New to cycling

[amylc]

Hello! I have been running for a couple of years and decided to do a little cross training to give my knees a rest and thought about biking. I found a bike for $400 (a quintana roo kilo tri bike), bought some shoes to go with the pedals and have just fallen in love. I really would rather bike than run. I am trying to figure out what I am doing. I ride alone and had been driving to the Air Force Base and riding on the road there where the traffic isn't so bad. I finally braved the "real" road a week ago and feel like the world has opened up. I lurked here a bit and read a lot of posts about road etiquette before I ventured out. I have a gazillion questions, but won't post them now. I wanted to say hello. I am going to order some bike shorts today.

I have been riding 10-12 miles each time I ride and focusing on pedaling 80 times a minute and changing gears to keep that pace. (I have a nephew that rides and that is the suggestion he gave me.) I have been riding, on average, 13 miles/hour and I am sure that is a snail's pace (that seems to be how I run also.)

I would love to get stronger and more endurance and be able to eventually find some people in the area that I could ride with and not be left behind.

I look forward to the wealth of information that seems to be on this site.

[batsheva]

i just picked up my 1st bike for almost 30 years a couple of weeks ago - cannondale synapse fem 4 - love it, love it, love it!

i can't believe how having a good bike and the right equipment makes riding such a pleasure-- i have gone from no exercise at all to 20 miles in 3 weeks - and that was (duh!) over the middle of the day in 95 degrees... yeah - i know - dumb time to go out and do, what for me, is a long-long ride...

the bike shop advised me to go straight into clipless pedals also and not mess about with anything else to start and they were soooo right - they are a dream and i wouldn't have done half so much riding if it wasn't for them... still waiting for the first fall over crash in them too :-) aaahhh-- i shouldn't have said that, should i? next time out.....

i look fwd to being a part of this forum, as i am addicted already :-)
any other road bike newbies near orlando, florida here??

[Starfish]

Hi you two! Welcome to TE, and to the wonderful world of cycling!

Using the "search" tool on this site is an excellent way to look up prior discussions on all your questions. That said, everyone here always seems great about answering all new questions, too!

Welcome, and enjoy.

[partbug]

Welcome Florida is a great place to ride good weather and not many hills caution cycling is highly addictive.

[luvs2ride]

Welcome amylc/Florida !!! I am also a "runner-turned-cyclist" (or sometimes I call myself a "cycling convert"). I took up cycling after running a few marathons, as my husband is not a runner (but loves his bike) so I thought it would be a good way for us to spend time together. We just finished our first Century (100 miler) together on June 3rd. I wasn't expecting to get "hooked" but I definitely have. I'm now trying to find some sort of "balance" between running and cycling. I'm definitely leaning towards the riding but I want to keep some base running miles so that I won't lose what I've worked so hard for. Cycling is so much easier on your body than running. After completing 100 miles, I could actually WALK when I was done(sitting was an entirely different matter). That is definitely not to say that cycling is EASY !!!! To be honest, that is what I used to think . . "the bike does all the work for you?" . . Right ?!?! NOT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, welcome to TE. I have learned so much from the wonderful and knowledgeable ladies on this site.
Blessings! Susan

[smilingcat]

kilo for $400 is a bargain. It is a good bike. And welcome. Ask all the questions you have. I always tell people, "there are no stupid questions. You don't know that is why you ask."

And don't worry about your speed. It's been said over and over, comparing speed is like apple and oranges. so ride at a pace you like.

smilingcat

[RoadRaven]

Welcome Amy...

Like Cat, your comment about riding at a "snails pace" caught my eye.

Just compare it to running - I'm sure you don't train at a sprint pace all the time. Cycling is the same. Wahtever your goal with cycling... racing, commuting, mountain biking... most of your rides are unlikley to be at "full tilt"... just enjoy riding, and if speed is an issue there is a wealth of information here in existing threads, and in future answers, to guide you in your aspirations.

In the meantime just enjoy being on a bike - its a way of life!

[amylc]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

[Jiffer]

Welcome! Welcome!

Sounds like you are doing great with your new cycling adventures. I know it takes some getting used to venturing out in the "real world" and clipping in and all. I'm pretty new too. Lucky for me, I have a cycling freak husband to show me the ropes. Regarding cadence, he encourages me to stay somewhere between 80 and 90. I find myself in the 75 range a lot because it seems to feel right, but somewhere in the 80's is starting to feel better depending on the terrain and how warmed up I am, etc.

I know what you mean about wanting to be able to be fast enough to hang with other people. I'm righ there with you. Speed comes in time. The more you ride, the better you'll get. If you have trained to run faster, you'll find it's similar with cycling. Shorter "speed" rides and longer "endurance" rides that you pace yourself on, etc. You'll find threads about it if you search or start a new one if you want.

Congrats on your new passion! I completely agree that running is so way better than cycling, which is why I officially "retired" from running.

[RoadRaven]

I completely agree that running is so way better than cycling, which is why I officially "retired" from running.

Confusilated Raven here...

if running is way better than cycling - why have you retired from running