Intro--so excited to find this forum!!

[greyhoundluv]

Hello everyone--
I am very very new to cycling, and am so very excited to have found this forum!! I have many questions, and have been perusing other forums, finding some answers but mostly lots of testosterone and uber-competitiveness (not to knock that, just not where I am at right now!!). This past March I purchased a Trek 7.3 FX WSD, after not riding since I was a kid. I wanted to start cycling as a form of fitness for weight loss, and started doing some spinning classes. I also wanted to get into shape for a biking/hiking trip to the canyons in Utah that we took this past August (which was amazing!) and now I am hooked! I am in much better shape now, take 3 spinning classes a week. I am a bit old to be getting into this as a newbie (51 yrs old), I think, but better late than never, right??
I haven't done much on the road with my Trek, however, maybe only 5 or 6 rides and not too many miles, and now we are getting close to winter. I originally got the flat bar bike because I have had some neck and back pain issues and thought the position would work better. However, now that my fitness has improved I find I am doing much better with the pain, and can do a lower position in the spinning classes.
My goal is to improve fitness and cycling as much as possible over the winter, using an indoor trainer, getting out on the road when I can (need cold weather gear!) and continuing spin classes (not the same as road training, I am sure, but it is something, right?). I will be saving my money, and if the training goes well and I am still as fired up about this as I am now, I would like to purchase a road bike next spring. My goal also is to get ready to hopefully be able to do some group rides next summer, and will be looking for a good supportive group to workout with. I am sure I am going to have lots of questions along the way, and hopefully some successes to share, so I am so psyched that I have found this forum--it looks like the perfect place for me!!

[Velocivixen]

Good Morning and welcome to TE. You will find a lot of support and good information here. You aren't too old to be getting back to riding. You're just a sprout!
I bought that very same bike last October, loved it and bought another, a Surly Cross Check with drop handlebars so I'd have more hand positions.
So you say you bought your bike in March and have ridden 5 to 6 rides? We need to get you out more and get some riding under your belt. Just curious, why only 5 or 6 rides in 6 months?

[greyhoundluv]

Good Morning and welcome to TE. You will find a lot of support and good information here. You aren't too old to be getting back to riding. You're just a sprout!
I bought that very same bike last October, loved it and bought another, a Surly Cross Check with drop handlebars so I'd have more hand positions.
So you say you bought your bike in March and have ridden 5 to 6 rides? We need to get you out more and get some riding under your belt. Just curious, why only 5 or 6 rides in 6 months?

Thanks so much for your welcome and your response!! Yes, I agree, it is way too few rides. I think it has been a combination of a crazy work schedule, and other things just getting in the way. Sometimes it is just way too easy to just do an indoor class (spinning), and the other thing I must admit to is some anxiety about local riding (I live in a fairly congested area--there are some nice bike trails and parks within driving distance, but not as easy to get to). My DH is a big triathlete, and while he has tried to be helpful and supportive he is quite busy with his own training, and I don't feel real confident going out by myself (still don't know how to change a tire yet, but am planning to take a class at my local bike shop!). One of many things I am hoping to work on in these months before next spring is my confidence in myself as a cyclist (I have never had any confidence in myself regarding physical sports, but I think that the cycling I have been doing, especially in my trip to Utah this past August, has given me some hope that I may have finally found a sport I am motivated to pursue!!). I am also hoping to find some other supportive local women to ride with, that I can learn from, and of course learn from women here. I am also motivated to change my work schedule now to make more time for this (I am self-employed, after all--but up until now I haven't found anything I have felt this excited for enough to want to change my schedule!! I really love my work, obviously....) Any suggestions on this are welcomed, in addition to "just get out there and DO IT!!!"

[tulip]

Spinning classes are a great way to build fitness. The only way to get more comfortable riding a bike, however, is to ride a bike. If you are uncomfortable in traffic, you might want to look into taking a basic bike skills class. The League of American Bicyclists teaches them all over the country.

Enjoy!

[greyhoundluv]

Spinning classes are a great way to build fitness. The only way to get more comfortable riding a bike, however, is to ride a bike. If you are uncomfortable in traffic, you might want to look into taking a basic bike skills class. The League of American Bicyclists teaches them all over the country.

Enjoy!

Oh this is an excellent idea! Thank you!

[Owlie]

Welcome to TE! The best way to get comfortable riding in traffic is to, well, ride in traffic. Take a basic skills class, then get used to roads by riding early weekend mornings or during the day. (Though the weather is getting sadly less conducive to that!) Do what you feel comfortable with.

I've had my bike for going on three years. (Her second "birthday" was in July.) The first season, I barely rode at all. My second season, I rode a bit more, but it was lots of short rides (no more than 10 miles most of the time). This year, I've essentially tripled the miles that were on my bike. Alas, due to the fact that I have to actually continue my education, I'm not riding a lot right now. Once I'm done with classes and am on a lab schedule, you can bet I'm tweaking it so that I can ride before going in in the morning!

[Velocivixen]

I think it's a great idea to take classes, esp. if they're free. My LBS has a series of four classes: changing a flat, gear shifting, commuting 101, basic maintenance. I have taken them more than once and I seem to learn something different each time.
For me riding on streets involved having a bike map of my city, so it guided me to streets with dedicated bike lanes, showed lower volume but through streets, and streets to avoid. I realize not every city has this type of map.
Here's a free online class I did through League of American Cyclists. It says it takes 4 hours, but trust me, it doesn't. Make sure to watch the included supplemental videos - they're really good:

http://www.bikeed.org/

Hope it helps. Hang in there and get out and ride. Even if it's just around the block. Once you get into the habit you'll actually start looking for excuses to ride. Have fun too.

[turbojackie]

Welcome! I'm new here, too. I've learned a lot from the ladies here, in a short amount of time. I think you will like it here as much as I do!

[Antaresia]

Welcome!
Does this mean you're aiming to get drop bars? I can't do flat bars at all, they're murder on my wrists.

Biking is so addictive, I hope you get more comfortable on the road! My city really opened up to me when I started biking everywhere.

[Nick]

Greetings and welcome! This is a great forum, I've learned so much from everyone.

[greyhoundluv]

Welcome!
Does this mean you're aiming to get drop bars? I can't do flat bars at all, they're murder on my wrists.

Biking is so addictive, I hope you get more comfortable on the road! My city really opened up to me when I started biking everywhere.

It is really addictive!!! Yes, I am planning on getting drop bars, hopefully sometime next spring, once I get more comfortable on my Trek and clipless pedals!!

[jlnc]

Welcome Greyhound! My story is similar to yours...I got a Trek 7.5 FX in Feb 2011. At first, I was very nervous riding alone, and usually got off my bike to cross really busy intersections I found some really great beginner groups to ride with and learned a lot about road safety, how to ride in traffic, how to ride in a group, etc. Next year, I want to purchase a road bike too, so I can keep up a bit better on some of the group rides. (I do ok on the FX, but i think the road bike will be more comfortable on 20+ mile rides.) But, I am really glad I started on the FX. I had a lot to learn about the basics, and the FX was probably better for a nervous rider like me to start on. You might be able to find some group rides on meetup.com. (If you are not familiar with it, you just search your area for the activity you want, and can find all kinds of groups.) I found a women's only cycling group that way, and they had beginner rides which helped me so much. Good luck and enjoy your bike!

[greyhoundluv]

Welcome Greyhound! My story is similar to yours...I got a Trek 7.5 FX in Feb 2011. At first, I was very nervous riding alone, and usually got off my bike to cross really busy intersections I found some really great beginner groups to ride with and learned a lot about road safety, how to ride in traffic, how to ride in a group, etc. Next year, I want to purchase a road bike too, so I can keep up a bit better on some of the group rides. (I do ok on the FX, but i think the road bike will be more comfortable on 20+ mile rides.) But, I am really glad I started on the FX. I had a lot to learn about the basics, and the FX was probably better for a nervous rider like me to start on. You might be able to find some group rides on meetup.com. (If you are not familiar with it, you just search your area for the activity you want, and can find all kinds of groups.) I found a women's only cycling group that way, and they had beginner rides which helped me so much. Good luck and enjoy your bike!

Thank you so much, that is great advice. I am going to search meetup.com right now!!!

[jlnc]

Great! Be sure to search on lots of different phrases...Cycling, Biking, Road Cycling, etc...
You may also want to check with your local bike stores for any rides that they sponsor, although rides may be limited in the fall/winter.

[Grits]

Since you go to spin classes regularly, mention to some of the other regulars that you would like to start doing some beginner rides outside. You might find some others who would like to join you.

Welcome to TE!