I have a new bike....

[Maureen Valley]

You are all too funny....love the various responses. We can certainly all relate to the joys of having a brand new shiny bike that performs miracles in spite of the ineptness of the rider. I will post a picture once I figure out how to do it.

Happy Holidays to all,
Maureen

[DirtDiva]

I knew I should have got a bigger Christmas tree!

Enjoy the new wheels.

[IFjane]

Congrats Maureen! Enjoy that little kid feeling for as long as possible. What color is it? What color is your bar tape? Have fun!!

[spokewench]

Wohoo - Great Bike and Great Fun to get it under the Christmas tree.

I can still remember my first road bike - grey and yellow Trek 1000 - still have the picture somewhere in front of the tree! What a feeling - I was so proud of that bike

Enjoy your new trek. You are truly hooked now

[Maureen Valley]

Ok, ladies...here is a pic of Boo...named after a cat I once had that purred all the time. Boo purrs when we ride.....I can thank Lisa for that one!!!

So....if I can download this thing....(forgive me if it doesn't turn out)

PRESENTING....."BOO"

[Maureen Valley]

yeaaaaaahhhhh...it Worked!!!:d

[Tri Girl]

ooooooooo...she's so purty! She's really quite a beauty! Enjoy many rides with her!!!!!
pppuuuuurrrrrrrr (I think she's probably just as happy as you are).

[missymaya]

Merry Christmas to you Maureen! I remember getting my first road bike and I was in heaven (it was a low end Giant OCR3). When ever I get anything cycling related for Christmas, I go nuts. Congrats!

[Maureen Valley]

Thank you all for your encouraging comments. It's been fun sharing my new best friend with you....nothing like a bunch of girlfriends to really 'GET' it.

Maya....are you a member of the Florida Freewheelers? Will you be at the Winter Park ride on Saturday??

Maureen

[tygab]

Congratulations on Boo. What a sweet ride I can say that because I have one too (named Esmerelda). Enjoy your new bike, and don't get too frustrated with the clipless, it will come - we all have/had to go thru it.

Let's see, the 10 things I wish someone had told me when I started cycling last year... don't know if any of these will help..

1. Set your tension on the pedals nice and low, especially to get started (they can be adjusted with a hex wrench).
2. Figure out which side feels more natural to stop to first (which foot do you want to put down).
3. Cycling shorts do make a big difference
4. Going uw-less in the shorts is the norm (but it does feel strange at first, now I am used to it and it feels weird not to which I do on certain ahem times of the month).
5. keep your knees warm when riding below 55ish F.
6. Use easier gears and spin faster rather than harder gears that make you push a lot (save those for the downhill. Think "float like a butterfly!"
7. Get a computer, it's invaluable to know stuff like your speed, mileage, ride time. may not seem that way at first.
8. Eat before you're hungry, drink before you're thirsty. You will need to find out what this is to you, but I seem to need a snack of decent proportions every 22ish miles. And have a swig of water every 15-30 mins.
9. Shift early and often for the uphills. That's related to #6, but basically try to keep the pressure light uphill and your pedal speed the same.
10. It's ok to have fun! [I didn't start having fun on the bike until a few months in, and then it was like, hey, this is kind of neat!]

Hope some of these are new inputs to you...

[Maureen Valley]

tygab: All good advice....some of the things I've put into play, such as my new biking shorts. Let me say....I no longer have a 'time of the month'...thank God...one of the benefits of being my age!! LET'S HEAR IT.

I'm also in Florida...so temps of 55 rarely come my way. It's in the 70's today and Boo and I are about to hit the West Orange Trail for a 20 miler.

Thank you so very much for the advice....and to everyone for responding so favorably to my little announcement. I adore this forum....by women and for women.

Best to all:
Maureen