learned how to ride a bike when I was a child and had to teach myself, through sheer persistence, how to ride one as an adult. I've had many falls, and I still remember each of those falls, but I also learned from each mistake I made which caused me to fall (for example, I learned that a street post won't move out of the way just because you're a newbie cyclist). One of my falls was really bad--I flew over the bike handles and landed hard on my helmet. I'm pretty sure my helmet saved me from having a broken skull. Before I discovered this forum, I thought I was the only one who learned how to bike as an adult, and the only one who falls off bikes, haha. Man, it's so good to learn I'm not the only one. I should have known about this forum several years ago when I first taught myself how to ride a bike.
Reading the posts here has inspired me even more to dust off my mountain bike, do the basic checks and adjustments, and to start riding again. I'm also contemplating getting myself a Bike Friday. I'll record those here as my weekly achievement as a "newbie". :)
Congratulations! I am SO far from doing this, but I can do lots of stuff with my left hand off the bars, less with my right hand. Currently I am ok with that :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Owlie
I think proper fit and saddle makes so much difference where this is concerned - as comfy as my LHT is, there are things I can do on my Gunnar that I just wouldn't do with my cushy tank.
Poor cushy tank, she hasn't been ridden in so long.... sniff... Plum Blossom is just so much more comfortable than Ms. Explorer - and that is saying a great deal as the LHT is quite comfy.
By the Goddess! I'm so stoked. I rode even further yesterday. Lady H and me managed just over 25 miles, 15 of them really uncomfortable miles on a bad saddle and into a head wind on the return journey. The saddle I'm using is filched my housemates cheapie hybrid - the one I've been riding for a year - and it's so darned uncomfortable I've been looking for a new saddle that I can actually afford. I won the bidding last night on a Bontrager Evoke R WSD at a price that means if it's not the saddle for me I can give it away to someone who it might suit.
Anyhoo, I've managed (approx figures worked out from google maps) a 20miler, a 25miler, a couple of 10milers and a couple of 5milers this week and I'm so proud of myself, especially as lot of those miles were into head winds which is one of my asthma/Copd triggers. Yesterday all my miles were on the road with traffic which is something I usually try to avoid due to the lung disease thang and after I'd stopped at my bro and sis-in-laws for a mug of tea I could really tell I'd been breathing in car fumes despite the roads not being overly busy, I don't cough often since I gave up smoking last year but oh boy I was coughing yesterday.
Yesterday was a really good biking day for me. I did my usual loop in the state park with the additional challenge tracks, twice. Most importantly for me, I conquered the dangerous, rocky descent that terrifies me, working my way down at a controlled pace. Still wobbly, but I made it down - twice. Getting back up that hill is another story. It's very rocky with lots of grooves, and I have a hard time getting a good, lasting grip. Still working on that.
I also took the difficult incline with a couple of curves at a slow, steady pace. This was the first time I wasn't deeply focused on trying to make it up the hill, but enjoying myself along the way. Slowly but surely I'm building those mtb skills...
Two achievements!
1) Broke the 50 mile mark on my long ride, at 54 miles :D
2) Bought a mountain bike and did my first trail ever! Don't really know what I'm doing, but I have some friends who ride mountain bikes, so I'll get them to show me the ropes.
tbl35...way off topic, but your little cat in your avatar looks just like our cat Howie! CUTE! :cool:
Have been back on my bike for the 1st time in 2 years (med stuff) during the last 3 weeks. Back upto 15 miles. 20 next! :D
WooHoo ShubieGA...happy pedaling now that you're back in the saddle. :D
This weekend I rode the entire loop around Lake Tahoe (almost 75 miles!!), longest ride so far! I also had the new experiences of dealing with a lot of bad car traffic (sharing narrow roads with stop and go traffic, most of whom were not paying attention to the cyclists), horrible road conditions (caught my front wheel in a rut and almost ate s***), lots of terrible, steep, and endless hills that I wanted to give up on, and some scary descents including the freeway (down Hwy 50, 40 mph with traffic whizzing by me). But I DID IT!
I also learned that the saddle on my new bike (Fizik Antares) is NOT a good fit for my lady parts and I am saddle shopping today for something better...too bad because it is a very nice (and expensive) brand new saddle. Guess I will have to sell it.
That's where I'm at, too! I just can't seem to get the guts to really let go with both hands. I usually keep my right hand on the bike, and do as much as I can with my left. I think that's why my shirt is always hiked up on my right side and not on my left! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Catrin
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiten
Welcome Jiten!
I hope that your falls become a thing of the past for you soon. Practice does wonders for balance and confidence. I rode as a kid and just got back into biking again last year after a long absence. I had a lot of falls in the begining. Congratulations on having the courage to get back on after a fall and keep going. Try to have someone from a bike shop watch you on your bike and check your saddle and handlebar height for proper fit.
Thank you for the welcome, Bike Writer! I think I will always find something inspiring to read on these forums. BTW, I've been reading your blog, too, and consider me a regular reader now. :) I saw pictures of your nice bike! *drools*Quote:
Originally Posted by Bike Writer
Welcom Jiten, and enjoy riding! I'm coming up to a year now and it's the best thing I ever did. I still mess up occasionally but I don't worry so much about that any more.
I can take one hand at a time off, to indicate or wipe my nose. My local discounter has unicycles in last week, and I was mildly interested until I realised that they had no handlebars.
No riding here since holiday :( Weather grim and too much to do. I really want to do a 10 mile ride before my ride-i-versary in a couple of weeks too.
Thanks for the welcome, hebe. I hope you find the time and good weather to get in your 10-miler.Quote:
Originally Posted by hebe
Hey gals :) Well, I'm almost complete with my fixie build. It's going to be awesome. I'm eager to surpass my current biking stamina.
woo hoo! And welcome :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Rockyroad
Welcome to TE, Rocky Road!
Oh, it's only one at a time (I'm far too chicken to ride no-hands on my roadie...I was too chicken to try it on the bike I had as a kid!), and I can really only do it while coasting within certain speeds, but I can do it long enough to shake my wrists out and signal. I'm still working on brushing strands of hair out of my face and the like.Quote:
Originally Posted by Catrin
You should take your LHT out for a bit so she doesn't get jealous. ;)
Don't forget to post pictures and a description in the Fixed Gear Gallery!Quote:
Originally Posted by Rockyroad
About the handed thing...last year when I got back into riding I did not think I would ever be taking my hands off the bars, not even one. A friend I rode with would remove her water bottle, drink and put it back, all while riding and pedaling along and I was in awe.
This year, no problem. I prefer keeping my left hand on the bar and am stronger with that one one but in a pinch, either will do. No hands :eek: Not yet. As a kid and teenager I rode no handed all the time and recall once riding for over a mile no handed just because I wanted to see if I could do it. No problem. Young = invincible, older = scaredy cat. About some stuff anyway...
Hello, ladies. I am so glad to find this forum, too. I have tried a few others and there was a lot of bashing on them and didn't seem to be many woman. Plus, they were all super competitive. Since I am a newbie and just starting again this particular thread seems to fit me so well. I do see there is a mix of long range riders in here, too. I'm guessing you started out as a newbie?
I started riding again 2 weeks ago. I wanted to ride races when I was a teenager but never got any support from my parents so I didn't do it. To ride in a bike race is on my bucket list before I die. A SIL is starting triathalons and somehow I got in the mood to try a race, too. My first race, and only this year probably, is next weekend. :eek: Yup, three weeks after I start. I would like to do one later but there isn't one so this is it. This one is perfect as it is a fun ride for a cause so not too stressful.
The ride I am doing is 15 miles and so far the farthest I have gone is 10 miles. I did that last night and came home and felt like I could easily go do more except it was dark. Obviously I'm not pushing myself hard enough? The first one I did two weeks ago of 6 miles was killer so I find it odd that I can already do 10 fine.
My goal is to lose weight and have fun. We're toying with adding to our family again so I'm not going to get too serious right now even though I'd like to. I'm hoping all the exercise will get me in better shape for babycakes. Tomorrow I am hoping I can go a longer ride since it is DH's day off.
Thanks for reading my yappy post and I'm looking forward to visiting with other lady cyclers.
hansbrea,
Just wanted to say hi and welcome!
I'm new here too and joined because it seemed so friendly!
All the best with your cycling! It's totally addictive, you'll keep upping your mileage in no time :)
Good luck!
Thank you, Mako!
I went for a 6 mile ride tonight since I am still sore from yesterday's 10 mile ride. Sigh, I'll get there eventually. I had 20+ mph winds at me for half of it and I pushed myself to try and get better time. Plus I removed 2.4 lbs. of stuff off the bike. I still wound up with the same time I've had of 5:30/mile.
Tomorrow I am going to work on getting the bike geared up, hopefully figure out something for tires as apparently I have "really aggressive mountain bike" tires, figure out something for a new cushioned recessed seat or get a gel cover for the one I have.
I am look at tires on http://www.nashbar.com and am not sure what to get. What would be good for road racing tires? I have a low budget but want something that won't cause me to slide off the road, too.
Welcome to all the new ladies of the past week. I've had a crazy week I broke my deraileur cable right in front of my house,we fixed that then 2 days later when I went to go for a ride my back tire was flat. I fixed it and then struggled to get the tire back on when I finally did the tire went flat again. I pinch flatted it and then had no more good tubes , covered in grease I sat down and cried. DH fixed my flat that night when I was at work. The next day I was 2 blocks away from my house and my chain fell off.I walked home and was cracking up when I called DH to tell him.I'm. Getting some good practice with bike maintenance and I consider myself sooo lucky that the problems happened near or at home. Four days without riding was killing me so tonight my DH went for a 20 mile ride with me. The weather was perfect so we went around a local lake and it was beautiful. Its good for me to ride with DH because I wouldn't be alone if I had anymore bike technical difficulties. Maybe next week I will have better bike carma:D
Hello again everyone. I had my best ride yet today. I've been practicing skills I learned at the mountain biking clinic, particularly going downhill with my body pulled behind the seat, with my chest low. Today I took the rather steep incline (but not overly long) which is paved and a good place to practice descents. A multigenerational family was walking up the hill as I made my way up. When I sped past in mountain biking downhill position, I heard a "wow, daredevil!" -- coming from one of the younger adult males. That was so funny, lol! Going downhill terrifies me, which is why I keep practicing... and I use the body behind seat position because it feels so much safer, not to be daring. It was a good ride, and my one handed riding is going well -- both sides are getting much stronger at that. I have a lot more skills to learn, though, and need to build stamina for those uphill climbs.
Ah, hugs, Jelee1311!
Hmm, the clinic sounds interesting. I didn't know people even gave clinics on how to ride but it makes logical sense people learn technique somewhere. I am going to try the seat trick downhill, too, and see if that makes a difference for me.
I rode the 15-mile race route today for practice. I also bought new tires and tubes today - and they are WAY too big. I'm going to have to return them and go the bike store instead. Apparently WalMart doesn't hack it.
The ride went well at least and I finished within a minute of the time I wanted to. I'm hoping with slicks and adrenaline I can do a little better next Saturday. No headwind would be nice, too. I spent 5 miles battling the wind.
Oh yeah, and I also got hooted and hollered at by a two cars full of teenage boys speeding around. It took me a second for me to register they were yelling "love you butt!" as they waited behind me for a car to pass. I figured it out when they were hanging out of the car waving at me, etc. That is first time in my life I've literally had anybody hoot or whistle at me, literally. My thought was "don't they see I am a mid-30's overweight lady?" as I got a big smile on my face and laughed. :)
@Jelee, I'm so sorry to hear of your frustration, but you're right it's making you stronger and giving you opportunity to learn and practice. Of course at the time it can be frustrating. How are your women's rides? I still haven't done a group ride!
@hansbrea, welcome. I'm interested in about our bike and set up, and what type of riding you've been doing. Sometimes it helps if. We know a little more specifics so we can offer better or more appropriate suggestions. Happy riding.
My "newby" achievement is that I finally bought my first road bike in 27 years! It's being built up now. It's a Surly Cross Check in "Robin's Egg Blue". I can't wait to get out and practice on it.
I did my longest ride of the year today!
Twenty-three miles on my new saddle and the entire ride was clipless. I didn't really even feel the saddle until mile twenty when I "felt" the cutout a little and repositioned myself a little every so often.
I've also swapped out the SPD pedals for Speedplay Frog pedals and I VERY much like them. I had a few "oh crap" moments, but stayed upright, which is a good thing!
Feeling good about today :)
Shannon
Woot! new bikes, new achievements, new personal bests and fingers crossed for better karma for Jelee this week :)
I had a surprise morning of riding today. Mondays are normally sacrosanct for housework, but the Mister set off to a meeting with the child car-seat in the back of his car. So I got to ride small girl to nursery which was lovely - she's not been too keen on it for a while and I went off it a bit after tipping the (empty) trailer over in traffic. Anyway, it was fine. The nursery let me leave the trailer there, which was great as they have some lovely off-road riding just a few hundred yards away. So I did some riding through the sun and cornfields, then nipped home for a cuppa before riding back to nursery to collect Small Girl and her trailer.
I think I might have finally got close to doing 10miles, just need to check on the map (forgot my Garmin). The problem isn't stamina so much as finding routes. Hopefully a new map will help with that.
*happy dance* I brought out the clipless pedals that I bought a couple months ago. Originally I put them on right away but practicing inside (with no momentum) made me super nervous because I was super unsteady. Well, put them back on yesterday, played with them some this morning and went out to a parking lot to practice. And guess what! It was GREAT!
I'll be honest, this morning that same fear crept back in. I do not advise practicing indoors trying to move forward when you really can't go anywhere and can't get any momentum. Just practice clipping in and out, one foot at a time, nothing more! :p
I did put them on their easiest setting and that also helped. But did an easy 15 mile ride this evening (which was beautiful, passed a herd of deer including two spotted fawns) and even felt good stopping and starting at stop signs and crossing the roads that intersect the trails.
So yay! I am happy I conquered a fear (one I probably didn't need to have in the first place!).
Hi all! *waving madly* I'm new and thought this was a perfect thread to say hi in!
I hadn't ridden a bike in 15 years before last year a friend convinced me to go on a ride with the See Jane Ride girls (if you haven't found them - check them out - very cool concept). I rode for a little while with the Janes that fall, maxing out at about 12 miles a ride, and then of course, winter hit, I became sedentary again and life just fell apart.
4 weeks ago, I got the cycling bug again, and started back up. My Schwinn Wal-Mart comfort bike took me for the first 200 miles, but just wasn't comfortable for longer distances.
All that to say my accomplishment for the week was riding my brand-new (to me) Jamis Satellite Sport on a 43.94 mile ride on Sunday, and making it! It was hilly, hot (88 degrees) and humid. The thought did cross my mind numerous times that I was going to have to call my husband to come get me. But, I made it, and that's the longest I've ever spent on a bike!
Wpw, ladies, way to go!
Itsalldownhill, 43 miles would kill me I think. :eek: I go 15 and my "seat" is pretty uncomfortable.
Velocivixen, I am riding a Gary Fisher Marlin mountain bike that I got new when I graduated from high school in '95. It's been left outside all one winter on accident (we have acreage and my son got it out), brakes don't work perfectly, same old seat I started with that is very uncomfortable (although I bought a new gel cover that helps a ton), and the gears are CRAPPY to say the least. Some day I would love to buy a new bike but can't justify it at all seeing how much they cost. The bike weighed 26.4 lbs. before I changed tires (probably close to the same weight?) and added the heavy gel seat.
Roadtrip and Rubysoho, why are they called clipless pedals if you clip your feet into them? Or, am I thinking of something else? Do they make a difference in how fast you go?
Hebe, glad you had a good time and got a surprise ride in. I bought a van with built in car seats just so for DH moments like that.
I did my first "bike race" on Saturday. Turns out it was just a fun ride and not a race at all. That didn't stop me from trying to get done first, though. :) There was a husband and wife that passed me when I stopped to adjust my seat and I never did catch back up to them. I ended up getting done third out of a group of 16 I think. It doesn't say much, though, because 4 of them were ladies in their 50's who hadn't been on bikes in years and were all more overweight than me, 2 were youth about age 10, 2 more were the dads riding with the youth and that leaves 6, including me. I don't know what the other 3 people were like because I didn't look around enough before we rode off. Everyone else was out for a leisurely ride it seems - even the couple who were both in good shape. He kept looking back to see if I was still behind them and if I got close he'd weave around and take up the whole road. Haha. Goof, he could have ridden me into the ground anytime but was staying with his wife who also had their toddler on a seat on her bike. It was fun, though, and I finished it 6 minutes faster than when I practiced.
There is a bike race this Saturday I am looking at that is an hour away. We'll have to see what the family plans are but right now I think I might be able to work it in since it is at 6:30 in the morning. That's WAY too early for me but I'll force myself out of bed anyway. Fortunately I can stay at my in-laws which is about 10 minutes away.
I forgot to add that we ordered several bike jerseys off of bikenashbar.com. I am hoping I ordered the right size but am worried they will be too big. I usually wear a large or xl in ladies shirts. I got my bike shirt at the fun ride last week, had ordered a large, and it was HUGE. I ended up switching it for a medium. I did order one medium jersey but also two larges. They were awesome prices so I got several. I am SO excited for them to get here as I don't have any decent riding shirts that are long enough except the one I got Saturday. HURRY UP FEDEX!
*shrug* I keep thinking the same thing. Apparently the "clip" pedals clipped onto your toes????? I don't really know. I still "clip in" to my clipless pedals. :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by hansbrea
I definitely noticed a difference in how smooth my pedaling was. My knee also wasn't bothering me like it sometimes does, but I didn't push myself on the ride either. After much fear, once I figured out how easy they were I actually liked them. I've almost lost my platform pedal before trying to go super fast. Since I set them to the easiest setting I also never felt "stuck" or trapped - which was a huge fear of mine.
Wow we have a lot of new folks around here since the begining of July. Welcome!
I see many of our "old" newbies have also set some personal bests and milestones. Woohoo Congrats all around!
Last week I posted my longest week of riding this season. Just a tad over 56 miles. Many folks here do twice as much in a day, but for me, that's alot and am happy with how my riding is progressing this year. Speaking of which, where did this year go? I can't believe I just took up riding again nearly a year ago. I feel so comfortable and my skills have improved quite a bit. I'd been off a bike for so long it was almost like starting over.
Well, ladies new and old, happy riding and congrats again on the accomplishments. It's a great forum with loads of information and great comraderie.
THEY'RE HEEEERREEEEEE!!!! I got home from cub scout day camp today and notice a package stuffed in my mail box. I was like a kid at Christmas ripping open the package to try on the shirts. I've decided it's a good thing I got larges and realizing I probably should have gotten x-larges. :mad: I REALLY need to lose weight! I've put on 15 pounds since February and am having trouble losing it. :eek: Weight loss is one of my motivating factors for riding. So, hopefully the shirts will fit soon.
The two I got for $9.99 look great, the $14.99 is okay but really makes me look fat. It is more comfortable, though, so I am okay with that since looking skinny right now is a hopeless cause anyway. I'M SO EXCITED AND WANT TO GO BIKE RIDING TONIGHT. :cool: Too bad DH's jersey is on back order but dad's came so I am happier about that. It is going to be his Christmas present. If we never get DH's and I get a refund, I am perfectly fine with that since it was an impulse buy for someone who never rides a bike.
The order came with a catalog so of course I had to look at all of it, right? The stuff I ordered is for "sale" for at least twice as much as I paid for it in the catalog but there are still lots of other good deals. Right now I am good, though, the short are tempting.