My first REAL road ride

[Southside Sally]

I have had a bike for almost a year, courtesy of DH who is an avid cycler. Following advice on this forum, I started out using the clipless pedals, which scared me to death! Of course, the first time I rode, I unclipped from the left and leaned to the right, toppling over like that old guy on Laugh In. (Showing my age, yes?) I got pretty scraped up, and put the bike away for a few months.

Next time I got on, I rode around my yard, stopping and starting, clipping in and unclipping. I did this for about 2 miles. Put the bike away again.

Yesterday, I got fed up with being a chicken. I got on that bike and rode a loop around the neighborhood totalling 6 miles. I got home, got on a local forum and found a ride for this morning.

I recruited my 12 year old soccer-player son to join me. He has his own road bike, and was happy to go. I was so excited and nervous before the ride. I had barely even shifted much before today, and had next to no traffic experience. However, the only way to get experience is to go and do it, so there I went!

The people in the group were so kind and welcoming. I ended up doing 12 miles. We were originally set to do 20, but one of the other riders was a new mom who was coming back after several months off, and she wanted to shorten the ride a bit. Since it was my first, I wasn't sure how I'd hold up, so I welcomed the opportunity to cut it short, too! My son, hammerhead-in-training, went 21 miles with the men and kept up near the front.

Once we got back, I realized that I could have done the 20, so next time out, that's what I'll do.

Anyway, I am excited to be a cyclist, although I am so green I glow! I got lots of shifting practice, took a few hills and in general, had a big ol' time!

Thanks to everyone here who shares their wisdom and experience. If not for you, I would not have perservered with the clipless, and my bike would still be gathering dust in the garage.

Safe riding,

Sal

[michelem]

Congrats Sal!

Thanks so much for sharing your exciting experience. I look forward to reading about your 20-miler!

[Starfish]

Yay for you!! Awesome!

[Blueberry]

Congrats Sally!

Where in NC are you?? There are a couple of us here in the middle of NC (I'm in Durham, and I know there are 3-4 TE members within an hour or so of here).

[makbike]

Sally, way to go! I hope you have many wonderful and safe miles in 2008!

[Southside Sally]

Thanks for your good wishes, folks! I am in Garner, NC, about a mile north of the Johnston County line off Hwy 50.

I rode with a group called Slow Spokes today. What a great bunch! We have a Wendell ride next Saturday if you want to join us from Durham.

Sal

[beth h]

..::whistles and applause::..

I LOVE reading stuff like this. It gives me encouragement for my own bicycling adventures and shows me how far I've come myself.

Congratulations. If you and I were in the same town I would TOTALLY set up some rides for you to come along on.

Happy riding!

[sbctwin]

Congrats, Sal. It sounds like you had a very good 'first ride'. Glad someone has decent weather to ride....

[KnottedYet]

Congratulations!

[froglegs]

Let the addiction commence!

[elk]

I fell (again ) exactly the same way this weekend...unhooked right foot, leaned to the left...only I use power grips, AND I fell in front of a LOT of people!!

Some of the people who saw were young boys with their skateboards...they were incredibly sweet......said, "I fell off my mom's bike the same way..." Didn;t even laugh...!!

I got up and rode another 10 miles...upshot? Falling is OK...riding is too fun to let it stop you!!
Glad you're back on the saddle!

[Tri Girl]

Hip, hip, hooray for you, Sally!!! Glad you were able to get out with the group and get in some good mileage. There will be many more rides in your future, I presume.
BTW, I love the name of the group: Slow Spokes. Ha! Sounds like a lot of great people out there having fun on their bikes. If I were near you, I'd like to join your weekly rides!

[Tuckervill]

No one understands falling better than skateboarders!

Karen

[Blueberry]

Sally-

You aren't too far - I actually work in Raleigh (I'm an atty), so Garner is pretty close. I usually don't make it that direction on the weekends, but I've heard there are some great rides put on by that group! Maybe after the holidays, I'll have a non-hectic weekend or 2.

I think they also do an MS ride team - we did the MS ride (New Bern) for the first time last year, and had a blast! If you're free that weekend, I'd strongly encourage you to try it - there's a wide distance range, but it's flat, so you might surprise yourself!

Take care,
CA

[li10up]

There's no turning back now...

Congratulations and wishing you many happy and safe miles!