Still A Newbie

I just got back from a 16 mile ride, and guess what my bike computer told me? I just made it to 1,500 miles!

But...I am still a newbie!!! I am very proud of myself for making it to 1,500 miles and for all the progress I've made with climbing, balance, etc. I think the 1,000 mile mark was a turning point for me. I feel much more comfortable on my bike these days, and I've even learned to drink from my water bottles while riding. I rarely drop my chain (I used to drop it constantly!), my slow-speed balance and steering are much better, and I can ride for long distances without stopping to rest. It doesn't scare me to go fast, and I'm not petrified of every passing vehicle. I've lost a little weight, quite a few inches, and my legs are looking awesome!

There's still a lot I need to work on though. I can almost stand up to pedal now...I can do a few pedal strokes but I am sooooo wobbly! I have virtually no experience riding in groups. My balance and bike handling, although dramatically improved, still need work. I really need to work on my starting and stopping skills...I still start with both feet unclipped and I still unclip both feet to stop. I am doing my first organized ride in September and I MUST teach myself how to start and stop properly before then!

I am in LOVE with my bike and I'm already dreading the shorter days and winter weather. I wish I would've discovered cycling (and TE!) years ago!

That sounds fantastic! I'm glad you are loving your bike and riding. I'm still new and dreading shorter days too. I guess we just have to get us a good light.

Happy riding!

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Originally Posted by sara

I wish I would've discovered cycling (and TE!) years ago!

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me too:o
(I am digging how my legs look;) )

It's all relative.
I've ridden about 4000 miles since last summer, and I feel like a total newbie lots of times. So many things I cannot do and I am such a SLOW rider! ...But people who are just starting to ride now look at me like I'm from the Tour De France or something. :rolleyes:
It's the same with most endeavors- I find the same syndrome in playing music...I feel so lame in my playing sometimes yet others think I'm so "pro". :cool:

We tend to be our own worst critics, so you can count on the reality being that you are probably better than you think you are! :)

P.S. Sandra don't forget for night riding you will need a good steady red light in the BACK as well- not just a blinkie or reflector. Think equally about being seen from far away and not just about being able to see. ;)

I just got my first "real" jersey (with three REAL POCKETS!!!) - THANKS to the TE gal who sold it to me - and I tried it on last night and *BING!* I felt not such a noob no mo.

It's amazing, the transformation.

I wouldn't know me, a few years ago. I'd look askance at this girl and be like, ha, ride 15 miles? Yer crrraaaaazy.

;) I like the noob me.

I've been biking for a few years now and I still feel I have a lot to learn. That's why the bike in my avatar has training wheels. :)

Yeah so if JoBob, who has ridden almost 4000 miles so far THIS YEAR*, feels like a noob sometimes....then heck we're ALL noobs!!!!! :p :p :p





*on a Rivendell. ;)

I'm with ya, Sara! My physical therapist, located in El Dorado Hills, is going to start up his bike skills clinics again this fall. I'm not sure of the cost, but if you're interested I'll send you more info as I get it. Here is Rob's bio: http://www.bodyconceptsinc.com/staff_kopitzke.htm

And here's what I know about the clinics (minus the November clinic, which is for Cat 4 & 5 riders wishing to improve their racing skills):

Braking and Cornering (Fall Skills Clinic) w/Rob Kopitzke
11:00 - 4:00 PM Saturday 10/20

(the basic building blocks to all bike riding) Taught by Elite USA Cycling Coach, Rob Kopitzke, this clinic is 5-hours with 1 hour of lecture and 4 hours of on the bike skills practice. Riders of every ability are encouraged to participate . . . we all learn something everytime we practice. There are at least six different ways to slow or stop your bike, we will discuss and practice them with emphasis on controlling your bike under unexpected or difficult braking situations. Cornering technique and safety is broken down into steps, each leading to more effective and efficient riding...from slow speed 360-degree turns, "counter-steering" 180-degree arcs to faster slalom turns.


Group Ride Skills w/Rob Kopitzke
11:00 - 4:00 PM Saturday 12/1

(advanced building blocks) Taught by Elite USA Cycling Coach, Rob Kopitzke, this clinic is 5-hours with 1 hour of lecture and 4 hours of on the bike skills practice. Riders of every ability are encouraged to participate . . . we all learn something everytime we practice.Riding in groups with friends should be fun, not nerve racking. Want to ride at 25mph and have it feel like 17mph? Save ~30% of your effort or go ~30% faster by applying the group ride skills you will learn today! This clinic will introduce group ride rules and techniques that will have you flying down the road with less effort, faster and safer...


Or he does the Peak Cycling Series, which starts in January:

The Peak Cycling Training Series
The Peak Cycling Training Series is a group training series for cyclists looking for a new challenge or who want to improve their knowledge, bike handling and fitness.

Members range in ability from brand new riders to nationally ranked athletes and are split into several groups based on fitness. Each group receives a specific daily training plan based on their initial fitness level.

This series runs from January through April each year and includes 6-bike skills clinics of ~4 hours and 5-training presentations with topics ranging from nutrition, sports psychology, strength and flexibility training, training physiology, etc...
In addition all participants receive a video bike fitting, anaerobic threshold test, team jersey and more.

Sign-ups start in mid November each year and end the last Friday in December.

If you see someone in one of our jerseys out on a bike ask them what their experience has been…send us an email if you are interested in joining.

Those clinics look really good.

Sara,

I am right there with you! In fact, I think we started about the same time. I am going to break 1,000 miles on my new bike today and feel like a totally different person. I know that I ask questions that experienced riders would be tempted to laugh at (and I'm grateful they don't, at least to my face) but I also know that I am much more into this and experienced than the average person who gets on a bike every once and a while. As Lisa said, (her perspective on cycling rocks!) it is definitely all relative.

And YES, I love what has happened to my legs, and I think we need to start another thread with pictures of our strong biker thighs. This time I'd actually put mine in there. :) Without shame. That's personal growth, baby! :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sara

I just got back from a 16 mile ride, and guess what my bike computer told me? I just made it to 1,500 miles!

But...I am still a newbie!!! I am very proud of myself for making it to 1,500 miles and for all the progress I've made with climbing, balance, etc. I think the 1,000 mile mark was a turning point for me. I feel much more comfortable on my bike these days, and I've even learned to drink from my water bottles while riding. I rarely drop my chain (I used to drop it constantly!), my slow-speed balance and steering are much better, and I can ride for long distances without stopping to rest. It doesn't scare me to go fast, and I'm not petrified of every passing vehicle. I've lost a little weight, quite a few inches, and my legs are looking awesome!

There's still a lot I need to work on though. I can almost stand up to pedal now...I can do a few pedal strokes but I am sooooo wobbly! I have virtually no experience riding in groups. My balance and bike handling, although dramatically improved, still need work. I really need to work on my starting and stopping skills...I still start with both feet unclipped and I still unclip both feet to stop. I am doing my first organized ride in September and I MUST teach myself how to start and stop properly before then!

I am in LOVE with my bike and I'm already dreading the shorter days and winter weather. I wish I would've discovered cycling (and TE!) years ago!

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Great job Sara! I'm a noob too. I've probably ridden about 400 miles since I started commuting in May.

Good luck on your September ride. I'm hoping to do one of those too when I get my new bike!

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Originally Posted by northstar

And YES, I love what has happened to my legs, and I think we need to start another thread with pictures of our strong biker thighs. This time I'd actually put mine in there. :) :)

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Be careful what you ask for:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=4700
:D :D
Waiting to see some more muscle-y thighs..... :D

Lisa, I thought you had posted a picture of your thighs!:p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sara

There's still a lot I need to work on though. I can almost stand up to pedal now...I can do a few pedal strokes but I am sooooo wobbly!

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Are you sure you have enough resistance when you do this? I have to shift to a harder gear when I stand up - usually two clicks - to give me enough resistance to pedal against. If I'm in too easy of a gear, it's harder to control the bike. Try shifting up the split second before you stand up, and shift back down as you sit back down so you don't lose momentum.

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Originally Posted by sandra

Lisa, I thought you had posted a picture of your thighs!:p

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Probably not in *this* lifetime. :D :D

Too funny- I hadn't thought of that!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sara

I am doing my first organized ride in September and I MUST teach myself how to start and stop properly before then!

I am in LOVE with my bike and I'm already dreading the shorter days and winter weather. I wish I would've discovered cycling (and TE!) years ago!

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Congratulations Sara!!!
If its the Tour De Tahoe you are talking about i would definitely work on your starting and stopping. It gets a lot of riders and Im assuming like a lot of other charitiy rides that some of these riders have zero bike skills so you may find yourself needing to stop quicker than you expected.:eek:

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Originally Posted by Trekhawk

Congratulations Sara!!!
If its the Tour De Tahoe you are talking about i would definitely work on your starting and stopping. It gets a lot of riders and Im assuming like a lot of other charitiy rides that some of these riders have zero bike skills so you may find yourself needing to stop quicker than you expected.:eek:

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Uh oh, now I'm scared! :eek: :p :( :)

Yup, I'm talking about the Tour De Tahoe...hopefully I have good enough skills to avoid other non-skilled riders. What I'm more concerned about is doing something stupid and taking someone else out! Good reason for me to definitely work on the starting and stopping. Grassy lawn, here I come!

MicheleM - thank you for sharing the awesome info about those bike clinics. I should definitely do this! What a great opportunity to learn a whole bunch of stuff that I really, really, really need to learn!

And Lisa - if you post a picture of your thighs, then I'll post a picture of mine! Wait, maybe I should take that back...my thighs still have a lot of room for improvement. But I could show off my bike shorts tan line.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sara

Uh oh, now I'm scared! :eek: :p :( :)

Yup, I'm talking about the Tour De Tahoe...hopefully I have good enough skills to avoid other non-skilled riders. What I'm more concerned about is doing something stupid and taking someone else out! Good reason for me to definitely work on the starting and stopping. Grassy lawn, here I come!

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Dont be scared. You will have a blast but its good to remember that your bike skills may be a lot better than some of the riders there. This way you are ready to expect the unexpected if they do something daft.

Let me know what jersey you will be wearing and I will keep an eye out for you. LOL if you are speedy though I probably wont see you as I am a bit of a snail.:D

Good for you!!! Like you I may not be the most experienced but I love riding my bike and how else can we learn other than to keep riding.

Good luck on your Tour de Tahoe!!! Have fun, I do organized charity rides as often as I can and love them. I just stay away from the pack so I don't have to worry about crashing or being crashed into.