Things I Learned Today

[Velocivixen]

I'm a relative newby and went for a 21.95 mile ride today. It was broken into two parts: a friend came to my house and I took her to a town that was two towns south of my house and back (12.25 miles); then rode to my DH's work, stopped for Starbucks, stopped on the way back at a LBS, then home. I learned a lot:
- water bottle cages don't look 'that' bad on my bike (bought/installed 2).
- lip gloss attracts flying insects especially gnats.
- pedaling down hill in a harder gear actually made me feel MORE stable on my bike versus riding the brakes and praying all the way down.
- going down hill without applying the brakes is more fun than I thought (overcoming my fear of falling).
- riding nearly 22 miles, with breaks along the way, was easy for me.
- LBS dude informed me that I am way past due for new brake pads and I have an appointment to get them replaced (can you tell yet that I use my brakes a lot?!)
I also worked on cadence per some of your recommendations I read on another post on the New Rider page.

Anyway, that's it. For me it was a wonderful day for riding. It was just over 70, sunny with a light breeze.


Did you learn anything?

[Aquila]

The point of hills is to go down them as fast as you can! (There are probably hills and conditions where that's not a good idea, but in general...) That's my inner 12 year old speaking

Glad you enjoyed your ride!

[marni]

and you will also soon discover the human fly paper symdrome where in you ride through a cloud of gnats or midges and have to stop and scrap them off of you sweaty sunscreen coated arms, legs and face with a stick to get it of the ick factor- don't forget to reapply the sunscreen. As for those that get into your mouth, consider it a bit of extra protein!

Good rides are always excellent. Glad yours was both.

[Velocivixen]

Yes, hills are exhilarating, however my goal has always been to make it to the bottom alive! I have this fear that a wheel is going to go flying off or that I will somehow "lose control" and crash. Neither, of course, has ever come close to happening, but that's how the mind works. I increasingly go faster and faster over time. The fear has to do with my inexperience and if I have to make an evasive move and I'm going fast I might just feel the need to slam on my brakes (even if that's not the best thing to do). I just don't want to fall.

[redrhodie]

Excellent! You're doing really well! You've overcome a huge obstacle with hills. They should be more fun, now.

[Bike Writer]

"Did you learn anything?" Yes I did yesterday on my ride, I got a new bike a week ago and went from have 7 choices for gearing options to having 21 choices. Most of my riding has undulations and inclines but yesterday I rode a flat rail trail so I had the option to explore the range of gears and I learned to love the largest chain ring up front! It taught me a lot about power and a way to increase speed.

Glad to hear you are conquering your fear of downhills. Personally, I love them and the thrill I get from them.

[Velocivixen]

@Bikerider, what did you get? I may have missed it if you posted. Did you get the Surly Sutra or is that one you already have? Aren't gears fun? I recently started exploring #1 & #3 up front. I usually keep it in 2 & 5.

[Bike Writer]

Velo, I got a Specalized Expedition Sport, low entry. My old bike is a Schwinn in a comfort-town-cruiser style.

Yes, I love all the available gears and learned a lot today too as I was able to apply the combos that I tried out on the flats yesterday to the hills and undulations I rode today. What an amazing difference it makes! I detailed out more of today's ride and the gear combos on my blog.

I really really love my new bike.

[TrekTheKaty]

I'm so slow going up hills, that going down them fast as possible is absolutely NECESSARY

Congrats

[nscrbug]

I'm so slow going up hills, that going down them fast as possible is absolutely NECESSARY

Congrats

Ditto here!!

[buffybike]

I just have to say that I love reading posts from people who are riding their first 20-miler, doing their first group ride, etc.. I remember all my firsts and how exciting they were as well as the great sense of accomplishment that came as a result. For new cyclists, I really recommend Selene Yeager's book, A Woman's Guide to Cycling. I learned so much by reading it and was able to avoid a lot of newbie mistakes because of it.

[Savra]

To be fair - I read that book and loved it. I'm still pretty sure I made a bunch of newbie mistakes on my first group ride.

[Velocivixen]

@ buffybike & Savra, I just looked the book up online at my local library's website and it's actually called: Every Woman's Guide to Cycling...". There is a book called "A woman's guide to cycling" by Susan Weaver. I put the one by Selene Yeager as a request and it's due on Monday, so I should get it Tuesday and will have a happy read!
One LBS in Portland started their Beginner Bike Group Rides last Sunday. They're every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and they are for beginner cyclists or folks who want to learn how to ride in a group. They're out of Portland, so it's definitely urban riding, though they go on "bike friendly" streets and trails. I may go tomorrow!
Whoo hoo.

I have another question and I will post as another thread. You all have been super helpful! You all ROCK!