Red's first ride in 10 fricking years...ouchie!

[Red Haired Girl]

Well, finally did it. Friday I saddled up and bravely went no man had gone before...okay, where I'd never gone before. To set the scene....

I'd gotten the bare minimum of gear for this audacious task, riding a bike in central North Carolina. Bike? Check, a loaner from a friend (1998 Trek 1220, pretty green, matches my eyes! ). Helmet? Check, dark blue (in hindsight I should have gotten the red/orange one....more on that later). Bike shorts? Check, and the first time I put them on (the day prior) they felt VERY strange...almost like I'd done something nasty in my brand new shorts. That pad takes some getting used to, ya know? Gloves? Check. Water bottle? Tube and tire irons? Check and check...but just how does one USE those funny looking pieces of metal? Haven't a clue here in LA (ah, that'd be Lower Aberdeen, NC). Cell phone, money, ID? Checker-roonie! Hmmm, Houston there's a problem here in LA! I don't have a bike jersey, and my shirt doesn't have pockets. What to do.....what to do? Got it! ID, credit card and folding money in the left pocket, a dollar's worth of change in the right pocket. Okay, Victoria's Secret might call them cups...but I think you get the idea. Finally, cell phone in the waistband of my bike shorts, centered on my spine.

Go inside and ask David (the mechanic who's going to be working on my car) for a short 4 or 5 mile loop. He gives me directions, and I head off!

An hour and twenty-three minutes later I'm back. And I'm certain the bike computer is either broken or set to metric. Come on, there's no way I went 17 miles and didn't feel like death warmed over. Well, the bike computer wasn't broken or metric...I really did do 17 miles (okay, 16.9) at an average speed of over 12 mph (12.1 is over 12, right? ). And the amazing thing? Other than a slightly sore south end (boy do I like that pad now!) no ill effects! But then I did take it easy on myself and didn't work myself really hard...when the pedaling got tough I downshifted (Granny gear is my friend...).

Rode Saturday too, but that's a different post.

Take care all y'all,
Lara

[mimitabby]

Lara
welcome to TE! In the time you took, I can see you riding that far.
So buy yourself a beautiful Jersey and keep on riding. We have a getting to know you thread that you can post and tell us all about you.

It's about time you got on a bike. We hope you're smitten, it's great exercise!

[Dogmama]

Lara,

Great post! Welcome and I hope you're hooked!

DM

[Fredwina]

I'll agree with MimiTabby. You need to patronize our sponsors! (or your LBS). Congrats on the ride

[Xrayted]

Bike shorts? Check, and the first time I put them on (the day prior) they felt VERY strange...almost like I'd done something nasty in my brand new shorts. That pad takes some getting used to, ya know?

Yeah, I know what you mean there. I'm still a newbie and I still feel a bit icky about them but they do the trick, don't they? Viva la biker diaper!

ID, credit card and folding money in the left pocket, a dollar's worth of change in the right pocket. Okay, Victoria's Secret might call them cups...but I think you get the idea.

You crack me up!!

An hour and twenty-three minutes later I'm back. And I'm certain the bike computer is either broken or set to metric. Come on, there's no way I went 17 miles and didn't feel like death warmed over.

Oooohh! I think another one got hooked! Welcome to the world of biking. (and temporary poverty 'cause ya know you're itchin' to get out there and buy a bunch of gear now. )
Looking forward to reading more of your posts.

-X.

[Bikingmomof3]

Welcome to TE! Great ride. Another one gets hooked. Check ot the awesome jerseys TE carries. Happy shopping and riding.

[Red Haired Girl]

The Friday ride wasn't enough (as you all suspected...). Went out Saturday to the LBS to get my tires pumped up (and to purchase said pump), exchange my gloves (a couple palm seams were already fraying!), get a bigger undersaddle bag, and peruse the jerseys.

Instead of the left and right pockets I stuffed a bunch of stuff (to include a digital camera) into a camelback (took out the bladder).

The LBS is only about 6 miles from the house...so it was going to be a much shorter ride today (mainly because I wasn't getting directions from Mechanic Dave...I love him, but he has absolutely no sense of distance).

Anyway, found this jersey, and seeing as I LOVE my espresso (I'm not addicted, contrary to what some might say...I can quit anytime I want to, I just don't want to today ). So now I have left, right, and middle pockets! Way cool....

Ah, I haven't posted a picture in a post yet...hope it worked....

[mimitabby]

wow! that was fast! I like your Jersey!

[margo49]

You look great!
We can tell by the look in your eyes you are hooked.
You will never look back.
You are on the way!
Go on over to Getting to Know You and tell us *everything*.And don't leave out your biggest lie like some of these righteous women. And your favourite biking experience!

[Bikingmomof3]

Awesome picture and jersey. Nice to see someone else is addicted, I mean enjoys, a good cup of espresso.

[Red Haired Girl]

Yep, been there, done that, got the ...scars?....t-shirt?...jersey?....carpul tunnel syndrome from typing? whatever.... My getting to know you posts are on pages 98 (#1465) and 99 (#1472). Number 1472 is my biggest lie...I suspect you'll be disappointed. Such is life!

Well, homework and housework await (as well as an afternoon ride....),

Lara

[Cassandra_Cain]

Well, well, well. I tell you about the forum and 3 days later you virtually own the thing

I'm so happy you are riding and enjoying it. Knowing how familiar you are with addiction (ahem, the coffee thing!), then I'm sure you understand what is happening. Pretty soon the phrase 'free time' becomes just a euphemism for 'riding'. After a while you even correct people who say 'free time'. Not to mention the ever growing array of bike jersey's and color-coordinated helmets/socks/gloves/camelbaks (did I miss something? what else are people matching!)...Then you forget people's names but know every detail about their bikes....when out driving you sit in the right lane as traffic buzzes past, or when you do pass, you instinctively yell 'on your left' to slower traffic.

Great picture too hon, you are really on to something great. Believe me (and everyone else on TE - we've all been afflicted )

[RoadRaven]

Hey there Red... boots'n'all, huh?
Great jersey - looks like it will have good visibility...

Remember - addiction is gooood...