Recreational & Family - The bike's great . . . but the motor needs serious work!

Just got back from my first ride on my new Specialized Expedition Deluxe! I was pretty well shot after 45 minutes and 6.5 miles. My first bike in 25 years - sorry I waited so long to do this as I feel great!

I'll definitely will be looking forward to those daily early morning rides I have planned!

Ron
:)

There are a lot of folks here who are tuning up their motors. In my case, we are doing a major overhaul. Trying to change from a gas-guzzling SUV to a sleek 4 cylinder. I think I may have lost one cylinder already.

Glad you enjoyed the ride!!

Originally posted by radioflier

I'll definitely will be looking forward to those daily early morning rides I have planned!
Ron
:)


Ron, glad you are getting back into riding. I love to ride early in the morning also. I live close to a state park where I usually ride and there are beautiful deer early in the morning to see along the ride, plus I love the quiet before the park gets busy. Part of my ride goes by a lake and it is so peaceful before the activity begins.

Enjoy your rides. :)

Originally posted by radioflier
Just got back from my first ride on my new Specialized Expedition Deluxe! I was pretty well shot after 45 minutes and 6.5 miles.
Hi Ron. You're doing better than I did. When I bought my first bike (as an adult) in 1999 it took me a couple of weeks to work up to 6.5 miles. :eek:
Now my (almost) daily ride is 25-35 miles with longer ones on the weekends.

Just take your time and enjoy riding. Your mileage and speed will increase.

Did I mention that I'm 58? :beer:

After a short time you'll become addicted (like the rest of us) and you'll be drooling over something like this.


http://www.merlinbike.com/english/bikes/cielo_img/cielo_lg.jpg

Originally posted by radioflier
Just got back from my first ride on my new Specialized Expedition Deluxe! I was pretty well shot after 45 minutes and 6.5 miles. My first bike in 25 years - sorry I waited so long to do this as I feel great!

I'll definitely will be looking forward to those daily early morning rides I have planned!

Ron
:)

Ron; I recently started after 20 years. I am 60. I finally broke down and bought a Trek Navigator 300. Seems fairly similar to yours. The first time I went out I discovered that Frankfort KY does not have any level streets. I lasted about 15 minutes. Over the last couple of months I have found some large school parking lots and have put some miles there and then tackled some of the hills. One of the best pieces of advice I received from the forum here was to start slow, use the lower gears with higher cadence, and work gradually up. I actually think I am going to survive.:)

Originally posted by RobertTank
Ron; I recently started after 20 years. I am 60. I finally broke down and bought a Trek Navigator 300. I actually think I am going to survive.:)

Robert, it is quite a challenge when you first start back, isn't it. I had been sort of playing around with my one-speed, decided to get serious and bought a new Giant Sadona Comfort bike which I love. I didn't realize there were any hills to speak of in Florida either, but I soon found out what I thought was a "little incline" turned into a "big hill" while biking. :D However, I try to ride for an hour each day. Want to work up to more time so I can try some different trails. May not make too much headway until fall. It is so hot here now plus a lot of humidity. After an hour, I'm ready to go into the AC.

Congrats and welcome to the "magic carpet ride"! I think you're doing very well and enjoying any length of a ride is all that matters. When I started in 2001 I could barely go 3 miles. The more you ride, the further you'll venture!

Oh, I wish I live by that state park in Florida! Sounds wonderful!
:)

Well, I've had the bike 5 weeks now and have 200 miles under my belt! With little cooperation from the weather I've been getting 11 - 12 mile daily rides in at about 1 hr each. I really look forward to my daily rides - I get real cranky if something comes up and I have to miss a ride.

Good for you. Soon you will be doing 200 miles per week!!

That addiction is hard to beat.

I wish I could do 200/wk, but I've got too many other irons in the fire to devote that much time to riding. Most are spousal support, but some are self-inflicted as well.