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

[MommyBird]

I am new (and old, 49) too.
My adult life has been spent on bikes but I am only getting serious now.
I understand the desire so many have to keep healthy and enjoy the kids. I have been driven to fitness for the same reason.
I had to give up a 10k running habit when I developed severe plantar fasciitis. I have a problem with scar tissue development and may never fully recover. Biking has gotten me out in the fresh air again.
I also get to spend more time with my husband. He has been an avid cyclist since his 20s and he is enjoying riding road bikes with me again.
Enjoy your rides with your grandchild. We have biked many miles with our boys. First with them in bike seats and then with them on their own bikes. We have many happy biking memories and wish the same for you.

[beccaB]

The guys at the bike store have told me that a sleek new road bike will not increase my speed, but training right will. I ride a hybrid. It has the perfect geometry for me and I have completed 7 century rides on it and about 2500 miles per season. There is nothing wrong with riding a hybrid. The last century I did-most of the other cyclists had them.

[WindingRoad]

OK I have sleek road bikes too I won't lie but this is the practical bike. Ninety-five percent of the time you'll see me on this and I LOVE this bike. It's comfy and fast enough to get me to school, work and the grocery when I need. It is a hybrid and I own it with pride!

[BikingNurse]

Caprice,
Welcome, I just have to say that the ladies, (and some guys) are great!! And guess what? Incase you haven't noticed by now, you belong. Looking to hearing more from you. I am also not sleek and my bike isn't either. but the important this is that it's our time together that keeps me sain. (must be why I go loco in the winter- I'm not woman enough to do winter rides yet) But welcome!!

[Geonz]

Welcome aboard
I've got a blue hybrid, a red hybrid, a red folding bike and a black commuting bike and a black Schwinn 1968 Racer. The fine folks here have been supportive and informative ... just keep hangin' out (Oh, and you can log your miles over at bikejournal.com and join the TE "team" -- we usually rank pretty high!)

Get on out there, BikingNurse -- it's a shopping excuse!

[Hub]

Bring it Caprice . . .pics too . . . we even welcome a few well behaved fellows around here

[Wahine]

See what I mean? It really IS the best forum on the entire web.

It really is.

Caprice... I am one of those riders (not recently because I've been to busy) that posts about looooooooong rides, races and other such adventures. I am also a coach. Guess what my favorite group of people to coach is.... beginners, especially women. The reason why I love it is that it warms my heart to hear the stories of the "firsts". The first time you made it up that steep hill, the first time you rode more than 10 miles, the first time you went clipless... I thrive on that stuff.

Welcome to TE and keep posting. We want to hear those stories.