New to the Forum New to Cycling Saying hello

[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

[Tabby]

Vex,

I love our enthusiam, I just started riding in April and am really enjoying it. My 2 "as old as me" mentors have been patient, kind, and very encouraging, I think that is very helpful.

My sister has been riding for 10+ years (Orange County, CA) and she is excited I've started. I was so excited when I met my 2 mentor friends on local online forum and telling my sister all about how great they've been. Sister says, "yeah, we have people in our group that help out the newbies too .... but I'm not one of them!" Sister cuff upside the head ... thanks alot!! Anyway, I won't let my sister rain on my trails!

I also wanted to pass on to you and the other PNW folks, I recently finished a great book written by Earl Emerson. Seattle based firefighter who writes great action books. Primal Threat is about a group of mountain bikers who ride in the Cascades and run into some problems with group of ornary rich kids. It's an exciting, intense book and I recommend adding it to your reading list when you need something to read. I'm sure the locals will recognize the areas and of course know the mtb technical things. Very cool!

PJ