Petrified

[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!!

[SimpleCycle]

notsportygirl (soon to be renamed nowsportygirl) -

for sun/heat sensitivity, you have a few options. i take a medication that makes me sun sensitive - bright light makes me feel like i'm on FIRE! i wear a long sleeve wicking undershirt purchased in the men's section of a bike shop under my jersey. that keeps my skin happy.

as for the heat, make sure you know how to get a water bottle out of and into a cage so you can drink while you ride. that will make all the difference in the world for how you feel in the heat. also, make sure you have some form of wicking clothing to pull the sweat away from your body. a regular bike jersey would be my choice but i also have a few t-shirts that were designed for running/hiking that just look like shirts. wicking shirts really help, especially when it is humid out.

do you take your inhaler preventatively before biking? that used to help me a lot. these days i'm taking advair twice a day (it's a long term preventative/treatment drug) and it's like i don't even have asthma anymore. i didn't want to take an all the time drug because my symptoms are mild, but my doctor talked me into it. i'm so glad!

and you will absolutely make it 35 if you can make it 25. i went from 10-15 miles on a mountain bike to 30 on a road bike without any troubles. it sounds like your'e on the right track!

you can get "short reach" brake levers that mount on the tops of the bars, and some brakes adjust to be easier to squeeze for smaller hands. i'd ask at the bike shop about adjusting the current brakes. you probably can't add the short reach levers to your friend's bike.

so, when are you getting your own bike?

[DirtDiva]

Great going not(ha!)sportygirl.

for sun/heat sensitivity, you have a few options. i take a medication that makes me sun sensitive - bright light makes me feel like i'm on FIRE! i wear a long sleeve wicking undershirt purchased in the men's section of a bike shop under my jersey. that keeps my skin happy.

Owie. I did four days snowboarding one time I was on doxycycline. I mean, in NZ your chances of getting a sunburn in the mountains is way high no matter how much sunscreen you use, but talk about a red face!

[wavedancer]

I'm sure you will do great on your ride. As others have said, if you've been riding a single speed around town, having those extra gears will make a big difference.

Regarding the reach to the brake levers: I had a similar problem and found that just adding a little shim in the brake lever made a big difference. Ask your LBS if they can put one in, or you or your GTYAD (?) could add a little wedge on some double-sided tape. See this previous thread: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...highlight=shim

And have a ball!

[caligurl]

my hands killed me for the looooooooooongest time when i started riding.. and even now.... they will hurt on occasion (i.e. the ride i just did saturday)...

can you check with a bike store about getting the spacers inserted into the levers to make the reach shorter?

[CorsairMac]

notsosporty aka nowsosporty: you might have either your BF or your LBS look and see if there is a screw (or look yourself) on the back side of the brake that will allow you to adjust the brake levers in closer to your hands. Or the shims that they were talking about. All you need to do is bring the levers in closer and it should help the reach.

and Yipppeeee on your first long ride! goodonya hun!


muuuuahhhhhhaaahahaha...we've hooked another one ladies!

[Hammer]

Well I registered for our local Margarita Ride. It's on September 10. Here are the options:

15-mile route to the lookout point across the bridge over the Missouri River (a majority of which is flat)
35-mile loop through Meckling and around the bluff (relatively flat route)
45-mile loop through Meckling and climbing out of the bluff bottom (a few hills)

Now, my ride is a Trek 7200 hybrid with a big cushy seat, that I'm not certain I care for. I tend to scoot toward the back of the seat.

I tend to ride 10-15 miles a couple days during the week with a 20 mile ride on the weekend. Yesterday I did 25. I started getting tired toward the end, so I'm not sure about the 35 mile option. But, I'd like to try it since there will be other people around and it won't really just be me. Yesterday I wore a pair of jogging shorts with the liner sewn in... that pair works up to 15 miles or so, but otherwise the shorts ride and dig in a bit and are all around uncomfortable. I should've worn my bicycle shorts, though they're unpadded.

I did have a soy protein drink before my ride and a granola bar, that was my breakfast. I was starting to get a little hungry, perhaps I should've had something along to snack on. I had 2 water bottles along, which was fine for 25 miles, but probably wouldn't be for 35. I rode 10 miles in 45 minutes, 15 in 1:06, 20 in 1:28 and 25 in 1:45-1:50 ish. I slacked off the last few miles.

I guess that I should find out if they'll have a water stop. I don't have the cash to buy a hydration pack.

Any advice? I'm feeling encouraged by your words of wisdom in this thread.