Returning to road cycling after 19 years...Yikes!

Well for starters I am usung my old bike, I still love it! It's a Trek 460, I just googled it and it has the word "vintage" :eek: associated with it. Oh well! I still love my "vintage" bike. It is blue with gold lettering. So of course I ordered a new Trek baby blue helmet some other fun stuff. They guy at the bike shop tells me, it's cool not to match. So I bought a green CO2 air pump... :rolleyes:

I am familiar with the "it's not cool to match" I have been endurance riding on my Tennessee Walking Horses and they have bridles that range from blue, orange, lime green and pink, all on one bridle...you can see us coming down the trail...for miles. :o

Anyway, I recently took my Trek 460 to a local bike shop and had it tuned up, new handle bar tape, new aerodynamic padded seat and replaced my good ol cat eye with a new computer, I will also be mounting a Garmin 60csx (GPS) so that I will not get lost.

I have looked up local events and clubs and found some groups that have practice rides on the weekends but they are about 40 miles away from me. I prefer to hop on my bike and just ride. I have the advantage of living in the middle of the desert and can ride my bike or horses all day long and not run into anyone else. :D Peace & Solitude.

I found this year long challenge event and a duathalon that is next month. I am going to start by signing up for the duathalon, train and do my best. It will be the first event I have competed in since 1988. I left for the army and never got back into the sport. I am scared, I am happy, I am hoping to find someone to keep giving me encouragement and of course I joined this discussion so that I can find out all of the latest happenings in the sport and gee, they have some really cute cycling clothes now! I always had to order men's cyclng shorts! Now I have choices! Thanks to all of the women that kept cycling, began cycling or have returned to this wonderful sport, like me!:)

Star,
welcome to TE. You sound like you are full of the right energy. We look forward to hearing more about you. Look in the new riders area for the "getting to know you" thread. There you will find some stock questions for you to answer so we CAN get to know you; although your introduction was great.

Mimi

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

Look in the new riders area for the "getting to know you" thread. There you will find some stock questions for you to answer so we CAN get to know you;
Mimi

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Mimi,
Thanks for welcoming me to the group, I am happy to have found this wonderful place to talk to others about cycling!

I looked for that thread page by page, got tired of going page by page, even searched for that thread, using the advanced search... Can't find that thread. Any suggestions as to how to find that particular thread?:confused:

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Originally Posted by Orions.Star

Any suggestions as to how to find that particular thread?:confused:

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It is a "sticky" in the Open Topic (cycling related) section. Here's a link to it:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=2001

Welcome to TE. And Welcome back to cycling!

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...=2001&page=106

Have fun!

Welcome to TE! I look forward to getting to know you.

It's a great feeling to have other women to associate with on my journey back into cycling!

When I was at the bike shop the other day perusing the current Trek bikes on the market, I just stared and stared, thinking sure is expensive! SO before I decide to buy a new bike, I would like to know more about the changes over the past years and what is good and what is bad. I looked at the new clipless? shoes, I'm not even sure of the proper terminology for them... I have toe clips... A gentelman visiting from Portland, Oregon showed me his and how they worked. Interesting concept. I think I might buy some... After I get back into shape! They are not cheap either. I don't mind spending money for quality, useful, well made equipment that I will use, but I must be able justify the means first. :)

Welcome aboard, Orions.Star!

I just wanted to say something about toeclips. I started out riding with toeclips maybe 15-16 years ago, and I rode with them happily until about 2 months ago. The only reason I finally went clipless is that I started riding with a club, and having to reach down to tighten/loosen the toestraps just doesn't feel safe in a group. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm very happy with my clipless pedals, and they are easier and IMO safer. Just my 2 cents.

I'll second the recommendation to go clipless as soon as you feel ready. Not only are they safer than you'd expect, you'll be amazed at how much more efficiency and power you get from your pedal stroke. They are definitely worth the money. Just be sure to do some research (including here at the forum), and take advantage of sales on-line or at the LBS.

Enjoy the journey :D

Welcome to TE! That's great that you are getting back into cycling.

Yea... don't worry about your "vintage" bike... I have a "vintage" 2002 Cervelo.

I have a vintage Fuji S-10-S which I plan to ride wherever it will take me, once I get it redone. Love me some vintage steel. :)

Karen

Welcome! I'm still riding the bike I purchased in 1984 (Univega). Enjoy your vintage bike. I'm also still using the Cateye computer(Cateye Solar II) I purchased then as well. Both the bike and computer often stop other cyclists in their tracks as they look and look again like they can't believe what they are seeing. Hey, they both work and I love them. Have a great time on your bike.

Welcome!

I agree that sooner or later you'll probably be converted to clipless, esp. if you are going to compete. But if you plan on buying a new bike in the future, I'd wait and go clipless then. You'll have a regular shoe bike and a bike shoe bike. That's what I did.

Always great to hear/read about another woman coming back to cycling

I was 19 when I last rode, and 39 when I started again...

Welcome to the forum - this is a wonderful group of very supportive women with a huge range of information on every aspect of cycling I could have thought of (and since joining, many aspects I had not known about also!)

See you on the board
:)

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Originally Posted by SouthernBelle

I agree that sooner or later you'll probably be converted to clipless, esp. if you are going to compete. But if you plan on buying a new bike in the future, I'd wait and go clipless then. You'll have a regular shoe bike and a bike shoe bike. That's what I did.

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Or you can get a two-sided pedal that has a clip-in side and a plain platform side like these: Shimano PD-M324

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Originally Posted by Dianyla

Or you can get a two-sided pedal that has a clip-in side and a plain platform side like these: Shimano PD-M324

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True that, though they drive me nuts. You can also get little platforms that clip into the pedal. Mine came with.

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Originally Posted by Bad JuJu

Welcome aboard, Orions.Star!

I just wanted to say something about toeclips. I started out riding with toeclips maybe 15-16 years ago, and I rode with them happily until about 2 months ago. The only reason I finally went clipless is that I started riding with a club, and having to reach down to tighten/loosen the toestraps just doesn't feel safe in a group. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm very happy with my clipless pedals, and they are easier and IMO safer. Just my 2 cents.

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Well, I think that I will eventually go clipless. I rode yesterday and when I was messing with the toestraps I was thinking about the guy at the bikestore that showed me his clipless shoes. It seems that it would be much easier and safer. My only thought is how comfortable are the shoes? Any specific brand recommendations? I wear a size 9 running shoe. not wide or narrow.

Thanks to everyone that is supportive of vintage bikes!!!!

I looked at the Shimano PD-M324 online, do you use RB or MB shoes with these? And then you can ride with regular shoes as well?

I am so happy about this discussion forum! Everyone here is wonderful!

Can someone please suggest a website to log miles and progress that is private or public? Iam sure that it is somewhere in the threads, but maybe you can add it here again?

I am going to do a metric duathlon in february. 5k run/ 18k bike. Seems fairly easy. Short distances. I ran cross country and track in school. Thank goodness. I can still hit the track and run three point one miles and not feel like I'm dying. Yesterday, I rode my bike 4.78 miles uphill with roughly a 1,000 foot elevation change. I was huffing and puffing, but managed to average 8.5 mph. The duathlon will be over a 1500' elevation change, so I better get used to it! I am at 3500-3800' altitude.

Any training suggestions? I mapped out a 11 mile route yesterday, what is an average training ride?

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Originally Posted by SouthernBelle

True that, though they drive me nuts. You can also get little platforms that clip into the pedal. Mine came with.

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Another option is the M545. It has platforms and clips on both sides. I have the M324s on my Bike Friday, and I almost always wind up on the "wrong" side of the pedals

Well, I will have to do a lot more research and ask a lot more questions. When I go to the duathlon next month I will check out everyone's gear there and actaully get to see what's out there. Then I will come back to TE and ask more questions! Yay for TE!:)

For the most part you can wear either type of shoe as long long as the clip for your pedal fits. I have both.

Best bet, esp on your first pair is to go try several brands on. The sizing on them is not always consistent from brand to brand.

Glad you are having fun!

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Originally Posted by Orions.Star

Can someone please suggest a website to log miles and progress that is private or public? Iam sure that it is somewhere in the threads, but maybe you can add it here again?

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www.bikejournal.com

Try this one its a great site.

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My only thought is how comfortable are the shoes? Any specific brand recommendations? I wear a size 9 running shoe. not wide or narrow.

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I'm wearing my bike shoes even though I didn't ride today (the school bus was was really late so I had to drive the kid but didn't have time to change). They are Nike women's cycling specific shoes, and I have forgetten the exact name but they're MTB shoes that I wear even on my cross bike, with three velcro straps across the padded tongue. I really like the way they feel!

They are not good for walking more than 3 blocks in (and I hate to do that to the cleats) but I have managed it on some of the crazier days I've had...

One thing I noticed is that bike shoes made by shoe manufacturers are more comfortable than bike shoes made by bike component people. My Nike bike shoes fit a lot like Nike soccer cleats would. My husband's Shimano shoes don't feel right at all to me (same size feet).

Try on a lot of shoes, and the bike shop should let you try them on a trainer, so you'll know how they feel on the bike. Makes a big difference.

Thanks for the link, I really like bike journal! I already posted miles from yesterday and today, I can be anywhere and use it! Cool!

I will remember this advice and all of the advice from others about trying the shoes on and trying them on a trainer and that

"bike shoes made by shoe manufacturers are more comfortable than bike shoes made by bike component people."

Anymore suggestion from anyone? Cause today I got my shoelaces from my Columbia hiking boots caught in the chain a couple of times and then I was riding in 30 mph headwinds which made my 'non bike' workout pants flap and they to got caught several times. I was able to hike them up to my knees and tuck my shoelaces in, but I kept thinking, "I should have ordered those cycling pants from REI last weekend, the ones that were on sale...and I would've already have gotten them in the mail." GOOD~APPROPRIATE GEAR IS ESSENTIAL! Safety is a concern of mine at this point! I will ride in shorts and duct tape my shoe laces until I make it to town or order something online!

:) I did ride 16 miles today! YAY!:)

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Originally Posted by Orions.Star

I will remember this advice and all of the advice from others about trying the shoes on and trying them on a trainer and that

"bike shoes made by shoe manufacturers are more comfortable than bike shoes made by bike component people."

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Well this goes contarty to that advice, but I like my Specialized Body Goemetery shoes. I understand that it is a love them or hate them kind of thing....

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Originally Posted by Fredwina

Well this goes contarty to that advice, but I like my Specialized Body Goemetery shoes. I understand that it is a love them or hate them kind of thing....

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I have not seen this shoe yet, I will look for it. Why do you like that brand over the others? I am assuming comfort/fit would be at the top of the list... but anything special?

primarily comfort . I can a do century with Mountain bike shoes /pedals and have no problems

Be careful, cuz comfort walking and effeciency on the bike are not the same thing. To get good power transfer you want a stiff sole, but often the comfy bike shoes are comfy cuz the stole is not very stiff. For example, I used to ride with Nike shoes and while they were more comfy they aren't as effecient as the sidi dominators I now ride in. With that said though, you can walk more easily in a mountain shoe than road shoe cuz of the recessed cleat, and if you go with a stiff mountain shoe you'll still get good power transfer. While I am a 'roadie' I ride in sidi dominators, a high end mountain shoe, and speedplay frog pedals, again a 'mountain' pedal which I like for the easy in/out, light weight, and float. TE even has dominators on sale, although I haven't checked the size availablity. I like a walkable shoe (recessed cleat) since I also tour and commute. In fact, I did hike around in Mexico in my sidis just fine, and find them very comfortable despite the stiff sole. Like anything, fit is also really important for comfort, and tthe dominator has a buckle at the top that helps you lock in the fit with. I don't recommend the dual sided pedals. I also had them on my bike friday, but they are heavy and the spd cleats bothered my knees. Also, you also have to worry about finding the right side.

Hey Orions.Star

Are you still planning to do duathlon in February?

I did my first two last year, my first one was similar to yours in distance, but not in elevation! My times were brutal, but I finished. I was doing weights twice a week, (one day upper, one day lower), two rides a week - one usually sprint intervals and a long ride on the weekend and two days of running, one more intense with intervals, the other just a tempo run.

I worked way too hard on the bike during the race and sucked the energy out of my legs, so for the final run, I was toast.

Upped the intensity over the summer and impoved my run times, bike time was ok, but I didn't kill myself on the bike so that I could run that last 5.

You have the benefit of those hills and elevation! Can't wait to hear your race story!

I am going to do the duathlon in February. I was having good weather for training....this snowstorm suddenly appeared, in the middle of the desert. It was a good thing! I finally broke down and went to the gym for some indoor training and had my first experience in spinning. It is pretty neat. I would rather be on my bike outdoors, but if I can't do that I have alternative options! It feels the same as cycling.

Fortunately, an I do know what you're talking about having the life sucked out of your legs, ouch, this duathlon has the run first then the bike! Pretty cool.
All of the triathlons I've competed in always had run/bike/swim in that order.

So I am not out to set any records, just to finish will be accomplishment enough for me.

I am certain I will have a wonderfully pleasant race story to tell. If I can make it back up the hill!