MFP Cycling Gang 9/15/08

shorerider
shorerider Posts: 3,817 Member
edited September 19 in Fitness and Exercise
NEW WEEK!

Got back on the bike today and got in 7.8 miles before I gave it up. Too hot/too humid/too windy. Tomorrow is supposed to turn cool though! excited.gif

What's everyone else up to this week?
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Replies

  • shorerider
    shorerider Posts: 3,817 Member
    NEW WEEK!

    Got back on the bike today and got in 7.8 miles before I gave it up. Too hot/too humid/too windy. Tomorrow is supposed to turn cool though! excited.gif

    What's everyone else up to this week?
  • dothompson
    dothompson Posts: 1,184 Member
    I'm going to set a goal of 45 miles this week.
  • familybugs
    familybugs Posts: 129 Member
    took last week off after my century... back on the bike this week!!! no goals for mileage.. just enjoyment!

    happy riding!:bigsmile:
  • jadaigle
    jadaigle Posts: 161 Member
    Goal: 100 miles.

    8.5 miles on my bike trainer this morning.
  • msarro
    msarro Posts: 2,748 Member
    Back and starting strong!
    27 mile ride today, though it was a bit painful. I let a friend of mine take lead and he ended up getting us lost when he had a "ooh, I wonder what's down this road" moment and it took us a LONG way out of our way. But the 1300 calories it burnt were well worth it - it doubled my daily calorie allowance! :laugh:
    Hellloooooooooooo oreos!
  • shorerider
    shorerider Posts: 3,817 Member
    got in 23 miles this morning and the devil started spitting at me half-way through (that means I got rained on :tongue: ). got a new high of 17.45mph today though!
  • msarro
    msarro Posts: 2,748 Member
    got in 23 miles this morning and the devil started spitting at me half-way through (that means I got rained on :tongue: ). got a new high of 17.45mph today though!

    Sheesh, slow down you maniac! :laugh:
    How'd your bike handle in the rain?
  • shorerider
    shorerider Posts: 3,817 Member
    Sheesh, slow down you maniac! :laugh:
    How'd your bike handle in the rain?

    Had no problem with handling. I've been doing shorter rides but really pushing the speed to get ready for the bike leg of the Tri I've got coming in on Sept. 27.
  • ohthatbambi
    ohthatbambi Posts: 1,098 Member
    Well I got in 50 miles yesterday!

    Our metric centery ride is a week from Saturday...that will be the most I have ever done at one time!!!!
  • ce_fit
    ce_fit Posts: 299 Member
    New to the boards. Started cycling about 3 months ago and am quite enjoying it.
    Commuted 15 miles to work and will be going back home for another 15. If time permits hop to do 40 miles on Saturday. Other wise I will settle for a 20 mile ride Sunday.
    Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!
  • shorerider
    shorerider Posts: 3,817 Member
    New to the boards. Started cycling about 3 months ago and am quite enjoying it.
    Commuted 15 miles to work and will be going back home for another 15. If time permits hop to do 40 miles on Saturday. Other wise I will settle for a 20 mile ride Sunday.
    Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

    Welcome ce_fit! And another cyclist, too! WAHOOOO!!!
  • ce_fit
    ce_fit Posts: 299 Member
    Quite impressed with a 17.45 mph average over 23 miles, that is awsome!
  • shorerider
    shorerider Posts: 3,817 Member
    Quite impressed with a 17.45 mph average over 23 miles, that is awsome!

    Thanks! I've been working hard to get there! Can't wait to get a road bike and see what I can do with something other than a Hybrid.
  • jadaigle
    jadaigle Posts: 161 Member
    Great MPH, Shorerider. I'm happy to see your progress.
  • ce_fit
    ce_fit Posts: 299 Member


    Thanks! I've been working hard to get there! Can't wait to get a road bike and see what I can do with something other than a Hybrid.

    I started this journey out with a Mountain bike & graduated to a road bike about a month ago. The road bike seems to make about 1.5 - 2 MPH differance for me.

    I purchased a Giant OCR 2. I would highly recommend the brand. This is a great time of year to check for bikes on sale at your local bike store as they are clearing out for the new model year.

    By the way I pushed it coming home & I managed to average 17.40 mph. So I must say once again great job on that average!!
  • ohthatbambi
    ohthatbambi Posts: 1,098 Member
    Monday - 50
    Tuesday - 14.5
  • shorerider
    shorerider Posts: 3,817 Member
    Only got in 9 today. :frown: I put my original seat back on the bike instead of the "horn-less" one I've been using. I'm hoping to get a road bike soon! And though having a regular type seat now would enable me to get used to that configuration.

    Unfortunately, it was not adjusted right at all! I barely made it back to the house and spent most of an hour adjusting and tweaking. I think I got it worked out though but no time left today to ride.

    Oh well, tomorrow is another day!
  • Newman4AU
    Newman4AU Posts: 35
    I am curious about your "hornless" saddle.....
    How does it handle? All of the reviews I have read claim that it makes a road bike too unstable to control at speed. I have broken my pelvis/tailbone in the past and was hoping that the hornless type would be more comfortable. I currently ride 150 miles per week on a racing saddle - but was curious.
    Thanks,
  • shorerider
    shorerider Posts: 3,817 Member
    I am curious about your "hornless" saddle.....
    How does it handle? All of the reviews I have read claim that it makes a road bike too unstable to control at speed. I have broken my pelvis/tailbone in the past and was hoping that the hornless type would be more comfortable. I currently ride 150 miles per week on a racing saddle - but was curious.
    Thanks,

    Newman, here's a link showing the saddle I got from Amazon. It looks uncomfortable is really very comfortable.

    http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-No-Pressure-Bicycle-Seat/dp/B000DZGLVY/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1221684771&sr=8-3

    I enjoyed it. But I hope to get a road bike and wanted to begin to work towards getting used to a "regular" saddle again.



    I had no problems with control, even at speed, and I've had the bike up to 22 mph. But, I'm not sure how it would work on a road bike though with that forward position. One reason I wanted to transition back to a regular saddle.
  • Newman4AU
    Newman4AU Posts: 35
    Thanks for the information. I know that you have really been working hard, and "Bamboo" and I are really proud of you! Keep up the great work! I don't know if Bamboo will let me buy anything else for my bike!!! I have done tons of research on roadbikes- so if you need any info before you buy let me know.
    Thanks,
  • shorerider
    shorerider Posts: 3,817 Member
    Thanks for the information. I know that you have really been working hard, and "Bamboo" and I are really proud of you! Keep up the great work! I don't know if Bamboo will let me buy anything else for my bike!!! I have done tons of research on roadbikes- so if you need any info before you buy let me know.
    Thanks,

    There's so many out there that it makes my head spin! And, it seems every shop sells/features a different brand. I've only got maybe 600-700 to spend (max) right now, so it's going to be a lower end one for sure. One shop has some Felts that go for $650. Ever heard of them? One guy told me that at the price I'm looking to spend, it really won't make a difference in what I get because components will be lower end regardless.
  • jadaigle
    jadaigle Posts: 161 Member
    Shorerider: Look at the different bikes in your price range and get whichever one has the highest end components.
  • ce_fit
    ce_fit Posts: 299 Member
    Don't know much about the Felts but if you are starting to research road bikes a great site to go to is:

    http://www.roadbikereview.com/

    click on reviews and search for Felt.

    I noticed the first review was for a Giant OCR3 $600. Can you tellI'm biased!!!

    By the way I do agree with jadaigle , budget & components

    Good luck :smile:
  • shorerider
    shorerider Posts: 3,817 Member
    Good point about the components. Part of my problem is getting to the shops to look, too. Only bike shop near me is 65 miles away in one direction and 80 miles in the other!

    I've seen the Giants in a bike shop out in Roanoke back in June but I haven't found them in any of the stores around here yet-odd.

    Hoping to go Monday--maybe!
  • Newman4AU
    Newman4AU Posts: 35
    I respect the advice about components - but don't forget the obvious first- the bike must fit you and your style of riding. Whatever you buy, make sure you have it professionally fitted to you. A really good bike shop will do that for free. Start with a good frame that is fitted for you ( you can always upgrade components when time/money allows). Make sure it is a WSD (women's specific design). Trek makes a great entry level road bike for about 750$ (the trek 1.2 WSD) It is a great transition bike from a hybrid as it has SORA shifters (button on brake hood instead of dual brake levers). This makes it easier to transition to the riding style and not have to worry about shifting as well. The bike can be upgraded with higher end components later - but most people (myself included) buy too nice of a bike thinking the bike will make them a better rider instead of putting in saddle time and training correctly. Don't rush into anything, and try to avoid buying "boxed sets" off of the internet.
    Hope this has been helpful.
    Thanks,
  • shorerider
    shorerider Posts: 3,817 Member
    Thanks--another good point about upgrading. The Giant I looked at our in Roanoke was a WSD. One bike shop told me when I asked about WSD that "it doesn't matter because we can make any bike fit to you." I'm not so sure about that! It's a little aggravating, too, because unless my DH is with me, the bike shop people have tended to either 1) ignore me unless I ask, or 2) act like I'm some idiot. I don't know if it's because I'm a woman or because I'm still overweight and they think I'm not serious about cycling or something. When I mentioned to one guy at this shop that I bike 90-130 or so miles a week gave me this look like "yeah, right!" :angry:

    Anyway, got in 12 miles this morning before my stupid seat messed me up again. I'm going to have to put my hornless back on for now or something.

    I wanted cooler weather and it's finally here--54 degrees on my ride this morning!
  • msarro
    msarro Posts: 2,748 Member
    Went on a short but sweet ride yesterday ~ 5 miles. Its the site of a future greenway, but currently its a set of old railroad tracks, and large rocks. Tough riding, and it got my heart rate WAY up. Totally worth it though, despite falling 6 times (less falling, more bike going out from under me).

    As for bikes fitting you, if the bike is the right size and the weight you're looking for, it can be made to fit you. You can get different handlebars, seat posts, saddles, peddles, everything pretty much.
  • shorerider
    shorerider Posts: 3,817 Member
    double post--see below
  • shorerider
    shorerider Posts: 3,817 Member
    Got in another 10 miles this evening just before too dark but it was on

    MY NEW TREK ROAD BIKE! yupi3ti.gif

    We went ahead and drove up to Salisbury today and bought it.

    It's a Women's Specific Design 2009 model and they cut $100 off the price for me, so I got it for $700!

    It's got carbon forks, carbon seat post, and aluminum frame.

    Had them put on a wireless Cateye and saddle bag, too, with 2 water bottle cages, and I'm set!

    Guy at this shop was very helpful and friendly. Fitted me right then, showed me all the stuff, etc.

    Set off into a steady 10mph head wind for the first part of the ride and still finished with 17mph average for the trip! yupi3ti.gif

    Can't wait to get it out with no wind and see what it can really do!

    Here's some photos---

    PIC00155.jpg

    PIC00151.jpg
  • dothompson
    dothompson Posts: 1,184 Member
    Good point about the components. Part of my problem is getting to the shops to look, too. Only bike shop near me is 65 miles away in one direction and 80 miles in the other!

    I've seen the Giants in a bike shop out in Roanoke back in June but I haven't found them in any of the stores around here yet-odd.

    Hoping to go Monday--maybe!

    Gosh, I can't believe the lack of bikeshops my heart bleeds for you. I'm a city boy and stuff like this still surprises me.

    I've bought two great mountain bikes used off E-bay and have been very pleased both times. My first one hadn't even ever been completely assembled, and the second didn't have a scratch, it couldn't have been riden more than a couple times. As you know people buy new bikes thinking that they are going to ride and they end up taking up space in the garage. You can get some extremely gently used bikes for less than half the price they are new. Once you've decided what you want it's kind of a fun treasure hunt for people who spend time on line.
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