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Post by alibama on Aug 26, 2014 13:40:22 GMT
If so I would love to talk with you! Love to get pointers from someone with experience!
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scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
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Post by scorpeao on Aug 26, 2014 14:45:38 GMT
Well, I cycle, but I don't know that I have any pointers.
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Post by dazeepetals on Aug 26, 2014 14:47:00 GMT
I am! Actually, my DH and I both are very avid cyclist. He currently manages one of the biggest bike shops in town, so he's very knowledgable about the sport.
Ask any questions you may have!
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Post by snappinsami on Aug 26, 2014 14:54:17 GMT
I'm just starting to get into it. As in, I started using clipless pedals two weeks ago (and have only had one near-fall! yeah me!). I'd love to have someone to talk to about it too!
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Post by whipea on Aug 26, 2014 15:10:00 GMT
BMX rider so not sure it counts. First and most important suggestion is wear a helmet no matter what kind of riding you do. Get the best helmet you can afford, go to a good bike shop to insure you get the right fit.
If you just started riding, do not get talked into clipless peddles until you feel confident and ready and practice releasing them.
Last suggestion, though it is temping do not over buy equipment including the bike until you are sure you will continue riding. Buy a good bike that fits you and the type of riding you will be doing from reputable bike shop. Don't skimp, but you will not need to drop thousands on your first bike. See if riding is for you and as you progress reward yourself with an upgraded bike.
Hope this helps.
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Post by dazeepetals on Aug 26, 2014 15:15:20 GMT
Just so you know all helmets have to have the same safety regulations, no matter if they are $20 or $250. The higher costs give more luxury specifications, i.e. cooling vents, aerodynamics, etc. So don't think your $20 walmart helmet won't protect your head less than the expensive ones.
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Post by dazeepetals on Aug 26, 2014 15:17:31 GMT
I have all kinds of tips, but would need to know what type of riding you are doing. Are you a leisure cyclists who has a comfort bike or a road cyclists who goes for longer group rides on weekends?
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scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
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Post by scorpeao on Aug 26, 2014 15:17:46 GMT
Just so you know all helmets have to have the same safety regulations, no matter if they are $20 or $250. The higher costs give more luxury specifications, i.e. cooling vents, aerodynamics, etc. So don't think your $20 walmart helmet won't protect your head less than the expensive ones. I was also told that the cheaper helmets use styrofoam which breaks down with age. So, if you go the cheaper route you need to replace your helmet every 2 years. I don't know what the more expensive ones have in them, but they are supposed to last until it takes a hit.
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scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
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Post by scorpeao on Aug 26, 2014 15:19:12 GMT
I'm just starting to get into it. As in, I started using clipless pedals two weeks ago (and have only had one near-fall! yeah me!). I'd love to have someone to talk to about it too! The day I went clipless I fell doing a U-turn! I've been in them for a year now, and I'm still scared I'm going to fall.
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Post by snappinsami on Aug 26, 2014 15:30:23 GMT
I'm just starting to get into it. As in, I started using clipless pedals two weeks ago (and have only had one near-fall! yeah me!). I'd love to have someone to talk to about it too! The day I went clipless I fell doing a U-turn! I've been in them for a year now, and I'm still scared I'm going to fall. I know I'll fall eventually. Everyone I know who's use them has. But it's part of the learning process. And the benefits greatly outweigh the risk of falling, IMO, so I'm sticking with it!
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Post by whipea on Aug 26, 2014 15:33:01 GMT
Just so you know all helmets have to have the same safety regulations, no matter if they are $20 or $250. The higher costs give more luxury specifications, i.e. cooling vents, aerodynamics, etc. So don't think your $20 walmart helmet won't protect your head less than the expensive ones. True, so true. I speak from BMX full face helmet perspective and the cheaper helmets are definitely not as comfortable, fall apart faster and inside is often not removable for cleaning and boy do they get stinky.
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Post by dazeepetals on Aug 26, 2014 15:34:07 GMT
Just so you know all helmets have to have the same safety regulations, no matter if they are $20 or $250. The higher costs give more luxury specifications, i.e. cooling vents, aerodynamics, etc. So don't think your $20 walmart helmet won't protect your head less than the expensive ones. I was also told that the cheaper helmets use styrofoam which breaks down with age. So, if you go the cheaper route you need to replace your helmet every 2 years. I don't know what the more expensive ones have in them, but they are supposed to last until it takes a hit. Any helmet will break down with hard usage. My DH buys nice helmets (>$100) and he still replaces them every 2-3 years because the wear and tear on them. If he ever finds a small crack in the foam he replaces it immediately.
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Post by dazeepetals on Aug 26, 2014 15:37:04 GMT
I'm just starting to get into it. As in, I started using clipless pedals two weeks ago (and have only had one near-fall! yeah me!). I'd love to have someone to talk to about it too! The day I went clipless I fell doing a U-turn! I've been in them for a year now, and I'm still scared I'm going to fall. You will fall eventually. It's not a matte of "if" but a matter of "when". I've fallen, my DH has fallen, nearly everyone I know falls at some point. Most of the times people fall is because they have to stop suddenly so they can't do their normal routine of unclipping early before you actually stop. Or if you are as good as my DH he can do a tract stand and never take his feet out of the clips while stopped....show off!
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Post by annabella on Aug 26, 2014 15:42:10 GMT
I rent bikes and do a few rides each summer. This week I'm starting classes at Soulcycle.
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Post by alibama on Aug 26, 2014 15:43:23 GMT
Great looks like there are a bunch of you out there! First let me say when we started this back in May I think. My husband and I did go to the local bike shop. Our bikes were around 400 a piece. Not top of the line by any means. We wanted to make sure it is something we thought we would stick with and they were expensive enough! Anyway we did buy helmets. So of you may remember me posting that my husband was in a very serious accident on 6/27 on his bike, he was not going fast he was just turning around and it was really a fluke we think he hit the rocks (big rocks) and went over the handle bars. He fractured 8 bones in his upper body. His helmet was cracked (it was a Walmart Helmet) the DR said that helmet saved his life.
Anyway we started riding and we were doing about 13-14 miles four times a week. Now I am riding alone because he is still in his neck and back brace for another six weeks. I wonder how the best way to pick up speed is. I am so slow! I did stop for about a month and just started back last week. For example last night I did 10.72 miles my average speed is 12.12 miles an hour. I feel like I am going to die by the time I get back to the car. I would say what kind of bike I have but I forgot the name lol. Mine was one where you sit straight not leaned over (I have back problems and not sure I could handle that kind). Also my feet ache by the time I am done. Is this normal?
I really hate going alone, I want my bike buddy back. It was fun with him.
Oh and one more question. Do you guys use the backpack for your water or water bottle? I take a water bottle but I don't feel comfortable taking it off to drink while I am riding. When it is 90 degrees I feel like I need it.
Anyway would love tips and advice!
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Post by brina on Aug 26, 2014 15:49:20 GMT
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Post by alibama on Aug 26, 2014 15:52:02 GMT
Thanks for that link. I have been searching a forum to join!
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Post by dazeepetals on Aug 26, 2014 15:56:04 GMT
Great looks like there are a bunch of you out there! First let me say when we started this back in May I think. My husband and I did go to the local bike shop. Our bikes were around 400 a piece. Not top of the line by any means. We wanted to make sure it is something we thought we would stick with and they were expensive enough! Anyway we did buy helmets. So of you may remember me posting that my husband was in a very serious accident on 6/27 on his bike, he was not going fast he was just turning around and it was really a fluke we think he hit the rocks (big rocks) and went over the handle bars. He fractured 8 bones in his upper body. His helmet was cracked (it was a Walmart Helmet) the DR said that helmet saved his life. Anyway we started riding and we were doing about 13-14 miles four times a week. Now I am riding alone because he is still in his neck and back brace for another six weeks. I wonder how the best way to pick up speed is. I am so slow! I did stop for about a month and just started back last week. For example last night I did 10.72 miles my average speed is 12.12 miles an hour. I feel like I am going to die by the time I get back to the car. I would say what kind of bike I have but I forgot the name lol. Mine was one where you sit straight not leaned over (I have back problems and not sure I could handle that kind). Also my feet ache by the time I am done. Is this normal? I really hate going alone, I want my bike buddy back. It was fun with him. Oh and one more question. Do you guys use the backpack for your water or water bottle? I take a water bottle but I don't feel comfortable taking it off to drink while I am riding. When it is 90 degrees I feel like I need it. Anyway would love tips and advice! Glad your DH is recovering. I remember reading about his accident. Speed is really going to be a function of your fitness level but also your bike. Riding consistently will help increase your endurance which should help increase your speed. Once you get really comfortable, you might want to find some interval workouts that you can do which will help you gain speed. As far as the bike is concerned, obviously the heavier the bike and the less aero you are, the slower you typically are. Riding upright will slow you down some since your body is hitting the air full on. Also, do you have road tires on the bike (i.e. small skinny tires)? I ride with waterbottles (2) with water in one and electrolyte drink in the other. Mine are in waterbottle cages in the frame (downtube). On my tri bike I have the water bottles located behind me off my seat for easier access while riding aero. I have used the camelbac type of backpack before when I've done really long rides (>5 hours) since I wasn't sure how often I would be able to stop and refill my bottles. I think you should use whatever system will work easier for you to get hydration when riding. If you are comfortable taking bottles out of cages while moving, then use a backpack. It takes some practice, but once you learn to do it it's easier. Also hydrate when stopped (like at a light, etc).
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calgal08
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,519
Jun 27, 2014 15:43:46 GMT
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Post by calgal08 on Aug 26, 2014 15:57:09 GMT
I used to be an avid cycler, averaged about 120 miles per week. I did many of the 100 mile organized ride and also (accidently, but that's a whole other story) did the Death Ride in Tahoe.
Honestly, don't get worked up about the speed you're going. You're outside, you're exercising, you're not in a race. Baby steps. How about instead of trying to increase your speed, increase the distance you ride? You're now doing 13-14 miles, maybe try to do 15 miles by the end of September?
As for water, I carried bottles of water, but for me it was about being more aerodynamic and a backpack wouldn't have worked for me when I was trying to gain speed (for me, it was about speed, but it took a couple of years to get to that point).
Don't beat yourself up, you're doing awesome.
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Post by melanell on Aug 26, 2014 18:12:56 GMT
My DH is not a cyclist for sport, but he does cycle 12 miles a day during the non-freezing months as a means of transportation. He is always so happy when the morning temps are above freezing and the roads are free of ice & snow so he can ride to work again.
Where we live cycling as a form of transportation is mainly for the under 16 crowd, so DH is a rarity.
Unfortunately that means he is riding his bike on roads not built with cyclists in mind at all. Hence why he can't risk being on the roads in inclement weather, because if a car lost control, there would be no place for him to go to get out of the way.
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Post by alibama on Aug 26, 2014 18:24:08 GMT
Thanks for the tips. I will continue to try and increase the miles. The path I use is a 10.72 miles and my husband and I were riding back some to try and increase the miles. Iwill continue to try and do that. Yesterday I just felt so slow. These people zoom by me. I am amazed at the crazy ones that you can tell do it for sport and they don't wear helmets. Or the one guy that is just flying and has his helmet strapped to the front of his bike. Does a lot of good there!
My husband is the one who thought about the backpack for water because he knows I feel like I need the water but I won't let go to get it. I am chicken and there are so many runners, walkers and dogs on the path. I am afraid of hurting someone or myself!
melanell that riding on the rode really scares me. I give your hubby a lot of credit for doing it! People just drive so crazy.
The guy that owns the cleaning company where I work is / was a avid cycler, he did races all of the U.S. a couple of months before my DH accident he was hit by a car and he is still messed up, they say he won't ever race again. The lady said she thought she hit a bag of trash. Hmm yea, he was wearing a red white and blue race shirt and it was during the day. She hit him and took off, they found her later. She had also been in a wreck (her fault) last year that killed her niece. That scares me so bad!
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Post by melanell on Aug 27, 2014 1:03:03 GMT
I know, alibama, I see how people drive all day and it's scary to think of him riding all alone. At least the cycling groups from our local cycling clubs are easy to spot all in a big herd, so to speak, but even in brights and with flashing lights on the bike, one guy alone, particularly on the mornings when it isn't light out yet, is easier to miss until the last second.
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Post by mcscrapper on Aug 27, 2014 2:44:07 GMT
I cycle!!! I mostly do triathlons (nothing huge) but cycling is, by far, my favorite of the three!!
I clip in with SpeedPlay pedals and have fallen a time or two. I think we all have when we are first learning. I also find that after several weeks or months of not riding I'm less confident on them too. My best advice when you clip is to keep one in place when you are stopping and unclip on your landing foot. Oh, I'm on a Specialized Dolce road bike. Not top of the line by far but still a very decent entry level bicycle.
As far as helmets go....get the best you can afford. I'd love to have the mack-daddy $200 helmet but can't do it!
My very best advice is to make sure you get a PRO fitting. Not just standing up to the bike and stuff. I mean, go to a professional fitter at a reputable bike shop and get him/her to do all the measurements and tweaking to get you properly aligned. I speak from experience!!! All of my cycling friends were smoking me on the rides and I was really struggling. I was also hurting in my feet and had numbness in both hands. I was frustrated! To the point that I almost hated riding. I did not really want to spend the $150 for the fitting but it was worth every penny!! Not only can I ride twice as far but can go at a much faster pace than I had in the past. I still have a few achy spots in my feet but I'm working on that too.
I really do love to cycle! I love my group I ride with and have a blast doing it!!!
meredith
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GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,457
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Aug 27, 2014 3:01:53 GMT
I used to ride, A LOT! I would go on organized rides - metric century's (63 miles). On a mountain bike. All my riding companions had road bikes or hybrids. I commuted with it for a while. I still have and use the same bike I bought in 1990. It's a Trek 830. Now I only ride when we go camping.
I could never master the clip ins. I had the toe baskets. Now since I just tootle around and those are off too.
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Post by alibama on Aug 27, 2014 16:56:59 GMT
Thanks for all of that information! I have one more question. What gear should I be riding in for the most part? My bike is 28 gear (I think).
Thanks,
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Post by snappinsami on Aug 27, 2014 17:43:42 GMT
I'm a slow rider as well, and the hills around here just about kill me. I do some short rides during the week to work up my hill endurance (basically a loop around my house that I repeat - all downhill in the beginning and then uphill for the second half). A few weeks ago, there was a guy in a motorized wheelchair going up the hill and I didn't have the oomph to pass him. I felt like a total dork riding in his tailwind. I'm still figuring out the gears. My bike has 3 gears on the front and 9 on the back. The smaller the gears, the easier it is to pedal, but you'll have to pedal more/faster. I try to keep my front in the middle or smallest gear, and then adjust the back one depending on how hilly (up or down) my ride is. I've rarely used the biggest gear in the front... yet. I'll get there!
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Post by dazeepetals on Aug 27, 2014 18:53:27 GMT
I'm still figuring out the gears. My bike has 3 gears on the front and 9 on the back. The smaller the gears, the easier it is to pedal, but you'll have to pedal more/faster. I try to keep my front in the middle or smallest gear, and then adjust the back one depending on how hilly (up or down) my ride is. I've rarely used the biggest gear in the front... yet. I'll get there! This is partially correct. In the front chain ring (the one where the pedals are) the smaller then chain ring, the easier it is to pedal. Some people have 2 or 3 (triple) chain rings in the front. Either way, I generally stay in the biggest one (farthest to the right) all the time unless I'm riding hills. The back chain rings (by the back wheel) are your adjustments rings. The smaller rings (to the far right) are harder and as you move the chain over to the left to the bigger rings it gets easier. For example, on my typical ride I ride in my big front chain ring, and generally stay in the middle to big chain rings in the back, adjusting up and down based on if I need to go faster or if I'm riding into a headwind, etc. The harder it is to ride, the faster you generally go. You shouldn't make riding so hard that your cadence (rate of completing a complete pedal stroke) is very slow, but you don't want it so easy you are moving the pedals faster than the resistence and you get a slack chain.
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Post by snappinsami on Aug 27, 2014 18:55:45 GMT
I'm still figuring out the gears. My bike has 3 gears on the front and 9 on the back. The smaller the gears, the easier it is to pedal, but you'll have to pedal more/faster. I try to keep my front in the middle or smallest gear, and then adjust the back one depending on how hilly (up or down) my ride is. I've rarely used the biggest gear in the front... yet. I'll get there! This is partially correct. In the front chain ring (the one where the pedals are) the smaller then chain ring, the easier it is to pedal. Some people have 2 or 3 (triple) chain rings in the front. Either way, I generally stay in the biggest one (farthest to the right) all the time unless I'm riding hills. The back chain rings (by the back wheel) are your adjustments rings. The smaller rings (to the far right) are harder and as you move the chain over to the left to the bigger rings it gets easier. For example, on my typical ride I ride in my big front chain ring, and generally stay in the middle to big chain rings in the back, adjusting up and down based on if I need to go faster or if I'm riding into a headwind, etc. The harder it is to ride, the faster you generally go. You shouldn't make riding so hard that your cadence (rate of completing a complete pedal stroke) is very slow, but you don't want it so easy you are moving the pedals faster than the resistence and you get a slack chain. I had a feeling I was partially backward on that. Thanks for the correction!
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Post by brina on Aug 27, 2014 19:00:11 GMT
I'm a slow rider as well, and the hills around here just about kill me. I do some short rides during the week to work up my hill endurance (basically a loop around my house that I repeat - all downhill in the beginning and then uphill for the second half). A few weeks ago, there was a guy in a motorized wheelchair going up the hill and I didn't have the oomph to pass him. I felt like a total dork riding in his tailwind. I'm still figuring out the gears. My bike has 3 gears on the front and 9 on the back. The smaller the gears, the easier it is to pedal, but you'll have to pedal more/faster. I try to keep my front in the middle or smallest gear, and then adjust the back one depending on how hilly (up or down) my ride is. I've rarely used the biggest gear in the front... yet. I'll get there! As you are working through the learning process keep in mind that you never want to be at matching extremes - i.e. largest front ring/largest rear ring or smallest front ring/smallest back ring. This is called cross chaining. The angle of the chain makes it more likely for your chain to fall off.
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Post by alibama on Aug 27, 2014 19:30:02 GMT
oh wow I am more confused then ever now lol. My husband thought my bike was 28 speed but he could be wrong ha ha. On the left handlebar I have 3 positions on the right I have 8. Right now I ride with the left one on two (stays there all the time) the right one I switch between 6,7 & 8.
Does that make sense?
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