My revelation.."Do I fit in here?"

[featuretile]

The kind of bike you need is what is appropriate for how you ride. If you live in a flat area and ride with your family, a hybrid is just fine. There is no need to compare yourself to racers.

I'm 57 and I have step grandchildren. I bought a comfort hybrid about 9 months ago and thought it was the greatest bike. But since I did not like riding alone, I joined a beginners class with the local bike club. That class really improved my mileage and my learning of safe biking rules. Since I live in a hilly area, after 3 months I realized that the bike was not good enough for what I wanted to do. I bought a flat-bar road bike/hybrid that was lighter weight. It still was as easy to ride as the other bike, but I could keep up with the others better. It's still not a 'real' road bike, but it's what I need now.

Most of the ladies in the club are in their mid 60's and can ride circles around me. So, improving to that level is not impossible. I went from the 10 miles rides to usually 20 miles, but my longest is 40.

So, you can do that too, if you want to. The age is not the problem. I don't intend to do centuries or race either. I'd like to be able to keep up with the 60 year olds. Have fun on your bike. If you feel like you need to upgrade later, you can do that.

[Pedal Wench]

This is a women's cycling (well, and more!) forum. It's not a "fast, sleek cycling forum." It's not a "young women on bikes" forum. It's for anyone and everyone with a bike. That common bond carries over for all types - the questions remain the same. How to deal with traffic, how to increase fitness, how to dress for the elements, it's all part of the big picture.

Welcome. You fit right in.

[indigoiis]

You are awesome to take in your granddaughter. My mom just took in my sister's seventeen year old, and at age 73, that is a huge deal. I am very proud of her, as you should be of yourself! And everyone here comes from all walks of life, and share especially one thing: our live of everything bicycle.

[malkin]

"Little White Pony" would be a great name for a bike!

Welcome!

I'm a new piano player too!

[uforgot]

Hmmm...you need to take a look at this mixte thread! There are all kinds, shapes and ages of riders here. Welcome!

[Bike Chick]

Welcome to TE! And how wonderful of you to be raising your granddaughter. Anyone who rides a bike belongs here and that now includes you. I've only been on a bike for 6 years and have learned a lot from the ladies in this forum. I started on a used mountain bike then when hubby joined in we both got hybrids. Our first ride was 6 miles and I thought I would never make it home. It wasn't long before we traded those in for road bikes and then for better road bikes. That was many miles ago. I never thought I would be doing the things that I have done or seen what I have seen from the saddle of a bike. You are making many wonderful memories for yourself and your granddaughter. And let us see those pictures!

[Shara]

I'm 32, overweight, out-of-shape and have a clunky, cheap mountain bike that doesn't suit me or my style of riding lol. But I do love to ride and even though I haven't been here long I like learning (and dreaming) about different bikes, more stamina/endurance/strength, etc. Do I fit in? Probably as much as anyone else

[Maxxxie]

Welcome to the forums, Caprice! I can't tell you how much your post made me smile

I think the only prerequisite for being a TE member is a love of biking. Doesn't matter what kind of biking, what kind of bike, what sort of distance. It's all good.

Max

[Medianox]

As long as you love riding your bike, whatever kind of bike it is, this is the place for you.
I have only been lurking around these parts since this spring and have learned a lot so far-everyone is very good about sharing what they know!
Welcome!

[NbyNW]

Welcome! There are some wonderful resources here, and it's a supportive place -- doesn't matter what kind of riding you do.

Hope you had a wonderful ride this afternoon!

[Juliegoddess]

I am delighted to be here too!! I felt the same way...that I would never "fit in" and never be regarded as a "serious bike rider". I'm 41 years old, 5'10" tall, and 220 pounds, and I don't even really have a proper bike to "seriously ride"!! My bike is a moutain bike with hybrid tires, so the wheels are smaller, and the bike is HEAVY. I mean HEAVY! I can't go for miles and miles. I am very eager to get a lighter weight road bike, but just can't afford it for now. So, my daily 10-mile rides, I think, are probably equal to 15 miles on a road bike. Everything is just more work on a smaller, heavy bike.

But I feel the same way as you all do...I need to stay in shape and stay healthy. Two of my children have autism and Tourette's Syndrome, so i need to be around for a long time to care for them. Biking is my therapy. I can clear my head, not worry so much about the future, and just focus on one mile at a time. Yes, other bikers (if there were any around here!) would fly by me, many times over, but I don't care! There's nothing like biking...nothing in the world!

[arielmoon]

Hi Caprice! Welcome to TE! I think you will find that there are many different levels in which to enjoy this forum. I hope you stick around!

[Shara]

I think she replied here in the form of a new thread
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=35171

[GLC1968]

Hi Caprice!

Welcome to TE! Yes, you fit in here. We have all types and not to very long ago, most of us were just starting to ride bikes again (as adults), too.

I've been on TE for a little over 4 years now and my first post was SOOOO different from my more recent ones. We all evolve!

Can I just say that the last bike I had as a child was a 12-speed road bike with foam grips. I was in 4th or 5th grade at the time. I tied a heavy cord around the handlebars and I coud use that cord as a 'bridle' to ride my bike upright and steer as if I was riding a pony. It was a white bike and I called her my little pony. Your story about piano totally just brought that memory back and I thank you for that.