Bicycle Fans - official thread for people who love riding th

I have just started getting back into riding, and I love it, and can't believe I stopped for so long! I prefer off-roading it, so I have a big mountain bike which gets me everywhere. Its better for exercise as well, since you have to work much harder riding a mountain bike on roads. On the weekend I covered approximately 28 miles in two days, mostly off-road. I love it more than running (which I have also just started doing), since it doesn't hurt my ankles! LOL

I have plans to buy myself a really nice super-duper Giant mountain bike, in a few months time... Then maybe treat myself to a holiday in Wales for a few days with it (riding & camping).

When the weather's been icy, too cold, snowy, or rainy I've been using the statrionary bike at the gym at work. I also have a trainer that I can hook my bike up to but I haven't used that in a couple of years (fell off the fitness/diet wagon). Hopefully next winter that's what I'll be using.

I just moved up from my Trek 7.5 hybrid to a Trek 2.1. My mom just got a brand spanking new Madone 5.2 (holy crap, is it sweet bike!) so she gave me her "old" bike. I haven't gotten a chance to ride yet but I am super excited about going roadie and clipless. I normally ride at least 30 miles every Saturday but I need to bump it up to get ready for the Venus de Miles ride in August.

OMG a Madone 5.2?? I'm jealous!! LOL

What is the Venus de Miles?

I really started getting into cycling last year. I was riding on a $200 mountain bike (mostly road riding) and I pretty much took that as far as it could go. I *really* enjoyed cruising past people on their more expensive road bikes. I don't think they much liked being beat by a mountain bike out on the road.

I had to upgrade this year. My bike was literally falling apart when I finally got myself a road bike. I got a great deal on a 2010 Trek 1.5 and absolutely love it. Now that the weather is finally warm again, I'm doing ~100 miles a week. M,W,Th are 20 mile days and Sat is usually longer, around 30-40 with Sunday being a toss-up. Sometimes I go hard on Sunday, sometimes I go easy.

I'm counting down the minutes every day until I can leave work and start my ride.

Show off!

I really started getting into cycling last year. I was riding on a $200 mountain bike (mostly road riding) and I pretty much took that as far as it could go. I *really* enjoyed cruising past people on their more expensive road bikes. I don't think they much liked being beat by a mountain bike out on the road.

I had to upgrade this year. My bike was literally falling apart when I finally got myself a road bike. I got a great deal on a 2010 Trek 1.5 and absolutely love it. Now that the weather is finally warm again, I'm doing ~100 miles a week. M,W,Th are 20 mile days and Sat is usually longer, around 30-40 with Sunday being a toss-up. Sometimes I go hard on Sunday, sometimes I go easy.

I'm counting down the minutes every day until I can leave work and start my ride.

So, what is a good price on a Trek 1.5? I looked it up and that is a nice looking bike. (Of course I understand if you don't want to post it online.) I am going to buy a road bike to supplement by road recumbent as it is great for commuting, but not suitable for everywhere I want to go.

I just got a bike yesterday and a seat so my 18month old can ride with me! We rode about 4 miles yesterday, loved it!

I really started getting into cycling last year. I was riding on a $200 mountain bike (mostly road riding) and I pretty much took that as far as it could go. I *really* enjoyed cruising past people on their more expensive road bikes. I don't think they much liked being beat by a mountain bike out on the road.

I had to upgrade this year. My bike was literally falling apart when I finally got myself a road bike. I got a great deal on a 2010 Trek 1.5 and absolutely love it. Now that the weather is finally warm again, I'm doing ~100 miles a week. M,W,Th are 20 mile days and Sat is usually longer, around 30-40 with Sunday being a toss-up. Sometimes I go hard on Sunday, sometimes I go easy.

I'm counting down the minutes every day until I can leave work and start my ride.

OMG -- I thought I was the only one who counted down the workday just so I could ride! I was absolutely beautiful here yesterday and it was all I could do to just make it to 4:30. :bigsmile:

Well, when I started, I *struggled* on my $15 cheapie mountain bike, so I sure wasn't able to smoke anyone! And who cares if road bikers get irritated at people on "less worthy" bikes passing them. At least those bikers are out there doing something. My hubby, who rides A LOT, told me there's a such thing as bike snobbery out there. Who'da thought? I guess it's the same no matter what physical activity you try, or even if you go to the gym. Meh.

Once I get stronger and build my endurance, I want to be able to ride 100 miles a week. Mostly, I want to be able to keep up with the hubby and go on rides with him.

I have to tell you, I would be pretty surprised if someone on a mountain bike passed me on a bike trail. I averaged 21 mph for the last 3 miles of my commute today. It wouldn't irritate me though, it would impress me.

I just wish my town was more bike friendly. It's not fun having to bike on the shoulder of a road with cars going 50 mph and having few places to chain up the thing.

My stable includes Blue Norcross from Cyclocross racing. Waiting on delivery its back ordered. Can't wait to build it up.

Felt DA 2008 for Triathlon and Time Trialing

Serotta CX for road racing

My stable includes Blue Norcross from Cyclocross racing. Waiting on delivery its back ordered. Can't wait to build it up.

Felt DA 2008 for Triathlon and Time Trialing

Serotta CX for road racing

Man you have some super sweet bikes! Way out of my league - even out of my dream capabilities. Congrats.

I am TOTALLY loving biking!!

I've got a mid 90s Specialized Rock Hopper and a 15 mile trail right by the house. I did some riding last year when we moved here, kind of sporadically, never got over 8 miles or so, except a few times when we went out as a family and did a leisure ride.

but this year, I decided that biking would be my main form of exercise and I was going to do it nearly every day. For the last 4 weeks I've ridden at least 5 times a week, and I've gone from 8 mile rides at around 9 or 10mph to 17 mile rides at 12-12.5mph.

I told myself I'd never ride less than an hour, and now I'm out around an hour and twenty minutes every time, pushing myself to do 'just a little more' than the last ride!

I'm burning 500-630 calories at a time, and I've lost 8 pounds in these last 4 weeks!

My goal is now is to get to 30 miles---that's riding the whole trail up and back. We live at the half-way point on the trail.

Anyway, glad to see other bicyclists!

I love to bike. We still have snow on the ground so have not been outside yet. This winter I hit the stationary bike pretty hard at the gym (100 miles or so per week) but I am getting tired of that. One of my goals after my initial weight loss was to ride the Michigander which is a 6-7 day ride covering about 300 miles. It has a different course each year so the distances vary. I am getting ready to send in my registration for this year which will be the third time I have done it. I had to miss one year due to hip replacement. Riding outdoors is the time I feel less like a draft horse and more like a race horse! I have both a road bike and a mountain bike, both made by Specialized. I think that the most important decision in choosing a brand is the local dealer, especially for new riders. A good bike shop will make the difference between pleasure and torture as they will help you choose the right bike and make sure that it fits properly as well as works properly.

Great thread! I love bike riding and rode my first metric century this weekend (63 miles). Actually it turned out to be 66 miles as they did not mark the course accurately but who is counting! We climed over 2500 feet in the hills of California and it was quite the workout. I couldn't stop eating at all the rest stops and I'm hoping i don't post my first weight gain this week!

I am in the market for a new bike as mine is a 15 year old Steel Trek. The BF and I ride every weekend so I feel I have earned a new bike. Any recommendations??