Falling in love with riding...

[RIDIN'CHIL']

Hello to everyone that is reading this, and has posted here.

Today is my first day on this site and I am THRILLED to have found this site.

The saying goes that you do not exercise because you have not found an activity that you love.

Well... I think I'm in love!!

I am 5' 4" tall. I weigh 214 lbs today... 14 lbs were gained in the last very stressful 2 months... I know that (the weight gain) had to STOP but I wasn't sure how it would happen. I live in Florida, and it's TOO HOT for me to go walking, I am NOT going to jog, and I don't know how to rollerblade.... I had done some exercise videos before... but it's hard for me because I have tendonitis in my left elbow and can only do so much exercise without straining it and having that awful pain.

I have short, stocky, POWERFUL legs (under the cellulite ) so all of a sudden it hit me that I should try bike riding... plus I live right next to a bike trail... Well imagine my surprise when I went to Kmart and couldn't manage to ride the bike up and down the aisles... I swear I thought I had forgotten how to ride a bike!!!

I ended up going to target and bought two Champion shorts and two racer back tops. Both were made with "wicking technology that transports moisture away from your skin, helping to keep you cool and dry throughout every workout". All I knew was that I was going to sweat in the Florida heat, and the last thing I wanted was diaper rash!!!

I found out that the park by my house rents bikes so I thought that I would go that route to see if I actually remembered how to ride... I rented the bike and set off on the trail... AND LOVED IT!!! I FELT LIKE A KID AGAIN (DID I SAY I'M GOING TO BE 33 IN JULY? ) I LOVED FEELING THE WIND AGAINST ME, AND I LOVED FEELING POWERFUL ENOUGH TO KEEP MYSELF GOING FOR THE ENTIRE TRAIL... IT'S 10 MILES!!!!

So this week I did give or take, 10 miles day one, 10 miles day 2, I bought a cheap walmart mountain bike and rode from my house to the trail instead of driving to the park, I did about 15 miles day 3 and another 15 miles today, Saturday, June 24th....

I AM SO PSYCHED ABOUT THIS... and then just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I found this website.

I know I am a neophyte, but I swear I am addicted... I want more, more, more!!!

I know that I am only going to end up keeping my wally world bike for 30 days, then go out and upgrade...

There's so much that I don't know, but already I am learning so much, like being a defensive rider and staying to the left of the lane on narrow roads so the cars treat you like a "car" and go all the way to the other lane to pass you.

I don't have a helmet yet, but will get one this week... meanwhile, I appreciate any and all comments, advice, suggestions, etc...

Much love,

Monica aka Ridin'Chil'

Oh yeah, my new job is 2 miles from my house... definetely thinking about the possibility of riding my bike to work!!

[yellow]

Monica,

Thanks for the reminder of how wonderful cycling is. Keep it up! Many happy miles to you!

[Grog]

Great reading you Monica!!

I hope you stay with us for a long, long, long time!

[redrhodie]

Good for you! You found your sport! There's something very addictive about it, isn't there? You feel strong and free.

My tips are:

Learn to change a flat so you don't face the prospect of getting stranded far from home , and enjoy your rides!

[Nanci]

Yay!!! Someone in Florida, finally!!

Nanci

[Nanci]

PS, well, I wouldn't want to live in town, but I would _kill_ to live two miles from work! You are so lucky!!

I'm going to be riding the Orange Something Trail next Saturday for the first time, is that the trail you live by??

Nanci

[Denise223]

Hi!!

Welcome to the wonderful world of cycling!! Congratulations on finding this wonderful forum!! You will learn so much!!!

I'm thrilled that you found something that you love that DOESN'T FEEL LIKE EXERCISE!!!??? (Imagine that!!)

Please, get yourself a helmet..... before you go on your next ride... You just never know when something awful might happen...
You might be the best cyclist in the world......but, some cars out there aren't paying attention.....

Have a peaceful evening!!

Take Care!

Denise

[RIDIN'CHIL']

hi everyone!! thanks for your responses!!

nanci, the trail i ride is the little econ trail... the park is blanchard park... not sure which one you are talking about that you will ride on saturday...

i have a question... when i was a teen and played volleyball, i sprained my ankle pretty bad... well, it's hurting today!!!! what can i do for it besides ice?

also, i'm not sore... muscles i mean (of course my bum is sore!) but i mean my leg muscles... is this "normal"

much love,

monica

[RIDIN'CHIL']

[SIZE="6"]hi all...

i tried to insert a picture in here.. so you all can see my new baby...

but i cant figure out how to do it..

shes a purple hybrid motobecane...

i got the helmet at the same place...

she was just built yesterday... and then yesterday evening she came home with me... how perfect huh?

her name is genesis... due to the new BEGINNING of adventures that

she and i will have together....

NOW... IF THIS *%$#@# RAIN WOULD JUST STOP!!!!
i hear the thunder already and i just got home from work...

OKAY...

here is something else that i need to know..

i am supposed to go home to st. louis for 10 days in july... flying southwest airlines... i dont wanna leave my baby behind....

how can i take her with me??

i have read on other posts about people traveling with their bikes...

but since i'm such a newbie... i dont know how to "pack" the bike....

and when you arrive... do they just throw your bike on that thingy that goes round and round for the luggage

not sure how this all works... BUT I WANT HER TO GO TO ST. LOUIS WITH ME!!!!! SO PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks!!!!

oh yeah... you know what???

YA'LL ROCK!!!!!!!

SIZE]

[DebW]

When you are in St. Louis, you should ride part of the Katy Trail. It starts in St. Charles and heads west across the whole state, following a railbed near the Missouri River. The surface is crushed limestone. It would be easier to rent a bike there (lots of rental places in St. Charles) than bring your bike with you. To take your bike with you, you'd either have to invest in an expensive bike crate, or stop at a bike shop and pick up a used cardboard bike box. The bike has to be partly disassembled to pack. This involves removing the front wheel, saddle and seatpost, stem and handlebars, and pedals. It takes some tools and technical savvy to accomplish this yourself, or you could pay a bike shop to pack it and unpack it. Then you have to worry about the airline damaging your precious. I'd suggest renting if you only want to ride a few times. If you really plan to ride every day then it might be worth taking your own bike.

[cusepack]

Monica -

I'm getting ready for a trip to NY to see my family (lots of great hills in the Adirondacks!!), and I'm taking my bike with me (honestly, I don't think I could go a week without riding, so it's got to go!!!) The LBS has cases that they rent, so I'll go in two days before my trip, pick up the case, and they kindly offered to teach me how to pack/unpack my bike. They even offered to loan me any tools I don't already have and need. Most of the hard cases are very well made, so I'm not all that concerned about any damage to the bike. You can always purchase some of those pool noodles, cut them down the middle and wrap parts of your bike inside the case as additional protection.

Kathryn

[KSH]

WOW! Good for you for getting out there and riding! Your health is really going to improve.

Keep riding... and then ride some more... BUT... PLEASE GET A HELMET ASAP! Basically, you really should NOT ride WITHOUT A HELMET!

Point in case: My boyfriend had just gotten his pretty new Trek 1500 (aka: $1,200 road bike)... and he was riding along a bike path. What could go wrong? There aren't any cars... so he should be just fine. YEA! RIGHT?! Basically, he over-corrected missing someone coming head on... and he crashed into this cemet railing for the bridge he was near. He DEMOLISHED his bike. Seriously. It was a month old and nothing could be saved. He separated his shoulder, and had these horrilbe gashes on his HEAD! His helmet was crushed, but his head was intact. His helmet saved him from serious injury. And, then he went and about a $1,500 road bike. GO BUY A HELMET TODAY! *Said with concern and love*

With that said... it won't be long before we will suck you in with your "hybrid", "road", bike talk. You will start to learn all about cycling and then you will be TEMPTED to jump head-first into it... with your credit card close behind.

Good luck and keep riding!