New ride, new challenges

[Alisha]

Hi, I'm new here to the forums and I have a couple questions. I have ridden bikes a long time (since childhood, hehe), but never considered myself a 'cyclist' per say. It was never towards any goal, except to get where I was going. However, recently I moved and a lot of things in my life happened, and I find myself wanting a hobby. I picked up a Trek 7000 in very good condition for $100 on craigslist. I am quite pleased with it. However, I have not had any work or anything done to it...it just rides quite well and nothing squeeks or has broken.

I find myself riding 10-15 miles at a time for the sheer heck of it. I really like the freedom is gives me for some reason. I have come to the conclusion I would like to ride a century at some point...possibly next spring. I do not plan on riding this bike for the century. Its a hybrid with an aluminum frame, and I cannot imagine being on that bike for several hours. So my questions are these:

1) Am I out of my mind for wanting to try a century with no long distance cycling experience?
2) How much am I looking to spend on a decent road bike that will be capable of such a feat?
3) Is it ok to 'train' (eg: continue doing up to 50mi rides) on the trek? Even if its not a road bike?
4) Should I invest in clips?
5) I broke my coccyx (tailbone) 3 years ago, riding has been giving me a lot of pain. Anyone recommend a good seat that would work with the above questions?

Thanks I know its a lot of questions!

[Bike Chick]

Welcome to TE and congratulations on riding again! It sounds like you are headed in the right direction. I would say that most of us here started with a hybrid and moved to a road bike.

To answer your questions:

1) No, you are not out of your mind for wanting to do a century. You will have plenty of miles on your legs by next spring.
2) I've seen people do centuries on mountain bikes--I wouldn't but I've seen it. I think you can get a really nice new road bike for around $1000 that would do anything you would need it to.
3) Of course, it's ok to continue to "train." Just ride your bike and have fun.
4) If you are talking clipless pedals, that's a very personal decision. I would recommend you getting them and be comfortable using them before you do your century. You could put them on your hybrid now and learn how to ride in them and switch them to your road bike when you get one.
5) Saddles are a very personal choice and there are a lot of threads here on TE about them---just do a search. The pain in the tailbone issue is one that should be addressed by someone else. I've not had any experience with that. I will say that may have to do with proper fit and would recommend that you go to a reputable bike shop to buy your road bike and get a proper fitting.

Keep riding and have fun.

[chicagogal]

I rode several centuries on a hybrid, and was fine (not super fast, but felt good at the end). Like you, I started cycling to have something to do when the weather was nice, and before I new it (all in the course of 3 seasons), I was training for centuries, then buying a road bike, then another road bike, training through the winter indoors, and now racing almost every weekend! Good luck, and most importantly, have fun!

Clipless pedals. I did several centuries without them, both on my hybrid and then on my first road bike, so I am sure that you could to. However, now, I feel all uncoordinated and clumsy without them, and can't imagine riding those distances not clipped in, so like someone said above, it is a personal decision, but I recommend clipless pedals.

[Alisha]

Isn't steel heavy compared to the carbon fibre bikes?

[Owlie]

I want a steel road bike.

Aluminum is rigid, so when you're out on the road, the metal transmits the vibrations to you. Steel and carbon flex, which disperses the energy, so you don't feel that vibration. Steel flexes a little more that carbon. Yeah, there's a little bit of a weight penalty, but if you're willing to spend the money, you can get very light steel bikes.

[Bike Chick]

Steel is real!!!! I have had aluminum, carbon and steel and steel is my first choice. Besides having sleek, smooth lines, the ride is very, very comfortable. Pretty and comfy!

[pll]

1) Am I out of my mind for wanting to try a century with no long distance cycling experience?

Not at all. The first long ride I did was ~70 miles (up from around 25 miles), with some friends, on a whim, not planned and with no food. We were ravenous, thirsty and very sore that afternoon. We all signed up for a century shortly after.

2) How much am I looking to spend on a decent road bike that will be capable of such a feat?

My advice here is to test as many bikes as you can to get the bike possible with the best fit possible for you. Any bike will be capable of a century, including a mountain bike or a hybrid. My 7 year old road bike was $500; now I'm shopping for an upgrade.

3) Is it ok to 'train' (eg: continue doing up to 50mi rides) on the trek? Even if its not a road bike?

Absolutely!

4) Should I invest in clips?

Clips are nice because you can pull in addition to pushing the pedals. Once you get used to them, you will feel more secure going downhill. Learning to clip and unclip can be a bit of chore and you can expect to fall at least once in slow motion: lean the bike in one direction while unclipping the opposite foot. Your dignity will be more hurt than anything else.

5) I broke my coccyx (tailbone) 3 years ago, riding has been giving me a lot of pain. Anyone recommend a good seat that would work with the above questions?

This is like the quest for the Holy Grail. When you search the TE forum ad read the posts, you'll realize that the same saddles can be loved or hated by many.