New (and Clueless) in Seattle...

[dex]

...way new and way clueless, actually.

Other than occasional leisurely trips to neighborhood coffee shops or grocery stores on my 1973 3-speed green Schwinn Breeze (her name is Anabelle...that's her in the avatar), I haven't really ridden a bike in years.

But, since I'm a glutton for punishment, and a habitual setter of goals that like to rub up against the border of unrealistic, I've decided that I'm going to do the Seattle to Portland ride this summer--in two days, obviously...even *I'm* not so silly to try it in one. This is mostly motivated by my frustration at not being able to row this season, because I broke a couple of ribs in late January which effectively kept me away from any kind of training for about six weeks...and meant that I missed the last push of winter conditioning heading into the beginning of the season and the formation of boat line-ups.

So, since I needed to get back into shape, and I'm the sort of person that needs a goal to work toward to feel like I'm really doing something...I chose to get on a bike. Unfortunately, I managed to take a very light social smoking habit and turn it into a stress smoking habit while I was recovering from my injuries. I smoked my last cigarette last Saturday, so it's been just over a week...and my lungs still kind of hate me a little.

After my first attempted trip to a bike shop, I almost gave up on the idea completely--it wasn't good, it was far from good...I was torn between decking someone, setting the whole place on fire, or just bursting into rage-filled tears. But after I managed to steel my resolve and walk through the doors of another shop, I found helpful people who were willing to answer my questions and fiddle with bikes until we found some that fit well enough to send me out to play on in traffic. And after about four of those, we found a frame size that actually worked for my short-legged, long-torsoed, chunky body without putting me in any kind of weird pain. So, now I'm waiting for my new 53cm LeMond Reno, which should be built up and ready for a fitting late next week. Yay!

I'm sure I'll have tons of questions--such as, where in the heck should I take my bike to ride it, especially when I'm first getting started?--but at the moment, I'm just trying to get my brain settled into the idea that I'm taking up a new (and not inexpensive) hobby/sport/activity--because goodness knows, rowing and weightlifting didn't take up enough of my "free" time.

[KnottedYet]

The Burke-Gilman trail and Sammamish trail are good places to start. Nice and flat with lots of parks and coffee stops and bike shops and such along the way. (and the RedHook brewery, and Hales brewery, and such) Riding on the trails might be a good way to get to know your new bike without having to deal with traffic and hills at the same time.

What part of Seattle are you in? There are lots of TE'ers in greater Seattle.

[dex]

I've heard of the Burke-Gilman...maybe I'm not *quite* as clueless as I thought. Thanks for the suggestion!

I'm in the north Cap Hill area...above Eastlake, north of St. Mark's, south of Roanoke. *Everything* around me is a hill of some sort.

[mountainchick]

Welcome to biking!

I just started last fall and am loving it. Enjoy your time out!

[KnottedYet]

From where you are, you can also easily get to the Arboretum to ride, but sometimes that's crowded. There's also the road that runs along the lake (oh, someone help me, I've drawn a blank!) which is a major bike route and is sometimes closed to car traffic for races. It's nice and flat and cars know there are a ton of bikes on it.

Lake Washington Boulevard! Yeah, that's it! (I had to go get my bike route map, because I couldn't remember!)

[mimitabby]

Yes, Dex, welcome to Seattle! I live south of you a little bit. Maybe we can do some rides together! yes, if you can get up over your hill, Lake Washington BLVD is there, it's beautiful and there are lots of bikes.

Your new bike is beautiful and is fully capable of doing the STP, actually, you COULD HAVE done it on your old green bike too, if you were stubborn.

You have 3 months to get in shape and I would be happy to do some of your training rides with you. I should mention that the Cascade bike club
has a lot of training rides already.

And those hills? Those are your friends! Right now they are all high and annoying, but they are your back yard and someday soon they will not phase you a bit!

[dex]

...you COULD HAVE done it on your old green bike too, if you were stubborn.

One of my friends told me this as well...but I also *really* like reasearching and shopping, and I love new toys, so this seemed like a reasonable excuse to indulge those loves a little. Also, I figured the added motivation of shiny, pretty new bike might make me more eager to ride. (And, um, carrying Anabelle up the flight of stairs from my front door to street level has never been a picnic--she's a pretty hefty girl, not entirely unlike me--and that's one of the things that's been a barrier to taking her out more often.)

I did notice the training rides on the Cascade site. Here's another of my dirty little secrets (amazing what people will reveal on the internet to relative strangers, but would take hours to admit over coffee with new friends): I have a little social anxiety. The idea of showing up somewhere to do something I'm not very good at/knowledgeable about (yet) with a bunch of people I don't know kind of makes me queasy. I'll get over that, but only after I've convinced myself I'm not a total disaster on two wheels.

I'm truly bowled over by how nice everyone here seems. Y'all are great!

[mimitabby]

well, get used to your new bike in the privacy of your own company and then maybe look us up.
I am always looking for someone to ride with, particularly someone close to home.

[dex]

I just realized how that might have sounded. If it came across as off-putting, that wasn't intentional. I'd love the chance to ride with you, or anyone else, I just wouldn't want to hold people up...which is probably my actual big fear at this point.

[teigyr]

Dex,

There is such a wealth of information on this website, isn't there!!! Seriously, the people up here are a great group and are all very supportive. I know how it feels to be concerned about holding someone up so it's important to be honest about your limitations but, maybe, it's good to have a contingency plan with who you ride with. Say you go out with an informal group, maybe there is an understanding that you will all meet up somewhere if they get ahead?

The bike trails are really fantastic and are a good place to get a feel for your new bike. You've got a lot of changes going on and I think it's normal to feel a bit out of your element.

Oh, if nobody said it before, both King and Snohomish counties have free bike trail maps. Those would give you some excellent riding places until you're ready to venture out with other people!!

I'm sure you will do fine and enjoy your new bike! And I second what Mimitabby said earlier, any time you want to ride, just say the word.

[KnottedYet]

Me, too! I'm a fairly slow rider most of the time, so don't worry about holding me up!

I have a double on my road bike (and it isn't a compact double) so I really walk just about every hill. Until I get a triple or a compact double on her, I prefer to do social rides on the nice flat bike trails. Especially if it involves a little visit to RedHook Brewery... hee hee!

[anorange]

Welcome Dex,
I too am thinking about doing the STP, and have partaken in a few of the Cascade Bike Clubs training rides. I'm still not sure about the group riding thing. I get scared when people act in a reckless manner ( at least to my perception). But I'll keep going to the training rides and see what happens. I'll keep you posted. I won't be there every weekend, but if you do show up I'm in the 12-14mph group, the blue SOMA bike with orange handlebars.
Once I get this training schedule figured out a bit I'd love a social ride to Redhook

[dex]

w00t! I brought my new bike home tonight. I'm so happy! She's so pretty! (To me, anyway...and that's all that matters.)

I can't wait to ride her tomorrow. (I'm practically bouncing up and down in my chair right now.)

[teigyr]

Oh please oh please oh please???

Remember that ride offer! I'm off sun-tues and am always up for whatever distance someone wants to do.

Have FUN! And do you have a name for her yet?

[dex]

Heh. I was planning on pictures tomorrow when the sun is out (because my apartment is, um, well...a disaster area, really). Maybe I'll try to snap a couple tonight, just to see how they come out...

And yeah, I'm a perpetual namer of things, so I knew she would be getting a name as soon as she was mine. Her name is Lola. (Feel free to sing...I won't be offended.)

I'm so excited (and a little bit nervous). Provided I don't hurt myself tomorrow, y'all can probably count on me piping up for a ride pretty soon.

Yay!

ETA: Ok, I tried to snap a picture. Don't mind the dirty floors. I'm just a horrible housekeeper..I can't even tell you the last time I swept the floor. We won't talk about the dust on the shelves around my place.