Anyone Cycle?

abb_forever

I am trying to do 10 miles per day, but with my work/family life I am lucky to do 10 every other day. That's not much, but at least I am doing it on a mountain bike, fighting lots of curbs/hills/etc. and try to do longer on the weekends. My workout distance hasn't changed much recently, but I am doing it faster and faster, so the cardio/endurance/heart rate are all up. Eventually I will lengthen my route, but this is the best I can find at the moment. .

And I would never recommend going out and buying a crappy Wal Mart bike just because it weighs more. The more you like the bike, the better you will probably do with it. Although I do agree with the idea of getting a non-road bike since a mountain/hybrid/etc generally offers more resistance, so that's a good thing. Good luck with your biking!

slay0r

What the. I wouldn't even consider having a mirror I'd have an accident every 5 minutes. The amount of cars that go close to me is unreal so if I was looking behind me to check up on them I'd crash! Maybe I just cycle more dangerous routes but you need your full eyes on the road infront not behind at all times. Never ever seen a cyclist with a rear view mirror, will have to keep my eyes out now!

To each their own - I ride on a lot of roads with broken-up breakdown lanes. I try to avoid them by going "left of white" where I can, but I need to check to see if traffic is clear first because pulling out into traffic is a very bad idea. I prefer to ride "right of white" and stay out of the way as much as practical, but I need information to decide whether to ride through the broken bits ahead or if I can nip out around them.

Many of the roads I ride are also very curvy, so riding "left of white", while legal in my state, is dangerously stupid. A car coming around a corner at the speed limit 45MPH uphill is not going to be able to blind-pass me when I'm going 10MPH 30 feet in front of them. I may have right-of-way, but that doesn't change the laws of physics.

LOL funnily enough I got in a taxi last night and the first cyclist we went past had the full kit ..and a rear view mirror. I even said to the driver..the chances of that when I've never even seen one?! We've got different traffic laws as I'm from the UK so I don't know about this whole white line thing but generally cars give you room here. I take one quick look back and if the car behind me isn't going too fast I stick my arm out and go into their lane. I've only ever had one accident and that was when I was cycling in the designated zone, going 20mph and a guy literally just turned into a street infront of me without indicating or braking or anything, just completely took me out, obviously all his fault. I find if I overthink things and don't let it be natural, THAT'S when I have close calls for some reason. Like you said each to their own, just depends what you're comfortable with.

As for maintenence.. I really need to learn more lol, I do have 3 free services left though to use within the next 6 months, I've not changed my chain but I've done like 6000 miles on this bike so maybe it's time to check!

Totally agree with what someone else said about resistance too, if it's too easy put the gears up..simple. I'd rather stick to my road bike where I know my form and technique is perfect and be able to work my full legs using the clip on shoes than get a bike that's uncomfortable and heavy (therefore putting me more at risk of injury.)

HiiT Bike style 1 min sprint, 1 min cycle etc etc, that's what my ride is like with the traffic lights, slow down...then leather it like a lunatic to stay infront of the cars

Ezwoldo

I ride alot well more than my partner can take at times LOL , I race (Time Trailing) most weekends and I started like most of you just to shed a few pounds and then when in to charity rides and so on to where I am now.


I am now a cycling snob and hate bad etiquette on the road and people who JUMP RED LIGHTS

myfitnessnmhoy

We've got different traffic laws as I'm from the UK so I don't know about this whole white line thing but generally cars give you room here.

In the US, the road edges are painted with a white line, and the middle of the road is divided with a yellow line or lines.

Totally agree with what someone else said about resistance too, if it's too easy put the gears up..simple. I'd rather stick to my road bike where I know my form and technique is perfect and be able to work my full legs using the clip on shoes than get a bike that's uncomfortable and heavy (therefore putting me more at risk of injury.)

Good point, and I didn't mean to imply that you can't get a good workout on a road bike, only that the efficiency means you have to find steeper hills than I would to get the same level of workout.

slay0r

We've got different traffic laws as I'm from the UK so I don't know about this whole white line thing but generally cars give you room here.

In the US, the road edges are painted with a white line, and the middle of the road is divided with a yellow line or lines.

Totally agree with what someone else said about resistance too, if it's too easy put the gears up..simple. I'd rather stick to my road bike where I know my form and technique is perfect and be able to work my full legs using the clip on shoes than get a bike that's uncomfortable and heavy (therefore putting me more at risk of injury.)

Good point, and I didn't mean to imply that you can't get a good workout on a road bike, only that the efficiency means you have to find steeper hills than I would to get the same level of workout.

Ahh that would make a bit more sense. Here in the UK in certain cities especially there's actual bike lanes that are different colours so the cars can go in one lane and then there's a tarmacced green area that you can ride in alongside it (between the cars and the kerb) Means I don't have to concentrate as much but it's still slightly dangerous.

I wouldn't need to find steeper hills, I'd just put up the gears and make it really hard! Have to admit I'm a glutten for punishment on my bike so I'm in almost the highest gear most of the time when I'm up to speed but when I get near a hill I crank it up a gear and absolutely leather the hill as hard as I can. Love hills!

jacksonpt

Yep, avid rider here, both road and mountain.

slay0r

I ride alot well more than my partner can take at times LOL , I race (Time Trailing) most weekends and I started like most of you just to shed a few pounds and then when in to charity rides and so on to where I am now.


I am now a cycling snob and hate bad etiquette on the road and people who JUMP RED LIGHTS

Hahaha sorry I might be one of those that jumps red lights occasionally. To be fair in my defence, I only do it on roads I KNOW I can do it on I.e. I know the sequence of the lights are fixed and they've just changed. I only do it on those certain traffic lights because it lets me get up to speed on what is one of the busiest roads outside of London so I can stay infront of the cars (trust me this is safer for EVERYONE.) I've been shouted at a couple of times and the police stopped me once and I explained why I'd jumped the lights and they just let me go. End of the day I've had WAY more close calls from people turning left at a set of traffic lights and nearly taking me out, than I have by going across an empty junction..

Moriarty_697

I bought a bike last year after I went on a long walk through a conservation area with my camera and kept getting passed by cyclists. So I bought a nice Trek city bike. A month later, I decided I would try to commute to work a couple days a week (it's about a 9.5 mile return trip). After the first day of commuting, I was hooked. Now, I generally commute 5 days a week and even managed to ride through most of the winter. I also love grocery shopping and running errands by bike. It's been a great way to add exercise to my daily life while having a lot of fun.

Moriarty_697

I cycle! And it makes me very hungry! LOL! I ride twice a week, 22 miles on Tuesdays usually and anywhere from 30-50 during one of the weekend days. Riding is flat but windy and we don't get to go many places because Miami is dangerous for two wheels! I also walk and used to walk marathons and half marathons, but my joints can't handle that anymore, so I try to walk about 15 miles a week, but that is getting hard too. Do some weights at the gym too, twice a week. No one thinks I am "fat" but I know I need to drop at least 5 lbs. and it is so hard! At my age (57) I have to learn how to eat less!

I wouldn't be so quick to rule out cycling in Miami: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204652904577193591790911170.html

I know people who think the same about cycling in Toronto. Granted, city cycling does take some time getting used to, but it's not as dangerous as people think.

As for jumping lights or whatever you want to call it, I've pretty much given that up. How can I expect drivers to treat me with respect if I am continually flaunting the law right in front of them? It's taken a while to come around to that point of view but I think it's better for cycling, over all. Racing lights might save you a little time but rarely enough to make it worthwhile. Trust me. By the next red light, I've usually caught up to anybody who has raced past me at the last light.

slay0r

Ah but as stated, I don't jump them to save time, I just do it for my own safety. I've had a couple of motorists wind down their window and shout at me for it and when I've calmly explained why they've actually said "Oh keep doing it then."

myfitnessnmhoy

I bought a bike last year after I went on a long walk through a conservation area with my camera and kept getting passed by cyclists. So I bought a nice Trek city bike. A month later, I decided I would try to commute to work a couple days a week (it's about a 9.5 mile return trip). After the first day of commuting, I was hooked. Now, I generally commute 5 days a week and even managed to ride through most of the winter. I also love grocery shopping and running errands by bike. It's been a great way to add exercise to my daily life while having a lot of fun.

We've got a woman here at work who missed riding her bike to work last year only five times. She rides about 12 miles each way (24-mile round trip). I live in Maine, so that's a serious commitment in the winter! I am in awe of her - people think I'm hardcore because I ride rain or shine, but she is a cycling machine.

Ezwoldo

@ sherrykwilk have you had a look at Strava there are some routes on there for Miami not sure about them as I live in the UK but it's a start.

zoom2

I love cycling, the only problem is that i always have my daughter who is only 4 so she is too heavy to be on my bike now and to young to come with me on her own so i only get 2 hours in the afternoon when she is at nursery

Several companies make products called a "trailer bike" or "third wheel" which is basically a seat and extra wheel that attaches to your seat post. My daughter and I got a lot of use out of ours until she outgrew it.

Example: http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/65029?feat=trailer bike-SR0&attrValue_0=Silver

My son loved his trailer bike. I think he will grow up to ride a tandem.

We have a Co-Motion Periscope Torpedo road tandem. Our son has been riding it since he was 9.5 (he's 11, now). He should be able to fit on the back of there until he's an adult. It beats having to find a babysitter so DH and I can ride together. Now we go out as a family. We've done as far as 53 miles with DS on the back of the tandem--and that was about a year ago. I expect he has a metric century in his legs, this year. :glasses:

warmachinejt

darn! thought this was about roidz. *slowly walks back out the door

Moriarty_697

Running red lights for safety seems like a questionable justification, at best. Personally, when I take my place in line, I rarely, if ever, feel unusually unsafe (well, any more unsafe than I normally feel being a cyclist in a world of cars). I take the lane when I need to, yield when I feel safe and get where I'm going.

I'm not claiming to be perfect. In residential neighbourhoods, I have a special hatred for the 4-way stops. I just think that cyclists are doing their fellow cyclists and themselves harm when they make such a glaring show of flouting the law. How can cyclists expect to be respected when they treat the streets like their own personal game of Frogger?

Speedtrap

I cycle a lot, I commute to work (Over 20 miles return trip) I ride just about every day and I have a slight Bicycle addiction.
Currently in my Garage is
1) Electra Townie 7D - Cruiser Bike
2) Linus Mixate 8 - City Bike
3) Specialized Hardrock Comp - Mtn Bike
4) Kona Zing Delux - Road bike

These are just mine, my wife has just as many, I had to sell a car to have room to store them all.

The Mtn bike is currently set up like a hybrid, and I use to commute on it.This year I have switched to the road bike and I can say I get a better work out on my light road bike than I ever did on my mtn bike. It is lighter but has much better gearing so it is much faster. you do not need a heavy bike to get a good work out!

jacksonpt

I cycle a lot, I commute to work (Over 20 miles return trip) I ride just about every day and I have a slight Bicycle addiction.
Currently in my Garage is
1) Electra Townie 7D - Cruiser Bike
2) Linus Mixate 8 - City Bike
3) Specialized Hardrock Comp - Mtn Bike
4) Kona Zing Delux - Road bike

These are just mine, my wife has just as many, I had to sell a car to have room to store them all.

The Mtn bike is currently set up like a hybrid, and I use to commute on it.This year I have switched to the road bike and I can say I get a better work out on my light road bike than I ever did on my mtn bike. It is lighter but has much better gearing so it is much faster. you do not need a heavy bike to get a good work out!

Nice... bike *kitten* are always good.

My stable:
Jamis Quest
Specialized Roubaix
Cerverlo P4
Yeti 575
Surly 1x1

Currently thinking about a 29er.

slay0r

Running red lights for safety seems like a questionable justification, at best. Personally, when I take my place in line, I rarely, if ever, feel unusually unsafe (well, any more unsafe than I normally feel being a cyclist in a world of cars). I take the lane when I need to, yield when I feel safe and get where I'm going.

I'm not claiming to be perfect. In residential neighbourhoods, I have a special hatred for the 4-way stops. I just think that cyclists are doing their fellow cyclists and themselves harm when they make such a glaring show of flouting the law. How can cyclists expect to be respected when they treat the streets like their own personal game of Frogger?

Depends where you cycle. The road I cycle up has the same angry drivers every day and it's 3 lanes of solid traffic, when they set off because there's no leeway on the right hand side (other lanes with car in them) and there's me on their left as this is the uk and we're on the left hand side of the road.. it means I get pushed into the kerb/knocked off because everyone is so impatient. Especially when I'm setting off from lights..this is where I find I have an issue. If someone has an SUV as you'd call it in the states (4x4 here) or a fast car, they accelerate hard away from the lights and then run into me being accelerating and then get impatient and try and force their way past.

You could say they're in the wrong but at the end of the day I'd rather not risk myself to find out, I'd rather skip the lights a little, get a couple of hundred metres ahead of the cars and get fully up to speed then we don't bother each other. The police have seen me do it before and not stopped me, I'd have argued with them all day about it.

azuwatkins

looking to add some cycling friends

Kristinemomof3

Oh yea, my husband and I are both really into cycling. It's the thing we do together, that has made us and kept us closer as a couple!

I used meetup.com to find a local cycling group. There are also clubs (but I didn't want to pay the dues).

He's currently training for a century, I haven't committed to it but am training as though I'll be doing it. A "good" week for us includes 2 evening rides of 15-30 miles plus a long weekend ride. Long rides are anywhere from 38-65 miles. I also tool around on my bike a lot during the summer (I teach so I have the summers off), riding it to the beach or the library.

And this weekend is my favorite ride--Chicago's Bike the Drive! They close Lake Shore Drive (the 8 lane road that runs along Lake Michigan for 15 miles) to cars for 4 hours and cyclists get it all to ourselves! Activities like this remind me that cycling is fun and relaxing and about family and community, not just about hammering away at 18 MPH!

O
My husband rode in the Apple Cider Century last year for the first time. It's up in Michigan and we all went along. I'm needing a bike, but am a little nervous to ride longer distances. Reading some books on cycling now.

heathercicle

The hubs and I go mountain biking on the weekends and just ride the neighborhood on weeknights. I've gained a lot of muscle but my weight is the same. It's about a thousand times more fun than working out at the gym!

slinkykat

My husband and I just bought 2 mt bikes and just started riding. I have never been a big rider but am having a hard time really going and great distance. I can do about 6 miles and I am pooped. I have been going 2x a day and doing between 4-6 miles each time. Inclines and hills of any type about kill me.

How the heck to you guys ride so far? It has been about 3 weeks now and I have gone out riding almost every day . My husband really wants to get into riding so we can take our bikes up on some mt trails, but I am a bit worried I won't get there. Any suggestions?

Oh, and I am just recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery on both knees.

Spokez70

Oh, and - just a word to the wise - lose the roadie if your goal is primarily to lose weight - efficient bikes are not your calorie-burning friends. They're fun for covering distance, but there's too little resistance to them.

I was thinking the same thing. I've been riding my Specialized Rockhopper mountain bike on the local paved trails working my way up to around 20-25 miles per trip. I started thinking about getting a road bike last month but then came to my senses and just kept on with what I have already. It's a comfortable ride and keeps my heart rate right where it needs to be.

kansasbelle

Oh, your topic about killed me until I realized your were talking about bike riding. You know you work in the mental health feild when cycling refers to bi-polars and their mood swings... But it made me giggle

heathercicle

My husband and I just bought 2 mt bikes and just started riding. I have never been a big rider but am having a hard time really going and great distance. I can do about 6 miles and I am pooped. I have been going 2x a day and doing between 4-6 miles each time. Inclines and hills of any type about kill me.

How the heck to you guys ride so far? It has been about 3 weeks now and I have gone out riding almost every day . My husband really wants to get into riding so we can take our bikes up on some mt trails, but I am a bit worried I won't get there. Any suggestions?

Oh, and I am just recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery on both knees.

Hubs and I started about a month ago. When you're just starting, it's going to be hard, especially using mountain bikes on the road but it's worth the trouble if you plan to take it to the trails. We did the exact same thing. I'm a lot better now than when we started but the inclines still kill me, especially when it's a long incline and not just a short steep one that I can just push myself through quickly. It just takes getting used to. Hopefully your husband is more patient than mine because sometimes, I'm so slow he has to stop and wait for me when we're on the trails so I don't get lost. :P My best advice is to just keep at it and you'll get better! (Note that I didn't say it would get easier, haha!)

kateblue72

Hello,
YES... just keep at it. I started to ride 'seriously' in May after wintering with the elliptical trainer and stationary bike also due to some 'messey' arthroscopic surgery. I avoided the steep hills at first, worked more on the rolling hills, then the long(but not steep) climbs. In May I also started to try one long ride a week. So far I have managed 14.8km, 16.6km and 20.4km. The rest of the days (3 -4 x per week), I just ride 'local' for about an hour. Strength in the knee is coming, fewer twinges as time goes by. And yes, I am doing it on a Mountain bike, on the road - so a little heavier bike, and knobby tires that cause more friction so more work! So, I am not fast, but I am putting in the effort It is something I am learning to enjoy, as I am told my running days are over. So set yourself a goal ... and go for it! I am going to try a 76km ride (mostly uphill) in September. Thanks to all for the encouragement, and good luck to you!

slinkykat

thanks for the tips. I am just going to keep doing what I am doing and try a little more as it gets less challenging. My hubby has to wait for me too and will go do some bigger inclines while I ride around the flatter areas, then we meet back up. I was going to get a cyclometer but found and app that works on my phone that tells me how fast, how far and how long I have been going and then shows a road map of where I went. Kinda cool and much less money than the cyclometer:-)

We are headed out here in a few for a ride. i really do love it much more than going to the gym which I can't do most of what I was doing before due to the knees.

Kateblu72~ can I ask what happened with your knees?

Oh, what are you using for your tush? I got some gel shorts I am trying out today. Plus I got some glove to help with the numbness in my hands and some special ergo grips.

slinkykat

We started about a month ago too. Longest ride for us has been 7 miles. Going to try for 10 this morning once the weather clears up, thunder clouds are rolling in. Love storms but not while riding I don't think. He is pretty patient but he likes to treat me like he is my trainer.....lol, I am not a good trainee when I am hot and tired :-)

samntha14

My husband lost 100 lbs in less than a year by bicycle commuting 30 miles. When the first 20 came off he was shocked and started eating better. The rest of the weight melted off from there. Now he races professionally. Be careful, it can be addicting LOL

fittocycle

I'd like to hear more from those who had the knee surgery. How long did it take you post surgery to get back into it? I had arthroscopic knee surgery on Tuesday and cannot wait to get out on my bike again! My hubby bought me a spin bike for Mother's Day so I can gradually start some exercise indoors. Of course, I have to get doctor's approval first!:happy: