New to the Forum New to Cycling Saying hello

[Eden]

I loved it and have decided I need motivation so I am looking for competitions, I am in (North Carolina but will re-locate to WA in 10 months ) something I can train for I am not too worried about winning just yet I just want a personal goal any info would be much appreciated.

Thanks and I look forward to chatting with you all!!

Vex

A big pre welcome to the Pacific NW. It's great bike country (though its been a bit cold and soggy this year.....) and has a vibrant competitive community.

I have known people who have taken the plunge right into competitive cycling as a newbie and done just fine, but I'd suggest a slightly more circuitous route for most people. Before you make the decision to race, start out challenging yourself with longer rides and group rides. This will help give you the endurance and bike handling skills to transition into racing and make the experience a good one, rather than a frustrating one.

Riding with a bike club (out here the Tacoma Wheelmen, and Cascade Cycling Club are two big ones) is a good way to get some beginning group riding skills and start getting some miles under your belt. Once you start getting comfortable with longer and longer rides, challenge yourself to a long organized ride. There are plenty of 60-100-200 mile rides to choose from in this area. While these rides are not races, you can still make goals for yourself, about how much mileage you would like to finish, and how much time you would like to do it in. If organized century rides (100 miles) become too easy to be the challenge you need, then consider racing.

Another path to travel is triathlon. There are many triathlons that are beginner friendly and as you are mostly riding on your own, bike handling is less of an issue. You do have to be willing to do the run and swim part though . You can also try time trials which are bike only and have the riders go off one at a time, so excellent bike handling, while helpful in going faster are not necessary for the safety of others.

[littlegrasshopp]

Welcome and congratulations on the new bike and ride! I live in NC also and wanted to give you some websites that list trail riding groups and events. I'm not sure what part of NC you're located in but the Raleigh, Triangle area has www.grid.com and www.tmtb.com The first is an all women's mountain bike groups. Both will host skills clinics and I believe both have roadie pages also. So many riders do both. There is a women's club in the Charlotte area too. Here's their info... http://www.dirtdivas.net/ I hope you continue to enjoy your ride!!

[Geonz]

And you can start logging your miles at www.bikejournal.com - another angle on competition and motivation.

[Vexen75]

Wow this forum is great!!!
Congrats on the Century Pranachik, Littlegrasshop…I‘ll email you to find out more if the websites don’t explain it all…Mimitabbi/Eden., I’ll let you know when I arrive in WA..Geonz thanks for the great link it's gonna be helpful in keeping perspective and force me to make this about me and not anyone else. I am not usually one to join websites but I gotta tell you I am having fun with this.

Soooooooo I decided I like trail riding and today..or yesterday it’s 4:56am, I traded my hybrid and got a trail bike. Yeahhhhhh…It handled beautifully on my 1.5 mile ride in the blazing hot sun.The first thing I thought when I got the bike was I can’t wait to ride this thing, the second was I can’t wait to tell everyone (meaning all you guys) about my exciting purchase.

Biking is sooo cool. I have to tell you I have a quirky sense of humor and notorious for telling bad jokes [not just bad but just not funny once I finish.I think it has something to do with the delivery and the punchline] and I am horribly afraid of spiders ,however, since I started riding the guy at the bike store laughed at all my jokes and the only bugs that have been bothering me are those horrible “rolly polly” things..how awesome is that? I think I owe it all to biking..thanks you guys for all your advice and support. This is gonna be fun!
LOL…

[Eden]

a new link for your new love http://www.seattlelunachix.com/

this group of mt biking ladies are very nice and offer rides and classes from beginner on

[mimitabby]

Vex, what kind of bike did you get? (pictures?)

[Vexen75]

Hey Mimitabby,

I got the Shimano Alivio. I like it alot. I keep trying to upload and pic to no avail..I'll keep trying..

Vex