Why did you start biking?

[Brandi]

I started because I quite smoking 4 years ago feb 15th. Tried running. Didn't like it much. Walked for years but that wasn't enough. Got my first real bike 2 and half years ago and have never looked back (unless I drop something). Now I have my first real real bike and I am sooo excited.
Do I talk to much at this forum?

[Dirt Girl]

I got tired of sitting home alone while DH was off on the mountain bike and decided to try it. Fell in love immediately. That was in August 2000. Last spring I bought a road bike to help me aerobically on the MTB and to better enjoy some local paved trails. Riding sparked a lifestyle change that I hope lasts me the rest of my days. It's a huge part of our lives and a major social network.

Yeah for you Brandi for 4 years smoke free!

[Trekhawk]

I started because I quite smoking 4 years ago feb 15th. Tried running. Didn't like it much. Walked for years but that wasn't enough. Got my first real bike 2 and half years ago and have never looked back (unless I drop something). Now I have my first real real bike and I am sooo excited.
Do I talk to much at this forum?

I started because my husband liked cycling and I thought it would be something we could do together. Well with three little kids we still havent managed that first ride together but that doesn't seem to matter. Cycling is now something I do for me. I ride my road bike on my own and love it and Im training for my first century ride in June. Since I started in June 05 I have also taken up mountain biking and ride with a friend its fun and a little scary all at the same time.

Do you talk too much on this forum? I dont think thats possible is it? Perhaps Im not the best person to ask as recent TE stats show I like a good chat.

[tprevost]

Hi everyone~

I started riding 15 years ago with a friend mostly to maintain weight, loved it. We rode (we were the tortoises!) many metric centuries together... then I got married, had two kids; she retired and moved, and things just fell by the wayside. This past year I have gotten back into hiking (another passion pushed aside) and had just (literally - I had done 2 or 3 very short rides) gotten back on my bike when I broke my arm. I was so bummed out - my first thought as I sat on the street looking at my arm was "Da**!, this means I can't ride in Palm Springs!". Anyway, it was at that point I found this forum and I have been enlightened!!!! I have been doing what I can for exersise until the cast comes off but as soon as it is feasible, I will be on my bike. I may actually try to do the 22 mile route at the tour de borrego on my mtn bike (since it is more upright) with a splint on. They changed the cast last week and I couldn't even move my wrist though so I don't know if riding 3 days after the cast is off is very realistic!

I am training (or, will be) for the same century as TrekHawk in June and am so excited that I am driving my DH CRAZY!!! Plus, I've got a new bike and I am READY to rack up some mileage! I also just had DH's old trek powdercoated and put back together so I can do some mtn biking too - it really helps me build leg strength - plus its fun!!!

You ladies are fabulous and I thank you all for being so welcoming and encouraging!!!! (see Brandi, I talk more than you do!!! )

the jabberer...

Tracy

[Lise]

Rode as a kid in Illinois--very happy memories of riding my bike to swimming lessons one summer. Rode out of necessity in HS and college. Got fat and depressed. Had chronic pelvic pain. Got divorced.

Then one summer, I signed up to do a triathlon because a friend wanted someone to do it with her. Rode a rusty, falling apart Schwinn, borrowed a "real" tri bike for the race, and got hooked. I'm no longer fat, depressed, or in chronic pain. I ride for joy, and to get better at it. I ride to get around, and did I mention for the joy of it? Looking forward to warmer weather, and getting back out there! (Temp at noon in Chicago today = 1. One degree. ~1!~) My first tri of the season is May 21, only 91 days away!

[Brandi]

I broke my wrist once it is not nice at all. Did you do it biking? And welcome back to the world of riding! I am glad so far you girls don't think I post to much. I just love tis site. I get excited in the morning when I turn on my comp to see what everyone is up too.

[RoadRaven]

Well, the kids showed a bit of interest, so partner bought 'he and me' a mtn bike each.

He found it didn't hurt his knees, and was so wrapped he went and bought a road bike. He'd used to run marathons til he wrecked his knees and so was thrilled to find something he could use as an endruance sport. He has often said if there had been seal to the gate he probably would have ridden bikes not run, although he loved running. (We got tarseal to our gate in October last year, though the road up to his parents house a km up the road is not sealed yet...)

I rode on my mtn bike with the youngest kids in 10km fun rides and partner saw I was liking it so he found a near new Scorpio RA300 for me... and of course the chat has evolved in the house to revolving around bikes and training and racing and everybody's enthusiasm has grown and feeds of everyone else.

Now my motivation is my changing body (fitness and shape)... I don't look like that 18 year old I used to 22 years ago, but I am fitter than I have ever been in my life... and that feels damn good

[tprevost]

Actually I broke it rollerblading (a bad attempt at crosstraining ) The break is just above my wrist though so my hand is casted at a very strange angle. I did have a full arm cast on for the first five weeks and when that came off and the short cast went on, I got an idea of how bad it was going to be - plus, my elbow was pretty bad as well.... ugh! Let this be a lesson to all - USE SAFETY GEAR!!!

Lise, 1 degree?!?! I would last 1/2 of a nanosecond! I bet you are excited for May to come!!!

Tracy

[AuntieK]

Great question, Brandi!
I didn't start biking as a conscious decision... was more lead to it. I used to go to the gym for step aerobics. One day my knee had a total blow out during step class. There was a lady I knew who told me to start coming to the spin class instead. My reaction was, "No way, it sounds like the instructor is trying to kill everyone in there!" She was like, "If I can do it, so can you." (She's in her 70s). So I tried it out, and loved it. Well, one thing lead to another...got the shoes, got the bike. Now I'm hooked and hope to love cycling forever!

[Brandi]

So awsome! All of your story's are very inspiring!

[DeniseGoldberg]

Is it OK to say "just because"? Or "I really don't remember"?

I started riding many many many years ago - as in soon after I graduated from college and had my first full-time job. I did some riding on my own, some riding with a club. I continued to ride on and off, but back then it was never an "all of the time" activity for me. That really changed when I started touring, and when I really accepted my own riding style - which admittedly is slow in comparison to a lot of the gals here on this board. I started going on supported tours back in 1988, and I started to ride more and more so that I'd be in shape for my tours. I switched to solo self-supported tours in 1998, and my riding became more a part of my life.

But why do I continue to ride? Because it makes me feel good. Because I love the quiet, the opportunity to see things along the way - including animals who aren't scared away by a silently rolling bicycle. Because it gives me the opportunity to travel in new places and to meet people along the way. It's amazing how many people will stop and talk with a lone cyclist clearly traveling through the area... Because for me, cycling is magic...

--- Denise

[Brandi]

Wow! Love it! I see some awsome animals on my rides too. I take tis one road that takes you through very open farm land. Seen several different hawks, fox,coyote, deer, lot's of bunny's, skunks and ton's of cow's and horses. And I ride a lot by myself too it's very pieceful for a mind that is always going.

[snapdragen]

I was a gym rat, complete with $$ personal trainer. A friend had completed the California AIDs ride twice, his enthusiasm convinced me to try too. Trainer boy decided to do it too, helped me shop for a bike, and start training. Bought my bike in Oct 1999, rode CAR7 in June 2000 . I was not prepared, but I finished, with only one day SAG because of my knees.

I've trained a couple time for other AIDs rides, but circumstances prevented me from riding. One day I realized all the training and stress I was putting on myself was taking the joy out of cycling for me. Now I ride and train, on my terms; I enjoy my bike so much more!

[jobob]

And I ride a lot by myself too it's very pieceful for a mind that is always going.

That's the aspect of riding I enjoy the most. I like to ride by myself, and even when I'm with other people I'm more likely to just drift back and be on my own rather than, say, riding side-by-side and chatting with someone (granted, considering some of the people I ride with, I have no choice but to fall back, heehee).

I especially love my early morning rides, they're very meditative for me. Ohhhhmmmm

[Bike Goddess]

In June 2003 I was diagnosed with degenerative arthritis in my knees. I had run for 26 yrs (marathons, etc.) and was experiencing excrutiating pain after the 1st mile or 2. (I thought it was knee splints) I wanted to continue my exercise program. There was a hybrid bike in the garage that I had seldom ridden. Out it came and the rest is pretty much history!

In the past 2 1/2 years I have ridden over 10,000 miles- including the Seattle to Portland ride twice and the SF/LA AIDS ride last year. I started out with a Jamis Quest (did you know that Jamis is run by a woman????)and have recently purchased an all carbon Scott CR1 which is now my preferred bike.

I am only able to ride distances 2 days a week due to my job, but on those days I do metric centuries. As it gets lighter in the morning I'll start doing my 5AM rides. I also started working out at the gym a year ago to strengthen and improved my cycling.

I continue to meet and speak with wonderful people in the cycling world- not only all of you on this forum but also my cycling club and the Bike Journal (I'll actually meet some of them on the Death Valley ride in 2 weeks). Cycling has opened up a new world for me and since I love being outdoors it has been a great match!