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.FisherQueen
07-25-10, 12:10 PM
I haven't ridden a bicycle since puberty caused me to outgrow my childhood bike. I loved that bike. It was blue. With clouds on it.
But I've been thinking about how much fun other people seem to be having on their bicycles, so this weekend, I bought my first adult bike. It's a Marin Larkspur, the best bicycle I can afford (and also the second-cheapest thing in the bike shop). My Friendly Neighborhood Bike Shop Guy helped me choose a bike with a small-sized frame for my short body, and gave me some helpful advice on how to start, stop, and change gears.
This morning, before the rest of the city was awake, I took my new bike to a bike/walk path to try it out. There was much uncertainty and wobbling at first, but it didn't take long before I was getting the hang of it. I succeeded in riding five whole miles at nearly 7 miles per hour- impressed? No, you aren't, and that's reasonable of you. It's a starting point, though, and I'm looking forward to learning.
Someday, I'd love to use my bike to commute to work. But I live on the top of a ridiculous hill, so that's in the misty future, when I have strong legs and good reflexes and am fairly confident that I won't fall off the bicycle into traffic. My first goal is to improve to where I can comfortably ride 15 miles per hour for 20 miles, so that I can join in one of the city cycle club's casual rides with some hope of keeping up.
The forum invites me to introduce myself, and so I am. I suspect that I'll be reading a lot more than posting, because I have lots to learn, and little to contribute. But I've enjoyed reading the discussions on this forum today, and I'll be around, reading and learning.
But I've been thinking about how much fun other people seem to be having on their bicycles, so this weekend, I bought my first adult bike. It's a Marin Larkspur, the best bicycle I can afford (and also the second-cheapest thing in the bike shop). My Friendly Neighborhood Bike Shop Guy helped me choose a bike with a small-sized frame for my short body, and gave me some helpful advice on how to start, stop, and change gears.
This morning, before the rest of the city was awake, I took my new bike to a bike/walk path to try it out. There was much uncertainty and wobbling at first, but it didn't take long before I was getting the hang of it. I succeeded in riding five whole miles at nearly 7 miles per hour- impressed? No, you aren't, and that's reasonable of you. It's a starting point, though, and I'm looking forward to learning.
Someday, I'd love to use my bike to commute to work. But I live on the top of a ridiculous hill, so that's in the misty future, when I have strong legs and good reflexes and am fairly confident that I won't fall off the bicycle into traffic. My first goal is to improve to where I can comfortably ride 15 miles per hour for 20 miles, so that I can join in one of the city cycle club's casual rides with some hope of keeping up.
The forum invites me to introduce myself, and so I am. I suspect that I'll be reading a lot more than posting, because I have lots to learn, and little to contribute. But I've enjoyed reading the discussions on this forum today, and I'll be around, reading and learning.