What have I gotten myself into?!

[onimity]

Hi there,

First of all, good for you for deciding to get into good shape and be a good role model for your girls. IMO too many children today have a sedentary lifestyle, transported everywhere by car and perpetually in front of the TV, and it is hard to change that as an adult if it is all you have known. I wish I'd learned as a young girl that bikes are not only fun but that they are a good form of transportation. I see so many families out riding together and I think it is really wonderful.

I'm 32 and just started riding a bike again last fall. When I got my bike I started by riding around the neighborhood, mostly to the pub down the street for dinner and back(!) and then in February when the weather started getting better, I'd ride 5 miles each way to my piano lesson. It was painful the first few times and some of the hills had me crying. But then, two things happened:

First, I learned to shift properly. Second, I got stronger.

Proper shifting seems really basic and frankly I'm a little embarrassed to say that I lived 31 years on the planet, many of them with a bicycle, before fully understanding the concept, but it seems that I am not alone in this. So in case you are starting from the same place I was...

It seemed to me when I started riding that the harder gears were the better ones because clearly they were more efficient, so why anyone would complete 20 pedal strokes to get the same distance they could in 3 was beyond me. I rarely pondered this, however, as I ground my way up hills and to a halt while people passed me slowly but surely, pedaling, pedaling, pedaling.

I asked some friends that ride a lot for help. The best advice I got was to learn to ride with a consistent cadence (pedal RPM) and adjust your gears to allow that. The biggest thing that keeps me going up a hill is maintaining a quick enough cadence. If I get to the point where my legs are moving too slowly it's over. An exercise bike, boring as they are, can help you learn to keep a consistent cadence in no time. Understanding this conquered most hills for me.

I live in the foothills, though, so we have some steep grades and there were cases where I'd run out of gears and then it would be an issue of strength. For what it's worth, I've been amazed at how quickly I've developed that strength. I couldn't climb a short 5% grade by my house without feeling like I'd been hit by a truck last February. I now climb a section of a washed out dirt road at an 18% grade on my commute...on a MTB loaded down with my work stuff. I approached it by riding as far as I could each time until one day I just made it all the way up.

I also didn't understand the overlap between gears, that you don't really have 21 unique gears (or 24 in my case) but rather a dozen or so, with a lot of overlap in between. So if you are going to be climbing that hill, put it in your easiest ring on the left and a harder gear on the right. That way you can shift down as you climb without running out of gears on the right and then having to do a big downshift that will kill your momentum.

The only other thing that I'd recommend is to take your bike in for a tune up and to be sure that it fits you properly. Most bike shops will be happy to help with small adjustments and suggestions provided that you give them some business. It can be *really* difficult to ride a bike that doesn't fit you properly.

I got my first bike in years last October; in June I rode over 600 miles & climbed over 37,000 ft.. It hasn't been hard at all, to be honest, and the changes in my outlook on life, my overall fitness, my energy levels, not to mention my legs, have been phenomenal.

Good luck and most of all have fun.

Anne

[amyelice]

Oh my gosh - what great responses, stories and advice! It is very heartening hearing that others were in the same boat that I am. The bike I have is brand new, so I am assuming it's in good condition to ride. It's not a road bike or mountain bike, however, it's a comfort bike. I got it thinking that it would be easier to ride with my kids on bike paths etc., but I obviously want to use it when I ride by myself too. Did I make a wrong decision?

I definitely need to learn the art of shifting gears. Someone up-thread mentioned going into the hill in too low of a gear - that's exactly what I did - and I could NOT get those pedals moving

I will let you know when I conquer that hill - thanks again for the replies.

P.S. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this forum. I've only been a member 24 hours and I am already hooked!

[Whip]

When I first started riding, I did a time trial. I was passed by a lot of people and then, up ahead, in the distance ... lo and behold ... I saw a rider. And I realized I was closing the gap. I mustered up all my strength and finally, huffing and puffing, passed him!!!!

Unfortunately, he had gotten a flat and was WALKING.

I came in second to last out of like 80 riders. I finished ahead of the walker - but not by much

[Kano]

Amyelice, no you didn't make a wrong choice with the comfort bike!

If you're planning to ride with your kids, there will be times you're just tootling around, and it's nice to be upright so you can see them well. DH rides with our grandson who's not yet three, and they have a ball exploring the neighborhood. He tends to ride with blinders on, I think, but when he's out with Xander, they see EVERYTHING!

I started out with a comfort bike too, and I don't ride it as much since I got my road bike -- at the moment because DH has swiped my wheels for his bike! I love my road bike when I want to go distances, but we have some short neighborhood loops that take us onto dirt roads, and for that, I need a little more substance than my dainty, but really powerful ride.

Karen in Boise

[Running Mommy]

YAY!!
And like the others have said- welcome!
As you can probably see from reading through the threads, there are just as many types of riders on this board as there are on the streets. We are a very diverse group, yet somehow (for the most part) we all live in peace and value others opinions and advice.
I just wanted to echo what the others have said. And when you are out there riding here are a few bits of encouraging self talk that always helped me...
EVERYONE has to start somewhere. The more I ride the stronger I get.

And this is my favorite nugget of wisdom that my coach said to me once...
There will always be someone faster than you, and there will always be someone slower than you. Don't sweat it, but when you pass someone don't be smug either!

And consistency is key. Keep plugging away. You will get that hill! ANd we ALL want to hear about it just as soon as you do!
Again, welcome.
Denise
P.S. I commend you for taking charge of your health and setting a good example for your kids! I wish more folks would follow your lead.

[HeatherErin]

Welcome! I'm quite new too (got my bike a little over a month ago) so, I can't offer any 'expert' advice. But I can offer encouragement - keep it up! I was lucky to ride with a fun group this weekend and got in a little hill practice. It was hard, but you just keep plugging away...

[mimitabby]

HeatherErin you are a strong rider! get some miles under your belt and there's NO WAY i will be able to keep up with you. Hope to see you on another ride soon.

and Amyelice, keep on riding and tell us how you're doing

[HeatherErin]

HeatherErin you are a strong rider! get some miles under your belt and there's NO WAY i will be able to keep up with you. Hope to see you on another ride soon.

Many thanks for the encouragement. We will ride again...

**end threadjack**

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

When I first started riding, I did a time trial. I was passed by a lot of people and then, up ahead, in the distance ... lo and behold ... I saw a rider. And I realized I was closing the gap. I mustered up all my strength and finally, huffing and puffing, passed him!!!!

Unfortunately, he had gotten a flat and was WALKING.

I came in second to last out of like 80 riders. I finished ahead of the walker - but not by much

Hey at least he wasn't taking a nap.

[nic840]

I too am 34 and a mother of two girls...I started riding in November and haven't looked back. I had to give up the soccer/running and other high impact pursuits because of injury. The bike has taken its place plus some.

I think the main thing was getting "myself" back after two pregnacies in such a short time. I had to find something that was mine!!! Cycling does that. It gives you the solitude you crave and some of the social aspects that I loved with team sports.

I can't tell you how cool it is to have my 20 month old look at me and say "bike ride day Mom?" or "Mom, Bike fast!" Priceless!!! I hope to pass along the need for athletic and physical pursuits not only for the fitness aspect but for the mental attributes as well.

I do suggest trying to find a clinic or something in your area to get your confidence up. I did one through REI and it made me make the leap into purchasing a bike. (had to make sure my injuries weren't aggrivated by riding) The clinic was pretty basic but it made my riding foundation more solid.
Keep pedaling and just remeber every ride gets easier!!! In a month or two you will be just like the rest of us...buying shorts, gloves, jerseys and sigining up for your first metric century!!!! - Nic

[tjf9]

Another 34 year old mom of two here. (mine are twin boys) I just started biking again about a month and a half ago as a healthier way to get to work. After a couple of weeks, I was having so much fun, I bought a bike trailer so I could take the kids with me on the weekends. Now I find every excuse I can to take the bike.

My other problem is that I'm finding every excuse to buy *stuff* for the bike - and maybe even a new bike! I think that's a good problem to have.

[East Hill]

I was the ringleader on HeatherErin and Mimitabby's ride, and I am used to hills. But I can tell you that when I first started I had a hard time with them . However, since in order to get anywhere on my bike I have to go up and down hills, I learned to deal with them. It actually gets to a point where you LIKE hills, because you have such a sense of accomplishment when you get to the top. Plus, you get to go downhill . Sometimes learning how to enjoy going downhill fast is harder than learning how to get up the hill!

Being in the correct gear is the first step. There's one hill we took this past Sunday which is a bear, because you've just gone downhill (so you are in those big gears) and then immediately start going back up a very steep incline (so you need to switch to granny gears)--those are tough!

East Hill

[amyelice]

I think the main thing was getting "myself" back after two pregnacies in such a short time. I had to find something that was mine!!! - Nic

Exactly!! My girls are 17 months apart, currently 4 1/2 and 6. DH works long hours, not getting home until 7:30 most nights, so I have very little "me" time. The fall looks promising though since one will be in 1st grade and the other in half-day kindergarten...believe me, I'm counting the days!! Hope that doesn't sound harsh, but you other stay-at-home moms will understand!!

I live in north-central Connecticut - do any of you know of any cycling clubs in the area, or how I can find one?

[gingergin]

Just have fun out there and take a lot of pride in every little step of progress you make. That's what I try to do - a couple months ago when I broke my distance of 11.5 miles and went 15 miles, I gave myself a big pat on the back and posted it here so I could get more pats! One suggestion might be to take a class with a local club. I took one last year with MassBike that taught me things I didn't even know to ask about!
Most importantly - have fun!

[nic840]

It sounds like we are in the same sort of situation as far as "me" time. My husband works long hours running a family business. I am extremely fortuante to be able to stay home but it doesn't leave much time for any extra non-kid activities. I have ridden early in the AM but that is going to take some getting used to!!! Its hard to get your blood flowing at 5:30am when you haven't had a full night sleep.
I am so looking forward to the days when they are both going to be in school at the same time for even a short three hours. (I can crank out some miles in that time!!!) I know they grow fast and to enjoy every moment but for me to be able to enjoy every moment I have to enjoy being myself too.
Good luck to you and hope you find someone or a club to ride with. -Nic