New (and Clueless) in Seattle...

[dex]

...way new and way clueless, actually.

Other than occasional leisurely trips to neighborhood coffee shops or grocery stores on my 1973 3-speed green Schwinn Breeze (her name is Anabelle...that's her in the avatar), I haven't really ridden a bike in years.

But, since I'm a glutton for punishment, and a habitual setter of goals that like to rub up against the border of unrealistic, I've decided that I'm going to do the Seattle to Portland ride this summer--in two days, obviously...even *I'm* not so silly to try it in one. This is mostly motivated by my frustration at not being able to row this season, because I broke a couple of ribs in late January which effectively kept me away from any kind of training for about six weeks...and meant that I missed the last push of winter conditioning heading into the beginning of the season and the formation of boat line-ups.

So, since I needed to get back into shape, and I'm the sort of person that needs a goal to work toward to feel like I'm really doing something...I chose to get on a bike. Unfortunately, I managed to take a very light social smoking habit and turn it into a stress smoking habit while I was recovering from my injuries. I smoked my last cigarette last Saturday, so it's been just over a week...and my lungs still kind of hate me a little.

After my first attempted trip to a bike shop, I almost gave up on the idea completely--it wasn't good, it was far from good...I was torn between decking someone, setting the whole place on fire, or just bursting into rage-filled tears. But after I managed to steel my resolve and walk through the doors of another shop, I found helpful people who were willing to answer my questions and fiddle with bikes until we found some that fit well enough to send me out to play on in traffic. And after about four of those, we found a frame size that actually worked for my short-legged, long-torsoed, chunky body without putting me in any kind of weird pain. So, now I'm waiting for my new 53cm LeMond Reno, which should be built up and ready for a fitting late next week. Yay!

I'm sure I'll have tons of questions--such as, where in the heck should I take my bike to ride it, especially when I'm first getting started?--but at the moment, I'm just trying to get my brain settled into the idea that I'm taking up a new (and not inexpensive) hobby/sport/activity--because goodness knows, rowing and weightlifting didn't take up enough of my "free" time.

[KnottedYet]

The Burke-Gilman trail and Sammamish trail are good places to start. Nice and flat with lots of parks and coffee stops and bike shops and such along the way. (and the RedHook brewery, and Hales brewery, and such) Riding on the trails might be a good way to get to know your new bike without having to deal with traffic and hills at the same time.

What part of Seattle are you in? There are lots of TE'ers in greater Seattle.

[dex]

I've heard of the Burke-Gilman...maybe I'm not *quite* as clueless as I thought. Thanks for the suggestion!

I'm in the north Cap Hill area...above Eastlake, north of St. Mark's, south of Roanoke. *Everything* around me is a hill of some sort.

[mountainchick]

Welcome to biking!

I just started last fall and am loving it. Enjoy your time out!

[KnottedYet]

From where you are, you can also easily get to the Arboretum to ride, but sometimes that's crowded. There's also the road that runs along the lake (oh, someone help me, I've drawn a blank!) which is a major bike route and is sometimes closed to car traffic for races. It's nice and flat and cars know there are a ton of bikes on it.

Lake Washington Boulevard! Yeah, that's it! (I had to go get my bike route map, because I couldn't remember!)

[mimitabby]

Yes, Dex, welcome to Seattle! I live south of you a little bit. Maybe we can do some rides together! yes, if you can get up over your hill, Lake Washington BLVD is there, it's beautiful and there are lots of bikes.

Your new bike is beautiful and is fully capable of doing the STP, actually, you COULD HAVE done it on your old green bike too, if you were stubborn.

You have 3 months to get in shape and I would be happy to do some of your training rides with you. I should mention that the Cascade bike club
has a lot of training rides already.

And those hills? Those are your friends! Right now they are all high and annoying, but they are your back yard and someday soon they will not phase you a bit!