I did it!! My First Road Bike

[rij73]

Yay! Congrats from a fellow New Yorker.

ETA: Cinnamon - there are so many nice places to ride in NYC. All of the TE ladies should come do a cycling vacation here! There are the paths virtually all the way around Manhattan as well as Central Park in Manhattan and Prospect Park in Brooklyn. There is also a 40-mile rails-to-trails paved route starting in Yonkers going north. Haven't done that one yet, but it's on my list. Another ride I have done is going over the Washington Bridge to New Jersey and riding River Road. It's a beautiful scenic practically car-free road along the Hudson River in Palisades Park. There is some serious climbing on that ride!

[MelFel]

Thanks RIJ. I might have to ask you more about some of those routes soon. Other than Central Park and the East/West side bikeways I don't know much. I'm going to pick up a map today (all the ones I've found online are so small I can't read anything).

[rij73]

Thanks RIJ. I might have to ask you more about some of those routes soon. Other than Central Park and the East/West side bikeways I don't know much. I'm going to pick up a map today (all the ones I've found online are so small I can't read anything).

Almost every bike shop has the NYC Cycling Map. Make sure you get the 2007 version.

[MelFel]

Cinnamon - yeah, this might be one of the few instances where being in NYC affords less choices rather than more.

RIJ - thanks re: the 2007 version. I meant to pick one up when I picked up my bike and totally forgot, so I'm going to the shop in my neighborhood on the way home tonight.

[tjf9]

Congrats on the new bike! I think she's beautiful!

[MelFel]

Thank you

[Jiffer]

Sweet bike. LOVE the pink. Of course, my Cannondale is totally pinked out. Didn't come with a speck of pink on it, but I fixed that.

Regarding the running. I, too, have retired from running. In actuality, I never really considered myself a runner. I was a runner wanna be. I was a walker, who became a walker/runner, then became a runner/walker (more running than walking ... did two half marathons), then attempted to become a total runner, did a 10k all running, in total misery, and then decided running was stupid and haven't attempted it since! Eventually I discovered cycling and I'm just sure I'm having SO much more fun than all them runners I see out there! The other day I taunted a female runner (without her knowing it). I sang to myself, "I'm having more fun that youuuu are!"

(In reality, I have much respect for runners. It's HARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just feel sad wondering how many of them don't realize how much more fun they could be having on a bike!)

[MelFel]

Jiffer - I like your Cannondale, very pretty.

Running was fun for me when I was on the track team and a sprinter. It was once I became a distance runner that it became not fun. I started having bad problems with my right IT band last January while training for a marathon, stress fractured my foot (probably from favoring it) during said marathon, and after the marathon my left IT band started acting up. Now, everytime I run more than 2 miles, either 1 or both of my IT bands are excrutiating and the foot is also pretty painful. I finally decided this was all a sign that my body no longer wants to run.

So far on the bike, no pain in either IT or the foot. Being able to exercise and enjoy it without pain? Fabulous! I've also noticed the pained looks on the faces of most of the runners I've passed the last 2 nights, none of the cyclists I pass look like that

[Jiffer]

Mel - My husband runs. He's been trying to qualify for Boston and came within a minute of doing it once. Since then, he's been plagued with an injury, I do believe the IT band as well. He already cycled before, but started cycling more when he realized he had to let himself heal more from running. He also found that running on trails doesn't cause him any issues, so you might want to consider that if you get a bug to run again. He still runs on the road sometimes, but way less than before. Hasn't done a marathon in a while, but does trail races, both running and cycling, centuries and has now added triathalons to his list. He found that after doing a triathalon he doesn't feel completely warn out and exhausted like he usually does after a race. Since he's using different muscles for different activities, he feels really good after the race. He's only run a 5k in the two triathalons he's done, so you might consider that if you ever want to do something other than cycling and feel like swimming.

Congrats again on the new bike. I remember how thrilled I was when I got mine a few months ago.

[maryellen]

<<to try Central Park soon, I just have to figure out the best way to get there without getting hit by a taxi.>>

sounds as if you are on the east side, south of the park: if you go early in the morning, take one of the avenues up, make a left onto 60th and enter the park.

if you really want to avoid traffic, go across to the west side bike path, head north, exit at approx 72 st (just after you pass the tennis courts, or follow the other cyclists.) (caution, steep but very very short hill), up the path within Riverside Park (past the dog run), past the eleanor roosevelt statue. This will be W 72 St and Riverside Dr. Head east on 72nd street till you get to the park. (if this isn't clear, pm me and we can talk by phone)

For your sanity, avoid Central Park at busy times (weekend afternoons in particular!). Also avoid entering at the Columbus Circle entrance which can be wild at times.

Congrats on the road bike!

[MelFel]

Maryellen - you are correct, I'm in the Murray Hill/Kips Bay area.

I'm going to try the Park on a weekend, early in the morning, since by the time I get out of work during the week I would end up riding in the middle of rush hour and its close to getting dark then.

When I was training for my last marathon with TNT we used to meet in the Park early on Saturday mornings and neither the Park itself nor the streets were too crowded then.

Thanks for the directions from the West Side, they were clear, I know the area you're talking about.

As for Columbus Circle, I avoid it as much as possible, regardless of my means of transportation