Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Won a bike but haven't ridden in 30+ years!

I might as well introduce myself, even though I only just registered. I think I'm going to need help. My name is Cynthia, I'm definitely Athena sized at 5'7" and around 226 pounds! I'm married... and my husband is now slightly jealous because I am getting a bike!

You see, I won a bike in a blog contest (http://www.garbagethatgoo.com/2008/05/21/i-won-a-lipton-bike/) from the Lipton Tea company, a Fuji Crosstown 2.0 (http://www.fujibikes.com/2006/bikes.asp?id=183#) and it is arriving next week according to the tracking number I was sent!

And I am CLUELESS. I'm not sure if this is a road bike, a comfort bike or some kind of hybrid. It looks nice and is fancier than any bike I've ever owned. I don't know if this new bike will even fit me, but I'm hopeful.

Seriously, I haven't been on a bike in over 30 years. I'm 51 now. And I'm a lot heavier than I was. Worse... I live on a steep hill and I'm kind of scared of the idea of riding a bike again, at least in this neighborhood. It's all hills. I'm not even sure I'm capable of pedaling up if I was daring enough to ride down. You see, when I was in high school, I messed up the cartilage in my right knee in a bike accident. Now, it's been mostly OK, except it seems to be getting worse since I turned 50. It's harder to do things like go down stairs, etc...

So I don't want to injure myself, but I really LIKE the idea of riding again. I enjoyed it when I was a kid. I've got plantar fasciitis, so walking is not such a great activity for me at present and it seems that most weight bearing activities aggravate my feet, so maybe biking is the way to go. But I'm kind of scared of traffic. The roads aren't always so good in my town, and often narrow. And the idea of riding on the highways is also scary. Yeah, I'm a worrywart.

There is a local bike club (http://www.pendletononwheels.org/index.html) and I just registered on their forum, but I don't feel like I am going to be up to the kind of rides they do for a while yet. The shortest is like 25 miles!

At any rate, I'm not sure where to start! I don't think I even know how to properly get on the thing. Or how to shift it. Or even what gear you should use for uphill or downhill or level roads. I'm hoping my local bike shop (there is only one) can help with those questions. I already asked them if they will assemble the bike and they will for a very modest $25.

I know I will need a bicycle helmet... are there other items I might need for safety? Or any accessories that are considered useful? Any tips? Fun stories from other 50+ Athena newbie riders?


Cynthia

Welcome to the forum. I'm a super-clyde myself and 39 years old. Currently 315 lbs down from about 400. I started on a mountain bike and am now on a cyclocross bike which is a road bike with wider tires and a bit sturdier.

I'd recommend you find some trails to ride. Not sure what's around you but you can find out on the Internet. Either rail trails or park (cycling) trails. My neighborhood is filled with hills or traffic depending on direction. I'm only now venturing out on those roads. I started on the local rail trails and still do most of my riding there.

As far as gear, definitely go for the helmet. I good pair of cycling gloves too. If you decide to get into riding a lot there are other considerations. For example if you start riding 30 or more miles a week, then cycling shorts would be a good idea. I'm definitely not in Lycra shape so I put a pair of basketball (knee length) shorts over them. A water bottle is a good idea and a bag under the seat to carry stuff. My bag contains: tire patch kit, a set of tire levers, a multi-tool, and an extra inner tube. To prevent me from losing things out of my pockets I also put my wallet, cell phone and car keys in there when I go riding.

Good Luck.

John

Your bike is a hybrid and if you like to wear skirts or dresses lets hope they send you the ladies model heh

It's not a bad bike actually. It's going to be sturdier than a road bike but it's not lightweight - 30lbs. I would buy a helmet, locks if you plan to park it outside, and some lights or reflectors if you plan to ride at night.

If you're a safe driver the chances are you'll be a safe biker. You know what they say about biking - you never do forget. It'll come back quickly and you'll become more comfortable as you go. You've got 24 speeds with three gears in front which means your lowest gear will make going up those hills a lot easier:)

I'd recommend you find some trails to ride. Not sure what's around you but you can find out on the Internet. Either rail trails or park (cycling) trails. My neighborhood is filled with hills or traffic depending on direction. I'm only now venturing out on those roads. I started on the local rail trails and still do most of my riding there.

Thanks John, I'll look and see what I can find. The bike shop recommended the local river walk... but I'm not sure if that will be good or not. I can but try it. At least I have a station wagon, so I should be able to pop the bike in the back if I need to take it to a flatter place to ride. I'm not sure if any of the parks have trails, they are mostly pretty small parks. But now that I think of it, one at least has some lengthy walkways through it, that might do, at least for learning.



As far as gear, definitely go for the helmet. I good pair of cycling gloves too. If you decide to get into riding a lot there are other considerations. For example if you start riding 30 or more miles a week, then cycling shorts would be a good idea. I'm definitely not in Lycra shape so I put a pair of basketball (knee length) shorts over them. A water bottle is a good idea and a bag under the seat to carry stuff. My bag contains: tire patch kit, a set of tire levers, a multi-tool, and an extra inner tube. To prevent me from losing things out of my pockets I also put my wallet, cell phone and car keys in there when I go riding.


Definitely helmet... I saw a friend out of town last weekend and she had had a spill and was not wearing her helmet. She said her head rang for a bit. I guess now she will clean her helmet out, LOL! I hadn't thought of gloves, but they might be a good idea for me. I have an old RSI injury, so I tend to get a bit of chronic tendinitis in my forearms.

Hadn't thought of water bottle, but yeah, I'll need that too. It's dry here and hot in the summer. I like the idea of a small bag of some kind. I will have to learn about tire fixing I guess! I've never done it.

If UPS is on time... the bike comes on Monday!


Cynthia

Your bike is listed under the hybrid bikes on the Fuji site!:D

You live on a hill? A word of advice! When the cables begin to break-in, you will need to re-adjust the cables to the brakes. Not that hard so myabe the hubby can do it or take it to a shop for an adjustment after 100-200 miles. You will lose brake pressure so make sure and have it adjusted or you're aksin' for trouble!

Same with the shifters etc, but that won't kill you!

Your bike is a hybrid and if you like to wear skirts or dresses lets hope they send you the ladies model heh

No worries there, LOL! I haven't worn a skirt or dress in DECADES! Stretch jeans is more like it these days.


It's not a bad bike actually. It's going to be sturdier than a road bike but it's not lightweight - 30lbs. I would buy a helmet, locks if you plan to park it outside, and some lights or reflectors if you plan to ride at night.

Oh good. It looked OK to me, but then I know darn little. The last bike I had was given to me by my parents. I didn't pick it out and I don't remember any fancy stuff like "suspension forks". I rode it a lot... but that town was FLAT with wide and better kept streets. Here... I dodge crater-like potholes in the car.

I think I can heave it into the wagon if I need to even at 30 pounds. If not... then I better do some more weightlifting work, right?

Helmet will be the first purchase! It will be parked in the garage, but I might want a lock for around town if I ever get to the point where I feel comfy riding out from and returning to home. At present, I don't plan to ride at night. This town is on the dark side anyway, I don't think I'd feel safe enough, even with a light. But maybe a later addition.


If you're a safe driver the chances are you'll be a safe biker. You know what they say about biking - you never do forget. It'll come back quickly and you'll become more comfortable as you go. You've got 24 speeds with three gears in front which means your lowest gear will make going up those hills a lot easier:)


I hope riding up hill will be possible... I'm not supposed to even ride a stationary bike with resistance because of my foot problems nor am I supposed to walk up or down hills. But I am still really looking forward to this! There's something about a new bike that is really exciting!

It's sort of suitable I won, I am a big tea drinker. Just not Lipton Tea, LOL!

Cynthia

Your bike is listed under the hybrid bikes on the Fuji site!:D

You live on a hill? A word of advice! When the cables begin to break-in, you will need to re-adjust the cables to the brakes. Not that hard so myabe the hubby can do it or take it to a shop for an adjustment after 100-200 miles. You will lose brake pressure so make sure and have it adjusted or you're aksin' for trouble!

Same with the shifters etc, but that won't kill you!


Thank you, thank you! That is something I would not have thought of!


Cynthia

Are there any biketrails near? When I started riding back in 93 somebody suggested that I go ride my bike down the river. What the heck, I had no idea roads for bikes were along the river. NO need to cross streets as the road underpasses teh vehicular traffic.:thumb:

And always always always wear a helmet. Riding without one is for the dummies!:(

Under the cars we go!:D
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/z11.jpg

Like little streets for bikes. Make sure to stay to the right ,just like driving a car!:p
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/070408A.jpg

Don't listen to these guys, the bike is all wrong for you. Let me send you my address so you can give..er..so I can dispose of it for you :)

I had a similar situation. My wife was working in a charity for diabetes and there was a raffle. She asked if we could give some to the charity, and I said, sure. She bought a bunch of raffle tickets for a mountain bike - and we won. :eek: I had been wanting a bike, so I started riding it, and got hooked. The bike as long since gone to someone else and I have a Cannondale F900 hardtail (a tad more expensive :rolleyes:) and along the way I lost about 70 lbs...

I have the same bicycle and really like it. It is my "grocery getter". I have installed a rack and use Performance Grocery bag panniers. I also have installed the Performance Bicycle (Forte) comfort grips to help alleviate wrist pain.

Have fun!

You live on a hill? A word of advice! When the cables begin to break-in, you will need to re-adjust the cables to the brakes. Not that hard so myabe the hubby can do it or take it to a shop for an adjustment after 100-200 miles. You will lose brake pressure so make sure and have it adjusted or you're aksin' for trouble!

Same with the shifters etc, but that won't kill you!

You can find TONS of videos on YouTube that show how to do minor adjustments. It is pretty easy and requires a minimal amount of tools. It may seem intimidating at first. But you will probably be like me--after I watched a few of the videos I came to the realization that if these dorks can learn to do this stuff, surely I could!

Enjoy your new lifestyle!
By the way--we are going to be needing some pictures once you get the ride and it's ready to go!

Are there any biketrails near? When I started riding back in 93 somebody suggested that I go ride my bike down the river. What the heck, I had no idea roads for bikes were along the river. NO need to cross streets as the road underpasses teh vehicular traffic.:thumb:

And always always always wear a helmet. Riding without one is for the dummies!:(

Oh yes... one look at my friend last weekend who was in a minor bike incident while walking her dog from a bike convinced me of the helmet thing! I have three cats who would not be pleased if their *mom* was laid up and unable to play with them.

I just did some Googling... there's apparently a nice and lengthy bike trail about an hour and fifteen minutes or so away called the Sacajawea Heritage Trail (http://www.accessibletrails.com/SoCentral_Wa/benton.htm) up in the Tri-Cities. I even found a gal's blog post about the trail (http://tgoab.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/the-sacagawea-heritage-trail-loop/) and it looks pretty and with minimal traffic. That's probably a future possibility, I'm looking for something closer to home to practice riding right now. Two of our main drag streets (both one way streets through town) do have bike lanes, so that might be OK if I'm careful. I do think I'd like to get some kind of rearview mirror for my new bike.

My health club is on one of those routes... up a nice big hill. But it would be cool to be able to bike over there, though I might need a smaller gym bag. I should check and see if there are any bike groups at the gym. There is also a park over that way, which I'm not overly familiar with, but there might be some sidewalks I could ride on there, or practice in the parking lot or something.

And then there is the river walk, which my husband has walked. It's not a long distance, just maybe 2-3 miles. The bike shop mentioned that. I know where the parks department office is, so that might be a place to go ask about bike trails or paths in town.

The local bike club has posted their routes on a PDF at their site... so I might try driving some in the car just to see what I think before I attempt the roads. But I'm not sure I'd want to try them by myself. I guess what I need to do is to work up to being able to ride for a bit of distance. That should be interesting... I can only stand the stationary bike at the gym for 15-20 minutes max until my right foot goes numb. I just hope the new bike has a more comfy seat, LOL!

I'm pretty sure we don't have any specialized "little roads" for bikes here though. Great pix!


Cynthia

Don't listen to these guys, the bike is all wrong for you. Let me send you my address so you can give..er..so I can dispose of it for you :)

Heh. Hubby has dibs if I don't like it or the bike doesn't fit me right.


Cynthia

I might as well introduce myself, even though I only just registered. I think I'm going to need help. My name is Cynthia, I'm definitely Athena sized at 5'7" and around 226 pounds! I'm married... and my husband is now slightly jealous because I am getting a bike!

You see, I won a bike in a blog contest (http://www.garbagethatgoo.com/2008/05/21/i-won-a-lipton-bike/) from the Lipton Tea company, a Fuji Crosstown 2.0 (http://www.fujibikes.com/2006/bikes.asp?id=183#) and it is arriving next week according to the tracking number I was sent!

And I am CLUELESS. I'm not sure if this is a road bike, a comfort bike or some kind of hybrid. It looks nice and is fancier than any bike I've ever owned. I don't know if this new bike will even fit me, but I'm hopeful.

Seriously, I haven't been on a bike in over 30 years. I'm 51 now. And I'm a lot heavier than I was. Worse... I live on a steep hill and I'm kind of scared of the idea of riding a bike again, at least in this neighborhood. It's all hills. I'm not even sure I'm capable of pedaling up if I was daring enough to ride down. You see, when I was in high school, I messed up the cartilage in my right knee in a bike accident. Now, it's been mostly OK, except it seems to be getting worse since I turned 50. It's harder to do things like go down stairs, etc...

So I don't want to injure myself, but I really LIKE the idea of riding again. I enjoyed it when I was a kid. I've got plantar fasciitis, so walking is not such a great activity for me at present and it seems that most weight bearing activities aggravate my feet, so maybe biking is the way to go. But I'm kind of scared of traffic. The roads aren't always so good in my town, and often narrow. And the idea of riding on the highways is also scary. Yeah, I'm a worrywart.

There is a local bike club (http://www.pendletononwheels.org/index.html) and I just registered on their forum, but I don't feel like I am going to be up to the kind of rides they do for a while yet. The shortest is like 25 miles!

At any rate, I'm not sure where to start! I don't think I even know how to properly get on the thing. Or how to shift it. Or even what gear you should use for uphill or downhill or level roads. I'm hoping my local bike shop (there is only one) can help with those questions. I already asked them if they will assemble the bike and they will for a very modest $25.

I know I will need a bicycle helmet... are there other items I might need for safety? Or any accessories that are considered useful? Any tips? Fun stories from other 50+ Athena newbie riders?


Cynthia
Cynthia,

I think a good first step is to establish a relationship with a local bike shop. I gather you're in Eastern Oregon... which city? Let's see if we can help you find a good shop. If not, how far would you be willing to drive - what's the largest city nearest you?

I had a similar situation. My wife was working in a charity for diabetes and there was a raffle. She asked if we could give some to the charity, and I said, sure. She bought a bunch of raffle tickets for a mountain bike - and we won. :eek: I had been wanting a bike, so I started riding it, and got hooked. The bike as long since gone to someone else and I have a Cannondale F900 hardtail (a tad more expensive :rolleyes:) and along the way I lost about 70 lbs...


Wow! Congrats on your bike win! I can certainly hope that I get hooked and along the way *I* lose 70 pounds! I'd be nearly a normal weight again! Hubby sounds interested and it would be good for him to get more exercise as well.

Cynthia

I have the same bicycle and really like it. It is my "grocery getter". I have installed a rack and use Performance Grocery bag panniers. I also have installed the Performance Bicycle (Forte) comfort grips to help alleviate wrist pain.

Have fun!


Transporting my veggies by bike in summer might not be the best way to keep them crisp, LOL, but I do like the idea of being able to potentially do some errands by bike, rather than car. The bike might be good for trips to the farmer's market, where it's hard to park nearby. My car is fairly good with fuel, but it is still a 4 wheel drive Subaru and going up and down the hills tends to use the gas.

I will almost certainly install a rack... and thanks for the suggestion on panniers! I'll wait and see if wrist pain is an issue before getting grips, but if it is, it is good to know what helps.

I feel so much better having this forum to ask questions!


Cynthia

Cynthia,

I think a good first step is to establish a relationship with a local bike shop. I gather you're in Eastern Oregon... which city? Let's see if we can help you find a good shop. If not, how far would you be willing to drive - what's the largest city nearest you?

Pendleton is where I live.

The local bike shop is called Pendleton Bike and Board (http://www.pendletonbikeandboard.com). I *think* that it is owned by one of the leaders of the Pendleton on Wheels (http://www.pendletononwheels.org) bicycle club. So hopefully it is at least OK. I stopped in to ask about cost of assembly on the bike and they told me $25 which seems reasonable enough. Once it is assembled, I was going to ask them for help in adjusting the seat and handlebars for me and also ask how to brake and shift it. Or ask if they hold any intro classes for beginners.

There is also a shop in Walla Walla, WA called Bicycle Barn and a place in Hermiston, OR called Scotts Cycle & Sports according to the local yellow pages.

Walla Walla is about a 50 minute drive... otherwise, the closest is Kennewick at about a 75 minute drive. Richland, WA and Pasco, WA are about the same as Kennewick.

Portland, Spokane, Boise are about a 4 hour drive one way... and probably for me, an overnight stay, since it's hard for me to drive more than 6-7 hours in a day. Seattle is about 5 hours out. However, I have a brother in Portland... so if I absolutely needed to go that far afield, it is conceivably do-able, just a bit expensive in gas.

Oh... and I definitely will take pictures of the bike and maybe even get hubby to snap a few of me with it or on it. Don't worry about that! I am camera shy, hopefully the bike will be the center of attention!


Cynthia

You can find TONS of videos on YouTube that show how to do minor adjustments. It is pretty easy and requires a minimal amount of tools. It may seem intimidating at first. But you will probably be like me--after I watched a few of the videos I came to the realization that if these dorks can learn to do this stuff, surely I could!

Enjoy your new lifestyle!
By the way--we are going to be needing some pictures once you get the ride and it's ready to go!


That's a great idea about the videos... at least once we get something faster than slow dial-up, LOL! But yeah, I'd like to learn to do at least the minor stuff.

I've got to do pictures for my blog, so pix will be forthcoming! I can hardly think of anything else this weekend... last I tracked it the bike package had left Spokane. So if it hadn't been for the holiday, might've had it yesterday. Monday is when it is supposed to arrive. I'll give up water aerobics class if I need to, I don't want to miss the UPS man. Just hope it arrives in good shape!

Cynthia

I might as well introduce myself, even though I only just registered. I think I'm going to need help. My name is Cynthia, I'm definitely Athena sized at 5'7" and around 226 pounds! I'm married... and my husband is now slightly jealous because I am getting a bike!

You see, I won a bike in a blog contest (http://www.garbagethatgoo.com/2008/05/21/i-won-a-lipton-bike/) from the Lipton Tea company, a Fuji Crosstown 2.0 (http://www.fujibikes.com/2006/bikes.asp?id=183#) and it is arriving next week according to the tracking number I was sent!

And I am CLUELESS. I'm not sure if this is a road bike, a comfort bike or some kind of hybrid. It looks nice and is fancier than any bike I've ever owned. I don't know if this new bike will even fit me, but I'm hopeful.

Seriously, I haven't been on a bike in over 30 years. I'm 51 now. And I'm a lot heavier than I was. Worse... I live on a steep hill and I'm kind of scared of the idea of riding a bike again, at least in this neighborhood. It's all hills. I'm not even sure I'm capable of pedaling up if I was daring enough to ride down. You see, when I was in high school, I messed up the cartilage in my right knee in a bike accident. Now, it's been mostly OK, except it seems to be getting worse since I turned 50. It's harder to do things like go down stairs, etc...

So I don't want to injure myself, but I really LIKE the idea of riding again. I enjoyed it when I was a kid. I've got plantar fasciitis, so walking is not such a great activity for me at present and it seems that most weight bearing activities aggravate my feet, so maybe biking is the way to go. But I'm kind of scared of traffic. The roads aren't always so good in my town, and often narrow. And the idea of riding on the highways is also scary. Yeah, I'm a worrywart.

There is a local bike club (http://www.pendletononwheels.org/index.html) and I just registered on their forum, but I don't feel like I am going to be up to the kind of rides they do for a while yet. The shortest is like 25 miles!

At any rate, I'm not sure where to start! I don't think I even know how to properly get on the thing. Or how to shift it. Or even what gear you should use for uphill or downhill or level roads. I'm hoping my local bike shop (there is only one) can help with those questions. I already asked them if they will assemble the bike and they will for a very modest $25.

I know I will need a bicycle helmet... are there other items I might need for safety? Or any accessories that are considered useful? Any tips? Fun stories from other 50+ Athena newbie riders?


Cynthia

Is this Cynthia from alt.support.diet fame? I was on ASD till I found Bike Forums, and left just before you started posting. If so, greetings from The Historian. If not, greetings from The Historian anyway. (bows)

I suggest gloves, 'cause they look cool, and they help your hands deal with road vibration.

re: shifting:

http://bicycletutor.com/gear-shifting/

That site has lots of videos that will help you and your husband. Welcome back to bicycles!

Welcome Cynthia from another Orygunian! An overweight 60 year old with bad knees.
Just take small steps to start, and those "steps" will get larger MUCH more quickly than you imagine.
You don't want to hurt any body parts or get overly sore muscles, because that tends to make you want to park the bike instead of ride it. Limit yourself to a couple miles the first day and your body will tell you what you can do the next. Besides, you'll look forward for tomorrow if you didn't get enough the first day!
I don't have a car, so I do all my grocery shopping on a bike, using a back pack. It's a rare occasion that I wish I had a rack & panniers! I'm only shopping for one though and have a 2 mile RT. It sounds like you have a greater distance and more bodies to feed.
Something I do, is always have a grocery list made up. If I happen to be going by the store while on other errands, I'll drop in and pick up a few items that I can hang on the handlebars. I can stretch a couple of the store type plastic bags between my shifters, which is also where I carry things like eggs and other fragile items etc. (it used to be chips)
One thing I would suggest, at least for the dry weather, is to remove the fenders to save some weight. It makes hills and accelerating that much easier.
Use 1 lower gear than you think you need and SPIN. Mashing (pushing hard) is tougher on the knees and also WEARS YOU OUT faster! Spin, and you can spin all day (almost).
When going up hill, anticipate your down shifts a bit early and keep spinning. If you wait until it's too late, it's TOO LATE!

Keep your tire pressure at the max. It makes for easier rolling.

You might read time2start's blog. Very similar to your situation-
http://time2start.wordpress.com/

Congratulations on wining a new bicycle, I hope it fits and that you find riding enjoyable. When the LBS assembles your new bike also ask the mechanics to spend a bit of time fitting it to you.

I can't help but noticed nobody mentioned some type of flat repair kit. I would reccomend buying a seat bag to hold a spare tube, patch kit, and tire leavers at a minimum. Get a frame pump from your LBS too. Its also a good idea to spend a little time at home practicing how to change tubes so your familiar with the techniques before your trying to change your first flat 15 miles from home in the dark while your cell phone is on your kitchen counter.

Congrats on the bike!

Best thing to do? Find a nice path or trail - maybe in a city of county park, where there is little traffic and just go out and ride. If you have friends that ride, it will be prefect if they go out with you.

I wouldn't consider a bike club until 1) you feel comfortable on your bike and can do at least 20 miles, 2) you know the rules of the road, know how to handle a bike in traffic (like left hand turn from a vehicle turn lane), and you know something about maintenance. You need to know how to change tire if you get a flat (although nice club members will usually help). Check with your local bike shop about "newbie" rides and maintenance clinics. My club, the first Saturday of each month, offers "newbie" rides and every other month maintenance clinics. But to do the rides again you have to be able ot do at least 15 miles and at a speed of about 8 - 10 mph.

So get a speedometer on the bike and work on your speed. There is lots of information online about road rules and traveling in traffic.

But best of all, just ride. If the first time it's only 10 minutes OK. Each time, push yourself alittle more. In a month you will be surprised how much you can do ( and how much weight you will lose!).

Transporting my veggies by bike in summer might not be the best way to keep them crisp, LOL, but I do like the idea of being able to potentially do some errands by bike, rather than car.

Insulation is your friend. I keep a collapsible cooler and a re-usable grocery bag in one pannier. Even ice cream is no problem.

Hi Cynthia - OK I am an Athena - And a few months ago I was 5'7" or so and 226.5 pounds now i am 206 YAY!!! So I can relate (oh and 45 Years young) I know only 20ish pounds lost, but I feel so much better..So start riding and you will be skinny minny!

OK - These guys are all really helpful and bike smart..the only thing I would add... Is I would go to the bike shop and ask someone to ride with you and coach you. Can you afford to pay $25-50 /hour or two? Let them know you want someone to help you on your first few rides out on a path... The river walk or wherever. I know the bike shops here run group rides at night and they have been very helpful. (Thought I don't pay these guys - they are doing a great turn...I do try and buy them a drink after the ride... )

I think if I wanted bike tutoring they would do it! In fact (see my Ride reports) I have found people on the group rides - that make it their business to help the newbies (AS do the people here on the forum)

So don't be surprised who will offer to help you at the shop! Feel free to PM me for any more info/support.

Happy riding - I’d buy gloves, Hat, Bike shorts (http://www.aerotechdesigns.com makes stuff for the non-skinny), ooh and bike pump - plus the stuff to repair a tire etc... Ask at the LBS>>they should be able to help. I also use a Camelback - so I can drink from a spout - and not have to bother with a water bottle...


Have Fun!

Hi Cynthia, Small world!

Glad you made it here. As I said before - these guys WILL help. Hopefully by now IT will have arrived!:D

Another site recommended here that I found useful is

http://sheldonbrown.com/beginners/index.html

Again Bill, thanks for the recommendation of my blog. I'm not sure I'm that much of a role model!! But I have gone from "OMG, I can't do THAT!" to "Blimey, I've done it!" with a huge chunk of support from this forum. So you are definitely in the right place Cynthia.

Have you got your helmet yet? If so, there'll be no stopping you!

Cathy

Is this Cynthia from alt.support.diet fame? I was on ASD till I found Bike Forums, and left just before you started posting. If so, greetings from The Historian. If not, greetings from The Historian anyway. (bows)

I suggest gloves, 'cause they look cool, and they help your hands deal with road vibration.


Hey, Neil,

Yep, 'tis me. And the bike is HERE! It arrived in a huge box, mostly assembled, except for seat, handlebars, pedals and front wheel. I have it mostly together, but cannot seem to get the front brake together like the picture shows. And I'm a little concerned, because the front wheel doesn't seem to line up quite with the middle of the suspension fork. Which may be normal for all I know, but the rear wheel is lined up right between the frame.

Otherwise, it appears undamaged, which is good, because the box had a bit of a tear or two. And it looks VERY NICE!

The bad part is that I think it might be too big of a frame for me. The instruction manual says you should have a minimum of 1" clearance between you and the top tube when you stand over it. Uh, no, there's NO clearance there. And if I adjust the seat for my legs... I'm not going to be able to touch ground even with tip-toes if I'm sitting on the seat.

I'd have taken it over to the bike shop today, but there are all kinds of printed warnings on the box about "voiding warranty" unless adjusted by an authorized Fuji bike dealer. So I need to call about that, because naturally, my local shop is NOT an authorized Fuji dealer. The shop it came from is World Famous Zane's Cycles (http://www.ezanes.com)... in CT. So by the time I had it unpacked and together with the pedal tightener and allen wrench they nicely included, too late to call them.

Either they or Lipton Tea are nice though... even though it was not listed as part of the prize, the bike came with a Bell Radar bike helmet. It feels a touch large, but then I may not know how to adjust it right. Another question for the poor bike shop, LOL!

Cynthia

Hi Cynthia - OK I am an Athena - And a few months ago I was 5'7" or so and 226.5 pounds now i am 206 YAY!!! So I can relate (oh and 45 Years young) I know only 20ish pounds lost, but I feel so much better..So start riding and you will be skinny minny!

OK - These guys are all really helpful and bike smart..the only thing I would add... Is I would go to the bike shop and ask someone to ride with you and coach you. Can you afford to pay $25-50 /hour or two? Let them know you want someone to help you on your first few rides out on a path... The river walk or wherever. I know the bike shops here run group rides at night and they have been very helpful. (Thought I don't pay these guys - they are doing a great turn...I do try and buy them a drink after the ride... )


That's a good idea! I was going to ask if they could show me stuff like how to shift and how to get on and off and what not and get them to adjust the bike to me, but I'd be happy to pay for a bit of coaching on the riding end. THANKS!



Happy riding - I’d buy gloves, Hat, Bike shorts (http://www.aerotechdesigns.com makes stuff for the non-skinny), ooh and bike pump - plus the stuff to repair a tire etc... Ask at the LBS>>they should be able to help. I also use a Camelback - so I can drink from a spout - and not have to bother with a water bottle...


Have Fun!


I guess first I need to find out if this bike fits me enough to keep. And if not, what to do about it. Then I'll worry about the accessories.

Cynthia

Hi Cynthia, Small world!

Glad you made it here. As I said before - these guys WILL help. Hopefully by now IT will have arrived!:D

Another site recommended here that I found useful is

http://sheldonbrown.com/beginners/index.html

Again Bill, thanks for the recommendation of my blog. I'm not sure I'm that much of a role model!! But I have gone from "OMG, I can't do THAT!" to "Blimey, I've done it!" with a huge chunk of support from this forum. So you are definitely in the right place Cynthia.

Have you got your helmet yet? If so, there'll be no stopping you!

Cathy


Hi Cathy!

Believe it or not, the bike came with a helmet inside the box! I wasn't expecting that. I'm not sure the helmet fits me though, it feels kind of loose.

I like that link, thanks!

I think my instinct about needing the saddle higher so my knees are comfy is right. But I am NOT used to the idea of not being able to touch ground while sitting in it! And I can't see how I can get up and on without doing "bad things" to myself one way or another. I feel sort of ah, "wedged" when off the seat. I am not going to have a handy couch to support me on the road.

When I was younger, my bike seemed too big as well, probably my parents were afraid I'd still grow or something. I was totally guilty of the "Cowboy Mount" but I don't think I could pull that off these days.

This bike seems so complicated... I'm used to something much simpler.

Cynthia

Hey, Neil,

Yep, 'tis me. And the bike is HERE! It arrived in a huge box, mostly assembled, except for seat, handlebars, pedals and front wheel. I have it mostly together, but cannot seem to get the front brake together like the picture shows. And I'm a little concerned, because the front wheel doesn't seem to line up quite with the middle of the suspension fork. Which may be normal for all I know, but the rear wheel is lined up right between the frame.

Otherwise, it appears undamaged, which is good, because the box had a bit of a tear or two. And it looks VERY NICE!

The bad part is that I think it might be too big of a frame for me. The instruction manual says you should have a minimum of 1" clearance between you and the top tube when you stand over it. Uh, no, there's NO clearance there. And if I adjust the seat for my legs... I'm not going to be able to touch ground even with tip-toes if I'm sitting on the seat.

I'd have taken it over to the bike shop today, but there are all kinds of printed warnings on the box about "voiding warranty" unless adjusted by an authorized Fuji bike dealer. So I need to call about that, because naturally, my local shop is NOT an authorized Fuji dealer. The shop it came from is World Famous Zane's Cycles (http://www.ezanes.com)... in CT. So by the time I had it unpacked and together with the pedal tightener and allen wrench they nicely included, too late to call them.

Either they or Lipton Tea are nice though... even though it was not listed as part of the prize, the bike came with a Bell Radar bike helmet. It feels a touch large, but then I may not know how to adjust it right. Another question for the poor bike shop, LOL!

Cynthia

It's actually common, to need to lean slightly to one side, when on the saddle, however if you can't sit on the bike with no clearance for the top tube, then the frame is too large, it creates a safety issue, in that you can't jump forward off the seat. A frame that is considerably too large, also can't be properly fitted to you. There are more options if a frame is too small, but almost none if it's too large.

There are three solutions for this, one is to see call the company that sent it to you, and see about returning it, for one the proper size. Two you can try selling this one, and then buying another bike in the proper size, from a local dealer. Third option is give it to your significant other (if it fits them, and they like to ride), then buy a bike from the local dealer for yourself. Personally I like the third option:D

I think my instinct about needing the saddle higher so my knees are comfy is right. But I am NOT used to the idea of not being able to touch ground while sitting in it! And I can't see how I can get up and on without doing "bad things" to myself one way or another. I feel sort of ah, "wedged" when off the seat. I am not going to have a handy couch to support me on the road.


Cynthia

Took me a while to get used to the saddle at the right height, but it makes for a much better cycling experience. The difficulty for me (to start with, or on a bad day :o ) was starting and stopping!!

I feel a bit "wedged" too, off the saddle. With me it comes with being short and kind of wide! :( But the idea of "no clearance" sounds a bit alarming. :twitchy: You'll need to make sure you're not going to do yourself a mischief!

Cathy

IF the seat is the correct height, you can't sit on it and touch the ground with your feet-
Here's a link about adjusting the height-
http://bikenhike.com/page.cfm?pageid=23&FAQid=25

Maybe you can get a different fuji dealer to do a swap?
Trouble with that is it looks like the closest one is pretty far away!
Spokane, Bend or Boise-

That's a great idea about the videos... at least once we get something faster than slow dial-up, LOL! But yeah, I'd like to learn to do at least the minor


I can't believe no one has beaten me to this advice: For just about ANYTHING!!! you want to know about bikes or bike riding go to Sheldon Brown's site (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/). From what I've seen, if it isn't on his site, you probably don't need to know it. (Or it hasn't been invented yet.)

your link was for the 06? fuji's site is sometimes wierd when yoyu google things, if the best match is a previous year they link it first.

I imagine you won an 08

http://fujibikes.com/2008/bikes.asp?id=481#

:) don't worry about hills with that sucker it has the "megarange" cassette meaning very low gears :) your front can actually be smaller (28 teeth) than your rear (32 teeth)

Hi Cynthia, Small world!

Glad you made it here. As I said before - these guys WILL help. Hopefully by now IT will have arrived!:D

Another site recommended here that I found useful is

http://sheldonbrown.com/beginners/index.html

Again Bill, thanks for the recommendation of my blog. I'm not sure I'm that much of a role model!! But I have gone from "OMG, I can't do THAT!" to "Blimey, I've done it!" with a huge chunk of support from this forum. So you are definitely in the right place Cynthia.

Have you got your helmet yet? If so, there'll be no stopping you!

Cathy


Oh DTSCDS - Are my posts invisible??? :rolleyes: But, speaking as a (just about) beginner, it is advice worth repeating!!:D

The bad part is that I think it might be too big of a frame for me. The instruction manual says you should have a minimum of 1" clearance between you and the top tube when you stand over it. Uh, no, there's NO clearance there. And if I adjust the seat for my legs... I'm not going to be able to touch ground even with tip-toes if I'm sitting on the seat.


If you are still able to stand over the top tube of the bicycle flat footed then it might still be ok. Yes it is still too large and it does riase safety concerns with panic stops and dismounts, but we'll suffice to say that clearance issues are a bit more concerning to a certain gender. I would venture a guess and say it's going to be ok to ride on. Just make sure you have had a lot of time to practice panic stops and mounting and dismounting on a nice bike path or an empty parking lot before you go out and play in traffic.

So she says the bike is here and yet I see no pictures of it. Your making Bau sad :(

Bau

It's actually common, to need to lean slightly to one side, when on the saddle, however if you can't sit on the bike with no clearance for the top tube, then the frame is too large, it creates a safety issue, in that you can't jump forward off the seat. A frame that is considerably too large, also can't be properly fitted to you. There are more options if a frame is too small, but almost none if it's too large.

It was a pretty severe lean to get a foot down!


There are three solutions for this, one is to see call the company that sent it to you, and see about returning it, for one the proper size. Two you can try selling this one, and then buying another bike in the proper size, from a local dealer. Third option is give it to your significant other (if it fits them, and they like to ride), then buy a bike from the local dealer for yourself. Personally I like the third option:D


I have called the company that sent the bike, and they said all the Lipton Tea bikes were a 19" frame and that's it. I have an email into the contest rep, just in case anything can be done on that end, but I'm guessing that Lipton simply picked the frame size in the middle of the offerings available for that model and had 'em all painted the same and so there is no choice.

Giving to my husband would be a great option, except he's not much taller than me and his legs are considerably shorter. If he jumped off the seat onto the top tube, he'd do himself an injury where he really would not want it. Me neither, LOL!

So it looks like selling might be the best option. The six foot or so bike shop guy looked at me, looked at the bike and looked dubious about me being able to ride it safely. He said HE rides a 19" frame. He also said that his shop will do consignment sales. Though I might try the local versions of Craigslist or an ad in "The Nickel" (classifieds paper) first. Another possibility if it doesn't sell might be to donate it to my favorite charity and list it on our taxes.

I think I could swing buying a bike if I had to... the real trick will be finding time to go looking at bikes. I guess I'd like something similar, I'm pretty sure I'd want a more upright position. My arms wouldn't like it if I was leaning on them much and I know I could not do that hunched over thing with my neck craned up. I just know I want a bike, but one I feel safe on. I remember once on ASD, someone mentioned a bike called Electra Townie I think and said she liked it because you could put your feet down.

Do any bike shops ever do trade-ins? Or is that not done?

I was thinking it might be worth calling some of the Fuji bike dealers and seeing if I could trade it for another Crosstown in my size. The bad part of that being that all Fuji bike dealers are about a 3-4 hour one-way drive away. But maybe I should try sitting on different brands. I just don't know anything about what is even available.

Cynthia

Welcome, Cynthia! Much the same as you, I started riding at the age of 54. That was about 1 year ago. I'm about 6 - 2, and just since I have been riding I've lost about 30 lbs. When I started I could not do the 4-mile loop around my neighborhood (I live in Kentucky, and there are some hills involved. You don't ride far in Kentucky without having to climb a hill!) without stopping and resting. I kept at it, and let me tell you, the first time I went the whole loop non-stop, it felt like a major victory. I just kept adding more and more and longer and longer side jaunts, got over my fear of sharing the road with cars, and seeking out more hills, until now I go 30+ miles pretty much every Saturday and Sunday.

30 miles is starting to get too easy, so I'm soon to add more distance or more hills!

I think you've pretty well got it covered. Helmet is a must, and it won't help to have it unless you wear it. For other "stuff", I'd suggest learning how to fix flats - your LBS should be happy to show you how, then reward them by buying from them a patch kit, tire levers, and an under-seat bag to carry the stuff in. Oh, don't forget a suitable pump to put the air back in the tube after you fix the hole! There are all sorts, such as mini-pumps or full-size frame pumps that can be mounted to the frame, and even CO-2 "pumps" that use a pre-charged cartridge (personally I don't use them, as I figure I can possible run out of cartridges but I'll never run out of air for a pump.) You may want to buy two water bottles and cages once you start riding any distance.

A lot of newbie-bikers are shy about cycling-specific clothing, but really, it makes a big difference. Hiking shorts and a cotton tee-shirt are pretty miserable once they get perspiration-soaked, and biking jerseys and shorts are made to wick the perspiration away and keep you cool and dry. Initially I declared myself as in a "spandex-free zone", but I got over it, and my cycling improved because of it. If shy, you may want to wear the cycling shorts under regular shorts, or buy "baggy" shorts made for the mountain bike crowd.

Good luck! Biking is now a major part of my life, and I definitely feel better for the exercise!

your link was for the 06? fuji's site is sometimes wierd when yoyu google things, if the best match is a previous year they link it first.

I imagine you won an 08

http://fujibikes.com/2008/bikes.asp?id=481#

:) don't worry about hills with that sucker it has the "megarange" cassette meaning very low gears :) your front can actually be smaller (28 teeth) than your rear (32 teeth)


You are right! Thanks for the link! That explains why mine does not have fenders. I just had used the link that people promoting the contest used. I didn't realize the models changed each year, LOL!


Cynthia

So she says the bike is here and yet I see no pictures of it. Your making Bau sad :(


Be sad no more!

http://www.garbagethatgoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/assembled_bike_700w.jpg


Picture just after I finished my assembly. I essentially hauled the box in from the front porch and set to work. Yes, I know the front brakes are disconnected, I could not get them to connect like the instructions said, either the cable was slightly too short or I was not strong enough or something. I didn't want to force anything. The bike shop will take care of it. And I was so excited to have it together that I forgot to remove a bit of packing from rear end of the frame. I will try to take another picture when I get it back from the bike shop.

But I did get a nice gleam in her front reflector, eh?


Cynthia

Yay! Bike pics!

You know, that saddle could come down a bit if you get rid of that thudbuster suspended seatpost and go to a standard one. ;)

I have called the company that sent the bike, and they said all the Lipton Tea bikes were a 19" frame and that's it. I have an email into the contest rep, just in case anything can be done on that end, but I'm guessing that Lipton simply picked the frame size in the middle of the offerings available for that model and had 'em all painted the same and so there is no choice.Sounds like they picked the size for the average man (about 5' 10" tall). I'm about your height but with kinda short legs (29" inseam pants), and the size bike that fit me was 16".

If you sell it, you can probably get away with paying income tax on just the selling price, not the MSRP. Be sure to keep a copy of a bill of sale.

Welcome, Cynthia! Much the same as you, I started riding at the age of 54. That was about 1 year ago. I'm about 6 - 2, and just since I have been riding I've lost about 30 lbs. When I started I could not do the 4-mile loop around my neighborhood (I live in Kentucky, and there are some hills involved. You don't ride far in Kentucky without having to climb a hill!) without stopping and resting. I kept at it, and let me tell you, the first time I went the whole loop non-stop, it felt like a major victory. I just kept adding more and more and longer and longer side jaunts, got over my fear of sharing the road with cars, and seeking out more hills, until now I go 30+ miles pretty much every Saturday and Sunday.

30 miles is starting to get too easy, so I'm soon to add more distance or more hills!


Wow, that's great! You know, I was worried about finding a place to learn to ride, but the paper just had an article about our river parkway and it mentioned an older guy who just rides up and down the almost 3 mile stretch until he gets to about 20 miles. And I thought, "I could do that with time."

I'm going to be a little sad if I have to sell the bike I won, but my practical side says I need a bike that I'll ride and feel safe on. I just hope I can find one as nice looking. The aggravating part is it may take time for me to do the looking and deciding. I am not an impulse shopper, LOL! OTOH... once I do decide, I am usually happy with whatever I buy for years and years.

Cynthia

Here's a picture of how it came out of the box. There was also a smaller box, with the two tools and pedals and front wheel skewer and owner's manual, but it was sitting on the kitchen table when I took this shot.

http://www.garbagethatgoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/bike_booty_unpacked_700w.jpg

The assembly was mostly simple, though the handlebar was a bit puzzling. But even though I have never done anything like this before, I figured I should learn about the bike.

Cynthia

Oh DTSCDS - Are my posts invisible??? :rolleyes: But, speaking as a (just about) beginner, it is advice worth repeating!!:D

I am sorry. No, your posts aren't invisible. I just didn't see that this thread was 2 pages long. I was at the bottom of the first page and thought I was through.
So, good on you that you remembered Sheldon's site.
BTW--good luck Cynthia on the bike. AND, good job putting it together! (Even if you don't keep it.) But as Mr. Stormcrowe said, if you were to replace that suspension seat post you could adjust the seat down a bit more.

You will need to know how to adjust your brakes and repair a flat. parktools.com and youtube are a start. You might ask the people at the bike shop to show you, they may charge extra. They may even have a bike repair class at the shop or an adult ed place. See if there is a bike club or co-op near you. They will be valuable if only for safety tips. You should have the tool to adjust the brakes with you at all times. You should also get a decent pump, and perhaps a small one to carry with you if you have a flat.

Consider Mr Tuffy a product that helps avoid flats. I usually inspect my tires every 3 miles or so for glass, espcially as the tire gets older.

Effective cycling by forester is a good book, but riding with a local club would be much better.

If you plan to chain it outside I suggest you look at all the theft posts for advice. Cable locks do not work.

If you do sell the bike, I always advise people to consider a folding bike as it is easier to store and fold (go to that area of the forums for advice.)

I don't think I really need a folding bike. Storage is not presently an issue. I agree that I should learn how to fix a flat!

LBS guy says he will have some bikes in stock that might work for me next week. He mentioned a Specialized Crossroads. There is a shop not too far away in Walla Walla that looks like it carries Trek and Specialized and should have a selection. So I might go visit there as well. Since I am now starting from scratch, I guess I need to see what feels comfortable. I really have no idea.

I *think* I want some kind of hybrid. I like an upright riding position. I would like to use the bike for exercise, possibly errands and possibly, if I can work up to it, rides with the local cycling club. Their shortest ride is 25 miles! Oh, and it would need to be able to climb hills, since I live on one.

Other issues... bad ankles, bad feet (plantar fasciitis), bad right knee (bike accident in the '70s), weak wrists and a tendency towards tendinitis in my forearms from a past wrist injury. Which means I would NOT want much if any vibration from my handlebars. (I damp it in my Subaru Outback by using a neck pillow to cradle each arm for longer drives of 30+ minutes.)

I don't know if I should get a thicker tire or a road type tire. LBS suggested that the bigger tires are more stable. The roads aren't that great in town, so I'm definitely open to whatever works.

Bike shopping here we come!

Cynthia

I don't think I really need a folding bike. Storage is not presently an issue. I agree that I should learn how to fix a flat!

LBS guy says he will have some bikes in stock that might work for me next week. He mentioned a Specialized Crossroads. There is a shop not too far away in Walla Walla that looks like it carries Trek and Specialized and should have a selection. So I might go visit there as well. Since I am now starting from scratch, I guess I need to see what feels comfortable. I really have no idea.

I *think* I want some kind of hybrid. I like an upright riding position. I would like to use the bike for exercise, possibly errands and possibly, if I can work up to it, rides with the local cycling club. Their shortest ride is 25 miles! Oh, and it would need to be able to climb hills, since I live on one.

Other issues... bad ankles, bad feet (plantar fasciitis), bad right knee (bike accident in the '70s), weak wrists and a tendency towards tendinitis in my forearms from a past wrist injury. Which means I would NOT want much if any vibration from my handlebars. (I damp it in my Subaru Outback by using a neck pillow to cradle each arm for longer drives of 30+ minutes.)

I don't know if I should get a thicker tire or a road type tire. LBS suggested that the bigger tires are more stable. The roads aren't that great in town, so I'm definitely open to whatever works.

Bike shopping here we come!

Cynthia

Listen to the bike shop people and get something comfortable.. If it's too uncomfortable to ride you won't ride enough for all these other good things to happen. I bought a hybrid and I can't believe how quickly I've gotten hooked. I'm up to 20 plus miles a day on the weekends even though I'm only averaging 13 to 14 mph but I've had the bike 6 weeks (was on vacation for 2 of those) I'm over 400 miles and down about 10 lbs. I may buy a road bike next year but for now I'm glad I listened to the lbs.

Red