Beginner ready to get started!

[LAM]

Thanks for the advice. I definitely am more focused on paved roads and roads in general. As far as my fitness level goes, I'm not sure. I make it through a hour spin class pretty easily, but seeing as I haven't been able to ride outside yet, I'm not sure how much different it would be...I'm expecting a lot. I want to get into cycling more for fitness than anything else, maybe commute to school. As far as budget goes...I'm looking more on the cheaper side unfortunately, but I will be able to keep my bike in my apartment.

[Catrin]

You will find that spinning class is more intense than riding outside of mountains Spinning is great for building endurance, it has been a blessing to me in that way. I started spinning last October - 2 months before stepping over a bike for the first time in my life and it has been very helpful. Of course a spinning bike isn't the same, but it is a great tool and far better than those regular upright bikes at the gym.

I still spin twice a week though it is riding season - I enjoy it and it is more intense. Our instructor is an avid mountain biker who also does road riding and he kicks our butts I can see the benefit of the work though, it has made me much stronger and has increased my endurance. We have pretty much the same group in class each time so he knows what our goals/needs are.

As a new cyclist myself I can't speak to your choices - but I wanted to say that you have found a very supportive forum to join. These wonderful gals have been very patient with me through not one but TWO bike purchases in 4 months and have provided great advice along the way. Like you, when I first joined I did not yet own a bike.

There are some decent bikes to be had at the lower price points, you can always upgrade components later if needed/desired. It's great that you can store your bikes inside, both of mine share my living room

As someone from Tennessee, and who lived in Nashville for most of the 1990's, you will need to consider the hills when you start looking at bikes. Central Tennessee may not have mountains, but there are steep ridges and hills - and depending on where you wind up living there can be significant grades. Are you going to attend Vanderbilt?