TREK! 1.2 Triple WSD!

[crazycanuck]

Ummm...it's what you put in the waterbottles dear..Think about doing a search in regards to hydration & you may find the info you need There's also a nutrition/hydration section on TE

There's nothing wrong with riding alone.
Why do you have to point to things behind you when you're riding on your own?

There are tons of threads out there on this loverly board to help you..

[letsride89]

crazycanuck!

hey! your so right about the whole hydration thing! i'll for sure do some research on that! good point!

i think you may have read the "what i learned today" part wrong...

i learned to point to potholes as i pass them to warn my sister *riding behind*. Pointing it out will make sure she's sees the pothole and she wont get hurt!! thats what i meant by that..

as far as riding alone...i know its safe. my MOM doesn't know its safe. she never will. ahhaha!

thanks for all your advice!!!

[Zen]

Last summer I would ride to my Mom's house. She told me she thought the road was dangerous.
It's the same road I used when I was 14 and had my first Raleigh.
Last summer I was 49 and she was 78.
It never ends.

[letsride89]

i really thought her fear would end when I moved out of my house. thanks for the hope-killer zen. LOL!

I guess that's what moms are for, right?!

[KatyLady]

Don't know how many others do this, but when we ride together DH and I hook earbuds in our cell phones, one calls the other, and we keep an open phone connection throughout the ride. That makes it easy to communicate things like "look out for the kids in the path", "I like the landscaping at that house", or "we went that way yesterday lets go left today instead." We experimented a bit until we found ear buds with little/no wind noise. Have gotten so accustomed to being able to talk that it is really frustrating if a phone battery runs down.

[withm]

Probably one of the most impportant things you should learn right away is how to change a flat tire. Preferably BEFORE you need to.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/articles/asa_levers.asp

Check out the other "how-to" guides right here at TE for lots of good info.

[redrhodie]

20 miles is great! Good for you! I thought of a couple more tips you might want to know:

You should pump up your tires before every ride, and it's a good idea to clean and lube your chain after every ride. Learn how to change a tire. Change out of your shorts right away after a ride to prevent UTIs or yeast infections. A good quality chamois creme will help prevent irritation from an uncomfortable saddle. Wear gloves to protect your hands if you fall. Carry a cell phone and ID (I put my name and home phone # on a sticker inside my helmet).

Enjoy being 19! 40 is better

[OakLeaf]

(I put my name and home phone # on a sticker inside my helmet)

If you're unconscious, emergency personnel will (should) not remove your helmet until they get your neck stabilized. Carry your ID information, including your insurance card, somewhere else - jersey pocket or seat pack, or one of those spiffy bracelets.

Welcome to our addiction letsride! Don't let all the emergency preparedness tips scare you. Have fun!

[Starfish]

Welcome to our addiction letsride! Don't let all the emergency preparedness tips scare you. Have fun!

I agree with all the posts about safety, and practicing changing tires, etc.

And, hoping this is not too big a thread drift, the other thing I would say is that perhaps you will find a way to talk with your mom about all the precautions and safety information you are learning. Perhaps it will reassure her that you are learning to ride smart. (And, perhaps not, of course some folks are anxiety-ridden.)

I, personally, really hate being told to "ride safe," or "drive safe," or whatever. (As if I am going to be reckless unless they warn me?) I know that the people who say this mean well. However, as I have explained to a few of my friends, I have enough fear in life on my own. When others consistently warn or admonish me about being safe, it feeds my fear, not my courage. I need to be surrounded by people who literally "encourage" me, rather than worrying about me. Their worry does not keep me safe.

So, I do the best I can to take precautions, whether I am riding my bike or driving across country alone, or camping alone, or whatever. Then, I like to be encouraged with "have fun," and "go for it" rather than "be careful!"

Several of my friends have changed how they speak to me, because they care about me, and my need for confidence. I have explained that I need their boldness, confidence and belief in me...more than I need their worry about me.

I don't know if any of this rambling makes sense. Just thought I'd throw it out there.

[redrhodie]

If you're unconscious, emergency personnel will (should) not remove your helmet until they get your neck stabilized. Carry your ID information, including your insurance card, somewhere else - jersey pocket or seat pack, or one of those spiffy bracelets.

Welcome to our addiction letsride! Don't let all the emergency preparedness tips scare you. Have fun!

Thanks for telling me that! New ID going into saddle pack. Hopefully, no one will need to see it!