New girl, green as the grass

Hi! I've been lurking around the site for a few weeks, waiting until I actually took my first ride before I posted. I'm Ann-Marie, haven't really ridden a bike since I was 11, have about 100 lbs. to lose, and am the proud new owner of a 1964 Schwinn Hollywood -- which is only a year or two younger than I am. Single speed, coaster brake (is this a good place to admit that I've never ridden anything with gearing or hand brakes?). It's just gotten a tune-up and new tires and tubes at my LBS, and today was our maiden voyage of 1.5 miles.

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I've wanted to get back on a bike for a while, and rather than keep on being dazzled and confused by all the shiny bikes and options in magazines and online, I found the Hollywood at a thrift store and got some work done on it. I know this won't be forever, or even for very long, but I wanted to start someplace simple. I've lost about 25 lbs. since the beginning of the year with only walking as my exercise, and when nice weather finally showed up I gave in to the siren song of two wheels. Now I need to start making sense of bike lingo and see if I can grok gears a little before I upgrade.

Hope to participate, learn things and be inspired by everyone here!

NICE bike Ann-Marie!!!! i luv vintage single speed step through frames.....and those are also very hipster-ish where i live :)

don't do much to it (the bendix hub won't allow a change to a different sized sprocket) just ENJOY riding and getting even healthier!!!!!!!!!..if you find you're having a problem just ask as there are some very knowledgable women here. It's a learning journey, enjoy being on it...

....and welcome to TE

My first bike was a blue Hollywood, hope you have a great time on that one!

Fun bike! Welcome to TE.

Welcome to TE.
I would kill to have a bike like yours. Classic.

Thanks for the welcome, everyone -- I'm glad to be here!

Muirenn, yes there are handgrips, but they're probably almost as old as the bike. They feel fairly hard but not brittle. Not sure what they're supposed to feel like -- how soft or squooshy should they be?

Wow -- thank you, this is wonderful! What a lot of great links to investigate!

I realized I'm wrong about Holly's age -- she's a 1962 vintage, not '64. I found the serial number and did a little checking around. There an awful lot of serial number databases online, imagine that. Now I have to figure out what size the frame is.

A Brooks saddle, you say? . . . has anyone told you you're a professional bad influence? ;) I thought I'd use the old saddle for a couple of weeks to get used to riding daily before I changed it out. The Brooks look very elegant -- I think one is going on my wish list.

If it’s in reasonable shape keep that original blue/white seat if you decide to change to a different seat. People like original parts!! For a Brooks you'll need to change your seatpost to a 13/16 with a 7/8 top…..and again, if you change keep the original. Talk to your LBS about seatpost options if you do decide to go with a different saddle. Perhaps think about saving the money for your next bike instead of spending what a Brooks will cost for the Hollywood.....well unless you really want to bling it out :)

What I said about putting the Brooks on my wishlist was more a reminder to myself not to go all nuts and buy the expensive toys -- all the bling -- before I've ridden ten miles yet. I do keep a bike wishlist at Amazon and while I'm aiming for the sensible/essential stuff first, there are a few high-end fripperies that are on there just so I can think about them a while.

I'm going past my LBS today so I think I'll drop by and check out their handgrips. And I have to ask -- what does your custom inscription read?

rebeccaC, thank you for the reminder about keeping the original equipment. The tires were shot and I doubt they were original so I didn't keep those, but the saddle and post will definitely be put aside when/if I replace them.

muiren...i agree on a comfortable saddle, but a Brooks on a Hollywood is bling to the frugal me :) ….and like I wrote I’d suggest spending that money towards a better overall bike when Ann-Marie is ready for one….but then that’s just me, others can spend their money any way they want.

I know older Schwinn’s and changing parts problems. When I first moved to California I joined a group of women that would get old bikes, I liked older Schwinn’s, we'd completely go through them, single speed them if not already, spray paint them bright yellow, put red lettered decals that said ‘this is a free bike…ride and then leave for someone else’ on them and set them out in different areas of the city. I still see some of them every now and then. :)

You're right, I shouldn't have used the word bling. I have a lot to learn, and thank you for all the help.

Didn't take it that way, honest. All is well. :)

Welcome to TE! Enjoy your bike, ride it, have fun -- that's the whole point. As you get stronger, you may find that something about it is uncomfortable, in which case we can help you figure out how to address it.

I remember riding my little blue Sting-Ray bike -- back when dinosaurs roamed the earth -- alongside my friend Mary Chris while she rode her Raleigh "English racer" (what we called any bike with pretensions to roadishness back then). That was the first place I saw a Brooks saddle and I can remember how impressed I was with it. It looked so elegant, and seemed so far above my glittery silver banana seat in terms of what a "real" bike was supposed to be. There's still an element of that awe associated with a Brooks saddle. Some of the more current saddles are positively scary -- not that they aren't technologically advanced and absolutely perfect for the right applications, but that I can't imagine my large posterior perched on one of them for a moment.

Aha! I was just looking at these Cardiff grips! I'm guessing the shape of the grips is purely personal preference?

(Hit send by accident. Oops.)

As far as a new bike, I aspire to distance, not speed. There are some nice bike trails near us here in SE Michigan, and a good number across the state as well. Most are asphalt but there's some mileage in packed dirt as well. I'm thinking of a hybrid, a maybe closer to the road bike end of that spectrum. (Michigan roads are universally awful, especially after winter, so skinnier road tires might not be that great an idea.)

Later today I'm taking my husband's Schwinn Hornet to the LBS for the same treatment they gave my Hollywood. While he's as much of a bike noobie as I am, he's been talking about replacing his old newsboy Typhoon for a few years now -- it was through his searching for the Typhoon that we found my bike at Shop Goodwill. So he got the Hornet for $6, we'll spend $150 to get it up to code, and hopefully he'll join me on the road to utopia.

Ann-Marie…A Hornet and a Hollywood makes you two a pure styling couple!!:) Hoping the two of you enjoy the time riding together…it can make for an enjoyable days exercise and communication. If you end up liking the more upright riding position of the Hollywood you’ll like some of the hybrids/urban/commuting flat bar bikes available.

I remembered today on my ride that I got blue glitter original grips for a older Schwinn off ebay a couple of years ago. If you want original you may want to search ‘vintage bike parts’ on ebay for Hollywood grips (7/8 inch) to see if any are still available at the moment or come up soon.

Muirenn….the Brooks B66 has a 7/8 clamp and the Hollywood has a seatpost with a 5/8 top, so Ann-Marie would still need a new seatpost. That is a good saddle for more upright riding though.

Stylin'? Oh mercy, what have we done? Now I suppose I'll have to get a porkpie hat or a stingy brim for Wiggy (the husband in question) and somehow attach it to his helmet. Me personally, I'd like a big rose-covered bridge club lady hat, and I'll stick that to my helmet.

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And cat-eye glasses to go with. Go big or go home, I say. :D

:).....

I did some comparison shopping while I was out and about yesterday. I didn't see any pure-cork grips but there were a few with cork insets, and I liked the feel of them. I was hoping to take a look at a Brooks saddle, but I didn't see any of those, either. I did get a bicycle bell (I HATE it when cyclists sneak up behind me while I'm walking the dogs, and I don't want to do that to anyone else) and picked up the most recent Bicycling magazine. And then I came home and ordered plain cork grips from Amazon.

Rebecca: I did check eBay and found some fun-looking Schwinn grips -- blue glitter, with actual streamers! My inner five-year-old is all agog. Thanks very much for your notes on what I'll need to change if I go with a Brooks saddle in time, too.

Sheila, what can you tell me about Surly bikes? I've checked out their website, and apart from not really understanding a lot of their bike lingo, the first thing that comes to mind is hardcore. What do you love about your Krampus?

Just remember, the size of your posterior has nothing to do with the size of the right saddle. This is a common misperception. It's the width of your sit bones. A huge, wide, cushy saddle can be extremely painful and cause chafing. So, those saddles you see that look scary may be quite awesome! The trick is, to find the right one; sometimes it takes a long time. I tried the Brooks route and could never get used to it. After 6 months, I gave it up.

That's really good information on the 6-month return policy at BTN and Wallingford, thank you! Hopefully my local shops will let me try saddles in their test-ride locations, but if I can't find a comparable policy locally, I'll shop at one of the two online.

We have quite a lot of spray shellac in the garage from Wiggy's various restoration projects, so I'm prepared for their shellacing requirements on the grips. :)

I'd thought that cyclocross bicycles were only for cyclocross racing. Am I right in seeing cyclocrosses on the continuum between MTBs and road bikes, with hybrids mostly in the middle range and cyclocrosses more towards the MTB end? I'm not yet sold on drop handlebars for me and I think I prefer flat or with a bit of a rise. I looked at the Straggler and Cross Check, and also at some other cyclocrosses from Liv/Giant, Cannondale, Trek and Specialized -- and I like what they all say they can do. I'll be trying out a lot of bikes between now and whatever time I decide to add to the stable!

I'll be reading through the rest of your post slowly, to try and really understand the part about brakes. I have a lot to learn!

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(But, I have 5 bikes, and really do need to stop).

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Now this, I do understand! I weave, spin and knit. Fiberistas tend to accumulate a LOT of yarn/roving/tools. Once it gets to a certain point we refer to it as SABLE: Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy. What do you call it when bicycle acquisition reaches new-garage proportions?

Oh, and I should note that today's ride was 2.5 miles, yay me. I'm stretching it about a half a mile more each day.

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Originally Posted by ZoneFive

Rebecca: I did check eBay and found some fun-looking Schwinn grips -- blue glitter, with actual streamers!

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and they're attached to a '66 blue stingray :)

That flat-bar CX discussion was very interesting. Looks like I'll need to be a bit more open-minded when I go test-drive bikes. There have been some good YouTube videos about CX bikes -- Vincent KWC seems to love the Giant Anyroad 1, and he was talking about disc brakes too, and with pictures. While it's a bit beyond what I'd like to spend (I'd like to stay in 3 figures the first time out), Giant's Liv Rove 2 looks very good and is a member of the same family, too. They all look good, but it's all about the ride and I want some more experience before I even start test-riding. There are only a couple of Surly dealers anywhere near me, so that just means a road trip, right? And I'm 5'7", by the way.

I'm going to pass on those sparkly blue handgrips on eBay. While I'm just tickled at the idea of streamers, probably plain white or blue pistol grips would be a little more appropriate, just in the matter of looks. The cork grips, for comfort and functionality, should arrive in a day or two, and I'll work on getting the old ones off and the new ones on.

Didn't get to ride today; light rain off and on all day. I have a long work day tomorrow, so hopefully Thursday will work better.

Squeeeeeee! What a nice bike!

Thanks! It's fun to ride and a good way to get into riding regularly, too!

I'm looking forward to my ride today. It's sunny for the first time in a few days, and it'll probably be in the 60's when I get outside. Good day for a ride!

I'm also setting a challenge for myself. The Paint Creek Crawl is coming up on June 6. The round-trip is 20 miles, and I'm going to aim for that. 20 miles may be beyond me right now, but I'll keep upping my mileage on the trail near me and see how far I can get by early June. Then I'll ride half that distance on Crawl day, and come back to the start. I want something specific to train for. (I also want the tee shirt, but that's beside the point. ;))

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Originally Posted by ZoneFive

I'm looking forward to my ride today. It's sunny for the first time in a few days, and it'll probably be in the 60's when I get outside. Good day for a ride!

I'm also setting a challenge for myself. The Paint Creek Crawl is coming up on June 6. The round-trip is 20 miles, and I'm going to aim for that. 20 miles may be beyond me right now, but I'll keep upping my mileage on the trail near me and see how far I can get by early June. Then I'll ride half that distance on Crawl day, and come back to the start. I want something specific to train for. (I also want the tee shirt, but that's beside the point. ;))

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The tee shirt is never beside the point!!!!

Sounds like a good goal. Good luck and have fun!

I got a good ride. 5.41 miles, 31:39 minutes, 10.41 mph average speed. (I do love RunKeeper. I feel so . . . official or something.) I do think that a new saddle is probably going to be a good idea.

As I was getting ready to leave, the mail was delivered. Wiggy had ordered us each a Road ID, and they arrived today. He chose a dogtag (the Fixx ID) with the USMC Eagle, Globe and Anchor on the back, and he got me a bright yellow wristband ID. He's a bit of a worrier and usually I tease him about it, but I'm kinda glad he got these.

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Originally Posted by ZoneFive

I got a good ride. 5.41 miles, 31:39 minutes, 10.41 mph average speed. (I do love RunKeeper. I feel so . . . official or something.) I do think that a new saddle is probably going to be a good idea.

As I was getting ready to leave, the mail was delivered. Wiggy had ordered us each a Road ID, and they arrived today. He chose a dogtag (the Fixx ID) with the USMC Eagle, Globe and Anchor on the back, and he got me a bright yellow wristband ID. He's a bit of a worrier and usually I tease him about it, but I'm kinda glad he got these.

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Semper Fi.

I have two RoadIDs -- one for cycling and one for walking to the gym and around my 'hood.

I finally got the silicone Road ID with the metal clasp. I had the velcro ones for years, and they ruined all of my gloves and made me itch. Then I got the skinny one, which I promptly lost on a hike. This time, I got 2, one in a bigger size, to wear over winter gloves.

ny biker: Wiggy says Semper Fi back. Are you a sister?

Semper fi, Sheila, from Wiggy (and me), and thank you!

Congratulations on getting your Schwinin! Wish I still had mine! I still consider my self a newbie on the bike although I have been back at it for 3 years and I am on my second bike purchase (both new Treks) and have found myself in love with riding bikes. It has become a habit and a nice hobby!

Hi, Cyndy J, nice to meet you! I'm really enjoying riding, and hope that it becomes a habit, too!

I picked up Wiggy's Hornet at the LBS today. It's in pretty good shape, needs a good washing, but now that it has new tires and tubes and a clean-up of the frame and chain it's definitely rideable. I also tried out a Specialized Ariel . The weather was in between rain showers so I really only went around the parking lot a few times, but that was quite a nice ride. And I was very surprised to find that the saddle that comes with the bike -- just a little diamond-shaped Body Geometry Riva -- was so much more comfortable than the blue-and-white original on my Schwinn. Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was. Now I have less trepidation about changing out the one that I have.

And I registered for the Paint Creek Crawl today. Now I have a deadline, and a goal to train towards. Whee!

It's rainy/grey today, and I don't think I'll be riding. However, I just got a copy of The Big Book of Cycling for Beginners, so I'll be reading that instead. This is just a terrific book! I'm on page 47 and already I'm beginning to understand more of the terminology we've been throwing around here. The chapter "Component Breakdown" is particularly great, because it's all about the Shimano/SRAM/Campagnolo group sets and it's just one aha! moment after another for me.

Y'all go ride -- I'm gonna be reading.

I took Wiggy out for his first ride this evening. I have a whole week's experience more than he does, so I let him set the distance. We did 2.42 miles round trip, and when we got home he was winded. In looking over his bike -- his newly repaired bike, mind you -- we noticed that his back wheel doesn't spin freely, but seems to drag. Back it goes to the LBS! But we did get a 2.5 mile ride in, Wiggy wants to ride some more, and this week is going to be mostly sunny and pleasant -- so we plan to be riding a lot.

Still very pleased with the new biking book, and learning a lot from it.

Thanks, Sheila, I'm well and riding!

Had a bit of disappointment with a local bike shop, KLM Bicycles in Birmingham, MI. Visited them because the Giant website said they were the closest LBS that carried the Liv Rove 2, which I'd wanted to try out. I had a good test ride on the Rove, liked the shop, and decided I'd bring my bike in to have them replace the saddle. To make a long and ranty story short, they had it for TWO WEEKS for a job that ultimately took them 20 minutes to do. That brought me up to just one day before the Paint Creek Crawl, with no riding. They didn't charge me for the repair (the mechanic said I'd waited too long for it already, which I perfectly agreed with), but the owner of the shop is going to be receiving a rather precisely-worded email this week.

I did participate in the PCC yesterday. The weather was gorgeous and I rode 11 miles (to the halfway point and turned around) which I'm perfectly fine with, and have my first event t-shirt. I also learned that the Paint Creek Trail is a great place to ride; that I really do need gloves; that there is an amazing range of people who ride in my area, and that bananas are my friends. It was a very good day.

And this morning I'm going out for a ride before work.