Couple of Newbie Questions?

[TxDoc]

Are you around Houston?
If yes go see Boone's cycles (Medical Center/Hermann Park area) for a good fit, or Bay Area Cycling in Webster.
Good luck!

[KnottedYet]

If you go to a PT who does bike fits to have your back and wrist issues treated, your bike fit will very likely be covered by insurance.

The PT will also teach you proper posture and positioning on the bike, and give you core exercises to do off the bike.

[amy26]

Are you around Houston?
If yes go see Boone's cycles (Medical Center/Hermann Park area) for a good fit, or Bay Area Cycling in Webster.
Good luck!

Yes, I'm in Houston and not too far from the Med Center so I'll look into Boone's - thanks!!

If you go to a PT who does bike fits to have your back and wrist issues treated, your bike fit will very likely be covered by insurance.

The PT will also teach you proper posture and positioning on the bike, and give you core exercises to do off the bike.

Wow, great idea -I'm going to do a some research on that.

....make sure you do several smaller organized group rides before and get comfortable with starting in a group and riding in groups because you will be doing just that...

The other bit of advice I would offer is get used to spending TITS ( time in the saddle) time of at least 6-8 hours on a single ride since the first day is very long. The TITS time is almost more important than speed, at least in my experience.

You can totally do it and it will be a unique experience. Some people love it, others hate it and some change their minds from year to year.

Thank you! I found a couple of smaller organized rides is September & October that I plan on doing, 30-50 miles.

I didn't have wrist pain, but I did have the shoulder thing when I first started riding for more than maybe an hour. I think part of it was the stress of being new at it.

As has been said, make sure your bike fits and that core thing is so important, too. Let your midsection do a lot of the work and take some of the strain off of your wrists/hands/shoulders/neck.

I'm hoping your right about the newness causing some of the discomfort - overall I think my body just needs to get better conditioned for cycling. Seems this "core" concept is going to have to be a conscious effort!

Call them and ask them if adjustments are included.

Be sure to ask them questions and tell them where you feel discomfort.

Thanks again Tulip, sounds like these are good questions to ask of wherever I end up going. I'm going to look into the idea of the PT bike fit first as KnottedYet suggested on the hope that I might get insurance to cover it.

This forum is awesome - thanks everyone for the good advice. I'm going to do another 15+ mile ride this weekend and try to schedule a bike fit for next week!

[jenniferh]

Just wanted to say I'm doing the same thing. Got my road bike last month with the goal to be ready for the MS150 Houston to Austin next April. We've been riding with the Northwest Cycling Club at Zube park on Saturday's and will be doing a few group rides next spring to prepare. Where do you live?

[zoom-zoom]

I'm hoping your right about the newness causing some of the discomfort - overall I think my body just needs to get better conditioned for cycling. Seems this "core" concept is going to have to be a conscious effort!

2-3 times/week do some tough core work and I can almost guarantee that you will find that a lot of aches and pains will diminish and that you will just feel stronger. It's helped my biking AND my running in an amazing way.

[TxDoc]

Hey Jenniferh and Amy26 -
if you want to ride with other MS-150 people and don't mind the short drive, the BP MS-150 group rides a paperclip all year round every Saturday morning.
They welcome everyone, and you do not need to be on their team to ride with them. From what I hear, they often have new people on the ride. Feel free to PM if you want more details, I have a couple of friends on that team so I can ask.
There's also many MS teams downtown, most people train all year, while some take a break in the Winter.
Good luck to both on the MS!

[amy26]

Just wanted to say I'm doing the same thing. Got my road bike last month with the goal to be ready for the MS150 Houston to Austin next April. We've been riding with the Northwest Cycling Club at Zube park on Saturday's and will be doing a few group rides next spring to prepare. Where do you live?

Hi jenniferh - I live in Montrose (near downtown)

Hey Jenniferh and Amy26 -
the BP MS-150 group rides a paperclip all year round every Saturday morning.

This may be a stupid question, but what is a paperclip?

------------------------------
jenniferh, TxDoc - Do yall have any suggestions on finding a team to join, or opinions on riding as an idividual? Do teams take riders this early? Ideally I could find a team that trains inside the loop most of the time for commuting purposes.

[jenniferh]

I don't know what a paperclip is either.

I'm in Cypress on teh NW side of town and joined the Northwest Cycle Club for the group rides out near Hockley and Waller. i've been on 3 so far and LOVE it!

I don't think you can sign up for teams until the MS150 sign up happens in Oct. I'd love to join BP, but I'll have to see if I can find someone that is in it to join. I'm not sure if you can join BP as a "stranger". I know Sun and Ski also has a huge team that anyone can join. There is info on their website about it.

[TxDoc]

Sorry ladies I just saw this... they call it a paperclip because they ride on the feeder road of i-45 - so when you look at the route on a map it looks like someone was drawing a giant paperclip around i-45...
And yes they do help riders find sponsors to join the team for the MS-150.
Good luck everyone!

[kalimom]

My husband and I have been driving from California for the last few years for my husband to ride in the MS 150 Houston to Austin. It is an Amazing ride, there are riders of all shapes and sizes and levels. It is for such a good cause that it inspired ME to get on a bike and I am riding in the Ventura, CA MS 150 in october. Remember its a FUN ride for a good cause. You dont HAVE to do the full 150. The first year my husband only rode 1 day. Standing at the finish line i wondered how a lot of the people made it that far....and if they can anyone can!