Finally ready to introduce myself

[Denise223]

Hi Suzie!

Welcome to TE!

Glad you found this site -- just be yourself, you'll fit in just fine.

Originally posted by suzieqtwa I'm ready for that road bike now ,but I feel I have so much to learn ,so I'm giving myself one year on this huge heavy hybrid (Gary Fisher Nirvana).

I've got the same bike, (a 2003), and I really love her. We've enjoyed just over 600 miles since we started in early June . (for 3 summers I'd only ride around in parking lots for fear of cars, trucks, traffic!)

Peace & Love,

Denise

[Bad JuJu]

Holy mackerel, you sound so much like my neighbor/friend that it's scary! She's about the same size as you, maybe an inch taller, also all legs, and she just got a Gary Fisher Nirvana!!! She'd been riding a heavy Trek mtb that she'd gotten with credit card points, and after just a few weeks traded that in for the Nirvana. Still kinda heavy, but miles ahead of the mtb. We ride together maybe once or twice a week (she's a flight attendant and I'm a teacher, so our skeds don't always match up), and I'm working on her to do a 42-mile ride with me in October. I was going to do the metric century, but if she wants to go, I'll do the 42 so we can ride together.

Ditto what Jenxxs said--you'll find there's a wide range of bikes at a century ride, and most likely you'll find someone who's riding about your pace. You may even meet a riding buddy. Don't make the mistake of wearing yourself out in the beginning by trying to keep up with the speedsters. Just set a pace you know you can do and enjoy the ride. Oh, and take full advantage of food and drink stops! Have fun and report back to us afterwards so we can give you as many "Brava"s as you can stand.

[Bikingmomof3]

Welcome to TE!

[suzieqtwa]

I'm so glad I decided to finally introduce myself...I have read all the post during my 2 months of just lurking.
Denise223: You have been a lot of my inspiration. I was terrified to ride in public ,much less the traffic we have in this town. I read your story from the beginning. I thought people were looking at me cause I was huffing ,and puffing to get up hills...but I'm sure they were just looking at me cause I was a biker. I get passed all the time ,and I know I have a beginner bike ,but I do like it. Ill be asking every one about what kind of road bike to get in a couple of months. I'm addicted to this sport. I thought I would never get over the running (not being able to) ,but I don't hurt like did when I ran.
Bad Ju Ju: Funny you said I was similar to your friend/ neighbor. I was a flight attendant also ,but got laid off due to 911 ,and a merger. I worked for TWA.
I feel so much better about doing my 42 miles on Oct 8th. I will take a picture and let everyone know how I did. I have no doubt I can do it ,its just the speed (or lack of). Oh, does every one have to show up at the same time , the course is open 11 hours.
Thanks again for your inspiration.....I will be on one of those road bikes by the spring....and do a Century next fall.

[Kano]

I thought people were looking at me cause I was huffing ,and puffing to get up hills...but I'm sure they were just looking at me cause I was a biker. I get passed all the time ,and I know I have a beginner bike ,but I do like it. Ill be asking every one about what kind of road bike to get in a couple of months. I'm addicted to this sport.

Suzie -- this sounds JUST like me! I huff and puff my way up the hills on my Specialized Expedition, which is about the same level as your bike -- a beginner bike. And I KNOW there's a road bike in my future, but I'm using the time I ride this one to learn what to look for in my next bike. I've learned a lot, and I think that I can pick a reasonable first road bike by now, but I sure am easily swayed by pretty paint yet! (fortunately, the pretty paint on the current heart-throb is on a bike that has nice specs and a pretty decent price!)

I feel so much better about doing my 42 miles on Oct 8th. I will take a picture and let everyone know how I did. I have no doubt I can do it ,its just the speed (or lack of). Oh, does every one have to show up at the same time , the course is open 11 hours.

You can get that information from the registration paperwork, I bet! If I were riding, I'd be one of the slow folk, just like you! Some days, I do get going a little faster, but it has to be a very flat ride if that's going to happen!

Thanks again for your inspiration.....I will be on one of those road bikes by the spring....and do a Century next fall.

Hey! I do like that goal.

Karen in Boise

[roguedog]

Greets Suzie!

I think you're way ahead of me. At least you have endurance in your background.

I used to play everything (well, everything that didn't involve running), then college came and then work.. next thing you know, I'm trying to figure out what happened to my fitness levels??

Go girl. You're prob already faster and ahead of me.

[Bicyclette]

Hi Suzie -

Welcome to TE! Isn't it amazing to find something that can have such a profound effect on you? Enjoy the ride!

[DarcyInOregon]

Hi, I am new to this forum also. I just want to say I will be on the same ride, the 40-mile version. I am riding a hybrid, a Trek Navigator 300. Well unless it is raining hard then I won't show.

I ride by myself also, though I met up with another TE member this evening and had a nice 16-mile ride.

I ride out of Champoeg Park almost every day. It is a safe place to park, because the rangers patrol the park every 10-15 minutes. You can get a two-year Day Use permit at GI Joes for $40-50, which is a sticker on the front window, and this allows you to park all you want, and from the parking lot you can take off on your bike. The valley around the park has lots of good roads to bike on. I park at the Riverside Use Area, which is at one end of the park, as do many other cyclists. However, most of the weekend riders from the Portland area prefer to park at the Visitors Center located at the front of the park.

The 40-mile ride will be almost double what I have been doing, but I think I will be ok. If I can do it, and I am overweight, then for sure you can do it too. I have a bum foot also; my left ankle joint is shattered to itty bitty pieces.

If anybody needs to find the information on the ride, here is the link:

http://www.sampros.com/century/index.htm

Darcy