I'm a newbie with injuries

[Bikingmomof3]

Welcome Colleen!
I am a new rider myself. My fist time on a bike was in July. Now I am totally hooked. I do not have much to offer as far a advice that the others have not already mentioned. Make certain the bike is put together properly and the corect fit. If the fit is off, you will not be happy with the bike. Follow whatever guidelines the doctor has set for you, read the boards here, and above all have fun!!

[ColleenT]

i went to the local Bike shop and was dissapointed at the lack of accessories. they had things like Parts but not clothing or gear or anything fun..i don't know if they are really knowledgable about bikes, b/c they are a Ski shop primarily. i need to find a better a bike shop to do this. i'm looking. My hubby spent an hour with me and the book and he figured out the derailers and checked the brakes as well. so at least i can ride a little bit until i get serviced..

[Bikingmomof3]

Colleen,
I have numerous bike stores around me and an excellent bike store not so close to me (it is the store I like and trust-they handle all our bikes), but none of them carry women's clothing. So far I have purchased all my biking gear online. I do hope you are able to find a store you like.

[ColleenT]

ok, i went to a bike shop today, not the best, but better than the first one. i got some Trek Gloves, Blue to match the bike and helmet..and i checked out the bike rack for the trunk. they wanted as much for that as i paid for my Target bike. $135. SO i went to Walmart and found a Kryptonite Lock and a trunk bike rack. the rack was $29. i know, it's not the best, but for now, it will work. if this rain ever stops, i will be riding..i can't wait to get my Trainer..

[eclectic]

i just wanted to add my welcome to the list.

One of my goals next year is to start a weekly ride for newbies, our club ride is too long, and too fast for beginners so they all quit after the first week.
I plan on riding my 16 year old Schwinn mtn bike that I bought used 6 years ago.
I have no time for bike snobbery. A person buys the best they can afford at the time.
I am sure if you start riding in groups the snobs will show up (most of the ones I have met have been male, imagine that) One kid (in his twenties) had the audacity to ask how much we paid for our bikes, I just replied " the most I could afford and I love my bike"
he replied his was "only $2000, his $6000 [such and such bike] was at home" I thought "whatever - go get a life, you are a little desperate if you feel the need to impress two 40+ year old ladies out on a pleasure ride"

I too had an inexpensive trunk rack that I picked up at a garage sale for $10, for short distances it worked well, I was pretty nervous taking the bikes on a 100 mile commute, we made it but I stopped and checked it alot.

Just be careful wasn't it Pooks who said cycling is like crack - pretty soon you are cutting back on grocery money to buy that next pair of shorts because you just have to have a better chamois for the metric century you are doing that weekend.

Good luck and keep us posted

May the rain gods dry up in your neck of the woods and move on over here - we are in the middle of a drought

[pooks]

Just be careful wasn't it Pooks who said cycling is like crack - pretty soon you are cutting back on grocery money to buy that next pair of shorts because you just have to have a better chamois for the metric century you are doing that weekend.

While I can echo the sentiment, if I actually said that I was ON crack!

(Metric century hasn't crossed my fingertips until now, I don't think -- wowzer. LOL!)

Pooks