New rider joining up!

Hello everyone,
I've been lurking on these boards for about 2 weeks or so and decided to "uncloak". I'm going to be 55 in a few weeks and had an epiphany about a month ago. I hate exercise, I hate getting sweaty, but most of all I really hate the "couch potato"course I've set for myself.
So, (polite cough), I decided that I wanted to go back to one of my first loves; bike riding. I had bought a Raleigh (sheepish grin),"commuter" bike about 7 years ago. It worked very well as a clothes rack. Anyway, I hauled it out about 3 weeks ago and had it tuned up at the lbs and hauled my not inconsiderable bottom onto it and....LOVED IT! Since then, one of the other women at work, who is a life long cyclist has joined me on my afterwork rides and I'm loving it even more..... so much so..that she and I have signed up to ride the annual "Trek Across Maine" ride in June,2007.
She has ridden it many times before and I'm loving having a goal to work at.
Now, the next question is,of course, a new bike for me...(oh yeah....Jan needs a new bike). The Raleigh is ...um...perhaps inadaquate.
I live in Maine, so my days on the road for the next few months will be practically non-existant. But I followed one of your threads about someone finding "the one" bike from back in September of this year. So, I cruised around the net and read about the different styles/types/etc.; most of it going completely over my head.
So, today, I went back to my lbs,(after my 12 mile ride..grin), and got to talking to one of the bike geeks about a reasonable bike for the Trek. They had lots of bikes for sale and I'm going back sometime next week when the store isn't filled with kids and dads buying everything in sight. He's going to set up a few bikes for me to try.
However, he had the Trek Pilot 1.2 WSD and I got on it and it seemed to fit...now,remember, I have no idea what the heck "a fit" is supposed to feel like. I'm 5 feet 4 inches tall and have very short legs but a fairly long torso. Somehow,after he dropped the seat a few inches, I just seemed to feel like I was snugly astride this bike. Not a lot of pressure on my hands...my back wasn't arched, my butt was reasonably uncomfortable but I'm beginning to see that it's all a matter of degree when it comes to that.;) .
So, is this too soon to be looking at a bike like this for me?
Is this too much bike for someone who's just beginning?
Is this the wrong kind of bike for someone who is going to continue to ride on pleasure rides and tours?
And lastly; it's on sale for $750...wail,sob,wail,sob...is that a good price???

Thanks in advance to all of you who read this and
take the time to answer...I really appreciate it.

Jan (in Maine,where it's 34 degrees and I
went for a ride when it was 32 degrees!!!)

I don't know the answer to your questions about the bike, but I wanted to say welcome! Biking is so FUN, isn't it?

Hi and welcome,

It's never too soon to start looking for a bike that better suits your needs. The Trek Pilots are road bikes with a more upright position than a "traditional" road bike. It's a great, high quality starter bike and the price is good (I think it's about $200 off list). The most important thing with a bike is fit; it should feel right. Be sure to try more than one size if possible. Also, try other bikes, even if you think this is the bike for you; you might find something that suits you better, or it will help reassure you that you made the right decision.

As far as butt comfort, most of us end up switching out the saddle that comes with the bike for something else. There are whole sections on these boards for saddles in the Gear and Accessories part. One size/type definitely does not suit all.

Take care,

Nicole

Hi Jan,
Ill be 53 in a couple of weeks ,and I just started riding a bike 4 months ago. I thought $450.00 was outrageous for my Gary Fisher Hybrid. My husband and I had both bought bikes. Well, not knowing anything about biking ,I got hooked in about 3 weeks. Within 2 months I did a 46 mile ride up lots of hills. Joining this group has taught me so much.
2 weeks ago I had my bike stolen ,so I have a TREK 2.1 pilot WSD on order 1,400 something. Never in my wildest dreams would I thought I would be spending that much on a bike. I'm 5/9 with a short torso ,and long legs ,but it seemed to fit me OK too. Also not sure how to fit a bike....its the saddle that needs to fit. I ride about 8 miles a night (weather allowing) ,and 25-30 on Saturday ,and Sunday. I plan to do a metric in April. Good luck ,and Welcome to the group...you'll find so much information here.

Hi MaineMaid! YUP! $750 bucks in a BARGAIN! have a look at all the bike saddle threads we have under gear and accessories. ^_^ Maybe you might find the saddle for you.

BUT if you have absolutley no problem at all with your saddle on your current bike, then I suggest that you take your saddle into the LBS and ask them to put it on the WSD for one last test ride. If your butt still hurts then maybe there's a fit problem. If not then GO FOR IT!

Welcome MaineMaid - that's what got me going was the goal of doing the MS150 next year (my brother has MS). And I'm having so much fun in the "training" phase, not to mention getting healthier every day, that I may be ready to do even a bigger ride before then.

I, too, had to go buy a new bike which I now love. I bought a Bianchi Volpe which is a cross/touring bike and which suits my purposes. I wasn't ready for a hi performance road bike so I'm glad I found the right one for me.

Anyway, I'm 51 and the fifties bunch seems to be quite a cool, dynamic group here at TE - glad you're here and enjoy your (old) new passion.

Congratulations on getting off the couch and on the bike, and loving it!!

The Trek you're into seems like a fairly good deal. But of course I support all what the others said about trying other bikes even if this one seems to fit right.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by light_sabe_r

BUT if you have absolutley no problem at all with your saddle on your current bike, then I suggest that you take your saddle into the LBS and ask them to put it on the WSD for one last test ride. If your butt still hurts then maybe there's a fit problem. If not then GO FOR IT!

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I'd be careful about making a judgement based on a hybrid saddle on a road bike. The position on the road bike will be very different than on the hybrid, and I'd be concerned a hybrid saddle would be very uncomfortable on a road bike. You might want to give it a try anyway, but don't discard the bike on that criteria, IMHO...

Enjoy!!

Welcome!!!
The more bikes you take a test ride on before buying, the more you will feel which one fits you better. Try as many as you can, even if you are in love with only one!
50's is a GREAT age to start biking! ;)

Welcome to TE! I have read about Trek Maine and it sounds like a blast. :)

I have a Trek pilot 2.1 and love it (got it this year). I too think that's a pretty good price, & if your LBS has taken the time with you to fit you on the bike, and you're feeling good, then go for it.

As for the butt issue, there is a certain amount of conditioning which has to occur. I think most people's sit bones aren't ready for the pressure put on by cycling off the bat, since it's not a sofa.

I would give yourself some time in the saddle (no pun intended, I guess) before worrying about the saddle itself. When I started riding and 1 hour seemed like a long ride my butt would be sore, but that decreased as I did more riding and got in better overall shape. Now I don't notice this being an issue at all. If after riding for a while you still find the seat uncomfortable by all means switch it out.

Good luck, hope you become a frequent participant here!

Thanks for all your replies,everyone. I spent some time yesterday looking at bike prices on the net and I'm thinking that this quote they gave me is a pretty good one. Next weekend I'm going to another bike shop about 60 miles from here and try on some other bikes so I have a good idea about what a good fit means. If I end up with the same set up at this other shop, I'm going back and put this Trek on the lay-away!!! I've sworn off credit card debt so I'm going to have to finance it the old fashioned way...cash.
I went riding yesterday and today about 15-17 miles each day, but the wind was bitter and biting and I am so woefully "under clothed", that the last mile or two was not fun. Of course, the temps were in the high 30's or low 40's so I'm not surprised.
Thanks for answering all my questions so quickly!!! Oh, I really like the phrase "conditioning" for the saddle and my butt. The first few times on the bike I could feel the soreness but after that it wasn't any problem. I have a big,mushy saddle at the moment that I'm sure isnt' going to be use when I get the Trek. The lbs has told me that I can try any bike in the shop when I get the bike.
Now I've just gotta get an 2nd job to support "the habit".

Jan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MaineMaid

I went riding yesterday and today about 15-17 miles each day, but the wind was bitter and biting and I am so woefully "under clothed", that the last mile or two was not fun. Of course, the temps were in the high 30's or low 40's so I'm not surprised.
Thanks for answering all my questions so quickly!!! Oh, I really like the phrase "conditioning" for the saddle and my butt. The first few times on the bike I could feel the soreness but after that it wasn't any problem. I have a big,mushy saddle at the moment that I'm sure isnt' going to be use when I get the Trek. The lbs has told me that I can try any bike in the shop when I get the bike.
Now I've just gotta get an 2nd job to support "the habit".

Jan

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Oh yeah, you're hooked! Welcome to our addiction!:D

I'm a beginner rider too (so not a ton of advice to offer) but I wanted you to know that I bought the SAME bike a month or so ago and paid $899, so $750 sounds like a great deal. I love the bike and knew it the moment I sat on it (although I have since switched the seat after riding a few times on it). I also went and tested out others and found others I loved too, but for the price (my other fave was a specialized WSD) the Trek seemed like the best deal. I definitely do not think it is too much to start with and wished I could have spent more! From the sound of your plans, you will really get good use from this bike - and maybe even in a year or two be ready for an upgrade!

Welcome from a fellow newbie and congrats on finding a new healthy passion! My mother in law is 55 and I am trying to get her to start but she thinks she is too old.... :( I KNOW she is not and I tell her all the time about the ladies here that are kicking bike butt in their 50's!

Take care!

Thanks again! Just a quick update; went to the lbs and I'm going back on Friday,which is my day off and get fitted. I'm getting very excited about this. The same shop offers a bike maintainance and simple repair course some time following the holidays so I'm gonna sign up for that so I can begin understand just what the heck is going on when I peddle,gasp and pant...grin.
Jan

PS: and South Texas...you tell your mother-in-law to get off her butt because some fat-butted woman in Maine has just done the same.;)

j.

Hi Welcome to TE!!!

Just one issue with the bike, if you really have short legs and a long torso, the WSD bike may not be designed for you. WSD normally addresses a woman's build of long legs shorter upper torso so the bike may have a very short top tube, not a problem if you plan on riding fairly straight up and not bent over. The Pilot also has a fairly laid backed design which means you will ride sitting up more than most (which may explain why your butt hurt right away).

There are lots of discussions on this Board about proper bike fit. A bike is not a good deal, no matter how cheap, if it doesn't fit. Hopefully you took it out for a spin. If it doesn't feel comfortable keep looking around take your time. The shopping part is fun. Not certain your price range but you meant want to look at something like the Lemond Sarthe. Lemond's have longer top tubes than most bikes.

Anyway make sure the shop fits you properly and isn't just trying to dump a bike on you.

That being said, welcome to our little group - there's alot of great knowledgeable gals out there!!!

I have to admit that the LBS I bought my Trek Pilot WSD from told me that the WSD was designed for short torso, long legs - which I have (relatively speaking!). So if you are the opposite, give it a good test run or two and also try the mens Pilot too just to be sure :)

Let us know what you get!

P.S. I told my MIL what you said - she laughed and thought it was so cool that you are getting back into it. I think money is holding her back, but if she got on a bike she really felt good on, I think she'd find a way to pay for it. Her SO keeps bringing her "thrift store" finds and while his intentions are good, they bikes do NOT fit her! Heck after her first ride on one of them (sans helmet...grrrr) she stopped to rest and the back wheel fell off!!! I told her to go get fitted and get a new (even if lower end and a hybrid) bike! I may have to offer to help her pay for it!

(Grin)....My lbs has a Pilot WSD 47 frame and the next bigger frame on sale for $699!!! They are "gently used" through their rental department and are certified up to factory specs...I could ship it to her!!!!!! No free service for the first year..but heck...you live in TEXAS anyway!!!!:D :D

Jan

Oh Pam...that's the exact topic that came up for discussion in our lounge today at lunch. Tomorrow is my day off, and I've arranged to go and get measured so I'll be able to post some more info tomorrow...and once again, thanks for all your interest and help!!!

Jan