Questions for serious bicyclists!

I am not a serious cyclist, but I am trying to be! I recently purchased a road bike...and then the book "Every Woman's Guide to Cycling: Everything You Need to Know, From Buying Your First Bike to Winning Your First Race" by Selene Yeager. If you are thinking about getting a bike and getting into cycling, I highly recommned the book first. It's about $12.00 on Amazon and has really good info from everything from what type of bike is best for you to detailed training plans. I will say you should be prepared for the cost of a good bike. After doing a lot of research, testing a bunch of bikes and getting the feel for bike shops, I ended up spending $2,000.00. That included my bike and all sorts of necessary equipment: helmet, emergency flat repair kit, spare tuibe, water bottle, clipless pedals, shoes, etc. There are more entry level priced bikes, but you need to find one that you are comfortable with that fits your needs and your price point.

Hey, has anyone out there ever done a serious, long distance bike tour? I want to do the STOKR (Scenic Tour Of Kootenai River) bike ride, which is about 80 miles for the shortest route. I was wondering if anyone knew what exercises would be good to train for this, and what kind of bike I should purchase. I am quite sure that the whole ride is on paved roads, which I imagine would affect what kind of bicycle I should buy. Any other info would be great, such as good websites to purchase bikes and gear, etc. Thanks!

I seriously recommend sheldonbrown.com for bicycle research information. Do you have a price point in mind for what you want to spend on a bike? I also recommend personally not going to a box store and visiting a local bike shop or several and asking what they think and tell them what you are looking to do with the bike.

Good Luck!!!

I am not an avid road bike person, although I did bicycle patrol for two years as a Police Officer on a mountain bike. First thing is to decide what kind of bike you want. They have hybrid bikes now which make it a somewhat easier choice between leisure and sport riding.They are geared more towards road riding but arent a full on road bike. You also have the option of road bikes. For long rides, I would invest in a good brand, something thats gonna last you (Cannondale,Trek, Specialized etc..). Get fitted for your bike, they can do it for you at the bicycle shop which is where I would recommend you buy your bike from, your height will determine what size frame you need. Look into a good cycle computer to keep track of your rides, speed and distances,you want a small seat also( less contact the less areas get sore), decide on clip in pedals which require clip in shoes, or try some toe clips as both of these will help you generate power with less effort. Get your bike and start riding now as your butt and other parts need to get acclimated to your seat. They have ergonomic seats for men and women also. Do some research, take the bike out for a ride in the parking lot of the shop your at. Learn how to change your tires and chain as you might need these skills during your ride. During a Police Mtn. Bike course I had to change my tire 3 times during a 26 mile ride and we were timed! These are just a few tidbits from my experience, I dont have any experience with true road bikes but I hope some of this will help you.

P.s. We did talk to a friend who is a bike racer and long distance rider and he says absolutely buy padded underware and shorts.
not to sure about that.

I had a pair of the padded shorts, they are good but a crutch. Understand that there are certain areas afffected by your seat that are gonna get sore, but the areas will soon adapt to the stress of the seat and you will be able to overcome the soreness. Thats why I say to ride now and often to get those areas acclimated to the seat. Once again, a rule of thumb for seats is this : The smaller the seat, the less contact area with those parts, the less areas to get sore.