The Newbies keep coming....

**Dogmama** · 03-13-2005, 03:53 AM

With the money you saved, buy a plane ticket to Tucson! It's been in the low 80's for the past several days! I have a sunburned face (yes, I use sunscreen!) and I'm getting the "biker's tan" already!

Of course, very soon you'll need to ride at 5AM and be back home by 8AM before it reaches 100 degrees...

There's always a trade off.

**lyz2814** · 03-16-2005, 11:03 AM

Howdy all,
I emailed my nice bike shop about an ETA on the Trek I ordered, and the owner emailed me back to say "early next month, or maybe sooner." Gosh I hope it's sooner!

In the mean time, I ordered 2 new jerseys--both from Primal Wear--the firebird, and the Columbine. I shall be very visible!

I also found out that my cutie bike-store guy has a Mazda RX8, so now I know what else to talk about w/ him--you know, once I'm done displaying my shameful ignorance of road bike stuff (like, how to you get off of a bike w/ the saddle that high, with falling down that is) --rotary engines! Shameless, I know

I have so much crap coming up w/ work and stuff--this is gonna be a nice reward!

**cyclingnewbie** · 03-16-2005, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by lyz2814

my shameful ignorance of road bike stuff (like, how to you get off of a bike w/ the saddle that high, with falling down that is)

I had to figure that out too. If you are swinging your right leg up, over and off, step slightly to the left, put your weight on the left foot, and tilt the bike toward your left leg, which will bring the seat down a bit and make it easier to get your right leg over the top of it.

I hope your bike arrives soon! I pick up my new Trek 1500 on Friday afternoon, and it seems like a hundred years from now.

**CorsairMac** · 03-17-2005, 09:47 AM

I usually mount the bike just like a horse, I seat my left clip into the pedal and roll the bike forward while swinging my leg over the seat and clip in on the right. It's the Trainers I have problems with. Every time the LBS guys put my bike on the trainer I can't get on or off the thing, it's just too high.

**lyz2814** · 03-17-2005, 10:07 AM

See the mounting I can do--it's the stopping and getting a foot on the ground that's puzzling me. And I gotta figure it out before my bike comes in, so I don't make a fool of myself on the checkout ride! pressure!

**CorsairMac** · 03-17-2005, 11:33 AM

Lyz: are you wanting to "dismount" or stopping the bike like to cross a street? I dismount the bike same way I mount it, unclip the right foot, swing over the seat and unclip the left foot as I'm putting the right foot down on the ground. For traffic etc I just unclip one foot, come out of the saddle and lean (not turn) the bike towards the unclipped foot so I can reach the ground, I never unclip the other foot for stopandgo. Luckily we have nice curbs here so I don't usually have to come out of the saddle....I can just unclip and rest my foot on the curb with the tire turned slightly towards the clipped foot for balance. Hope that helps!

**lyz2814** · 03-19-2005, 05:28 AM

That's exactly what I was looking for! So you lean the bike. huh. I'll have to practice.

**lkrider** · 03-19-2005, 12:22 PM

Welcome! to bike riding and this forum. I haven't been at the forum all that long myself, but it is a lot of fun. Wonderful people and inspiration abound. I hope you can find..(make) more time to ride than I did when my kids were small. (teen and twenty now) Later years, we started bringing them along on big rides and made it our family activity. Consider getting your boys onto decent bikes ASAP, and teaching them to ride safe. I wish I had done this sooner. I also recommend running errands by bike when possible. Little rides in town - guilt free, don't usually take any longer than by car.

About the rack- unless you are tall, I recommend trying the rear mount rack. We have a roof rack and I hate the hassle of trying to get the bikes up there by myself.

**mikki** · 03-30-2005, 07:54 PM

Thought I'd take a minute to introduce myself. I am a student nurse in Northern California (North Bay actually). I ride to school on the days I can (6 miles one way). I just bought a new bike. It's a Trek 820. I'm in love

I love this site. So much information, so much support. Thank you

**Bike Goddess** · 03-30-2005, 08:05 PM

Mikki- Welcome to the very best bike forum around! We even ride together when we can!

Where abouts do you live- I'm in Benicia. Are you close by? North Bay means huge area!

**Biking Chick** · 03-31-2005, 05:47 AM

Originally Posted by CorsairMac

I dismount the bike same way I mount it, unclip the right foot, swing over the seat and unclip the left foot as I'm putting the right foot down on the ground. For traffic etc I just unclip one foot, come out of the saddle and lean (not turn) the bike towards the unclipped foot so I can reach the ground, I never unclip the other foot for stopandgo.

Let's hear it for the short people!!!

My middle name must be klutz or maybe krash

but I rarely if ever, unclip just one foot. Of the three times that I have fallen off my bike - two of them have been because I *only* unclipped one foot and was 100% positive that the bike was going to lean in the direction of the unclipped shoe. (Murphy's Law??) The third time was when someone in front of me suddenly slammed on their brakes while I was rolling to a stop and had not unclipped at all - had time to get one foot unclipped but of course the bike went the opposite way. For me, it is safer to unclip both pedals (making sure that the shoe clip does not clip back into the pedal

) then lean the bike slightly while putting my foot down.

When I first started using clipless pedals I had dh put a platform on one side of the pedal ... I could unclip, flip the pedal over and have a stable area to put my foot without accidentally reclipping. My FX (commuter and trail bike) also has the spd on one side and a platform on the other in the event you want to wear regular shoes while riding.

But what works for me might not work for you and it won't take you long to figure out your personal style!!

**mikki** · 03-31-2005, 06:35 AM

I'm in Santa Rosa. Rincon Valley to be exact. The ride to school is great. Uphill all the way home. I even get my choice of two hills. I hope to be able to tackle Chanate over the summer.

**KKWise628** · 03-31-2005, 09:41 AM

Well, I lost my job at a company that went bankrupt. These things happen. So, I have too much free time on my hands. A year ago I wanted to start jogging but I am just not built for the stress it puts on the body with all that jarring. So I am just starting cycling. I am currently on a hand-me-down Gary Fisher mountain bike, but have my eye on a Giant road bike. It will take sometime to save up for the new bike and accessories. I did invest in a nice pair of pearl shorts and a good pair of gloves. It is a good thing because it is taking some time to work in the bum. I made a mistake by buying a pair of shoes off ebay and they were a full size too small. I am learning so much from this site! I have set some goals and am so excited.
I found a paved bike trail around a large pond. It is 1.5 miles around, so I can keep track of how far I go. I am taking it nice and easy. But am trying to ride every afternoon it isn't raining.

P.S. What is a century? is that a 100 miler? I have no idea.

Kim

**snapdragen** · 03-31-2005, 09:49 AM

Yup, 100 miles. A metric is a bit over 60 -- 62? I forget!

Originally Posted by KKWise628

P.S. What is a century? is that a 100 miler? I have no idea.

Kim

**Adventure Girl** · 03-31-2005, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by KKWise628

What is a century? is that a 100 miler? I have no idea.

A century is a 100 mile ride. A metric century is 100 kilometers.

Welcome to the wonderful world of cycling. And the VERY wonderful world of Team Estrogen!

Thread: The Newbies keep coming....

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