New from Madison WI

[warneral]

Hi ladies,

I feel like I already "know" many of you as I've been coming here for the last few months to learn and search and read about cycling

I've been riding for years on mountain bikes. We have lots of rails-to-trail bike paths here which my husband and children and I all enjoy. My kids are now 6 and 8 and I'm finding more opportunity to ride with them and to take off and ride alone too

This summer I purchased a used 2006 Trek 1000 wsd. I do believe it's a tad too small for me (it is a 48cm and I am 5'4" with a long torso). I really enjoy the ride. I've really only started riding it over the last month since I finally got a clipless situation that works I'm using frogs and Diadora MTB carbon shoes. Finally not falling over with the clipless!

I am researching my next bike but also enjoy what I have.

Madison is a great town to live in (well April through Oct). Lots of bike paths, bike lanes, and trails.

I look forward to getting to know you all. Will need to get a picture up. I think I have some train tunnel pics somewhere. I also have a trek navigator (HEAVY) and an old Trek 800.

[sjane]

Hi!

I'm in Wisconsin too, but Green Bay. I'd *love* to live in Madison!

[warneral]

Sarah - nice to see another Wisconsiner! How long do you tend to ride into fall/winter?

I actually live in a burb right outside of Madison but I can bike there. I do wish I lived in other parts of the area - like right next to paths or trails. But I got a road bike so I could enjoy the location we are at. That made a big difference in how much I ride

Alison

[sjane]

Sarah - nice to see another Wisconsiner! How long do you tend to ride into fall/winter?

Alison, this is my first year cycling with any consistency, so IDK yet! I have a lot of cold-weather running gear that should work for layering, but I think running out of daylight is going to be my biggest problem -- at least until the snow and ice hits. I bought lights for my bike, but have still been too much of a chicken to go out in the dark.

[warneral]

Sarah that is me too! I am not confident to ride in the dark (or wind or rain) yet! Let alone snow!!!

[Chile Pepper]

Madison! I lived in Madison for two years (my master's), and I loved those rolling hills outside of town. It's such a beautiful area. My second year I actually rode my bike to school all winter--I put knobby tires on an old road bike and really bundled up. It was a bit scary on occasion when the snow got slippery and there was a car behind me that I knew couldn't stop if I went down. I think a gym membership would be wiser.