Returning to road cycling after 19 years...Yikes!

[Bad JuJu]

Welcome aboard, Orions.Star!

I just wanted to say something about toeclips. I started out riding with toeclips maybe 15-16 years ago, and I rode with them happily until about 2 months ago. The only reason I finally went clipless is that I started riding with a club, and having to reach down to tighten/loosen the toestraps just doesn't feel safe in a group. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm very happy with my clipless pedals, and they are easier and IMO safer. Just my 2 cents.

[Kalidurga]

I'll second the recommendation to go clipless as soon as you feel ready. Not only are they safer than you'd expect, you'll be amazed at how much more efficiency and power you get from your pedal stroke. They are definitely worth the money. Just be sure to do some research (including here at the forum), and take advantage of sales on-line or at the LBS.

Enjoy the journey

[KSH]

Welcome to TE! That's great that you are getting back into cycling.

Yea... don't worry about your "vintage" bike... I have a "vintage" 2002 Cervelo.

[Tuckervill]

I have a vintage Fuji S-10-S which I plan to ride wherever it will take me, once I get it redone. Love me some vintage steel.

Karen

[makbike]

Welcome! I'm still riding the bike I purchased in 1984 (Univega). Enjoy your vintage bike. I'm also still using the Cateye computer(Cateye Solar II) I purchased then as well. Both the bike and computer often stop other cyclists in their tracks as they look and look again like they can't believe what they are seeing. Hey, they both work and I love them. Have a great time on your bike.

[SouthernBelle]

Welcome!

I agree that sooner or later you'll probably be converted to clipless, esp. if you are going to compete. But if you plan on buying a new bike in the future, I'd wait and go clipless then. You'll have a regular shoe bike and a bike shoe bike. That's what I did.

[Dianyla]

I agree that sooner or later you'll probably be converted to clipless, esp. if you are going to compete. But if you plan on buying a new bike in the future, I'd wait and go clipless then. You'll have a regular shoe bike and a bike shoe bike. That's what I did.

Or you can get a two-sided pedal that has a clip-in side and a plain platform side like these: Shimano PD-M324

[SouthernBelle]

Or you can get a two-sided pedal that has a clip-in side and a plain platform side like these: Shimano PD-M324

True that, though they drive me nuts. You can also get little platforms that clip into the pedal. Mine came with.

[RoadRaven]

Always great to hear/read about another woman coming back to cycling

I was 19 when I last rode, and 39 when I started again...

Welcome to the forum - this is a wonderful group of very supportive women with a huge range of information on every aspect of cycling I could have thought of (and since joining, many aspects I had not known about also!)

See you on the board

[Orions.Star]

Welcome aboard, Orions.Star!

I just wanted to say something about toeclips. I started out riding with toeclips maybe 15-16 years ago, and I rode with them happily until about 2 months ago. The only reason I finally went clipless is that I started riding with a club, and having to reach down to tighten/loosen the toestraps just doesn't feel safe in a group. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm very happy with my clipless pedals, and they are easier and IMO safer. Just my 2 cents.

Well, I think that I will eventually go clipless. I rode yesterday and when I was messing with the toestraps I was thinking about the guy at the bikestore that showed me his clipless shoes. It seems that it would be much easier and safer. My only thought is how comfortable are the shoes? Any specific brand recommendations? I wear a size 9 running shoe. not wide or narrow.

Thanks to everyone that is supportive of vintage bikes!!!!

I looked at the Shimano PD-M324 online, do you use RB or MB shoes with these? And then you can ride with regular shoes as well?

I am so happy about this discussion forum! Everyone here is wonderful!

Can someone please suggest a website to log miles and progress that is private or public? Iam sure that it is somewhere in the threads, but maybe you can add it here again?

I am going to do a metric duathlon in february. 5k run/ 18k bike. Seems fairly easy. Short distances. I ran cross country and track in school. Thank goodness. I can still hit the track and run three point one miles and not feel like I'm dying. Yesterday, I rode my bike 4.78 miles uphill with roughly a 1,000 foot elevation change. I was huffing and puffing, but managed to average 8.5 mph. The duathlon will be over a 1500' elevation change, so I better get used to it! I am at 3500-3800' altitude.

Any training suggestions? I mapped out a 11 mile route yesterday, what is an average training ride?

[Trekhawk]

Can someone please suggest a website to log miles and progress that is private or public? Iam sure that it is somewhere in the threads, but maybe you can add it here again?

www.bikejournal.com

Try this one its a great site.

[Cyclo Kitty]

My only thought is how comfortable are the shoes? Any specific brand recommendations? I wear a size 9 running shoe. not wide or narrow.

I'm wearing my bike shoes even though I didn't ride today (the school bus was was really late so I had to drive the kid but didn't have time to change). They are Nike women's cycling specific shoes, and I have forgetten the exact name but they're MTB shoes that I wear even on my cross bike, with three velcro straps across the padded tongue. I really like the way they feel!

They are not good for walking more than 3 blocks in (and I hate to do that to the cleats) but I have managed it on some of the crazier days I've had...

One thing I noticed is that bike shoes made by shoe manufacturers are more comfortable than bike shoes made by bike component people. My Nike bike shoes fit a lot like Nike soccer cleats would. My husband's Shimano shoes don't feel right at all to me (same size feet).

Try on a lot of shoes, and the bike shop should let you try them on a trainer, so you'll know how they feel on the bike. Makes a big difference.

[Orions.Star]

Thanks for the link, I really like bike journal! I already posted miles from yesterday and today, I can be anywhere and use it! Cool!

[Orions.Star]

I will remember this advice and all of the advice from others about trying the shoes on and trying them on a trainer and that

"bike shoes made by shoe manufacturers are more comfortable than bike shoes made by bike component people."

Anymore suggestion from anyone? Cause today I got my shoelaces from my Columbia hiking boots caught in the chain a couple of times and then I was riding in 30 mph headwinds which made my 'non bike' workout pants flap and they to got caught several times. I was able to hike them up to my knees and tuck my shoelaces in, but I kept thinking, "I should have ordered those cycling pants from REI last weekend, the ones that were on sale...and I would've already have gotten them in the mail." GOOD~APPROPRIATE GEAR IS ESSENTIAL! Safety is a concern of mine at this point! I will ride in shorts and duct tape my shoe laces until I make it to town or order something online!

I did ride 16 miles today! YAY!

[Fredwina]

I will remember this advice and all of the advice from others about trying the shoes on and trying them on a trainer and that

"bike shoes made by shoe manufacturers are more comfortable than bike shoes made by bike component people."

Well this goes contarty to that advice, but I like my Specialized Body Goemetery shoes. I understand that it is a love them or hate them kind of thing....