Anyone else into road biking?

Jojobeth
Jojobeth Posts: 19
edited September 30 in Fitness and Exercise
I just started road biking a few weeks ago but really started to go a lot for about a week and a half. I love it! I would really like to have some support/friends that are into biking! I think I can get some motivation from people that are doing it as well!

Replies

  • deenanna
    deenanna Posts: 39
    When my boyfriend isn't in Europe we road bike. We have a group of friends who bike 5.5 miles to Sushi on Mondays. When I'm not at work we bike too. I like it.
  • nuttyfamily
    nuttyfamily Posts: 3,394 Member
    I just got a new hybrid Schwinn from WalMart and love it.
  • FL_Nettie
    FL_Nettie Posts: 265 Member
    I used to road bike many many many years ago and I miss it. Every year when the Tour de France comes on I say I'm going to get back into biking again. My problem is I want another Trek bike with the shoes that clip in but can't afford it right now. But I have a decent hybrid in the garage that's going to the shop to hopefully get fixed up this weekend so I can get back out there!
  • Jojobeth
    Jojobeth Posts: 19
    I used to road bike many many many years ago and I miss it. Every year when the Tour de France comes on I say I'm going to get back into biking again. My problem is I want another Trek bike with the shoes that clip in but can't afford it right now. But I have a decent hybrid in the garage that's going to the shop to hopefully get fixed up this weekend so I can get back out there!

    Yeah it is expensive to start with everything you need to get! My husband works for my brother in laws bike business so we get everything at wholesale so that helps a ton as far as cost but still expensive! My mom has a hybrid and LOVES it! Biking is probably my favorite exercise out of everything! Its so fun!
  • jdm0804
    jdm0804 Posts: 98 Member
    I love road biking! I got a Fuji Newest 3.0 (which I personally think is a terrible name for a bike) as retail-therapy after an incident with my then ex-girlfriend (now fiance). Nothing beats channeling jealous rage into a nice long bike ride! But now I ride about 4 times a week, and I can't get enough!
  • janet_pratt
    janet_pratt Posts: 747 Member
    I am a biking fool! I started out 5 years ago on my kids' bike. Thought I was really something when I rode 3 miles. And I swore I would never wear the funny clothes. Then I bought a Huffy and started biking around town, farther and farther. I wore it out in three months. I made K-Mart take it back and exchanged it for a Schwinn Hybrid, mountain bike frame which I later put road bike tires on and commuted on for about 2 years. I still use it for running errands because it has the racks on it for panniers. I bought a used Novara, which I also still ride on weekends because my grandaugher's kangaroo seat fits so well on the front of it and i take her riding with me on the weekends. But last October I finally got a Trek road bike, which I adore. I do century rides once a month during the season. Metric century....65 miles. I bike 20 miles every morning or evening that I have the time, a couple of days a week. And I commute by bike as often as possible. I would totally get rid of my car if it was possible.
  • janet_pratt
    janet_pratt Posts: 747 Member
    I used to road bike many many many years ago and I miss it. Every year when the Tour de France comes on I say I'm going to get back into biking again. My problem is I want another Trek bike with the shoes that clip in but can't afford it right now. But I have a decent hybrid in the garage that's going to the shop to hopefully get fixed up this weekend so I can get back out there!

    Yeah it is expensive to start with everything you need to get! My husband works for my brother in laws bike business so we get everything at wholesale so that helps a ton as far as cost but still expensive! My mom has a hybrid and LOVES it! Biking is probably my favorite exercise out of everything! Its so fun!
  • InTheRightLane
    InTheRightLane Posts: 33
    I bike :) I've been biking pretty regularly since college. When I work (summers off) I commute to work via bike so long as the weather is nice (14 miles round trip). I go for some long-ish day trips on weekends (50+ miles). It's been too hot out lately to get much biking in so I've been going to the gym.
  • janet_pratt
    janet_pratt Posts: 747 Member
    I used to road bike many many many years ago and I miss it. Every year when the Tour de France comes on I say I'm going to get back into biking again. My problem is I want another Trek bike with the shoes that clip in but can't afford it right now. But I have a decent hybrid in the garage that's going to the shop to hopefully get fixed up this weekend so I can get back out there!

    I started wearing the clip in shoes two years ago. My husband spent the first summer laughing at me. Nothing quite as lame as keeling over with your feel still attached to your pedals because you didn't click out before stopping. People who have no idea you are attached to your pedals look at you like you're an idiot when you clunk over like the little old guy on Laugh In. You know they're wondering why you didn't put your feet down.
  • lisadhancock
    lisadhancock Posts: 103
    I love it!! I try to get in at least 40 miles a week! I also have a fuji, though i'm not too pleased with it :(
  • staceyseeger
    staceyseeger Posts: 778 Member
    I started biking many years ago for cross-training...I started out on a Mountain Bike from WallyWorld. Schwinn, I think...Three years ago, my hubby bought me a Trek Hybrid from a bike shop. Wow, what a difference. LOL. However, just after he got me the bike, I became friends with a true "cyclist - triathlete" . Well, 8 months later, I was the proud owner of a Fuji Road Bike. That was two years ago...In May, I decided I needed a new toy...now, I am the proud owner of a brand-new Schwinn Le Tour full carbon fiber...triple chainring...30 gears total. This bike rocks. I love it.

    Keep me posted on your cycling (and running - if it applies)! I would love to compare notes!
  • FL_Nettie
    FL_Nettie Posts: 265 Member
    I started biking many years ago for cross-training...I started out on a Mountain Bike from WallyWorld. Schwinn, I think...Three years ago, my hubby bought me a Trek Hybrid from a bike shop. Wow, what a difference. LOL. However, just after he got me the bike, I became friends with a true "cyclist - triathlete" . Well, 8 months later, I was the proud owner of a Fuji Road Bike. That was two years ago...In May, I decided I needed a new toy...now, I am the proud owner of a brand-new Schwinn Le Tour full carbon fiber...triple chainring...30 gears total. This bike rocks. I love it.

    Keep me posted on your cycling (and running - if it applies)! I would love to compare notes!

    I'm so jealous!!!!!! Maybe I'll treat myself for my b-day this year.
  • Jojobeth
    Jojobeth Posts: 19
    I love road biking! I got a Fuji Newest 3.0 (which I personally think is a terrible name for a bike) as retail-therapy after an incident with my then ex-girlfriend (now fiance). Nothing beats channeling jealous rage into a nice long bike ride! But now I ride about 4 times a week, and I can't get enough!

    My husband has a Fuji mountain bike and we both ride Jamis. My husbands work is a fuji and Jamis dealer! I cant get enough of it either! Its too fun and in my opinion addicting!
  • Jojobeth
    Jojobeth Posts: 19
    I am a biking fool! I started out 5 years ago on my kids' bike. Thought I was really something when I rode 3 miles. And I swore I would never wear the funny clothes. Then I bought a Huffy and started biking around town, farther and farther. I wore it out in three months. I made K-Mart take it back and exchanged it for a Schwinn Hybrid, mountain bike frame which I later put road bike tires on and commuted on for about 2 years. I still use it for running errands because it has the racks on it for panniers. I bought a used Novara, which I also still ride on weekends because my grandaugher's kangaroo seat fits so well on the front of it and i take her riding with me on the weekends. But last October I finally got a Trek road bike, which I adore. I do century rides once a month during the season. Metric century....65 miles. I bike 20 miles every morning or evening that I have the time, a couple of days a week. And I commute by bike as often as possible. I would totally get rid of my car if it was possible.

    You ride a century once a month?! That is crazy! And awesome! Biking is seriously so fun! My husband has been doing it for 3 years and I just started like a month or so ago and I cant believe it took me so long! I love it!
  • Jojobeth
    Jojobeth Posts: 19
    I started biking many years ago for cross-training...I started out on a Mountain Bike from WallyWorld. Schwinn, I think...Three years ago, my hubby bought me a Trek Hybrid from a bike shop. Wow, what a difference. LOL. However, just after he got me the bike, I became friends with a true "cyclist - triathlete" . Well, 8 months later, I was the proud owner of a Fuji Road Bike. That was two years ago...In May, I decided I needed a new toy...now, I am the proud owner of a brand-new Schwinn Le Tour full carbon fiber...triple chainring...30 gears total. This bike rocks. I love it.

    Keep me posted on your cycling (and running - if it applies)! I would love to compare notes!

    Yeah I dont run :)! I hate it and cant stay motivated! That is why I am so excited about biking because I LOVE it and it is a great workout! I cant wait to get a full carbon! We didnt want to get one to start just in case I didnt like biking but I think I might get one next summer!
  • Jojobeth
    Jojobeth Posts: 19
    I love it!! I try to get in at least 40 miles a week! I also have a fuji, though i'm not too pleased with it :(

    What dont you like about your Fuji? Just curious! My brother in law owns a shop and they sell fuji and jamis brands. I ride a Jamis and so does my husband but he did have a Fuji before his Jamis and loved it! He likes his Jamis better though...maybe its because it cost about double what his Fuji cost so its nicer...
  • lisadhancock
    lisadhancock Posts: 103
    For one, my gears don't seem to shift correctly. I've taken it to the shop I bought it at for an adjustment but still having problems with it occasionally. And I just don't feel like they fitted it to me right. Everytime I ride my feet fall asleep. It's super annoying... My husband is making some adjustments to it for me and hoping that will help.
  • trijoe
    trijoe Posts: 729 Member
    I've got a junky old hybrid that I never ride, an old Lemond road bike that I used to ride all the time and now ride occassionally (it's so old, it's steel!), and a sweet Kestrel Talon tri bike. The Lemond gets me endless street cred, but the Kestrel is one of the joys of my life. It's full carbon, shimano ultegra, and handles as well as a high end road bike. I bought it on ebay still in-box, and had my LBS mechanic put it together and fit it. Saved hundreds of dollars this way! Then I added Adamo saddle and compact crank (I love love love hills!). If I ever convince the family to let me get a brand new road bike, it'll be a Kestrel Talon road bike. I'm so happy, Kestrels are now the only bikes I'll buy. And they're pretty affordable, if you power shop.

    Hope this helps.
  • dltang
    dltang Posts: 58 Member
    When I was young, (late teens and early twenties) I used to bike all the time. Then about 10 years ago, I started to ride casually again. I bought a Specialized Hybrid and that has been a very nice bike. But I wanted more, I wanted to go back to a real road bike. Last year, (at 47) I decided it was time to start again. I bought a Trek Alpha 1.2 in Pear White. I didn't get a chance to hardly ever ride it. This last 9 weeks has been a whole different story. I am up to riding M-F about 8 miles every morning before work and at least 10 on Saturdays. I am getting stronger and for the past few days I have maintained and average overall speed of 15.1 mph for my 8 mile ride. Not bad considering I do throw in some routes with hills in them too. When I first started I was lucky to go 3 miles at 10 mph. My goal is to work up to a Metric Century ride before the end of this summer and at least one ride where my speed up over 17 mph average. Not really sure why 17 mph but it just seems like an accomplishment for me. I use the iphone app Cyclemeter to track my route, speed and mileage. It seems to be a very good app and it is based on GPS. I love my road bike.
  • dltang
    dltang Posts: 58 Member
    I just finished a 15 mile ride today. I am working on riding farther and farther. This fall I would like to do either a 1/2 Century or a Metric Century. I think I could do it now out of sheer determination, but I would like to be in a little better shape first. I am thinking by Sept. I will need to find a ride and get signed up.
  • janet_pratt
    janet_pratt Posts: 747 Member
    I just finished a 15 mile ride today. I am working on riding farther and farther. This fall I would like to do either a 1/2 Century or a Metric Century. I think I could do it now out of sheer determination, but I would like to be in a little better shape first. I am thinking by Sept. I will need to find a ride and get signed up.

    You can do it! I did my first metric century with little more than a couple 30 mile rides under my belt as my farthest distance. Ok..I wanted someone to just kill me and put me out of my misery about the last 10 miles...but I finished the sucker! And I was hooked. I am going for my first full century in October, actually on that same ride where I did my first metric.
  • mattellis2
    mattellis2 Posts: 152
    The eating right bug bit me pretty hard in late April. Started trying to eat better and doing lots of research on fitness and proper nutrition. I have a friend the is a pretty hardcore runner, and I tried to keep up with her for a bit, but I have a bad knee that just was not enjoying the impact. Towards the end of may, I drug out an old Cannondale mountain bike I had, cleaned it up, and started riding. I put about 300 miles on it in about 4 weeks, and started shopping CL hard for a road bike. About 2.5 weeks ago, I picked up a Specialized Roubaix. I think I am in love! :) It is full carbon, with 105 components, and came with pedals, shoes, computers, lights and few other odds and ends. Been riding about 17-18 miles/night about 4-5 times a week. Would love to ride more, but life seems to get in the way lots of times.

    Dropped about 15 lbs since I started keeping track in May. Back to wearing the same size jeans I wore in high school, which feels really good. Getting ready to start supplementing the riding with some strength training/p90x. I shudder to think about how much money I have spent in the last few months on various doodads, but I feel wonderful with the small progress I have made so far.

    -matt
  • dltang
    dltang Posts: 58 Member
    I just finished a 15 mile ride today. I am working on riding farther and farther. This fall I would like to do either a 1/2 Century or a Metric Century. I think I could do it now out of sheer determination, but I would like to be in a little better shape first. I am thinking by Sept. I will need to find a ride and get signed up.

    You can do it! I did my first metric century with little more than a couple 30 mile rides under my belt as my farthest distance. Ok..I wanted someone to just kill me and put me out of my misery about the last 10 miles...but I finished the sucker! And I was hooked. I am going for my first full century in October, actually on that same ride where I did my first metric.

    Thanks so much for the encouragement. I think I am going to find one that is set up in the area this fall. There is one next month but I already have commitments at church. I am pretty sure I can do the metric century and by fall, most likely the 1/2 century. I need to get a few more long weekend rides under my belt though, before I attempt it.

    Good luck with your Century, it sounds like you are going to be more than ready to conquer it.
  • dltang
    dltang Posts: 58 Member
    The eating right bug bit me pretty hard in late April. Started trying to eat better and doing lots of research on fitness and proper nutrition. I have a friend the is a pretty hardcore runner, and I tried to keep up with her for a bit, but I have a bad knee that just was not enjoying the impact. Towards the end of may, I drug out an old Cannondale mountain bike I had, cleaned it up, and started riding. I put about 300 miles on it in about 4 weeks, and started shopping CL hard for a road bike. About 2.5 weeks ago, I picked up a Specialized Roubaix. I think I am in love! :) It is full carbon, with 105 components, and came with pedals, shoes, computers, lights and few other odds and ends. Been riding about 17-18 miles/night about 4-5 times a week. Would love to ride more, but life seems to get in the way lots of times.

    Dropped about 15 lbs since I started keeping track in May. Back to wearing the same size jeans I wore in high school, which feels really good. Getting ready to start supplementing the riding with some strength training/p90x. I shudder to think about how much money I have spent in the last few months on various doodads, but I feel wonderful with the small progress I have made so far.

    -matt

    Sounds like you got a great bike. You are really riding hard too. I added P90X to my workouts a week after I started back on my bike. I love it! I am absolutely hooked. You can see my before and current photos in my blog (should be in my signature line). I will be taking my 60 day photos tomorrow. Can't wait to see if I see a difference.
  • irongirl73
    irongirl73 Posts: 98 Member
    I love to bike and really need to be on my bike more. I have ridden the MS150 (bike from Houston to Austin) two times and have done lots of long and short rides! My bike is 11 years old. I really need a new bike. But, I want to buy a triathlon bike which will run me about 3K so I have to wait! Maybe when all the kiddos are in school and we don't have to pay for daycare anymore! I like riding best in a group. Riding solo is not fun and not real safe. I am terrified of dogs and it seems like they are always out waiting to chase me!

    Enjoy your new hobby!
  • significance
    significance Posts: 436 Member
    Riding a bike is my favourite form of exercise. I ride 24km (15 miles) a day, 6 days a week just commuting, and I like to take longer rides on weekends (my longest day ride was 183km / 114 miles, but 50km / 31 mi is more typical). I'm not what you'd call a serious cyclist, though - I'm happy with my cheap, steel-framed mountain bike, trundling along at an average of 21kph (13mph). I figure I could get a proper road bike and go faster, but I probably wouldn't go any further, so it would just mean I was getting less exercise!
  • Iam918
    Iam918 Posts: 118 Member
    I just started into road riding in Feb. Started w/ my MTB using slicks and then in April I upgraded to a Cyclocross bike (in my avi) using Borough CX Armadillo Elite Tires (700x32). Furthest I've done so far has been 51.5 mi w/ a few in the 30's. I've only been getting out for long rides very early (4am start) Saturday mornings lately as it's been too hot here in Phx for me.

    Atm I ride w/ my cousin, however he's moving in two weeks which will leave me to ride solo.
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