Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.pjbaz
08-12-03, 11:21 AM
I stopped in my LBS yesterday to look around, etc. and the owner mentioned they have group rides on Monday and Friday nights. Yesterday being a Monday I said yeah, what the heck I'll ride with them until I feel like I can't go much farther and turn back and head for home. Here, I will mention that they ride a 22-25 mile loop.
So, off I go on my late 70's- early 80's Bianchi Squadra...the bike I bought at a yard sale less then a month ago. Mind you I'm NOT a biker and until this point I have only ridden a total of about 2.5 miles...and not at the same time.
We head out on what they called a B/C route with mostly flat/rolling terrain and things are going well. I survived, albeit slowly, thorugh the first hill and am not too far behind the group. I was able to maintain visual contact and to me that's pretty good. We got out a few miles and I figured I should turn around but of course I didn't. Just a little more I kept telling myself, not wanting to look like a quitter. A "little more" became a LOT more and before I was smart enough to head off we were probably 6-7 miles away from home.
Thankfully, (well, that's debateable as you'll read) at a stop light another group, I'll call it the "Tour de CT peloton" hammers past. A few of our group recognize a guy from their group and he stops to talk. I figure, GREAT, a break, I NEED this. Stopping turned out to be bad for me, as I proceeded to "revisit" my dinner in the grass near the road.
Remounted and off again, feeling MUCH beter for some reason...hmmm I wonder, I'm just trying to find the closest point to peel off and head home to collapse. The store owner waited for me at a turn and went back toward home so I wasn't riding alone which I really appreciated. I finished my ride in good enough shape and enjoyed the experience.
Here's what I learned:
1. Don't eat pizza before a ride.
2. Don't be stupid and go too far.
3. Ride with a good group, there was always someone who hung back and rode with me even though I knew where I was. I appreciate them waiting for a straggler.
4. Get in shape before testosterone takes over, ladies don't need this one...that's not fair.
5. Get back out there and ride some more.
6. Buy a bike with index shifting.
Regardless of how tough it was I enjoyed the ride and will continue on my bike. The group was very cool and the LBS owner seemed genuinely concerned that they might have "scared me away" with the 12 os so miles I made it with them.
The best part was this morning when I woke up. I have absolutely NO pain in my legs and my butt is only a little sore, a lot less than I was expecting.
PJBAZ
So, off I go on my late 70's- early 80's Bianchi Squadra...the bike I bought at a yard sale less then a month ago. Mind you I'm NOT a biker and until this point I have only ridden a total of about 2.5 miles...and not at the same time.
We head out on what they called a B/C route with mostly flat/rolling terrain and things are going well. I survived, albeit slowly, thorugh the first hill and am not too far behind the group. I was able to maintain visual contact and to me that's pretty good. We got out a few miles and I figured I should turn around but of course I didn't. Just a little more I kept telling myself, not wanting to look like a quitter. A "little more" became a LOT more and before I was smart enough to head off we were probably 6-7 miles away from home.
Thankfully, (well, that's debateable as you'll read) at a stop light another group, I'll call it the "Tour de CT peloton" hammers past. A few of our group recognize a guy from their group and he stops to talk. I figure, GREAT, a break, I NEED this. Stopping turned out to be bad for me, as I proceeded to "revisit" my dinner in the grass near the road.
Remounted and off again, feeling MUCH beter for some reason...hmmm I wonder, I'm just trying to find the closest point to peel off and head home to collapse. The store owner waited for me at a turn and went back toward home so I wasn't riding alone which I really appreciated. I finished my ride in good enough shape and enjoyed the experience.
Here's what I learned:
1. Don't eat pizza before a ride.
2. Don't be stupid and go too far.
3. Ride with a good group, there was always someone who hung back and rode with me even though I knew where I was. I appreciate them waiting for a straggler.
4. Get in shape before testosterone takes over, ladies don't need this one...that's not fair.
5. Get back out there and ride some more.
6. Buy a bike with index shifting.
Regardless of how tough it was I enjoyed the ride and will continue on my bike. The group was very cool and the LBS owner seemed genuinely concerned that they might have "scared me away" with the 12 os so miles I made it with them.
The best part was this morning when I woke up. I have absolutely NO pain in my legs and my butt is only a little sore, a lot less than I was expecting.
PJBAZ