Hi there - Newbie to the forum!

[KatzPajamas]

I'm new also to biking...since beginning of May. Most of my miles have been with my hubby, Jay. He's been showing me the ropes and we have been having fun. We chat about our day and discuss rules of the road, and I ask a million questions or we stop for a snack somehwere. He's been training for a 75 miler on July 9th so goes off without me too. So I ride alone and I really enjoy it too! It is very relaxing for me. I have an extremely stressful job with long hours. I get home and take off on a ride immediately. It is like a mini-vacation every evening! It is such a different world from the seat of a road bike. Different pace, wonderful outdoor fresh air smell, wild and unusual flowers blooming along the trail, little critters crisscrossing in front of the bike, greeting other people enjoying the outdoors. Alone or not, I am thrilled to be out there, free of some of the usual cares of life, ABLE to do this at my age. Sometimes to beat my max or avg speeds, sometimes just lazily rollilng along! Enjoy it while you can, when you can, where you can, and with whom you can!

[Nick]

Welcome, MK! I'm also a newbie to the forum from the upstate NY area. We do have quite a few organized bike groups here, but I have been biking solo except for a mtb skills clinic I did last weekend. I'd be happy to meet up to ride sometimes if you are in this area. I am more of a forest and park biker than a roadie, but willing to broaden my horizons...

[MKRookman]

It is very relaxing for me. I have an extremely stressful job with long hours. I get home and take off on a ride immediately. It is like a mini-vacation every evening! It is such a different world from the seat of a road bike. Different pace, wonderful outdoor fresh air smell, wild and unusual flowers blooming along the trail, little critters crisscrossing in front of the bike, greeting other people enjoying the outdoors. Alone or not, I am thrilled to be out there, free of some of the usual cares of life, ABLE to do this at my age. Sometimes to beat my max or avg speeds, sometimes just lazily rollilng along! Enjoy it while you can, when you can, where you can, and with whom you can!

I so agree with the stress relief. My job has a high burnout rate and a lot of times I'll come home from work so tired I could just cry, but I hop on my bike instead. My husband will also tell me if I get particularly stressed "Stop what you're doing go take a ride" lol! It's just so nice.

[KatzPajamas]

So I do ride solo 99.9% of the time. Every once in a while my husband will come with me, but not usually and his eyes kinda glaze over when I talk about cycling hehe.

My husband will also tell me if I get particularly stressed "Stop what you're doing go take a ride" lol! It's just so nice.

Interesting things that you say about your husband. This is exactly how I was with my husband for the last 7 years in regards to the subject of cycling. My eyes glazed over when the subject turned to cycling and I was always encouraging him to take a ride. I could see that it had a great positive effect on him. He enjoyed it and it relaxed him. Ha Ha...look at me now! I am experiencing the same effect myself and there are people whose eyes glaze over when I speak. I am not even sure how I crossed over into this other world, but am sure glad I did and wonder what took me so long! Often on a ride, Jay will say, I still cannot believe that you are out here with me. I am glad you decided to join me....Just saying

[Mako]

MKRookman,

Just wanted to say hi.

I'm new to the board too. I hope you manage to meet some people to cycle with. I do most of my cycling alone also, but it is always nice when someone wants to come with you

Bribery can work too I've found

[owlice]

Welcome, new folks!

What you need to do is grow your own biking companions... have kids!