This seems like a good place for me to jump into the thread (or I guess the forum - reading you guys has been a godsend!). Also a new rider. Currently riding a 25 year old Schwinn Mesa Runner 10 speed - a somewhat upright commuter/hybrid type bike. LBS calls it one of the first "city bikes". I'm a 49year old female. 5'8" tall.

Totally hooked on cycling. Doing 16-25 mile rides three or so times a week. I'd like to go further, go faster. Most of my riding has been on the roads around my house - very rolling, hilly terrain. On these rides use most of those ten speeds, stay mostly in the upper range, but there's some hills that put me down into the low, low gears. Last Sunday I did my longest ride to date - 29 miles, solo on a trail (Glacial Drumlin in WI) with some photo stops, took me just over 2hrs to ride it. Relatively flat trail. Rode probably 2/3 of the ride in the highest gear, had a very, very short section in maybe 6th, remainder in 9th gear.

My typical average speed in this bike's 10th gear on flat ground is 14-15mph. On the areas with a slight incline in ninth gear I was more like 12-13mph. At one point I was passed by a guy on a true road bike. The competitor in me was really bugged by being passed, so I tried to keep up. He was riding in the 18mph range. I was able to stay with him, but I could see he was pedaling at a slower cadence than me, I really had to push to stay there. (Know now we were in an area of a slight decline). And there is no way I could have gone any faster. Also, on downhills, in 10th, I just spin at any speed above 22-23mph....tho' gravity alone on some of the hills around me takes me up to 26-28mph.

So my questions...

How do you judge your cadence. I see suggestions of 60rpm, 80 rpm. How do you know that is how fast you are pedaling? I'm starting to develop a feel for a consistent pedaling cadence and using my limited gear set to maintain that....but again, am I going 40rpm, 60 or 100, not a clue.

One thing I know for sure, time for a new bike. A more serious one.

Wavering back and forth on women's versus men's. LBS closest to my house really pushing me to men's bike (in their case a Trek 7.5fx). Based on looking at me and my height, but no true fitting. I suspect it is more of a what we keep in stock versus what I need. Sure, I'm on bit taller than average for a women, but I have long legs, short torso, what feels like short arms... A female riding colleague of my hubby is suggesting either Specialized Vita or Dolce (and a different LBS). Based on my reading leaning more and more to them. Planning on doing some testing this weekend.

So, any thoughts on getting a hybrid/flat bar style like the Vita vs. a more road style like the Dolce. My initial thought was to stick with the more upright hybrid shape, but now thinking as quickly as I got into this, as much as I enjoy, maybe a true road shape is where I should head - keeping my oldie but goodie upright if I need to add a basket and run to the store/farmer's market/etc.

Kim