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.barryflht
11-04-07, 11:34 AM
Well, I'm a complete newbie and haven't ridden a bicycle since I was a kid (50 now), until a couple of weeks ago. This forum was inspirational and led me to go ahead and take the plunge I've contemplated so long. I bought a used bike and have been riding it through the neighboorhood for about 20 mins a couple of afternoons each week and just starting to get my legs to work properly, maintain balance, learn to change gears, ride clipless etc, etc. The entire neighboorhood is hilly, so it's been quite a chore but great fun and excellent practice ground. Today, however, I ventured out onto the local roads for the first time and spent a glorious 1/2 hour putting in approx. 5 miles this beautiful fall morning. I know this sounds like such child's play to you vetrans, but man what a workout for this 'ol boy. It was spooky at first. The first mile or so is on a major two lane highway with a 55 mile speed limit. Of course everybody wants to drive 70 and pass within inches of you, but after that the rest of the ride was on a quite country road where I began to relax and enjoy the crisp autumn morning before returning to the safety of the neighboorhood. I thought about doing the loop a second time, but felt that it may be pushing it a bit. Every beginner's article I read, says to take it easy and not get carried away with trying to do too much at first, so I'm taking heed of the advise. Hopefully I'll go a couple of miles further the next time and each time thereafter. After all, each century begins with the first mile.