I am new to all sport/cycling life!

I am European, living in DC metro area, I haven't got any friends that are interested in riding, so you're my last hope to help.

The last time I rode a bicycle was 16 years ago in Holland to soccer games, I really don't know what bike I should get, I visited REI store (expensive) so one SA proposed a road bike, another one comfort bike.

I know I will be riding on a lot of bike trails, and roads, I want to ride for pleasure and to get in shape.

Please help me with the bike choice comfort or road?
Is it safe to buy used bike?
How do you choose biking shoes? clothes? why cycling jerseys have pockets on the back?

I mean I will take all advice, I am new to the country and cycling.

Thank you

xoxo
Marta

Hi Marta,

There's a bunch of us here in the DC area and we do sometimes get together and ride... those that live close to each other more than the rest. So I'm sure you'll find someone to ride with on here.

If you're just starting out, you might be most comfortable with a flat bar road bike to get more used to things... The trek fx series is a good start. The DC craigslist has a ton of bikes on it - used. Used can usually be a great deal because lots of people buy bikes with the best of intentions and then never actually use them. Or the bike doesn't end up fitting, etc.

However, if you start of with a trek fx, it may be that later on you'll want to upgrade to something more aggressive...

I'd recommend that you go and test ride a lot of bikes... REI's a good start, but they don't always have the most knowledgable people ot help you. Revolution cycles or maybe Proteus if you're in Maryland might help.

Biking shoes, clothes, jerseys - Certain parts of your body are going to determine what type of bike shorts you want to wear. It just keeps you more comfortable in the saddle for a long time. Back pockets on jerseys gives you easy access to your stuff and its more aerodynamic... plus if you're leaning over on your bike... something in a front pocket may fall out. Bike shoes - if you're planning on clipping in, I'd start off with a set of mountain bike shoes & clips... just because they're easy to walk in.

I have a bike to sell that fits that description.
Cheap,too.
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/m...225449816.htmlI would sell it to you for less than that;)

You don't absolutely have to use cycling shoes but if you do want them I have some of those to sell too :D
I think they're a 41 or 42.

Which bike are you selling? Probably in a week or two, I'll have a 49 cm road bike to sell. Upgrading one of the bfs bikes and while he could ride the 49 cm in a very aero position, just not very comfy for him.

Hey! Stop that!
I just ETA craigslist posting

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Originally Posted by Zen

Hey! Stop that!
I just ETA craigslist posting

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We don't even know how tall Marta is!

If my niece was like 5 inches taller, I'd get her your bike... I thought she was 9, but apparently shes 7. But shes like 4'8?

Catriona - thank you so much for all the info! well appreciated! What's 49cm? I'm 5'5 tall

Zen - I see the bike I have no idea about bikes, how old is it? what make? I'm 5'5 short hehe. :p

Do you buy your gear on line or stores? I can't wait to start riding!!!!!

Martaw, Zen & I are both about 5'1 (least I am and she's not much taller).

What's your inseam measurement? This is where fit starts coming into play - women's specific design (WSD) bicycles are made for women who have relatively long legs in proportion to their body, and short torsos. So if you have a long inseam, then you might want a WSD.

What part of the greater DC area are you in?

I mostly get my bike stuff online... I've gotten reasonably handy about doing most repairs or installations myself, and what I can't manage, my bf can... I've currently got 4 bikes - 2 road, 1 flat bar/road/commuting/rough road bike, and 1 mountain bike. 2 were craigslist purchases, 1 was an ebay purchase, and 1 was a frame someone was selling on here that I built up... So I definitely believe in buying used... However, if it's in your price range, most people recommend going to get a good bike shop and having a professional fit done & having them set you up on a bike for you.

I'd just say that while you're still getting used to cycling again, buying a bike somewhat like Zen's is a good idea - it'll be something not too intimidating and comfortable to learn on, get your cycling skills back, and will let you explore cycling to figure out what you really want in a bike... and then go get that. And then you'd still have the first bike to use as a commuter or towpath or trail bike as well.

I wouldn't recommend you buy a bike online, you really need to test ride now.

So sites to look at for buying stuff online:
teamestrogen.com
reioutlet.com
backcountryoutlet.com
performancebike.com
nashbar.com
sierratradingpost.com
bonktown.com
chainlove.com
realcyclist.com

If you're interested in a bike or other cycling related items - you can always post on here to see if someone's tried it or what people think.

Bike sizing is usually done by the length of the seat tube... so from the middle of the cranks up to either the top of the seat post (center to top) or to the center of where the top tube hits the seatpost (center to center)

Center to center sort of determines what the standover height of the bike is going to be (the angles come into play here as well...) ... while center to top pretty much determines size.... The seatpost has to be an appropriate length so that your feet can reach the pedals when you're on it.

So 48 cm for the size was the length of the seatpost... I usually ride about a 48 cm road bike (5'1, 29 inch inseam) - however, I tend to like to ride a bigger bike than some would recommend and I ride in a more relaxed touring position (upright) than an aggressive racing position (more bent over)

If I may-I'd like to recommend the Trek 7.3 fx. It's lighter than a comfort bike, but really durable. We have HORRIBLE roads where I live, but the bike just takes it and takes it. Me however....

Catriona - that's so much info, wow! Thank you!

Inseam hmmm is it the lenght of pants you wear :confused: I tend to wear short I have short legs :( and big 41-42 feet!

So Zens bike be OK for me,no? and than after a while I can get a road bike...

I have ridden that bike on the road and while it is nowhere near as fast as a skinny tire road bike it is a nice ride.
If you are anywhere near me we can meet sometime and you can ride it.
Don't make any hasty decisions buying a bike.

Martaw,

This link tells you how to measure your inseam for cycling up top.
http://cherry.dcwi.com/cherry/info/fitting.html

Zen's bike's a good bike at a great price to get you started off and would be a handy bike to keep around afterwards. The C&O canal towpath is a good place to ride around here, and it's not paved - so having something like Zen's bike would be handy for that.

But I'm not trying to push you towards it - something in that bike style for now, I think would be good. And then if you feel like you need something else later, you could get another bike and could either keep the first bike or sell it on craigslist - and if you're getting Zen's bike, you could probably sell it for about what you paid after using it a year or two - because used bikes sell well on the DC's craigslist. Too many people looking for bikes.

Definitely test ride some bikes - you'd probably fit on my bikes to try them if you just want to ride a few different styles - but I'm a bit far out from dc, so a bike shop would be easier.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zen

I have ridden that bike on the road and while it is nowhere near as fast as a skinny tire road bike it is a nice ride.
If you are anywhere near me we can meet sometime and you can ride it.
Don't make any hasty decisions buying a bike.

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Zen - I think your bike will be ideal as for my back to get used to riding and my hight, and I am glad its not easy to ride, I need to get fit!

I'm in MD by the Harbor, but I can get to you, no problem, getting out the house its a pleasure I've been a SAHM for the past 3 years! Can you tell me how old the bike is?

Welcome, Marta! I no longer live in the area, but I used to. Are you by National Harbor? I think it's so cool that they opened the bike path on the Wilson Bridge. If I still lived there, I would use it to bike to work!

Just FYI, I am 5'-6" and I ride a 49cm bike. I have longish legs and a shorter torso.

Best of luck in getting a bike and starting to cycle!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tulip

Welcome, Marta! I no longer live in the area, but I used to. Are you by National Harbor? I think it's so cool that they opened the bike path on the Wilson Bridge. If I still lived there, I would use it to bike to work!

Just FYI, I am 5'-6" and I ride a 49cm bike. I have longish legs and a shorter torso.

Best of luck in getting a bike and starting to cycle!

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Thanks Tulip, bike path on the Wilson W Bridge its awesome I actually walked from Oxon Hill Rd to S Washington, I thought I was gonna die!!!! It was about 15 miles. I guess it takes like 12 - 8 min for some on the bike! I really hope I find some people to ride with, I'm glad I be able to get to Mt Vernon trail! :p

Where did you move to?

Hi Marta! I'm another DC-area person, but I'm on the other side of DC from you over in Montgomery County.

Make sure you check out the Mid-Atlantic forum here at TE. As Catriona mentioned, many of us ride together frequently and that's where we do our planning. It would be great to have you join us.

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Originally Posted by martaw

Thanks Tulip, bike path on the Wilson W Bridge its awesome I actually walked from Oxon Hill Rd to S Washington, I thought I was gonna die!!!! It was about 15 miles. I guess it takes like 12 - 8 min for some on the bike! I really hope I find some people to ride with, I'm glad I be able to get to Mt Vernon trail! :p

Where did you move to?

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I moved about 100 miles south, to Richmond. I lived in Prince Georges County and I worked in Alexandria, so the bridge crossing would have been wonderful for me, but as usual, my timing was off!

Hi Marta,

I also live in Maryland, not too far from Kalidurga.

I'm 5'5" and ride a 51cm bike.

I drove over the wilson bridge the other weekend and saw a ton of people on the walkway - but really didn't know what it connected.

Looking at zen's bike - if you bought it, I think you'd probably want to put slick tires on it, those knobby tires would slow you down.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Catriona

I drove over the wilson bridge the other weekend and saw a ton of people on the walkway - but really didn't know what it connected.

Looking at zen's bike - if you bought it, I think you'd probably want to put slick tires on it, those knobby tires would slow you down.

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Like what kind of SLICK? help! slick meaning rims on the car :cool: maybe a link? what size I am clueless or maybe below..

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Originally Posted by martaw

Like what kind of SLICK? help! slick meaning rims on the car :cool: maybe a link? what size I am clueless or maybe below..

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Mountain bikes or trail bikes have tires that have a lot of little bumps or tread to give traction on dirt or in mud. When you're riding on a paved path or road, you don't need all that tread, so you can use a smoother or "slicker" tire, so those tires are called slicks. The tread does slow you down a little bit when you're riding it on road. You can get hybrid type tires that are smooth in the middle and then have a little bit of tread on the side in case you need traction cornering or if you go off on a trail. Zen's bike has 26" tires, I think. Most road bikes have 700c tires.

But don't worry about all that stuff now, we can help you with that once you decide on a bike. Go test ride some.

ZEN, CATRIONA - is Zen's bike hybrid?:confused:

Hi Marta,

I live in Arlington, VA. I've been told my a neighbor that it's 9 miles from my neighborhood in South Arlington to National Harbor via the Wilson Bridge.

You might be interested in the Oxon Hill Bike Club - www.ohbike.org. They seem like nice people.

Marta

I live in Arlington like NYBiker, but in the North part (closer to DC than to PG county). Welcome to the forum!

I'm 5'5" too and can ride bikes ranging from 47 - 50 cm. It all depends on the bike. As others have recommended, make sure you feel comfortable on the bike before you buy it. You might to try several before deciding to buy one.

Don't forget to get a helmet!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ny biker

Hi Marta,

I live in Arlington, VA. I've been told my a neighbor that it's 9 miles from my neighborhood in South Arlington to National Harbor via the Wilson Bridge.

You might be interested in the Oxon Hill Bike Club - www.ohbike.org. They seem like nice people.

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I already thought about the OHCC maybe with time, I maybe to slow for them at first?

Mickchick - thanks I will get a helmet, are they come in special sizes to?

I also want to get shoes possibly mountain biking shoes.

The bike is a 2007 model and has 700cm tires.
I will measure tube length later this evening.
I do believe it would be classified as a hybrid though I think the manufacturers are calling them "fitness bikes" now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by martaw

I already thought about the OHCC maybe with time, I maybe to slow for them at first?

Mickchick - thanks I will get a helmet, are they come in special sizes to?

I also want to get shoes possibly mountain biking shoes.

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Once you get used to your bike, you might find the D rides to be of interest.

http://www.ohbike.org/perl/rides.pl?month=07#class

Helmets do come in different sizes (small-medium-large). Different brands can fit differently on your head, so if you try one and it's not comfortable, you should try a different brand to see if it's better. For example Giro works for me, but others prefer Bell helmets.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ny biker

Once you get used to your bike, you might find the D rides to be of interest.

http://www.ohbike.org/perl/rides.pl?month=07#class

Helmets do come in different sizes (small-medium-large). Different brands can fit differently on your head, so if you try one and it's not comfortable, you should try a different brand to see if it's better. For example Giro works for me, but others prefer Bell helmets.

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I would love to go on rides with groups D or C

Hi Marta welcome to TE!
:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Catriona

Probably in a week or two, I'll have a 49 cm road bike to sell.

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Catriona, what kind of road bike 49cm are you selling?

I'm in DC. I recommend going to a bike shop (not REI, but a bike only shop) in the area (there are tons!) and asking all the basic questions. They can help steer you in the right direction towards a bike type that fits your needs. You can test ride different bikes. You can just go in for information-gathering about bikes and equipment and to learn your general bike size. Then you can figure out where you're going to buy the bike and if it'll be new or used. Because you are so new to getting back into riding bikes, you should probably go with new with the help of a shop. It will typically include some free maintenance if not some basics like cheap deals on water bottle cages etc. They can also be responsible for getting you fitted properly. Those services will add up in price if you go to a private buyer, plus you may have a harder time picking a bike that's the right size and right type for your comfort and the kind of riding you want to do. If you move away, you could probably sell it or just ship it back with you!

Proteus Bikes in College Park is the best shop I know of for a beginner to find a bike because the owner, Jill, really wants to get each person on the bike that's best for them. She actually listens!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MDHillSlug

Proteus Bikes in College Park is the best shop I know of for a beginner to find a bike because the owner, Jill, really wants to get each person on the bike that's best for them. She actually listens!

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I was going to recommend Proteus, too. I think it's the best shop around, particularly for beginners. Jill will match you to an appropriate bike that fits you, your riding style, and your budget.

Zen sent you an email!

ZEN sent you an email!