Newbie weekly achievement thread

[hebe]

Woo hoo! Go RoadTrip

I bet you're so proud, and rightly so! I hope your dh is ok after his tumble, he must have been working really hard to catch you up! Well done on managing your 'moment' too! I think you might be nearly done with that parking lot now. I'm so pleased for you.

I'm really hoping for a dry morning tomorrow, as opposed to the forecast rain, as dh will be baking with my girl so I'll be able to get out on my bike. It's been too long.

[stella2]

That's brilliant Roadtrip. You should be really proud

[Bike Writer]

It felt REALLY great. I mean really, really great.

Bravo! Bravo!

The excitement in your voice comes through your post, what a magnificent feeling being out "on the path", freedom, exhiliration, daring, confidence - all powerfully charged emotions that lead us back and back again to our bikes.

[Bike Writer]

Hebe, tell us about your ride if the weather is permitting today. Goregous here and ready to roll as soon as I get changed.

[sempernova]

I rode 15 miles CLIPLESS for the first time last Sunday!!! I've been practicing on my trainer which I would highly recommend before hitting the road.

[Kerry1976]

I rode 15 miles CLIPLESS for the first time last Sunday!!! I've been practicing on my trainer which I would highly recommend before hitting the road.

Oh my gosh - that is fantastic. I bet you are thrilled!!!!!!!

[sempernova]

I am!!!!

[hebe]

Yay for clipless and comfy saddles!

I finally rode into town on my bike and did car-free errands for the first time in a long time (not counting when my errands have been light enough to walk). I was so proud of myself, and felt so liberated in not having to find a parking space, pay for parking, remember to back in time.... It was a gloriously sunny day but very cold: minus 2C, 28F. I also wore my normal boots, which was a first too, and rode the Marin which feels like a different bike now that it has a better saddle. In fact I feel like a different woman now that it has a new saddle! I can't wait to phone my cycling instructor and tell her that I've done the errands by bike, she'll be so chuffed. I rode part of the way back along the cycle lane on the main road, which was something that I've been nervous about for a while. It was absolutely fine. Can't wait to do it again!

[chincitop]

Took my bike up the two steep hills on my commute, and most of the little hills, instead of getting off like a sissy

[hansbrea]

I got a babysitter for last night and went on a 10-mile bike ride. It was supposed to be around 15 but I bailed out at 10. I am doing a 16-mile race tomorrow that will actually be timed and riders listed in order finished. I am really nervous about that. I don't want to come in with a terrible time and have people see it and go "look how slow she is". Also, I haven't ridden the route and there is now map available so I don't know what it is like. For the most part it can't be too bad, though, as that is the town where I grew up and I know the area where they are having it, just not exactly where.

Last night I had to stop three times to take a breather so I think I must have been trying to go too fast. Is it better to go slow and steady or really try and push myself? Other rides I've gotten home and felt like I could have kept on going. Last night I was happy to be done. I threw some speed workouts in there too where I went as fast as I could for 20 seconds or so.

Wish me luck tomorrow and thanks for all the advice I've seen on here so far, ladies.

[itsalldownhill]

Okay, the achievement for this week actually belongs to my family. My two youngest kids (ages 9 and 11) and my husband and I went on a 22 mile ride, and they made it at an average of 8.9 mph! My hubbie was on a fixed gear (not intentionally, his Trek's gears were broken), and the two kids were on their old beat up BMX bikes, and it was 93 degrees out and muggy...they did so well that we got the eldest a cheapo mountain bike (he really wants a new racing bmx, but we're going to do more bike tours so thought a geared bike would be appropo) and the youngest got a Specialized Hotrock because he wants to learn to ride like Mom

They are having so much fun on these rides that as we're planning our vacation (in two weeks!) they want to incorporate a lot of biking! Yay!

As far as my achievements go, my mileage for last week was 88.9 miles - 10 miles better than the previous week. I also got my bike fitted today, which should make a huge difference in my riding ability. My seat was, as I suspected, too narrow for my sitbones (155, in case anyone is wondering), and he moved it back (which will alleviate my knee pain) and up...then he changed my handlebar stem to a shorter one to make the reach better.

I was so proud, after we were all done the fitter said "you've got a sweet little ride there" - I'm proud of my little girl (Jamis Satellite Sport mens). It's not a common bike around here since no one carries them, but it's a good solid steel bike, and seems to be very versatile.

So very happy for a good biking week and an excited family!

[itsalldownhill]

hansbrea - forgot to ask - how did your race go?

[tytbody]

Hi Mike and welcome

[Boox2]

Hi, I'm a total newbie too!! Was riding my really old mountain bike on roads for June & half of July, then decided to get a proper road bike. Have had it for a little over a month and have been lurking on this site for about a month too . This week I managed to install a new seat, pedals and shoes/cleats. Was so excited that it all worked out and felt pretty good. Got it all for a good price too so I was excited as I had been riding on SPD mtn bike pedals & really old mtn bike shoes (that were too small) .

Went on a ride today and had to stop to make a few adjustments to all the new gear but all in all it went great! Even finally broke my barrier and pulled out an average of 16.0 mph on a 40 mile ride... this was 1 mph better than 3 weeks ago so even though not considered 'fast', i was psyched!

I've been enjoying this forum, really inspirational & have learned a lot so far... thanks!

[Velocivixen]

Today while riding on the flats in a bike lane with a strong headwind, and out of desperation, I began coasting and gently reached down to my water bottle on the down tube, pulled it out of it's cage, used my teeth to pull the spout open and drank! The best part was that I didn't crash! I gently put it back into the cage. I did it by feel and kept my eyes on the road. Whoohoo, I'm making progress. I really didn't even practice I just did it.