Just getting started

[jusdooit]

Welcome to TE! Best advice I can give about shifting is to "mess around" with shifting the gears a little. It the best way I've found to get a feel of how they work. Eventually it will become second nature. One piece of advice I heard from a local rider to a newbie on hills was "Shift early, shift often."

As far as finding inexpensive shorts, try just typing in womens bicycle shorts/jersey into your browser search engine. You'd be surprised at what shows up. I do recommend trying some one at your LBS to get an idea of proper sizing. Also try EBay.

[Serendipity]

Welcome, sadieme. You are right - this is a great forum!
While I don't post often, I have learned so much from everyone here - and not just about cycling!

About gears & shifting - I remember asking the same things 15 or so years ago when I started riding again. A cycling friend told "you'll just know"! Didn't have a clue at the time as to what she was talking about - my thought was 'what the heck is that supposed to mean?" Guess there is some truth to that because I did learn what felt right! As someone else said earlier, shift down before you have to. You can always go into a higher gear but is it tough to shift down when you are struggling on a climb!

And no chance that 55 is old! I'm 53 and I think there are quite a few of us 50-something ladies on TE!

[Velocivixen]

@sadieme, I hope this is what you refer to when you ask about gears. Sorry if I'm telling you something you already know. So you have 3 chainrings on the front and they are controlled by the shifters on the left side of handle bars. Changing the chain using these chainrings in the front make BIG changes in regard to peddaling from easy, medium hardest. The large or outer chainring is the hardest to pedal, the middle chainring is a little easier to pedal and the smallest chainring (many call it a "granny gear"-very inappropriate thing to call it in my opinion) is the easiest to pedal.
The shifters on the right side of the handle bars is for the rear cogs (I remember this by thinking "right for rear"). Shifting these gears make smaller, often subtle changes. These gears work just the opposite direction from the front: In the rear the big cog (gear) closest to the frame of the bike, is the EASIEST to pedal, and the tiny cog (away from the frame) is the hardest to pedal. So the gear combination which will be the very hardest to pedal would be the big chainring in the front and the smallest in the back. The MOST easy gear combo. to pedal would be smallest chainring in the front and largest in the back. There are various combinations which will feel almost identical, and that is because there is a lot of overlap. There is no "right" or "wrong" gear. If it's too hard to pedal, shift down to an easier gear; or if your feet are spinning like crazy and you're not getting anywhere, shift to higher/harder to pedal gears. You will see that when you're in the hard to pedal (higher gears) you move more distance per pedal revolution; when it's very easy to pedal you won't move as far with each pedal stroke.
Hope this helps.

[jobob]

And no chance that 55 is old! I'm 53 and I think there are quite a few of us 50-something ladies on TE!

Heck yeah.

Sadieme, are there any cycling clubs in your area?

Many clubs have rides meant specifically for people just starting out, or they might even put on cycling skills courses. Local bike shops might have information about such things, or a google search might help.

Have fun!

[Bike Writer]

Welcome Sadie and Tyt, you're getting good advice so far on gearing. I agree that practicing using the various gears allows you to get a feel for them and how they can help you on uphills or downhills. As a tip I used a flat-as-a-pancake rail trail to test them out so I wouldn't be effected by stop signs, street lights, driveways that would cause me to slow down or stop. You need a place where you can cruise without stopping to guage the effects of what each gear does and feels like.

If you bike has different rings in the front and multiple cogs in the rear, start out on the middle of both and then play with the range in back. Once you have a feel for it, move to the other ring in front (provided you have more than one) and then move the back gears around while in that one. Don't mix up the extremes (hardest front and easiest back or vice versa) at the same time because it puts too much strain on your chain. This is not as confusing as it sounds, it just is harder to explain than to do.

As you ride think about what you like about riding and where you like to do it. Paved paths? Gravel trails? City streets? City walkways? Open roads? Dirt roads? Lots of people around? Solitutde? Some people feel safer around others and some people prefer the serenity of being alone. The various bikes offered these days are a sign of the specialization that occurs everywhere in all things and are designed with a particular kind of riding style in mind. Can one bike suit all those needs? That's up to the individual. That's also why hybrids are available that cross over multiple kinds of riding.

Don't jump into significant purchases until you determine what your needs are because your needs and enjoyment may evolve over time. As your prefered style narrows down over time the choice will become evident.

I second Jobob's advice to try to find others with a bit more experience to ride with, you'd be surprised at the good tips and pointers you will pick up. Most people who ride are willing to help out others and are friendly and helpful. You might run into a group that is standoffish but that's life, keep looking till you find helpful people. Of course there's always TE women around to help.

50's is NOT old, said with authority from a mid 50's woman!

[sadieme]

Wow, I am a bit overwhelmed by the responses here.

Thanks for all the info on the gears and how to use them. Tons of great tips and advice here! Velocivixen, your explanation was great! Painted a picture for me of whats going on! Now.. one more stupid question, do I change gears when I am peddling , or do I need to stop peddling, change, the start peddling again? I seem to remember being told one way or the other years ago.. but I forget which way to do it. (or does it even matter? )

I prefer trails and the one I am on at this point, is a combination of gravel and dirt. Its an old railroad line that stretches across the state. I dont mind being alone, actually I prefer it. (easier not to make a fool of myself! LOL) I really enjoy being our of the mainstream and away from people. I actually went out this morning for a ride, but the trail I ride on was covered with fallen trees from a nasty storm last night, so I finally gave up after only 6 miles.

But, I did raise the saddle a bit after reading some things here. I was amazed at how much difference it made! I was much more comfortable and the whole ride was easier. Now, I am thinking about moving it forward a bit. I kept scooting my butt back so I was sitting more comfortably. Maybe that will help? Advice and suggestions gladly accepted!

I recently had to move across the country and had my bike shipped by REI and when I opened the box, I realized there was no way I could put it together so searched out a bike shop here and had them put it together. Come to find out the owner of the shop was a guy I used to work with about 10 years ago, so there is a bit of a connection there which is nice. I'm sure I could ask him questions if I needed to. I need to ask him about a club, but I sorta doubt there is one. This is a small town and I was lucky to find a shop, let alone a club! But he would be a good resource.

I have no plans to make any new bike purchases. I am going to have to make do with what I have until I win the lottery! What I have isnt great, but its ok and works well for me at this point.

I'm going to like this place!

[Sardine]

Hello there. It sounds to me like you're doing pretty well already. I just wanted to add that for years I rode bikes that like yours, just did the job. In fact, because I'm small, they were mostly too big for me since I could only afford 2nd hand bikes and there wasn't a huge amount of choice - it was the early 90s when I started commuting. But I enjoyed cycling all the same and it became a part of life – both transport and leisure.

A few adjustments like the ones you've mentioned can help make the bike more comfortable. If you know the chap at the bike shop, maybe you could ask him for help.

On changing gears, maybe this will help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_05Eic7KgcA , but treat it as a guide only. As others have said, don't get hung up on being in 'the right gear'. That depends on what you feel comfortable with, certainly at this stage. But the explanation in the film about what should happen during the act of changing gears is useful as are the pointers relating to particular scenarios.

[Serendipity]

... do I change gears when I am peddling , or do I need to stop peddling, change, the start peddling again? I seem to remember being told one way or the other years ago.. but I forget which way to do it. (or does it even matter? )

I'm going to like this place!

Keep pedalling. I believe - and others may clarify this - that you need to keep pedalling for the chain to carry into the gear - if you stop pedallling the chain may slip on you......

[sadieme]

Thank you Serendipity! Thats how I have been doing it, but wasnt sure if it was right or not.

Sardine, yes, I am going to get with him and pick his brain a bit! And I will watch that video later. I am on dial up, so it takes forever to get youtubes to load! LOL

Thanks again

[goldfinch]

But, I did raise the saddle a bit after reading some things here. I was amazed at how much difference it made! I was much more comfortable and the whole ride was easier. Now, I am thinking about moving it forward a bit. I kept scooting my butt back so I was sitting more comfortably. Maybe that will help? Advice and suggestions gladly accepted!

I kept scooting back on my seat. It turned out that my seat was too far forward and by pushing myself back I was looking for a position further back. You might try moving it back a bit. I would try back and forward positions before messing with tilt.

[sadieme]

wow... thanks again for all the great information! I will have to play with the saddle and see how it feels. I imagine its going to be trial and error but thats part of the fun I guess!

I had no idea that tires lose air that easily. I have a small hand pump , but it sounds like the co2 cannisters are the way to go. Will have to pick up one of those too!

Thanks!