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Post by justdar on Apr 1, 2006 10:07:16 GMT -5
Another biker here! 95% Roadie 5% Trails. I'm lucky enough to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, so if it's not raining I can ride all year round. Well some nutcases ride in the rain, but I don't want to risk a fall because I don't bounce so good. During the week I spin twice and I usually get out for one ride of at least 50 miles on one day and a short hilly ride on the other day of the weekend. One thing I learned about biking long distances is how important it is to fuel yourself while you are riding. For many years I figured I had enough 'built in stores' in my big giant butt, that I could fuel myself off of that. Big mistake! Once I started eating a little more frequently while pedaling, I found I didn't gorge so much afterwards and I was able to pedal further, faster and longer. You may all already know this, so I apologize if I'm preaching to the choir. It was just such an epiphany for me and really helped me finally drop the extra weight. It's much easier to go up hill with fifty pounds less of baggage. Then I bought a lighter bike and OH MY GOD what a difference that made. The other day out on a route I said to my friend, didn't there used to be a really tough hill on this ride? She looked at me like I was on drugs and said, we went up in ten miles ago. ROFLMAO, it didn't even phase me, when a few years ago it had reduced me to tears. Xena, two tips about bike shopping. Know how much you want to spend, the range in prices is HUGE. And most important be 100% sure that you are getting a bike that is the absolute right size for you. Shop around and be sure to test ride them. There are lots of great bike mfgrs, but the sweetest bike in the world can be hell on your body if it's not the right fit for you.
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Post by mary on Apr 1, 2006 14:14:36 GMT -5
I'm getting the riding itch.... It is such a beautiful day out. I also need a new bike. I have a small, more mountain bike than anything, that I bought new smaller tires for last year to keep up with my road bike friends....LOL I'm out there sweating bullets and their cruising!!! So I need a new bike, because I'm tired (literally) of always trying to keep up and ready to die at the end of the ride. The other caveat is someone stole my husbands bike this winter so he needs a new one too. I'm think of something in the $1000.00 range...I'm only 5'1" and it feels like everyone is trying to sell me a little kids bike. Suggestions?
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Post by vita77 on Apr 1, 2006 16:50:36 GMT -5
Justdar, I too learned about fuel the hard way. As a WW and a diabetic, I figured I could handle it with just water. On my first long, hot ride, I suffered to a rest stop and noticed that I was the only one not eating. One of my fellow cyclists insisted on sharing. Now I always carry bars, gels, and gatorade for longer rides, especially if the temp is 75 or higher. Mary, you can get a fine road bike for a grand. Any good local bike shop will take your height into account right away. At 5'1", you should definitely look at WSD (Women's Specific Design) bikes. They accommodate not only shorter statures, but also female geometry - shorter arms, etc. Here's one info link from the Trek web site: www2.trekbikes.com/us/en/WSD/WSD_Difference.phpGood luck!
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Post by mary on Apr 1, 2006 21:13:15 GMT -5
Well I trotted right on over to the Trek website.... Bless you for the hint, it describes all the troubles I have been having with killer shoulder aches and numb fingers. I have to stop every 3-4 miles and shake out my arms and hands to regain sensation. I am anxious to get looking, let you know what I find! Again thanks for the info.
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Post by vita77 on May 7, 2006 7:28:25 GMT -5
Attention would-be bike buyers! There's a very nice 2-page article on performance road bikes and helmets in the June 2006 issue of Consumer Reports. They reviewed performance road bikes (traditional road bikes with a more upright geometry), "fitness bikes" for workouts or commuting, and "comfort bikes" for leisure riding.
There are 3 best buys in the road bike category - the Giant OCR1 for $1000, the Cannondale Synapse 4 for $1050, and the Raleigh Cadent 1.0 for $650.
The article includes some beginner tips on selecting a bike, and a list of extras to consider. If you can't find a copy of the article, shoot me a private email. I'll scan mine and mail you a copy.
I'm not riding today. Watching the drizzle outside, and recovering from some soreness after my 60-mile AIDS charity ride yesterday. Thankfully, the weather was perfect, and it was a great ride.
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Post by turnergrll on May 12, 2006 21:07:02 GMT -5
Brand new to Core and this website - and also a cyclist! I ride both road and trails, but have spent more time on the latter in the past two seasons. First, my "newest" bike is a freeride bike that is a total blast to kick around on with a 7" travel fork and 6" travel rear shock - lots of fun to ride over, off, and down all sorts of gnarly stuff. ;D Second, two of my favorite riding partners have four legs instead of two which makes them much more conducive to off-road: my 8 year old black lab and my 5 year old lab mix. We have killer trails here in MA plus several lift-serviced areas within reasonable reach - my current favorite for downhill is Diablo Freeride Park in NJ. What an adrenaline rush. Of course I don't just ride downhill, so hopefully pedaling such a long travel 38 lb bike on cross county and trail rides is giving me some added strength. And I feel like I am absolutely flying when I get out on the road bike (Serotta Concours). Hoping to put more mileage in on the road this season which should help me get back into the lean shape I was in a couple of years ago. I put 3000 miles in on the road and took 20 lbs off the girl without even thinking about what I was or wasn't eating! Hopefully a balanced nutritional approach will have me both healthy and lean in the near future. We are in the midst of what seems like 40 days and 40 nights of rain, so after some great riding last weekend I have been banished to the gym. No spin bikes or classes yet so I am suffering on the elliptical machine for now and trying to mix in some strength training. BTW, I normally ride all year conditions permitting (i.e., snow/ice) as I find that the right gear can keep you pretty warm. If it is ridiculously cold and somewhat icy or good snow pack, getting out on the trails is a nice alternative to what would be seriously scary conditions on the road. Plus, you don't generate as much headwind! Hope this thread stays active - keep up the posts with what everyone is doing! Jen
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Post by vita77 on May 13, 2006 6:59:30 GMT -5
Wow, Jen....I thought I was nutty. But a year-round road cyclist in NC is positively tame compared with a year-round mountain biker in MA! Welcome. I have several bike buddies trying to coerce me out on a mountain bike. I point out to them that I'm old enough to be their mom - and in some cases, their grandmother - and that that means I've got a bit too much sense to take the risk with these old bones . Off to sweep my sedate little road ride this morning....
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Post by turnergrll on May 13, 2006 8:22:38 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcome, Vita! Wish I was getting out on a bike today...but looks like a hike for me instead with the inclement weather. Too much heavy rain to be out on wheels whether knobby or not!
You should think about giving the trails a shot - one of my best friends just turned 62 last month and he's still ripping it up! Besides, that's what they make full-face helmets and armor for... ;D
Hope you had a wonderful ride!
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Post by pookie on May 13, 2006 14:20:13 GMT -5
Welcome Jen! I am not a cyclist (maybe someday) but I wanted to pop in here and say HI because I was born and raised in the Northampton area. I live in Idaho now, which is a biker's paradise, but I miss home terribly!
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Post by krb on May 13, 2006 17:56:23 GMT -5
Jen, quite an endorsement for trail biking. I take spinning classes, and really like intense excercise, so maybe I'll need to give this a try. I'm not too old at 41 am I? NO!!! Of course not. I went to school in NoHo area, and lived there for several years, and still get back there every July to visit friends. I love that area, and may retire there when the time comes. Welcome to the board. Karen
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Post by vita77 on May 17, 2006 6:45:38 GMT -5
Just want to remind everyone that May 17th is Ride of Silence day. Cyclists nationwide participate in local rides, riding slowly and in total silence. We do this to honor cyclists who've been injured or killed while riding. www.rideofsilence.org/main.phpWhether you're out riding or driving today, please remember the need for everyone to share the road. Thanks.
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Post by pookie on May 17, 2006 14:03:24 GMT -5
Thanks Vita! I never heard of this--will post on a few other boards I frequent. Even tho I don't ride, I do walk a lot on roads without sidewalks and I often accompany my client in a motorized wheelchair. I am always angered--every single time-- at how close drivers come to us and how they seem not to see us and how fast they go past us! It's really amazing.
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Post by xenagoddess on May 17, 2006 16:01:58 GMT -5
Well now I can join in this discussion. I finally went and bought at new bike!
I got a Specialized Sirrus comp whatever that means. It's a lovely dark blue and I am going on a ride right now.
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Post by vita77 on May 17, 2006 19:33:10 GMT -5
Yaay Cynthia! It means you got a really nice bike. My commuter bike is the baby sister of yours, and it's done me proud for 3 years. Have a blast!!
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Post by xenagoddess on May 19, 2006 13:58:55 GMT -5
Thanks! I like it a lot. The only problem I had with it was that the pedals are so small that my foot doesn't really fit on it. The end results was I was getting a little tingling on the outside of my feet by the end of the ride. Should I buy new pedals or buy the clip on shoes that would work on these pedals?
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