Finally....

[Toni]

I have had my Trek 5000 since Monday night. Have not ridden, because of weather, work, etc. The real reason is because I got clipless pedals and the fear of them after reading the clipless horror stories on this forum. Yesterday I went to a bike store to buy the power grips. They talked me out of it. So, I decided to suck it up, and go ride. I survived. I did not fall.... yet.

I had the time of my life (insert music here). If you are not blinded by the whiteness of my legs, perhaps the reflectors (which will be removed) will do.

My GF also rode for the first time in 10+ years. She has a Trek Pilot 2.1 manbike. Flat pedals. Whimp, but I love her. She will get the clipless eventually. She will also be joining this forum (probably with a 7 of 9 avator). And btw, her legs are just as white as mine. Sunblock is our new best friend.

[Kano]

Cool bike, Toni! And EXCELLENT jersey! Does the jersey have a story?

I understand the fear -- the stories had me going for quite a while too, and when I finally got the pedals and tried them out, I wondered what was all the fuss about! Granted, I may still fall some day, but it seems like as long as one is thinking about what one is doing while riding, it should be a pretty easy thing to avoid, with the exception of the true emergency anyway...

Good for you out and riding, and for your GF too!

Karen in Boise

[LauraZena]

Hello -

And I am the GF. Check out those white arms! Are we sportin' the look or what? And yes honey, I have my 7 of 9 avatar. Resistance is futile. Here I am sporting the Trek Pilot 2.1 Manbike. And I do realize that this company has nothing to do with Star Trek. The bike is a beautiful pearly white, so it goes with everything I wear and the legs (and the helmet too).

Sunblock, sunblock, and more sunblock. I have vitiligo (the Michael Jackson disease - white patches that don't tan with the rest of the skin. If I get a tan, the white patches stick out that much more), so sunblock is very important. It is a small miracle that I am willing to do something outside.

One thing I love about my new hobby is the socks. I can't get enough. They are affordable (unlike the jerseys), and I can fit into the mediums (unlike the jerseys).

Look forward to becoming a regular on this forum.

[Toni]

There is a story to that jersey! GF & I went shopping for cycling clothes (that should be a sport unto itself). We were trying on jerseys. This one had an $8 price tag on it. We thought, "Must be a cheap piece of crap. But it's $8, let's try it on." We grabbed it and another size of the same jersey. The other jersey had a $54 price tag. OMG! The $8 jersey which fit was mistagged. Then the register gave it a 50% discount! That's right - $4. Lucky me. I hope I didn't jinx my good kharma by sharing this great story.

[Bikingmomof3]

Toni,
Your bike is lovely. I too have a Trek and I too went clipless. It is fun, is it not? I love the power I have with clipless pedals. Enjoy riding!

[Bikingmomof3]

Welcome to TE LauraZena. I too have a "manbike". Your Trek is awesome. I almost went home with the Pilot, but ended up in love with the 1000. Enjoy riding! BTW, I think the cycling socks are aweome.

[snapdragen]

Welcome ladies - from a fellow fish belly white girl. Maybe we need to come up with a secret handshake....

[Running Mommy]

Welcome ladies! You guys already seem like you are a kick in the pants! Glad to have you here!! Be sure to share your tales from the road in the daily rides threads! I always like reading about rides in other parts of the country.
Stay safe!
Denise

[tygab]

I have a Trek Pilot 2.1 (WSD) and I am clipless... just remember almost all of us who are using clipless went through The Fear to get here. I know I did, and for the first 2 months of them I would clip out like a football field away from anything that seemed to warrant it... now it is pretty much second nature, and I really like them. stick with it, you will be ok! Oh and make sure to set the tension low so it's very easy to clip out and in. You can always tighten it later.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Very beautiful bikes!
Welcome to the forum, and do share the little triumphs as well as the big ones!
Also- you don't need to be tan to be cool....