New Gal! Excited about cycling!

[jeannierides]

Kerry, welcome to the TE board & to cycling! I've also ridden in Md. When you get ready, the Ride Between the Waters Century is in Onancock, Md. and absolutely beautiful!

[cusepack]

Welcome to the forums Kerry and major kudos for the weight loss

[Craicgirl]

Thanks everyone for the very warm welcomes. I am really excited about becoming more serious about cycling and really getting into it more.

I have decided that I am going to ride in the Seagull Century bike ride here on the Eastern Shore in October. I haven't decided if I will attempt the 100 mile or the smaller rides they have. I have 4 months to train for it and it will give me something to shot for.

I have been a bit lazy in my eating the past few weeks and feeling a bit puffy, so this will get me motivated and working hard again. After going a year without cheating or eating ANY bad foods, I kind of snapped for a few weeks here and had a bit of a binge-fest on some healthy and a few not so healthy foods I need to get my head back in the game and knuckle down. Training for the ride will give me added motivation to do that.

I have been told by a few people that I should have a road bike for this ride, or at least road bike tires for my Hybrid. How important is this? I just bought the Hybrid and can't really afford another bike so soon after. I did go out today and buy a magnetic trainer so I can ride indoors (since all we seem to be getting is rain for the past week or more). This way I can start a good training program (as soon as I find one).

Any ideas for beginning a good solid training program would be greatly appreciated. I know what I should do diet wise (I generally eat pretty clean, 5 meals a day, protein/carbs at each meal..with the exception of my few weeks of craziness here lately, which I think has to do with depriving myself for so long). Anyway...thanks again for the welcomes. I look forward to talking with you all and learning all I can.

Kerry

[Grog]

For training plans ideas, I suggest checking out Ed Pavelka's book on Long Distance Cycling:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/157...186433?ie=UTF8

You can certainly do a century on a hybrid, but it will be more of a workout: road bikes are lighter and made to have you sit in a more aerodynamic position, so it's less of an effort to ride them. You can feel the difference after five hours! (I also find them more comfortable but that could be debated. They certainly offer different positions for your hands etc.)

I don't see why you would not be able to ride a century (at least a metric one) in a few months if you are dedicated to the sport. Don't burn out, ride that century and stop riding, though. Take it easy and choose manageable goals. You will certainly want to change your tires to slicker ones, they will make it easier for you to fly on that bike. Maybe clipless pedals (pedals you "click" into... I know it's strange they're called clipless) would help too, I found they made me much stronger on my hybrid when I first started riding. SPD pedals are not very expensive (but keep in mind you must also get shoes) and it's relatively easy to get used to clipping in and out. They will make you much more efficient, especially on climbs (you're not only pushing the pedals but also pulling on them).

Good luck!!!

[denda]

I rode a hybrid in two century rides last year. One of them was in the mountains of New Mexico. I did not change to different tires or go clipless. It can be done! Have fun!

[Craicgirl]

Thanks for all the tips everyone. I work at the library and have ordered some books (including Ed Pavelka's) to help me get started. I am determined to ride in at least the Metric come October on my trusty little Hybrid.

I do need to get over the fear of the road however. I try to get out on the main roads as much as my courage will allow, but when the cars wiz past me my whole body tightens up and I invision them plowing into me and sending me flying into a ditch. How does one get over this fear, or do they ever?

Also I have been using the indoor trainer as well the past week. However, my bike computer is attached to my front wheel which doesn't do anything for me while riding the trainer. I looked at the instructions for the computer and it says attach to front wheel. How does everyone who has a trainer track their miles and speed? Can I attach it to the back wheel? Will it give me accurate readings from there?

Kerry

[Grog]

I have seen some kits to wire your computer to the rear wheel for the trainer at a bike shop once. You should ask around...

I do need to get over the fear of the road however. I try to get out on the main roads as much as my courage will allow, but when the cars wiz past me my whole body tightens up and I invision them plowing into me and sending me flying into a ditch. How does one get over this fear, or do they ever?

I have grown to love riding in traffic. On my hybrid but even more on my road bike. It used to scare me too, especially when I started on the road bike and didn't have as much balance as now. Now I actually think of going through traffic as "fun" and, frankly, rush hour in Vancouver doesn't really do the thing for me, not busy enough. I must have been a bike messenger in a different life.

Riding through traffic, you have to behave like you belong there. It was suggested somewhere else to mentally divide the lane in three and to ride on the virtual line separating the right from the middle third of the road. Unless the shoulder is really significant (4 feet or more), I usually ride on the road, if only because of hedges and trees hiding driveways (and hiding me from drivers coming out of their driveways). I often ride about 50-100 meters back from my boyfriend. I ride the road, he's much closer to the right. I can see the cars make extra room for me, going into the other lane (treating me like a tractor...) and then drive directly next to him without any special precaution.

As your skills improve, you will be less scared to fall into traffic. But that requires practice. Again, if you can attend a bike skills intro class, that would be wonderful. (I don't remember if it was suggested earlier or if they are available in your area...)

Enjoy!!

[madisongrrl]

I looked at the instructions for the computer and it says attach to front wheel. How does everyone who has a trainer track their miles and speed? Can I attach it to the back wheel? Will it give me accurate readings from there?

Kerry

Unfortunately you can't attach a front mounting computer to your back wheel because the cord will not be long enough to mount the computer on your handlebars. They do have rear wheel computers. Check into Cateye Astrale 8. It also has cadence.

[RoadRaven]

Thanks everyone for the very warm welcomes. I am really excited about becoming more serious about cycling and really getting into it more.

It starts as a wondering... a vague wish... as you see a cyclist pass your window you wonder what the air is like and think it would be nice to be out there...

...slowly it builds until... arrrgh... you're addicted... obsessed...

all you can do is talk about deraileurs, cogs, shifters, sit bones and quads... every time someone mentions the number 100, you want to know is that a century.... is it a metric? is it a double? you begin, at a glance to be able to tell the difference between a giant, an emc, a trek and an avanti... you know that de rosa has nothing to do with flower gardens and that scott is not the cute boy down the road...

... then, when you look out the window and see that cyclist slogging through the rain into a head wind you are suddenly incredibly envious and begin considering resigning from your warm air-con job because you just want to be on a bike...

Adding my welcome to the other voices here, Craic

And a warning... there is no turning back now!