Lurker no more

[anorange]

It’s about time I join this great group of women cyclists. I have been visiting this forum for almost a year and feel so connected on so many topics. Why have I waited so long to join??!! There have been questions I’ve had, or issues (with pedal choices), or sometimes I just check in to see what folks are talking about and find there’s a discussion about something was just going on in my own life. Woolweenies, heart rate monitor choices, even prescription cycling glasses.
Today I read an older post about downhill descents and speed and fear. I can so relate to what many of you say, and it is so comforting to find out that I am not the only one feeling what I feel. And now more than ever I am feeling the need for this camaraderie and support. So here I am.

I did the Chilly Hilly this past Sunday. I went by myself, as my family is not into that type of cycling challenge. Even before the ride started I felt nervous. I didn’t know how I would like cycling in such a big group of people. I felt scared being on my road bike when I have spent most of the winter commuting on my mtn. bike. Even though I have been using clipless pedals since October, successfully too, I felt nervous about that. And making all matters worse was the fact that I did the ride in bifocals that I had only had for three days- I am new to bifocals (and I don’t think they are going to last!) Well, I had a miserable time the whole ride, feeling scared and lonely (among thousands of people). I did finish the ride and I did make it up all but the first hill. There was a big traffic jam of stopped people on the first hill, and one guy fell in front of me that I just stopped and walked the rest of the way up. Uphills are not my problem though- bring ‘em on. I am a downhill weenie. I went slow down all the hills. The rain made it even scarier and so I braked- often. I did manage to go down one hill fast-I think the computer registered 25mph. I should give myself some credit. But most of the time it was slow downhill. One guy passed me and asked me if I was ok, and I replied, yes, just slow. And I am probably the only person in the whole event who walked down the last hill! It was steep with a sharp hairpin turn and the bottom, and cars were coming up it. I just freaked. I was in tears when I got home because I did not have fun and felt so bad for feeling so scared and miserable the whole time. I told my partner that I was giving up my road bike, was just sticking to my mtn. bike, and that I was ready to give up the clipless pedal effort. By Monday afternoon I was feeling pretty proud of myself for doing the event, not feeling sore (because of all the riding I have been doing),and even was thinking I would try the Chilly Hilly again next year- on my mtn. bike.
Today I did my commute on my mtn. bike and in my power grip pedals. But I'm still not sure about the pedal thing- I do like the clipless, just feel scared on them on the down hills. Maybe I’ll continue this, with my questions for you all on a different, new thread.
So, in advance, and for all you have contributed already, thanks everyone!

[Trekhawk]

It’s about time I join this great group of women cyclists. I have been visiting this forum for almost a year and feel so connected on so many topics.

Welcome anorange. Congratulations on your ride. You should be very proud of yourself for getting out there on your own. Dont give up on your road bike just give it a little time. Find a route you feel comfortable on and just ride this on your road bike until you start feeling a little more confident. It will all come together you just need to give it a little time and have faith in yourself.
You sound like a gutsy lady to me so Im sure it wont be long before you are signing up for your next road ride.

[snapdragen]

Congrats on finishing the Chilly Hilly. A friend of mine rode it also, he said the weather was not the greatest! You should feel proud of yourself! Like Trekhawk said, give yourself time to get used to your road bike and the clipless pedals.

And welcome to TE!

[LBTC]

Welcome anorange! You did an amazing thing and you did it all by yourself!! Be proud! And, yes, give it some time. And see if you can find a riding buddy who will do some road biking with you, and will ride the next event beside you!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[DarcyInOregon]

Hi Anorange!

Last year I did my first event ride on my heavy hybrid. I went down a very steep long hill that ends right on a busy rural highway with curves and speeding cars. I drive that road so I knew what it was. And it was raining when I biked down it. I kept my speed to 12 mph because I was scared I would reach the highway going too fast. Yes, many cyclists passed me who were still behind me. But I have no regrets. Being scared can be a good thing; it helps to keep us alive. Good for you for doing the Chilly Hilly.

Regarding your bifocals, you mentioned you read about the discussion of prescription cycling glasses, and I want to say that when I went in to get the Oakleys with the prescription, I made the decision to have the prescription be for just the regular distance, and not for the close-up reading part, so my cycling prescription glasses are not bifocals. If I am on a ride and I think I might need to read something during the ride, then I will stick my regular glasses in a jersey pocket. I haven't had a ride yet where I needed to pull out a piece of paper and read it.

Darcy

[Tuckervill]

No advice about the pedals or the hills, but I know something about bifocals.

You'll get used to them. It took me two weeks not to feel like the ground was coming up to meet me, fast. That first time on the bike--scary. Then I just kind of adjusted.

I started wearing them 2 years ago, but I couldn't handle the changing glasses all the time in the sun--they were just a pain altogether, especially since I'd never worn glasses until then. So last August I switched to monovision contacts. (One eye for reading, one eye for distance.) That, too, took adjustment, and it's not an ideal solution, but it's the best compromise I can come up with to avoid having reading glasses around my neck all the time, or wearing glasses nonstop.

The adjustment to bifocals was permanent. On days that I don't wear my contacts, I put on the glasses and don't even notice the difference.

Karen

[Susan126]

Welcome anorange and congratulations on riding in this year's Chilly Hilly. It sure was a miserable day for the ride this year. I did it once in 2003 and it was sunny but cold. I can't imagine it this year. I did a mountain bike ride last Sunday while you were riding around Bainbridge Island and it was miserable! You did good!

Regarding the bifoculs, believe it or not I ride my mountain bike with my progressive bifoculs and my road bike with distance only lenses. It seems to work for me so far. I guess it's what you are used to. I love the progressive for mountain biking because I am constantly scanning, looking far ahead and then right in front of my front tire. On my road bike I am always looking straight ahead of me and I've never had any trouble on either bike. Like DarcyinOregon if I need to read something on a road ride I always carry a pair of small reading glasses in my back pocket. I am considering this year though to maybe try the progressive in my road glasses inserts. I have Rudy Project road glasses and they come with the rx insert.

And like Trekhawk says . . . don't give up on your road bike! I love riding both of my bikes, each has it's own special quality and I love riding both!

Again Congratulations on doing the Chilly Hilly! What an accomplishment!

[mimitabby]

Hey Anorange, I like your avatar and name!
I live in Seattle and I am a downhill weenie too. ESPECIALLY in the weather we had in Seattle for Chilly Hilly. You might have read that I rode that day too, on the empty burke gilman because everyone else was doing Chilly Hilly.
Anorange, there are lots of other rides that aren't as chaotic as Chilly Hilly. We did Chilly Hilly a couple years ago and had a similar experience. We had to walk up a hill because someone fell down in front of us (on a tandem) there was no way we could get started again, so we walked.
Being a hill weenie on a tandem means threatening the captain (the guy on the front) with his life if he goes too fast.
I've been riding seriously for about 3 years now, and I get better slowly.
When it's not raining, I can go a little faster down hill, but I confess, I am
not riding clipless yet. So you see, we're all in various stages of training.
So maybe if the weather ever improves, we could get together for a ride?
mimi

[chickwhorips]

Welcome and congrats on doing the Chilly Hilly by yourself.

Keep up the good work. don't worry about how fast you went, its the fact that you finished is what counts!

[mimitabby]

come to bike expo and meet us!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Orange....never feel bad because you didn't ride the same speed as others. What counts is that you are riding....and riding at YOUR speed to feel good.

Walk up steep hills, walk down steep hills....it's all the same if you are just in it to enjoy yourself and get fit. Are you a professional racer? No? Then your speed should be the speed that's good for YOU.

I started wearing bifocals (graduated lenses actually) last year all the time 24/7 (as opposed to previously just reading glasses when I was reading). After two months I told DH I just couldn't get used to them, felt off balance all the time. He said hang in there, it'll click. And he was right- after 3 months they became second nature to me and now they feel very natural and I don't have to walk around getting "squinting headaches" anymore. Now I read highway signs far away and can read phone books close up too, like when I was younger. One tip as you are getting used to them- NEVER look down at your feet when you are going down the stairs! ...SCARY!!!

Welcome to TE!!

[Aint Doody]

Anorange--I second Mimitabby's suggestion to come to Bike Expo. I think we've all had rides where for one reason or another we wanted to burst into tears. Then we have the rides where we have to pick the bugs out of our teeth from the huge smiles we've worn.

[velocilex]

Oh, anorange, I'm so envious of your ride (says the woman who is sick sick sick of the trainer). And you did it on your own-- that's something to be commended! As for your road bike-- you'll get used to that fast, flying feeling and love it, I'm sure. And how lucky you are to have some TE ladies nearby that you can go meet!

Congratulations on finishing your ride!

[BeeLady]

anorange - welcome! And congratulations on finishing your ride! In the rain, no less. Its smart not getting up to speed in the rain, at least that's what I say. So good for you for finishing. One day you'lll have as much experience on the hills as those folks flying down them and you still might want to take it conservatively. No harm in that.

I wear progressives, and they work fine for me. Like so many things, experience and Patience, patience, patience are all that's needed.

I almost wrecked a couple of times last week trying to unclip -- the problem was I was wearing tennis shoes and not clipped in ! Kept waiting for the click/release and it didn't happen! I haven't fallen (yet) from being clipped in, but almost went down twice trying to unclip my tennis shoes. Go figure. Got my cycling shoes back on and it is sooooooooo nice - they're second nature to me now.

Good luck and take care. Lauren

[anorange]

Thank you everyone for your wonderful support! I'm not giving up on my road bike. I rode it all last summer and had a blast. I'm just saving it for warm, sunny days- for now.
BeeLady, that is too funny about trying to unclip your tennis shoes and falling over.