Getting Started

[RoadRaven]

Thanks for the advice. Lot's of bike shops here in Southern Cal. Time to get serious about a bike purchase...UGH.

Oh no no no no Aubrey!
Not "UGH"

Its - woohoo!!!

And if its the cost of the bike you are worried about - don't worry!

...how to budget to buy a bike is easy... of course, the first cost to reduce is petrol and car maintenance (easy - you'll be riding your bike)

... second cost to reduce... also easy... those parties and dinners you have to go to and bring food with you? Road kill is a fresh and interesting dish easily collected - at no cost - while out riding.

... heating and power bills? easy again... buy a wind trainer as part of the deal and then you can sit on the bike to warm yourself up... of course, you won''t want TV cause you will be busy reading cycling articles, books and interesting forums like this... and the lights will get minimal use because you'll be healthily tired each night and can go to bed early! Your main power costs will be the fridge (for chocolate milk and easily heated leftovers), the microwave (to heat the quick leftovers and cook rice), one element on your oven (to cook pasta) and your PC to read TE!

...Phone? you only need the internet connection to stay in touch with all the cool cycling forums and bike sites. you wont have time to talk on the phone - beside, if your friends dont talk bikes, or arent willing to listen to you talk bikes - what kind of friends are they???

So... go and enjoy hunting for the perfect bike, and dont worry if you see more than one you like... many of us have a stable and that is completely justifiable and rational... and using some of the cost-cutting measures in your life I have mentioned (I'm sure some of the other gals here can think of ways to be as "helpful" as me...) you'll be able to build a stable of fine steeds for any conditions!

[Kalidurga]

... second cost to reduce... also easy... those parties and dinners you have to go to and bring food with you? Road kill is a fresh and interesting dish easily collected - at no cost - while out riding.

Uhhh, yeah, but don't you have to buy a basket or panniers/rack or something to transport the roadkill to said party or dinner?

[mimitabby]

Oh no no no no Aubrey!
Not "UGH"

Its - woohoo!!!

And if its the cost of the bike you are worried about - don't worry!

...how to budget to buy a bike is easy... of course, the first cost to reduce is petrol and car maintenance (easy - you'll be riding your bike)

... second cost to reduce... also easy... those parties and dinners you have to go to and bring food with you? Road kill is a fresh and interesting dish easily collected - at no cost - while out riding.

... heating and power bills? easy again... buy a wind trainer as part of the deal and then you can sit on the bike to warm yourself up... of course, you won''t want TV cause you will be busy reading cycling articles, books and interesting forums like this... and the lights will get minimal use because you'll be healthily tired each night and can go to bed early! Your main power costs will be the fridge (for chocolate milk and easily heated leftovers), the microwave (to heat the quick leftovers and cook rice), one element on your oven (to cook pasta) and your PC to read TE!

...Phone? you only need the internet connection to stay in touch with all the cool cycling forums and bike sites. you wont have time to talk on the phone - beside, if your friends dont talk bikes, or arent willing to listen to you talk bikes - what kind of friends are they???

So... go and enjoy hunting for the perfect bike, and dont worry if you see more than one you like... many of us have a stable and that is completely justifiable and rational... and using some of the cost-cutting measures in your life I have mentioned (I'm sure some of the other gals here can think of ways to be as "helpful" as me...) you'll be able to build a stable of fine steeds for any conditions!

Not to mention, you won't be wasting time in shopping malls (unless they have a bike shop) or watching movies (except for a few about bikes)

You will eventually spend a lot less on makeup and hair styling because you won't have time for it.

You know, most of us have saved a fortune by riding our bikes.!
ha, and if you believe that, i've got a bridge i'd like to sell you.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The MORE bikes you test ride and the more bikes you ask about and read about and look at, the more likely you will be to purchase one that is RIGHT for you and right for what you want it to do and how good it will feel.

Don't buy on impulse, try out a bunch of bikes, talk about fit, look up internet sites about getting the right fit on your bike. Get a feel as to what kind of bike will suit your needs for the kind of riding you want to do.

The more bikes you test ride, the more you will know the difference between a bike that suits you and a bike that doesn't. Spend the extra bit of time building your knowledge base so that you won't buy a bike that is not quite right for you and not be happy with it.

[donnambr]

I'm susceptible to the neck and shoulder pain myself. I read somewhere that this is a problem area for 60% of women cyclists. I don't think office computer work helps, either. In addition to watching my posture while riding, I do a lot of stretches that help. My chiropractor got me doing "wall angels". They've made a huge difference. I also do a lot of yoga that targets that area. Unfortunately, I've discovered that nothing helps in the 48 hours before my period starts. PMS is a fascinating phenomenon.