New to TE, returning to cycling

[cyclingmama]

Hi all. I've been lurking here for a couple of weeks now, and have been really impressed by the knowledge, experience, and willingness to help out and provide support in a non-judgmental way in these forums. I've decided to just jump in!

A little about me . . . In 1998 my then-boyfriend, now my DH of almost 8 years, bought me a Trek hybrid as a birthday gift. He was a recreational cyclist at the time, riding 50-100 miles a week during the warm weather months. I was hooked immediately, and within a year we both rode an MS 150 (150 miles in 2 days), on our hybrids! Then we both invested in nice road bikes, and we continued doing one or two multi-day charity rides each summer for the next couple years. I stopped cycling when I became pregant with our daughter in October 2002, with all good intentions of jumping right back in post-baby, but it just didn't happen. I had a son in 2005, and life with two under 5 plus a demanding career (I'm an attorney, but don't hate me for it!! has been challenging to say the least.

I've been really really missing cycling lately, to the point where I have palpable physical urges when I drive past cyclists on the road, and I have determined to get back into it. Because I believe that if you are going to do something, you might as well do it in a big way, I've set my sights on a local century ride at the end of July. I joined a gym in January and have been focusing on improving my overall strength and fitness, and trying to drop a few pounds. In addition to general cardio and strenth training, I have been taking spin classes once or twice a week. Now that the weather is finally warming up, I am ready to hit the pavement again.

Because its been so long since I've ridden my road bike (and its been through an interstate move and a few months in storage) I want to make sure it has a full check-up and tune-up before my maiden voyage, but I'm planning to bring it in to the bike shop this weekend, and hopefully get out one day next week.

Century training will be challenging between work and kids, but I am planning to ride early in the morning twice a week, from 5:30-7am or so, and ride to work on Fridays (about 8 miles each way) while DH takes on daycare drop-off and pick-up, and then a long ride on Saturdays. I'll continue my lunch-hour spin class on Tuesdays as well.

I'm sure I'll have lots of questions as I get back into it. Already the commuters thread has been a huge help in trying to figure out the logistics of biking to work on Fridays. Those of you who have managed to successfully train for a century with small kids and a full-time job, I'd love to hear your stories!

[Grog]

Cool story! Welcome back to cycling! Enjoy the training for that century!

[tulip]

commuting by bike is the best way to incorporate cycling into general life. It's transportation, not only recreation.

spin classes will keep you fit, though. I'm sure you'll enjoy getting out into the beautiful spring weather on your bike, though!

Welcome to TE.

[cyclingmama]

thanks for the welcome!

Tulip, I would LOVE to bike-commute to work everyday, esp. with gas prices being what they are, but I have to get two kids and all their stuff to daycare. The daycare is much closer to my work than to DH's, so its hard for him to drop off and pick up. He can do it once a week so I can bike in, but I can't count on much more than that. In two more years when I can put both kids on the school bus in the morning I'm there!