Incoming! Another new girl....

[notsportygirl]

BigDLou,

Welcome to cycling. I'm brand spankin' new myself, so can completely understand how intimidating it is.

I was really worried about shifting gears, too, and I still mess up and make awful noises with my bike sometimes as I try to find the right one, but it's much easier to do than it is to understand in theory. It really helps when you have the bike in front of you and you start to remember what different things feel like. I tried reading the descriptions of shifting before I rode a multi-gear bike, and just got lost. It also helped me to find a few that could get me through most situations and not mess with all of them at first.

I don't know what's in your area, but I started out riding a year ago with a used one speed that I got for about $150 from my local bike shop. It was an easy, not-intimidating, low-commitment way to start. I think you should go for gears, though. It's so much more fun to be able to go a little faster. And believe me, the one-speeds can be killers on the hills. I think you'll have more fun with gears, even if they're a little scarey at first.

I think this site is especially helpful because it just shows us how many different types of women get out there and ride.

Good luck!

[newrider]

Hi BigDLou,

Welcome to the exciting and exhilarating world of cycling! And I mean it's ALL exciting and exhilarating! Buying the bike included. I bought mine in June, at age 48, after being a walker for a year and a half, so I hear you on the "slow" thing. A bike WILL cure that!

I had bike shop fears, too, and got over it when I decided to not let any questions go unasked. There ARE no stupid questions in a "good" bike shop. If you're getting the eye roll somewhere, then they're not going to take good care of you down the road. Don't be afraid to look stupid. I found that my BSOC (bike shop of choice) is HAPPY to give advice (eager, sometimes )on learning to ride, position, shifting, pedals, etc. It's a cycling thing, I think, the NEED to share the fun and decrease folks' trial and error, to speed up THEIR fun. Ask questions till you find the shop that listens to you, and helps you. You'll find them, all right!

Others posting here have good advice on a "starter" bike. I just wanted to say, GO FOR IT!! You'll love it. Be confident, lots of us here at TE are rooting for you! We've been there (are there) too, and welcome you!!