Start biking outdoors - help!

walkwithme1

So years ago I bought a mountain bike, just to ride around the neighborhood, (didn't like the way a 10 speed rode) I haven't been on it in a very long time. Did the Virginia Creeper Trail in Abington and the Hucklebery trail in Christiansburg and loved it. (both were about 15 miles each). So my question is, need any advice for riding with traffic other than the obvious. I don't want to buy special clothes yet, want to make sure this is something I LOVE doing not just like doing. I live off a 35mph two lane road and will have a 45mph road I would have to ride on for about a 1/4 mile.

I'm going to start out slow. We do have a greenway but there have been some problems for women alone on that in the past few months, so not sure I want to try that yet since I don't have anyone to ride with.

Like I said any advice is welcome. I want to be safe and have fun and would love to be able to ride to the gym.

wellbert

http://bicyclesafe.com/ yw!


Consider getting an Airzound horn. People in cars will hear you. It's very alarming. Use sparingly.

walkwithme1

Thanks, looks like a lot of info. I'll read it soon.

trijoe

The best 2 advices I can think of are as follows:
1) Take your trusty steed down to your Local Bike Shop and let the mechanics give it a once-over to make sure it's all safe and sound. While there, pepper whomever you're talking to with questions. LBS people love love love questions.
2) While at said LBS, pick yourself up a helmet. Helmet helmet helmet. Can't say the word helmet enough. Helmet. Really.

As far as road riding goes, you can buy mirrors to let you see behind you. Some types mount on your bicycle handles, and your LBS mechanic can fit that on while giving your trusty steed it's once over. Other types mount on your helmet, and your LBS mechanic should be able to help you with that, also.

There are a few things about road riding to keep in mind: First off, by law, you're allowed on that road just as much as the cars. Drivers don't like to agree, but YOU have the law on your side, not vice versa. Don't let that make you cocky, just aware. Be sure to follow all traffic rules, as again, you're a vehicle on the road and can be pulled over just as easily as a subaru. Signal when you turn, stop at lights/signs, all that good stuff. Try to stay as safely to the right as you can. Not so you're in a ditch, but you know. Far enough right that cars can pass you when need be. And try to not look behind you as cars pass. This can make you wobbly. And wobbly is really bad when you have a ditch on your right and a pickup truck on your left. (The good thing about mirrors - they eliminate that urge.)

There are some items I always take with me, no matter where or how long I'm riding: Cell phone, Road ID. Road ID's are about 20 bucks, and list lots of contact information. They're a "God Forbid" type piece of gear. I also keep a little saddle bag with tire changing gear, a copy of my drivers license and insurance card. Again with the "God Forbid" stuff. But riding - as fun as it is - can get pretty hazardous pretty quick.

Good luck, I hope you enjoy it. Riding can be one of life's great pleasures, especially with kids. Sorry to hear your trails aren't safe. That sucks out loud. Hopefully road riding will work better for you.

walkwithme1

Thanks Joe. I have a helmet! Was bought when I got the bike. I'm goin to take it around the neighborhood today hopefully. Maybe to the greenway for a bit if I can get hubby to give me time alone this afternoon. I talked to a friend last night and she said it is Safer now than ever because there is a lot more activity than there used to be. (so glad I was wrong about that), there were problems but that was in the winter. Can't wait till I can share my first ride with you. Just need to find something that will log the miles for me because I'm such a bad judge of distance.

wellbert

Get a basic cyclocomputer. Twenty bucks gets a decent one.
There's sites like pedalmybike that track miles.