Want to start Riding but feeling a bit overwhelmed and defeated.

[ojoscafes]

Hi Everyone!!

I am so excited to find this forum. I have been researching and read through the forum. Ok, here is my story, lol. My husband started cycling about 4 yrs ago. He started with an Trek FX and then went to a Fuji road bike. Anyway, now that my kids are older and I have a 12 year old that can babysit. I really want to get into biking. Hubby is gone quite a bit, he works in the oil rigs. So I will be doing some/most riding on my own. Long story short, he took me out to look at bikes. Well, I haven't ridden a bike since probably Jr. High. My first and only bike what a red boys bike with no gear and the brakes were in the pedals. Lets say the test drive on the road bike wasnt pretty. I nearly crashed though I was able to slowed down in time. I kind freaked and totally forgot to squeeze the brakes. I came off that bike shaking but i refuse to give it up. I then tested the FX and i felt more stable on it. But my husband and mine concern is i will outgrow the FX quickly. He knows me well and know once I start, I will want to do distance and rides. But since I never really learn to ride a "big Kid" bike. Would it be a better idea for me to get a box store bike so I can get my "riding legs" back, I could then handed down to my daughter. I am 5 foot and we were thinking to get me a 24 inch that she can have. Then I could get the road bike. The other option is to get an FX bike, and ride that for atleast for a year and then get a road bike? Last but not least, just put on my big girl panties and get the road bike and try to ride it as much as I can when he is in town and hope I will get the hang of it, so I can start with the short bike trails and slowly gain the mileage??

All insight, encouragement and thoughts are welcome!! I really want to start biking but the start of it seems to overwhelming.

Thanks

[thekarens]

First of all, welcome!

Just my .02, but if I were in your situation I'd get the road bike. You'd be surprised how quickly you'll get used to it and why waste the money? At least that's what I'd say if it were me When we got our road bikes last Sept I hadn't been on one since I was a teenager (I'm now 43.) At first I was extremely wobbly, but truly it doesn't take long until you start feeling at home. If you have a subdivision you can practice there or take it to the school parking lot while school is out and practice there.

[murielalex]

Only you can decide what's comfortable for you. That said, I "outgrew" my Trek FX (nice bike btw) in about a month, and sold it to a co-worker for a significant loss to get a road bike. I'm wondering if you know anyone who has a FXish bike, or even a cruiser type, you can borrow for a couple weeks, just to get going, build your confidence, and then make a decision. You might even be able to find a cheap one on Craig's List. Better than investing in a road bike you're too afraid to ride.

Oh....and welcome!

[OakLeaf]

My general feeling about that kind of thing is that it's silly to buy something because it's something you might want in some potential future. Get what you want and what makes you comfortable NOW.

[thekarens]

My general feeling about that kind of thing is that it's silly to buy something because it's something you might want in some potential future. Get what you want and what makes you comfortable NOW.

I agree, but I read the OP's post as saying that she really wanted the road bike, but was afraid of it. If you really want the FX or a Walmart type bike, or whatever, you should get that.

My own experience is that I got the entry level bike and then a month and a half later, like murielalex, I sold it for half of what I paid originally and upgraded.

If you think you'd be happier with the FX you definitely should get it, but if it's a matter of being afraid of the bike I truly think you can quickly learn.

[goldfinch]

If your daughter is going to need a bike I see nothing wrong with practicing on what she will ride before you get a bike. How tall is your daughter? She might fit a bike with 26 inch wheels. I sold my Trek 800 mountain bike, with a very small 13 inch frame but with 26 inch wheels, to parents who bought it for their pre-teen daughter who was probably only about 4'9".

One thing to keep in mind is that people who post on bike forums tend to be avid cyclists and lean towards bikes that are used for a lot of riding. There are a whole lot of people who are completely happy on hybrids or even mountain bikes that they ride like hybrids. For example, my spouse likes to ride but maybe 10 to 15 miles max in a day. He rides a hybrid and a mountain bike. He isn't interested in a road bike.

It may be hard to know where you end up. Unfortunately, sometimes the first bike you get is the bike that tells you what your second bike should be. I guess my bottom line is the same as Oak's. Buy what you want to ride now. Not what you might want someday. Not what your husband thinks you might want.

Good luck in your search!

[Penny4]

Welcome Ojo...

I'll tell you my story I hadn't ridden a bike since i was a teenager. One summer (as an adult) I bought a big box comfort bike. After riding a few weeks, I wished I had a bike that could go faster. THe next summer i bought an FX. Based on my goals, the sales guy strongly suggested a road bike. However, I REFUSED to even sit on one....not me, no way, no how will I ever ride a road bike! I rode the FX for a summer, and was able to keep up roadies, but definitely in the slower groups. At the end of that summer, I decided I wanted a a road bike and then bought one

Now, with all of that being said, I'm not sure I would have felt comfortable right away on the road bike instead of the FX, but i think if i would have adapted just fine.

If you get a road bike, you should have someone spend some time giving you a lesson on how to use it. I never had a geared bike as a kid, and barely knew how to work the big box bike. I actually watched a lot of you tube videos and read articles on line to learn how to shift. (I didn't really have anyone to ride with at that time.)

Is budget a factor for you? If not, you could get an FX (or similar) now, and then keep it for light trail riding, knocking around town kind of riding in the future, if you upgrade to a road bike.

Could you rent a road bike for a day to see how you feel on it?

Good luck in your search! Lots of folks post this exact same dilemma when starting out....

[thekarens]

Congrats! I'm sure you'll be very happy with your choice. PS...we love pics :-)

[ojoscafes]

Just came from being measured. I am sooooo excited, this will be the longest week of my life, lol!! I will post pictures as soon as I get it.

[Penny4]

Very cool! Congratulations! It will definitely be a long week, but oh so exciting when you go to pick it up

[Penny4]

Oh, and i just realized that is a 2014? Great...now I have to go look at the Trek site to see what other 2014's are out

[ojoscafes]

Well, I finally got my bike. We picked up yesterday, and they made sure it seem to be fitted correctly. I rode around the block a few times last time. Then this morning, I went for a ride with my husband and son. We were planning a 5 mile to 10 mile ride. Well, on the way up the hill I somehow tried to stop and trip and fell with bike and all. But am fine, barely scratch my knee. I was a bit shaken up, but my husband being the Marine he is, encourage me to get back on and atleast finish the loop. I did. It ended up being about a little over a mile. But my sit bones were really killing me. So, I came home and they went on.I did get padded shorts.

Maybe I will venture out tonight. Also as promised here are a couple of pictures of my new bike.

[thekarens]

Beautiful bike and good for you getting out there!