Petrified

[caligurl]

this may be your friend's bike:

http://specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel...v18orij.j27007

as they didn't do a sport for 2005.. i'm assuming it's a 2004...

i ride a 2004 dolce elite... i enjoy it... unfortunately i bought it at supergo so they didn't exactly get me on the right size (i'm pretty sure i needed the next size smaller... in hindsight)

i've ridden a TON of miles on that bike! and i've done a ton of centuries and metric centuries and a lot of climbing! i'm sure, as long as it fits you fairly well.. that you will love it!

you'll learn to shift.. and quite quickly, i'm sure! the only thing i had ridden prior to getting my dolce was a kmart bike that didn't shift for sh.... well.. you know! you'll figure out after a few tries which side does the front rings and which side does the back... and before you know it.. you'll be shifting like a pro!

you don't really need to see which gear you are in... you'll be able to see which on in the front just by looking down.. the rear one.. you can tell when you shift if it got easier or harder.... that's all you really need!

have fun!

[bouncybouncy]

A thread on clipless pedals i thought was very good...

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ighlight=clips

as corsair said...another one hooked!!! we will be looking for your report!

[notsportygirl]

Well, I think I'm riding to Coney Island and back this week-end (which is about 12 miles each way, I think), assuming there aren't too many thunderstorms. I'll let you guys know how I fare...

[notsportygirl]

Thanks so much for recommending that thread. So, the consensus seems to be that those straps are pretty awful (which is what they seemed like to me). Can I possibly just take them off the bike and use the regular pedals without them? Can I do this without hurting the bike? I know that then I'm not using all my muscles to spin, but I'm more concerned with not crashing in traffic right now. And this may seem stupid, but I'm not sure what the whole "clip/clipless" thing is. I'm assuming that the "clip" ones have spikes that clip into special shoes. Are clipless just regular petals, or is there something else? Sorry if that's already on here somewhere...

[Blueberry]

And this may seem stupid, but I'm not sure what the whole "clip/clipless" thing is. I'm assuming that the "clip" ones have spikes that clip into special shoes. Are clipless just regular petals, or is there something else? Sorry if that's already on here somewhere...

This is *not* a stupid question - as many people have told me both inside of my career and in my hobbies - the only stupid question is one you don't ask. I haven't seen anyone here biting yet

This is especially confusing since the pedals seem like they should be named the other way around to me. Clipless means you have a cleat on your shoe that attaches to the pedal (spd, look, speedplay, etc). Clip pedals are what it sounds like you have are the boxes on top of flat pedals. You can usually take those off by removing the straps and undoing a couple of screws. It won't hurt the bike. Do whatever you're comfortable with - I find that since I'm used to clipless pedals I have to have some way of attaching my shoe to the pedal, otherwise it's likely to slip off as I push (and I don't even ride a recumbent). However, I also remember a time when I wasn't comfortable with any foot restraint...

Most of all, get your position on the bike comfortable! You don't want squishing for 35 miles - Ouch!!

Carrrie Annne

[Blueberry]

Fast forward to 2002. I was in my early 40s and wanted to get back into shape. I finally got a decent road bike and got back into riding again. Since then, I've done five centuries (100 mile rides), numerous metric centuries (62.5-mile rides), and a nine-day, 565-mile, self-supported loaded tour of upstate NY last fall. I know how to ride in a paceline. I am an active member of a bike club. I'm on the girlbike.com test team. I have FOUR bikes in my stable. But best of all, I am an ATHLETE, for the first time in my pasty, asthmatic, sports-hating life!

You can do it. You just have to believe in yourself. You can be whoever you want to be, I'm living proof.

Emily

Emily-

You are SUCH an inspiration! I had no idea you'd only gotten into riding seriously that recently - and to have recovered from your dog mishap and gotten back on the saddle! WOW!

I don't think anyone would ever call you pasty or suspect that you were asthmatic or disliked sports having seen you ride

[bouncybouncy]

another suggestion i have not seen on this thread yet...is for you to get your bike...even the loaner...fitted to your body! hopefully your *guy that you are dating* GTYAD has a bike shop he frequents and you could take your bike in there to get it fitted....maybe? at least play around with the comfort BEFORE the big day!!! i had a hard time finding a bike my size and let me tell you it was worth every penny getting a pro fit! no problems...i have not experienced any of the *typical* pains that alot of poeple feel from improper fit! i think there is a thread about bike fit around here somewhere...i looked but couldn't seem to find it...can someone help me out here

good luck!!! and i bet we will be getting at least a 50 miler report...

[RoadRaven]

Bouncy, I have to ask... what does GTYAD mean please?

[notsportygirl]

"GTYAD" is "Guy That You Are Dating" referring to the non-commital term I used earlier. We've only been dating now for a month and a half, so "BF" seemed premature, and "SO" is WAY premature. There was something else someone used in her thread once...DH? I can't remember...but I couldn't figure out what it stood for. I'm new to all these online abbreviations. I would say he qualifies as my boyfriend now, but am afraid to say it outloud. He very sweetly offered to take my bike up to his apartment near Central Park, by the way, so that I can ride around the park a few times without worrying about traffic while I get used to the new bike.

[CorsairMac]

DH=Dear Husband

or

DH=Down Hill

depending on context

so...your DH could be heading DH really fast if he starts misbehaving!!

or in my case since mine is now as ex:

DH=D*** Head (this is a family board but I'm sure you can fill in the blanks!)

[RoadRaven]

Thanks... somehow I missed that!
...the trouble with being away for a week and trying to "catch up"

[gretassister]

I Have To Say -- I Love My Clips !!!!!!

[notsportygirl]

So, I rode 25 miles yesterday! I never thought I could do anything remotely like that. It was also my first time on the loaner bike. I was really nervous, and my, well, BF, teased me about how I was acting like I was going on a huge adventure (which for me, I was). I was worried about shifting gears, and about getting my feet in and out of the pedals at streetlights. He was an excellent teacher, though, and kept telling me to get my butt out of the saddle at each light so I could start up again correctly. I had a couple of wobbly starts, but no major problems. I even got pretty good at getting my feet into the little straps quickly. The amazing thing is, I felt fine for almost the whole ride. There are no huge hills in Central Park, but there is a long, low one. You guys were right -- after having to do hills on a one-speed, it just felt moderately challenging, since I had the option of shifting gears now. I used the same techniques I used on the old bike...breathing and relaxing while I do the hill, and it wasn't ever really bad. Luckily it was overcast during most of the ride. I did wear out a lot faster once the sun came out (which I expected). I don't think I was any more tired than he was at the end, and I'm not sore at all today (he says I'll be cursing him tomorrow, though). I'm so excited!

My only problem is with the handlebars. I'm pretty petite (5') and have small hands. I have a really hard time reaching the brakes from the lower/racing position. I can only reach them by the tips of my fingers. I'm fine with that, because I don't really need to be that hard-core, lower position at this point. I just hold on and brake from the higher place. But even there, it still was causing a lot of pain in my lower thumb joint, because of how much I have to stretch my hand out. We lifted the bars up a little, and that helped a little bit, but I don't think we should really make the much higher. My hand doesn't hurt too much today, but I don't want to cause permanent strain. My mother has arthritis in those joints, and I don't want to ask for trouble. I'm going to take the bike to my bike shop and see what the guy there says. Has anyone on here had problems with that? Is it something that you just need to get used to?

Also, there was one really great hill with curves, and I just can't quite get up the nerve to go down it without breaking once. I can't get over the feeling that when I'm tilted so much to the side when turning, the bike will just slip out from underneath me.

Now, my BF is tantalizing me with images of biking through the poppy fields of Provence. I have to admit, I'm excited by the possibility of having other adventures.

I hope I can keep it up. It has been amazing having all your support. Thanks again.

[KSH]

See... you will make 35 miles!

Yea, I have to say that the straps on those pedals... are scary! I know I got my shoe caught in them when I tested my bike. So, I never rode with anything other than clipless pedals.

And you "BF" sounds very nice and supportive! Which is really cool!

Now, be positive that you too can be "athletic".

[Grog]

Now, my BF is tantalizing me with images of biking through the poppy fields of Provence. I have to admit, I'm excited by the possibility of having other adventures.

Riding in Provence, great motivator, isn't it?

Congrats, keep riding and have fun!!