Southern California - Tell me about your first ride...

Because I cannot stand the waiting for my bike I must live vicariously through you all and hear some stories to take my mind off the wait for my bike to be arriving in that beautifully colored poop brown van of wonder...the glorious UPS man/woman will deliver...a mere few days from now...the object of my obsession. Damn the wait.

I'd love to hear:
What was your first ride? Road, MTB, ???
How far?
How you became hooked?

I've never owned a road bike only mountain bikes and cruisers. As a kid I had to rely on my cruiser to get me EVERYwhere...to the beach to surf every morning for surf class and back and to school and back and again to the beach for MORE surfing lol. I loved my bike.

I then embarked as a teen into mountain biking, but in SoCal I had extremely bad asthma so going up the hill was awful (whiting ranch hurt my lungs so bad), but I looooooovvved going downhill really fast and furious so it made it all worth it!

There is my bike story past and now I live up in a very rural and hilly area that I hope to make an exercise playground out of on my bike...when it freakin' gets here ::stomping foot::

Tell me your stories :D

And Happytime I'm kind of stalking you because you are Tri-GIRL and I'm thinking of trying that out in the near future.

I used to ride motorcycles in the dirt and wanted to get in better shape for that. My landlord had a crusty old Schwinn 3-speed lying in the ivy. I don't like running and I loved my bike as a kid, so I dragged it out, put tubes in it, and headed for the Balboa Park bike path, about 2-3 miles from home. I got about 1 1/2 miles from home and the chain broke, so I walked home.
After I put a new chain on it, I rode it for 6 months before I bought a 10 speed KHS that actually fit for $150. I guess I was hooked at that point, but I stayed on the bike paths for over a year before getting a lightweight road bike and taking to the roads. I think that was 1985.

My first ride was on the Santa Ana River Trail in 1988. My mom and dad had mountain bikes and my dad had decided to get a road bike to do the Rosarito to Ensenada ride. I had a few friends with road bikes so somehow I convinced him to buy me one. It was a Centurion Expert with Shimano 105 components. We got the bikes and I still had a cast on my arm from a skateboarding accident. Eager to start training for the Rosarito ride I didn't let the cast stop me and we went down to the Weir Cyn. exit off of the 91 freeway and did a 30 mile ride. I didn't even have bike shorts yet. I guess I got hooked when I started beating my friends that had always been better than me at other sports. For some reason or another we never did the Rosarito to Ensenada ride, but I started racing about a year later after having my plans delayed when I was hit by a car a few months after I started riding. After racing all over the US and even some foreign countries, I finally did the Rosarito to Ensenada ride in 2004 and had a blast.

I used to ride motorcycles in the dirt and wanted to get in better shape for that. My landlord had a crusty old Schwinn 3-speed lying in the ivy. I don't like running and I loved my bike as a kid, so I dragged it out, put tubes in it, and headed for the Balboa Park bike path, about 2-3 miles from home. I got about 1 1/2 miles from home and the chain broke, so I walked home.
After I put a new chain on it, I rode it for 6 months before I bought a 10 speed KHS that actually fit for $150. I guess I was hooked at that point, but I stayed on the bike paths for over a year before getting a lightweight road bike and taking to the roads. I think that was 1985.

John, you told me that story while we climbed Santa Clara Divide Road! I was just telling George about that climb yesterday and how much I enjoyed your company while we made our way to the top. :)

Learned to ride a bike as a kid. Bought a carbon road bike on a whim (long story) in July 2005. Figured that as a couch potato, a bit of exercise wouldn't hurt me, and perhaps if I really got into it, I could someday ride 100 miles per month. I remember asking the salesperson whether the bike I chose would be suitable for someday riding 30 miles in a day on. He told me it should be fine for at least 75. Okay, that's more than I could imagine trying to ride. Took delivery of my bike on July 21.

Had to get to work by 8 AM on July 22, so I woke up early in the morning to try out the new toy. Went out at 6 AM for a largely flat route of 5 miles that took me 30 minutes. (Plus any time stopped at lights.) Felt like collapsing on the one "hill" of note along the way. (Something where nowadays, I could power up maintaining 15+ MPH if I wanted to.) Legs were sore for the rest of the day. But it was fun enough that I went out and rode that loop again the next day.

Thought about what I might do someday on a bike and upped my goal to conquering the road behind my parents' place, ie Mt Baldy Rd. Someday. Maybe. But with that goal in mind and with the sheer thrill of riding, I rode regularly--in my pre-Baldy days I was doing 100+ miles and 10,000+ vertical feet each week to work toward that goal--and I ended up climbing Mt Baldy by the end of November. Rode my first century (first BikeForums Pie ride) in January.

On my one year anniversary, rode Oceanside-Irvine-Oceanside and had a blast, meeting a bunch more BikeForums people. And on the next day, admitted my obsession with nice toys and dropped by Nytro and found myself a nice toy.

John, you told me that story while we climbed Santa Clara Divide Road! I was just telling George about that climb yesterday and how much I enjoyed your company while we made our way to the top. :)
Sometimes I'm like a broken record. Really, I enjoyed your company and learned a little about what makes you tick.

Sometimes I'm like a broken record.No kidding John!...:D
You told me that exact same story last July on our ride up Newcomb's Ranch....:beer:

About 1973.
Was visiting an old friend and noticed a nice (for that time ) 10 speed leaning against his fence.
I commented on it and he said something like "That bike is f***ing *****en, you've gotta ride it!!"
So I did. A ripping five or six blocks, and he was right, it was all he said, an early bike-boom era Nishiki Kokusia. I bought one a week later and have never gone more than a few weeks since then without riding. The Nishiki gave way to homebuilt frames within a year or so and it's been that way ever since.
It will change your life and define your character if it's really the connection you need to make. I hope it is, it's been a nice ride so far.

Ticia, I'm sooooo excited for you! Have you taken the mtb out yet? I can just imagine the beauty you have around you. You *must* take pics for sharing when you ride!

I always had a bike as a kid. Rode them around everywhere... for hours, sometimes all day, hanging out with my friends, riding to school and to the beach or just cruising around the neighborhoods. Usually on a cruiser, although I do remember my first ten-speed and my first crash on it! It was Halloween and I didn't get to go trick-or-treating that night because my leg was pretty torn up. :mad: :cry:

My first road ride was June 1st of last year. B met me at my house and the plan was to do a couple of laps around the park behind my house! That lasted all of about 5 minutes before we were headed down Goldenwest toward the bike path. Ended up riding to Bolsa Chica and back home. I think it was ~20 miles. I was immediately hooked! :D B and I were riding together regularly and I remember how excited we were after completing our first metric on the SART! We were giddy. :D

First mtb ride was the BF group ride at Chino Hills in, when was that, hmmmmm... October? Soooooo much fun, I was immediately hooked on that too! :p Still riding Jake's Trek when on mtb rides. The poor kid, I've had to get it repaired for him a few times now! :o

My first ride since I was a kid was back in September. After switching to a corporate job after years of college & hauling around sound systems for live performance, I was a bit out of shape to say the least. The rock 'n roll bizniz isn't exactly a healthy career if you know what i mean.

I started out with a mountain bike then. I made it a whole 2.7 miles on a bike trail I thought I was going to die. I kept at it, and before I knew it I was going 75+ miles per week after a month and a half and dropping pounds like crazy. I did some mountain trails but primarily rode on paths & streets, so I picked up my first roadie in January.

I suppose I got absolutely hooked was my first trip up to the top of Newport Coast Drive. It was dark, I go to the top and could see all the lights across orange county. Beautiful!

Learned to ride a bike when I was 4 in Hong Kong. Moved to Pasadena the year after, and was awarded a sweet Murray BMX bike, that lasted me until 6th grade. Then upped the ante with a hot Huffy 21-speed mountain bike from Costco. But didn't really figure out what the multiple gears did, so ended up sweet-talking grandma into chipping in for half of a brand-spankin' new 1995 Dyno VFR. Did the BMX thing in jr. high/early high school, learning tricks, halfpipe, etc. - foot slipped off the pedal once on a landing and the nuts went splat on the top tube. Had to literally crawl home. But luckily I found out years later that I can still have kids, so it's all good. Learned to drive, and the bike took a backseat. Fast forward to 2004, where I decided to get myself a mountain bike after riding around on a borrowed bike up in the Pacific Northwest during flight attendant training. Picked up a pair of mtn bikes for me and my lady, and hit up local trails like Arroyo Seco, etc. -

Always had thought that roadies wearing tight-azz spandex were kinda dorky (still hypocritically think so today, but see ergonomic/comfort reasons for doing so), but was riding the mtn. bike around the Rose Bowl loop and kept getting passed up by roadies no matter how hard and fast I pedaled. Went to the bike store the next day and test rode a roadie, and ordered one up. At first, I refused to wear tight shorts - instead, opting for padded boxers underneath running shorts. But then I threw vanity into the wind and got my first pair of bibs, and will not look back. Not that I needed one, but got another bike a few months ago. Oh what fun, it is to ride.

While my first love for wheeled things is still cars, road biking has slipped into second in terms of enjoyment and the occasional motion self-therapy.

I understand your anxiety - I felt bad for calling my LBS a few times to see if my bike was in and they had just "forgotten" to call me . . . ;)

My first road ride was June 1st of last year. B met me at my house and the plan was to do a couple of laps around the park behind my house! That lasted all of about 5 minutes before we were headed down Goldenwest toward the bike path. Ended up riding to Bolsa Chica and back home.

Back in the day when I actually updated my blog. :p

Thursday, June 01, 2006
Tiff's maiden voyage

So my good friend Tiff IM's me first thing this morning and tells me that she'll be kid-free for a couple of hours and that she is going to take her new road bike out for a spin in the park. Not wanting to miss her first ride, I immediately called Grandma and begged her to watch the boys for a couple of hours so I could join her. As I pulled up to her house she was standing outside eating breakfast and she actually jumped up and down with excitement, it was so adorable. Ready to go, we headed for the park by her house and she soon realized that she was not going to be satisfied riding in circles for an hour. We left the park and headed down to the beach where we rode down to the end of Bolsa Chica. Periodically during the ride she would get an ear to ear grin on her face and shout out "this is so much fun!" It's exciting to see my good friend with the same enthusiasm that I have for cycling. Today our total mileage was 17.3 miles and that was only because I was pressed for time and needed to get back to pick up the boys and fetch Avery from school. I know that she could have kept going and going. We're going to have many, many wonderful rides ahead of us. Now I just have to convince her that she should take the plunge and sign up for the Cool Breeze Century. I know that she's stronger and more ready than she thinks she is.

Back in the day when I actually updated my blog. :p

Thursday, June 01, 2006
Tiff's maiden voyage

So my good friend Tiff IM's me first thing this morning and tells me that she'll be kid-free for a couple of hours and that she is going to take her new road bike out for a spin in the park. Not wanting to miss her first ride, I immediately called Grandma and begged her to watch the boys for a couple of hours so I could join her. As I pulled up to her house she was standing outside eating breakfast and she actually jumped up and down with excitement, it was so adorable. Ready to go, we headed for the park by her house and she soon realized that she was not going to be satisfied riding in circles for an hour. We left the park and headed down to the beach where we rode down to the end of Bolsa Chica. Periodically during the ride she would get an ear to ear grin on her face and shout out "this is so much fun!" It's exciting to see my good friend with the same enthusiasm that I have for cycling. Today our total mileage was 17.3 miles and that was only because I was pressed for time and needed to get back to pick up the boys and fetch Avery from school. I know that she could have kept going and going. We're going to have many, many wonderful rides ahead of us. Now I just have to convince her that she should take the plunge and sign up for the Cool Breeze Century. I know that she's stronger and more ready than she thinks she is.

I remember every minute of it! :D

...and the occasional motion self-therapy.

+1 what's good for the body is also good for the mind. :D

Tell me about your first ride...


her name was kim....and she was older than me....


oops...bike ride? :eek: :lol:

I honestly cannot remember when my first road ride was. What I can remember was when I first started riding. I was about 5, and I snuck out in the backyard, and self-taught myself to ride a bike. I used the fence to help me balance, and eventually, I was able to pedal for more than 50 feet.

Ever since then, I've been on a bike. I biked to school, from elementary all the way up through high school, so I've always had cycling legs. The only time I didn't bike to school was in college. I would have been tough to carry 4 college books, notebook, all on my back, while riding 20 hilly miles between Pasadena and Cal Poly Pomona. The hill over Grand to Mt. Sac was bad enough, but to add all that weight on the back pack, would have been too much.

After graduating from college, I bought my first road bike in '89 from Steve Lubanski at Open Road (which was then a really small bike shop). It was a Miele, and the frame had a pink paint job. You have to remember at that time, loud colors were en vogue for bike frames. I then started riding with Foothill Cycle Club, where I met Clem and Nina Bartolai ... BTW, Clem will be inducted into the Cal Triple Crown Hall of Fame this year. I figured if I was to spend this much on a bike, I better make good use out of it.

i've always ridden two wheeled vehicles dressed like this:

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f57/wahoolee/leathers.jpg

and doing things like this:

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f57/wahoolee/laguna_corkscrew_wheelie.jpg

i've been a freak about cycling since i watched lemond in the TDF in the 80's and followed all the racing through the 90's until the present, but i've always been a bigger freak for motorcycles. my "first ride" was testing some bikes in austin, texas back in 1995 (cannondales, trek, etc) to get my first bike but i never did, always leaning back toward motorcycles.
i finally got my first bicycle late last july but didn't start riding until right at the end of december. i don't have a motorcycle now (until october when the new models come out :D ) but i have 3 bicycles in 5 months and a 4th on the way. :eek:

i have the sickness. :D

I picked up a Trek 520 at Helens/Arcadia in 2001 since I hated running and needed to lose weight. My first ride was the 3 mile loop around the rose bowl. Sheer, utter, agony. My second ride was 6 miles around Rose bowl, more utter agony. Within a month, I was doing 20 miles around Griffith Park, no pain except I couldn't make that dang trash truck hill.

Within a year, I was up to 40-50 mile rides and it was clear the Trek was ill fitting. I picked up a custom made touring rig in late 2002. In Spring 03, I rode a solo 800 mile tour across England.

A bike is more than a toy, more than transportation, it's a ticket to a freedom that all of us here are blessed to know.

Someone said I should go ride a bike in the river back in 92. I bought a $150 Target MTB Huffy special. Packed up some tools and went for a ride. 65 miles from Imperial to PCH,across to Balboa and back. Slept for a few hours after the ride!:D

My dad bought my first (road) bike from a department store in Canada when I was a kid (~11 yrs old). I rode a bit on that one, but didn't do much after ~2 yrs.

My next cycling stage started when I saw an Ironman broadcast on TV. I forgot when it was, but it must have been at least 1997+. I think it was held on some island in the Mediterranean called Cypress (?). I saw how fun it is and think I'd like to push myself to do it. That's when I bought a bike by myself (a mtb), and I rode up and down Toronto on nicely paved bike paths. It was also when I took some swimming classes that failed pretty miserably.

My current cycling wave started mid-last year. Had the mtb out in the balcony for ~2 yrs since moving it to San Diego. It was all rusted; so one day I took it upon myself to make it nice and shiny again by learning how to do bike maintenance and rebuilding it. I also thought it'll be nice to do some exercises since I haven't done any for 6 yrs. It was a huge waste of money, and at the end, I brought it to a "beginner's mtb trail" where joggers went uphill faster than me, and I bonked hard after only 15 mins. That's when I bought a heart rate monitor and my first road bike, and have been riding it almost every weekend since then. :D

My neighbor got my parents into road bike riding for fitness, and my father decided it would be neat to bring me along when I turned 11. So after finding me a used bike (Fuji Ace) he put the bikes in the truck and took me to Westlake, where there is a nice bike lane all the way around the posh neighborhood. We did 2 laps to total 10 miles, and I was hooked. In a year, I was doing half centuries, and another year, I was competing.

My first ride was a 24-ish-miler down PCH including Newport Coast Drive. I tipped over climbing while going too slow.

:lol: I did that on my first ride too. Clipped in, rode up the driveway of my apartment complex toward the road (maybe a 2% grade?), tried to go around the speed bump and in the process of coasting around the speed bump fell over on my side.

:lol: Same here, I think I posted mine before. In the mtb rebuild, I went with clipless since I thought it's cool. That uphill where all the joggers can walk up faster than me, I fell down 5 times; but I made it to the top without walking up! :D

being the shy, timid soul that I am...I often have to be forced to do things that I should do on my own. My first bike was a Schwinn Stingray with the banana seat....and it came complete with training wheels...No way I was gonna try to ride that thing without the training wheels. One day, my dad the former Marine...took off the training wheels...planted my butt on the banana seat and pushed me down a hill. I learned real quick.

1st ride...

I had a road bike back in the day.

Rode it around on some really awful roads in Benderi

was the biggest thrill I ever had.

been riding some sort of bike since.

My 1st real bike was a Liege w/ Campy Nuovo Record - 5 speed regina oro cluster.. Man was I stylin.. My best friend and I were Nationally ranked junior racquetball players and our coach told us we should ride a bike for cross training.. 2 years later both of us were racing our bikes and not playing racquetball anymore..

Was fortunate enough to see the 1984 Olympics in So Cal and that got me super motivated for racing which I did for 10+ years..

Someone said I should go ride a bike in the river back in 92. I bought a $150 Target MTB Huffy special. Packed up some tools and went for a ride. 65 miles from Imperial to PCH,across to Balboa and back. Slept for a few hours after the ride!:D


Fast Freddie, I think you misunderstood.

My 1st real bike was a Liege w/ Campy Nuovo Record - 5 speed regina oro cluster.. Man was I stylin.. My best friend and I were Nationally ranked junior racquetball players and our coach told us we should ride a bike for cross training.. 2 years later both of us were racing our bikes and not playing racquetball anymore..


:roflmao:
I bought a bike just so I can enter triathlons... and now I'm spending all my time cycling while neglecting my run and swim training!

No kidding John!...:D
You told me that exact same story last July on our ride up Newcomb's Ranch....:beer:
What about this one? I had met a guy during the time that I only did laps of Balboa Park or the bike path at the beach. He and I ventured off the path a few times into the hills of Encino and I thought we were ready for a real road ride, but where? I remembered Little Tujunga from when my friends dad drove us up there when I was a kid, so we parked my truck in Sylmar and set out to climb Little T and loop around Sierra Highway back for about 40 miles. If you've done Little T, you know there is a second climb, and we didn't. It was hot, and we finished our water on the first climb, so the ride turned into the first of many death march rides that we would do together. I think I slept very well that night. Hard to think it's been 20+ years since that ride.

First ride on a road bike, I brought it home from Budget Pro Bikes, clipped in and did circles in my driveway, stopped without unclipping, and fell over skinning my right elbow. I got up, kicked the bike (stumping my toe), got madder, started crying, took the bike up to my apartment and called my friend who convinced me that I really did want to blow a grand on this new "hobby." He convinced me to keep it. And now? I ride it once in awhile. ;)

First ride on a mtn bike, I road with a group at Marshall Canyon and loved the uphill stuff, but freaked out on the single track. I'm still chicken, but one of these days, I'm going to get out there again. :D

i don't remember my first ride on a road bike. too long ago(23 years). i just remember getting the bike. i could still walk into that shop and tell you how the floor was laid out, where my bike was hanging, how much it cost, and who sold it to us:)

...and now I'm spending all my time cycling while neglecting my run and swim training!We're very happy to hear that, Joy!...:D

:D Good stories, I'm enjoying them:D

Especially the falling down and forgetting to unclip. I've yet to master that one. Everytime I try to go up this hill in the back of our yard I tip into my lovely Rhoddie bush. One day I'll make it!

My first ride.... Wow this goes way back. I grew up in a rural area (lots of farms) and the only way to get around was on a bike, walking was just not an option. So biking was a right of passage to a young kid and I was not the best at balance or coordination. OK, I was a disaster. All my friends had already learned to ride with only two wheels and I was determined to keep up with them, even if it cost me my knees and elbows... and possibly my head. No helmets back then. I would drag my mom and dad out of the house and they would basically roll be back and forth across the front yard. I felt like a ball they would pass back and fourth. This lasted what felt like years. I am told it was only a couple of days, but the embarrassment made it seem a lot longer. I can still remember the moment, Eureka! My dad pushed me toward my mom and I just turned and was able to ride, it was as simple as that. I biked right off the front yard and onto the road. (No cars, don't worry, remember rural) As a child I was never a great cyclist, but I bet you dollars to doughnuts not one of my old friends could keep up with me now.

Probably not the type of story you were expecting but, well it's a story.

:D Good stories, I'm enjoying them:D

Especially the falling down and forgetting to unclip. I've yet to master that one. Everytime I try to go up this hill in the back of our yard I tip into my lovely Rhoddie bush. One day I'll make it!
Well, I specifically left out the falling down, unclipping part. But since everyone else is sharing that, then I'll include that my first clipless were Sampson pedals. They were awful. It had a really high profile cleat, and was impossible to walk in. It was also really difficult to clip in and out of.

The most embarrassing fall was when I was at the corner of Harbor and Beryl in Redondo Beach. It must have been around 11 am, so it was late enough so there was a crowd around. I fell over while in the left turn lane. My buddy so wanted to get away from there.

My first ride was when I was 4, had a small 2 wheel bmx bike, I was a natural. I remember riding around the levee by the beach for awhile, so happy and smiling because I could ride in circles and not fall. Yep, don't remember much more than that. :)

I'm 20 now.

I own 2 mtbs and a road bike. Over the years I've gone through probably 4-5 xmart bikes.

:D Good stories, I'm enjoying them:D

Especially the falling down and forgetting to unclip. I've yet to master that one. Everytime I try to go up this hill in the back of our yard I tip into my lovely Rhoddie bush. One day I'll make it!
I've had the fall over from not unclipping, but I've also had pedals break off and cause 2 crashes. Going slow both times, through intersections. One time I fell on my back in the glass and debris on the road, got up, and almost fell again because the pedal was still on my shoe. My ex-wife was upset because she had to go get the car, bless her.