New and loads of questions

[moderncyclista]

I understand being afraid.

I commute at four in the morning and leave work in the afternoon. I've had people yell at me, beckon me and so on. The nice thing is, on a bike you can just yell "NO!" and haul a$$ outta there.

I never take exactly the same route home or to work. I never leave home or work at the same time each day. Basically, I'm a woman and this is the burden we carry regardless of our method of transportation. Bicycles are no more or less dangerous than just living your life as a woman in today's society.

Learn everything you can about your bicycle.

Have emergency numbers with you.

Public buses often have bike racks (Check with your city) - if you get a flat and can't change it for some reason.

Carry a cell phone always (even a pay as you go phone)

Water

Shoes with a good, stiff sole. Skate shoes, Keen sandals, Close-toed Birkenstocks, Chrome Shoes (made by Chrome bags of SF). *my feet get tired on long commutes or rides if my shoes are too thin. Short rides allow for almost any shoe.*

A messenger bag or backpack, later - a rack and rack bag of your choice.

Moisture wicking base layers. For all seasons.

Good sports bras! - (if you're gifted in this area at all, you don't want your lady bits slamming about!)

Good underthings

Flat kit

Knowledge of how to change a tire. (I practiced repeatedly on a junk rim at my local cycle-project. I'm still slow at it. )

Lots of it is just getting out there and doing it. I share your fears, my grandmother was murdered by a terrible person, in the same city I ride in today. Does it do me any good to worry? No. Does it add to my quality of life? No. Does cycling make me happy? Yes. Does it add to my quality of life? Yes.

Anyways, best of luck! I'm sure I've rambled and there is stuff I've forgotten.

[Owlie]

I ride bike paths alone. One of these paths gets quite rural quickly. And it can be a little scary. But remember, you're on a bike, and you can go faster than they can. Get a RoadID or similar, carry a cell phone with emergency contacts (and perhaps list one as ICE or something). Let people know where you're going, and check in periodically if it makes you feel better.

Beyond that: Helmet, gloves, water, a flat kit (spare tube, patch kit, tire levers, either a mini-pump or CO2 cartridges (or both!), and the knowledge of how to use them), and somewhere to put your stuff (I have a little bag that goes under my saddle). I'm putting together a tiny first-aid kit (bandages, a couple doses of Benadryl and some ibuprofen). Those are the bare essentials...good clothing becomes extremely important for longer rides.

[Berrybiker]

I'm pretty new at this myself and I think you have gotten a lot of good advise here already. Your fears are far from silly but you will be able to work through them, even if you need a little help doing so. I usually ride alone myself, and I would only like to add that it is a lot like doing most other things alone. You need to stay aware of your surroundings and use common sense. I feel safe enough riding around the neighborhood and on most roads without a lot of busy intersections, etc., but a couple of times I have found myself headed down roads that didn't feel safe to me, and I decided to change direction. When something just doesn't feel right, I listen to my instincts. I think you'll get more confident as you gain experience. You're willing to try, and that is the most important step.

[kziggy]

I can not thank you all enough for the great advice. I am so excited to ride. I think its going to be in the upper 40's maybe 50's this weekend where I am at and I am hoping to do a ride this weekend alone. Just going to do a short ride first then longer ones.

[Melalvai]

oh I do have another question are biking shorts a must or can I wear like yoga shorts???? I know pants wise they are my pants get caught in the sprocket. I however I think I am going to get straight leg yoga pants.

When I started biking I didn't ever put on a pair of bike shorts for several years. Then I bought a pair and I practically refused to take them off for a year. (Well, not really. But I put them on even for really short rides!) Now I wear them for any ride that is an hour or more. The rest of the time I don't bother.

I even rode 744 miles to Omaha and back without bike shorts.

I will say that one of the first things I bought when I started bicycling was a brooks saddle. It's leather and it conforms to your individual anatomy. I believe my saddle is the reason I didn't bother trying out bike shorts for so long. Try it with your yoga shorts. If you have some saddle-area discomfort then give bike shorts a shot.

[DolceVida]

Everyone's covered the whole fear thing, and that's kind of something I'm working on too! Being very new to all of this myself, the best advice I can give you is to buy a really good pair of bike shorts with a chamois - at least if you plan to ride for more than 5 miles at a time. I think buying mine early on may have been what kept me from giving up altogether and I still love them. The right gear really does make all of the difference.

[Crankin]

Everybody's different, but I am one of those people who can't even ride 5 minutes without bike shorts. I've done it on short errand rides, but why be in pain when you don't have to be? I also tried a Brooks saddle and it was an instrument of torture for me. I know they are super popular, but I guess what I am trying to say is that all of this is really individual preference and depends on our anatomy. Luckily, some nice person on TE bought my Brooks saddle and I am happy with the Terry Falcon on both of my bikes.
Buying bike shorts is a process, and it's easy to forget that a thicker chamois does not necessarily mean better.
Try everything and compare.

[Catrin]

There is good advice here. I am another who will not ride without bike shorts. Period. Not for any distance, why ask for trouble? It is great there are women who have found they can ride without them for some distances, but for me I will not.

Bike short choice (and saddles) is very personal, and there are a lot of options. Our butts like what they like, and what works for one woman may not work for another. Not all bike shorts are tight fitting lycra, and you can also purchase liners that you can wear under other shorts. Terry and Pearl Izumi make these, and I am sure that others do as well. I've a pair of Terry liners that came with my mountain bike shorts and when I need a separate liner I turn to them.

[hebe]

Welcome to TE and enjoy your riding!

I was a brand new rider about 18months ago, and I nowsometimes tow my 3-year old in a trailer, run my errands by bike whenever I can, ride off-road, and can't imagine not riding. Pretty much all of my riding is on my own. I have to say that I didn't worry about my personal safety as much as I did about someone not seeing the trailer with my girl in it - however that was an almost entirely unfounded fear as a large fluorescent yellow trailer complete with flag pole and streamers is more visible than many cars and people can be surprisingly considerate when they think you are towing a child. I think an awful lot of confidence comes down to sensible riding, your LBS owner who is offering you lessons should be able to help on things like the best road position to enusre visibility and safety.

Go for it, you will be setting a great example to your child.

[moderncyclista]

I've only needed bike shorts on super-long rides. For short rides or commuting, I'd skip em'. But maybe I've got lady-business-of-steel, or something.

I ride Brooks on my bikes, cept' the vintage one. A well aged Specialized Lithia saddle does the trick.

Helmet! Helmet is essential! I knew I derped and forgot something. Helmets have saved my life. Always wear one on your bicycle. Even on a path.

Happy Cycling!

[PamNY]

Our butts like what they like

That's my new favorite phrase.

Seriously, the bike shorts/underwear thing is very individual -- experimentation is the only road to truth.

[DebSP]

Welcome to TE. I tend to lurk here, but I learn a lot. I have asked questions and the women here are great! One thing I carry is a whistle. You know a Fox 40 type. Maybe I am just a little paranoid as well. Some one my family knew when I was a teen raped and murdered a couple of women in our town. A third woman escaped alive and he was caught. My sister had gotten a ride home from him one day and so it really freaked us both out when we were teens. Things like that seem to stick. I ride alone on some pretty remote rail trails (I wonder if the cows would come if I use my whistle??). I have gotten used to it and I just stay aware of my surroundings at all times. I love to ride and I hope you get to enjoy it as much as I have!

[kziggy]

thank you all very much! I think I will start out with a buddy at first and then after I feel a little better out riding I will ditch my buddy and ride solo!
Right now the weather is still to cold for me but this weekend is supposed to be in the 40's maybe 50's if we hit upper 40's I am going!

[Dogmama]

Is there a cycling club in your area? Sometimes they will rate their rides and have shorter, easier rides for new people. You may meet people who you can ride with outside of the club.

I personally love to ride alone. Gives me time to think, reflect and generally just rest my brain. Something about the rhythm of the pedals lulls the worrying part of my brain to sleep. I've never really thought about being abducted & I've been riding over 20 years (even before cell phones & when women had to buy men's shoes & shorts ). I suppose if somebody tried to grab me, it would be like the Ransom of Red Chief - they'd be trying to return me & nobody would take me.

[missjean]

that's my new favorite phrase.:d
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