new here

[Pip72]

Hi

I spent yesterday afternoon reading through various threads to help me work out how to fix the brakes on one of my bikes.

I've been cycling for over 20 years since I was a teenager. For the last 13 years all my cycling has been with my husband and I've done very little in terms of maintenance. However, he left me in July. It's taken me a while to get back on the bike. My friends have been encouraging me and today I went out for a 30 mile ride on my road bike and it was wonderful.

I came home via the bike shop. I bought new brake blocks and my own toolkit (he left with the bike tools...) and fixed one of my bikes.

I'm feeling so good this evening and I just wanted to share this with all of you. As I cycled up to my house there was a rainnbow in the sky above my house and life felt good again.

Here's to many more miles cycling... I'm back into it again

[DeniseGoldberg]

Welcome back to cycling, and welcome to the forum too.

I think you're right - the rainbow at the end of your ride is the sign of good things to come.

--- Denise

[mtkitchn]

Good for you, Pip72! We're glad to have you!

[Maureen Valley]

Pip72....welcome from another newbie. This is the greatest forum I've found ever for women to network with each other about a common love....biking.

I'm getting into biking after years of owning bikes but never really RIDING like these ladies do....and it feels great. I did my first 25 mile benefit ride yesterday and felt good about it and wish I'd done the 50 miler.

Read and learn...that is what this forum is all about. And....the moral support is astounding.

Ride on, Pip!
Maureen

[bacarver]

Welcome to the forum.

You can learn to repair and maintain your bike. Does your local shop offer classes? I am lucky to have found a really good bike shop in Evansville IN. I think they would do anything to answer my questions and help me learn.

No matter what, your bike will be there for you. My bike defines me. It makes me feel strong and capable despite others' efforts to tear me down. The years pass and I get older, but my bike always tells me I'm young, fast, determined, remarkable, and achieving.

Ride on!

Barb

[Bikingmomof3]

Welcome Pip72! This is a wonderful forum.

[Kalidurga]

Someone here on the forum has a great signature quote about how a bike can be just as good for a woman as a husband, and that she can trade up the bike whenever she needs to without causing the same stir as trading up the man...

I love that quote. Being in an anti-relationship phase of my life, I'm finding that I really do get much more out of my bike than I ever got out of the men I've been with. Your bike can make you feel empowered in so many ways, from the endorphin-fed bliss of a good ride, to setting and reaching riding goals, to the self-sufficient satisfaction of maintaining the bike yourself. Enjoy every moment of it!

And, if you feel like it, head over to the Getting To Know You thread and give us a bit more info about you.

[Pip72]

I've been out again today - that's 2 20+ mile rides in a week (my cycle computer wasn't working today so I've yet to work out the distance)

Anyway, there was snow on the hills and it was cold and wintry but it felt fantastic. I cycled up hill most of the way out and downhill back - I just flew.

I've also found a new cycling partner. I was chatting to someone after work the other day and we got onto ex-husbands and then cycling and she's going to start cycling with me.

I'm warming up with a cup of tea and then I'll go and clean my bike...

[spokewench]

Welcome to the forum, you will love it!

and Yahoo for Independence! It feels good doesn't it?