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New "inner" kid on the block/bike -- looking for opinions support

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New "inner" kid on the block/bike -- looking for opinions support

Old 08-03-15, 02:24 PM
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New "inner" kid on the block/bike -- looking for opinions support

I currently weigh 310 and am 5'6 (52 year old female) (and if any of you repeat that, I will hunt y'all down like the dogs that you are and kill you ;-).

I've ridden a little over the last 10 years on a Target Schwinn hybrid but really didn't like the hybrid handle bars... when I was in high school (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and steel ruled the bike world), my dad (who was also a large man) and I both had Raleigh Reliant road bikes... we loved them. Sadly, they are long gone!

I have tried to find another Vintage Raleigh bike from that era -- figured if it served my dad well, then it would be fine for me... "bought" one from a guy who fixes up and sells bikes to "college commuters" and went for my first ride in the neighborhood -- that lasted less than 5 minutes... I heard the unmistakable noise of metal rubbing on metal in the rear. Get home and check out the bike and the "plate" that is between the spokes and the chain was all bent and the chain was rubbing and digging into that. At first, I thought I did it (though I wasn't sure how I would have)... but then when I looked at the pictures online from the original, it was clear that was how the bike was before I ever touched it.

I text the guy and tell him that there was a problem with the bike and that I wanted a refund (he had a 7-day refund policy). He texts back "I made bet here that you were coming back. I won 650 bet with a friend. I have been selling vintage to college commuters". Basically, I took that as an insult at my age and weight. The next day when I went to return the bike, he said he wasn't being offensive. I said it was offensive. He then went on and on about how he loves big woman, had his wife there and told me she weighs over 200 lbs etc... needless to say, NOT the best experience in the world. I guess I *know* intellectually how people view me... It just really STINGS to have a perfect stranger admit it to your face, if that makes sense.

So, undeterred (or just really stoooopid with a flat learning curve ), I've decided to go take a look at this bike tomorrow:

-----VINTAGE SUTEKI BIKE EXCELLENT CONDITION-----

It appears to be in very good shape. The woman who owns it just had it tuned up 5 months ago and it is ready to ride.

However, I'm scared to go look at it and have her take a look at me and my size and age and face that kind of judgement again... or worse -- if I were to "break" her bike or something.

I have read over and over and over about going to a LBS and working with them ... I just don't have 500-600 bucks at this point to be able to do that.

So I guess I am looking for

a) encouragement -- that I shouldn't be afraid to try this bike out
b) anything obvious from the pics that would be a red flag that it would not be up to the task of lugging me around
c) anyone with any experience with Mixte road bikes and how they compare to regular road bikes in terms of your stance etc?

Anyway, that's my story -- any advice and encouragement would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading.

p.s. I suppose I should add that I don't plan to ride this cross country, over curbs etc. For now, just around the labrynth of well-paved neighborhoods with no curbs etc. Eventually, might like to add distance and do a century etc -- but where I live, our country roads are so narrow with no shoulder and so many cyclists regularly get mowed down by cars that I don't know if I'm brave enough to do that. So pretty optimal conditions for a road bike. I don't plan on carrying anything with me of significance other than my cell phone, In Case of Emergency card, and ID so they know where to ship the body.

Last edited by mahlers2nd; 08-03-15 at 02:28 PM. Reason: additional detail about goals and intended use.
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Old 08-03-15, 03:15 PM
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I found this thread in the Classic-Vintage forum.

Yes, you should go out and check out the bike. We're in this group because we're either big people who are riding bikes, big people who want to ride bikes, or people who used to be big and rode bikes and got smaller. If you worry about what people are going to think, then you want get on the bike, and getting on a bike is one step to getting more fit, and, hopefully, smaller. (I'll give you more information about me below.)

It seems that even though they were sold by Sears, they are pretty good bikes.

So check it out, take a road test on it to see if it fits. If it fits, it should be a nice recreation/touring bike.

Even though it has had a tune-up lately, I'd still take it to a LBS, and have them check the tensioning of the spokes on the wheels, as that is the part of the bike that Clydes and Athenas tend to be the roughest on. I'd also have them double-check the shifting and derailleurs. Also, the seat may end up needing to be upgraded, but that is a matter of personal comfort.

Also, while a good intro road bike starts about $500, a cruiser, like a Schwinn starts in the $300-$400 range at most shops (and I include Performance Bikes as a LBS).

Also, the Triangle area is a good area for riding bikes. If you live near Durham, the American Tobacco Trail (ATT) should be good for riding. You'll just have to look out for pedestrians.

If you live closer to the Cary area, then Performance Bikes has a Saturday Morning ride at 9am. While the ride does spend some time on the roads, about half the ride is on some trails in the Cary area.

And while I haven't been on any rides with Cyclin' Spoken Here, I've seen some of their rides. And it looks like one day of the week, they have women only rides (and one of them is for beginners, and they go up from there).

Most of my rides tend to be in the Preston neighborhood (in the Cary/Morrisville area), and it has nice bike lanes (so nice that joggers, walkers, and dog walkers like to use it).

If you have any more questions about cycling in the Triangle area, I'll try to help you out, or give you links to groups or shops that can help you.

I've only been biking (again) for about 4 months. When I first started, I could only ride my bike a little over 1 mile around a road in my apartment complex. And that felt like it was going to kill me. But, I've been riding my bike at least 3 times a week and as often as 5-6 times a week. I've worked up from 1.2 miles per ride to 14.2 miles per ride. And an average of 11-12 mph to 13-14 mph. After about 6 weeks, I had worked up to about 9 miles on a ride, so I felt confident enough to join a group ride at the Performance Bikes in Cary (where I bought my bike). I certainly wasn't the strongest person on the ride, but I was not the weakest either, and even though the ride is a no-drop beginner ride, I didn't want to hold back the group. I didn't, so mission accomplished. I've been doing the ride since Memorial Day Weekend, going about every other weekend.

I haven't been looking at a scale, but I've noticed that my fitness is better. And that my pants are fitting better, and I can use a smaller hole on my belt.

Good Luck

GH

Last edited by ColaJacket; 08-03-15 at 03:28 PM.
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Old 08-03-15, 03:29 PM
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Thanks -- I've read just about everything on these boards about Suteki which is why I'm interested in it. There are several other similar vintage road bikes for sale on CL but this one seemed to be the best maintained from the emails with the seller.

I work in Cary/Morrisville (always got a kick out of the signs that say "bicycle friendly community 2010 - 2012" -- like the end date implied that come 2012, it would be open season on cyclists and they would be fair game! But I live in relatively rural Wake Forest (actually Frankly county) ... if you've ever been up to Frankly County, you know what the roads are like... but once I get the hang of riding, it would probably be nice to start riding in a group -- Thanks for the information on the group rides for Cyclin' Spoken Here... I'll have to look into that.

Thanks again for your response. What LBS would be good to take my bike to be checked out etc? There seem to be soooo many of them.
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Old 08-03-15, 03:43 PM
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Welcome and good luck finding a suitable bike.
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Old 08-03-15, 03:55 PM
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Originally Posted by mahlers2nd
I currently weigh 310 and am 5'6 (52 year old female) (and if any of you repeat that, I will hunt y'all down like the dogs that you are and kill you ;-).

I've ridden a little over the last 10 years on a Target Schwinn hybrid but really didn't like the hybrid handle bars... when I was in high school (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and steel ruled the bike world), my dad (who was also a large man) and I both had Raleigh Reliant road bikes... we loved them. Sadly, they are long gone!

I have tried to find another Vintage Raleigh bike from that era -- figured if it served my dad well, then it would be fine for me... "bought" one from a guy who fixes up and sells bikes to "college commuters" and went for my first ride in the neighborhood -- that lasted less than 5 minutes... I heard the unmistakable noise of metal rubbing on metal in the rear. Get home and check out the bike and the "plate" that is between the spokes and the chain was all bent and the chain was rubbing and digging into that. At first, I thought I did it (though I wasn't sure how I would have)... but then when I looked at the pictures online from the original, it was clear that was how the bike was before I ever touched it.

I text the guy and tell him that there was a problem with the bike and that I wanted a refund (he had a 7-day refund policy). He texts back "I made bet here that you were coming back. I won 650 bet with a friend. I have been selling vintage to college commuters". Basically, I took that as an insult at my age and weight. The next day when I went to return the bike, he said he wasn't being offensive. I said it was offensive. He then went on and on about how he loves big woman, had his wife there and told me she weighs over 200 lbs etc... needless to say, NOT the best experience in the world. I guess I *know* intellectually how people view me... It just really STINGS to have a perfect stranger admit it to your face, if that makes sense.

So, undeterred (or just really stoooopid with a flat learning curve ), I've decided to go take a look at this bike tomorrow:

-----VINTAGE SUTEKI BIKE EXCELLENT CONDITION-----

It appears to be in very good shape. The woman who owns it just had it tuned up 5 months ago and it is ready to ride.

However, I'm scared to go look at it and have her take a look at me and my size and age and face that kind of judgement again... or worse -- if I were to "break" her bike or something.

I have read over and over and over about going to a LBS and working with them ... I just don't have 500-600 bucks at this point to be able to do that.

So I guess I am looking for

a) encouragement -- that I shouldn't be afraid to try this bike out
b) anything obvious from the pics that would be a red flag that it would not be up to the task of lugging me around
c) anyone with any experience with Mixte road bikes and how they compare to regular road bikes in terms of your stance etc?

Anyway, that's my story -- any advice and encouragement would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading.

p.s. I suppose I should add that I don't plan to ride this cross country, over curbs etc. For now, just around the labrynth of well-paved neighborhoods with no curbs etc. Eventually, might like to add distance and do a century etc -- but where I live, our country roads are so narrow with no shoulder and so many cyclists regularly get mowed down by cars that I don't know if I'm brave enough to do that. So pretty optimal conditions for a road bike. I don't plan on carrying anything with me of significance other than my cell phone, In Case of Emergency card, and ID so they know where to ship the body.
Don't let anyone make you feel bad for shopping for a bike -- there are plenty of people who are not making ANY effort to take care of their health and getting out and doing what you are doing already sets you apart from those folks.

Just remember once you have lost your Athena status and have reached your health goals to remember what it felt like and be kind to those who wish to follow in your footsteps!
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Old 08-03-15, 04:01 PM
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Close to your home in Wake Forest, I'm not too familiar with them, so I would have to go with the Yelp Ratings.

In the Cary/Morrisville area, I use Performance Bike in Cary. But I also bought my bike there, and go on group rides there. And since they give free Lifetime Adjustments, if you bought your bike there, I tend to go there. Others that treated me well, when I went looking for bikes were All Star Bikes, The Bicycle Chain, and Trek Raleigh.

Also, there are a couple of Meetup groups that do group rides in the Morrisville/Cary area. The one that I'm most tempted to do is Slow Spokes on Tuesday nights when they have A/B/C/D/Beginner rides. But I have not done that ride, yet.

In your area, I've heard good reports about this trail, Neuse River Trail. I haven't been on it, but I've spoken to people that have been on it, and they say it is an excellent trail.

Also, while I'm riding a Fuji right now. I rode a Raleigh in HS/College around 1981. I think it was a Raleigh Gran Sport. I still have it, and it will probably become a project at some time to get into shape, so that I can actually ride it.

Also, I'm not the only Clyde/Athena that does the PB - Cary beginner ride. I'm just the only one on this board.

Good Luck!

GH

Last edited by ColaJacket; 08-03-15 at 04:04 PM.
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Old 08-03-15, 06:42 PM
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Well my guess is that the deraillor ran into the spoke protector(what you called a plate). It is also referred to as a "dork disk" :-). In this case it did its job and stopped the spokes from grabbing the deraillor :-).

There is a limit screw that should prevent this from happening. So to avoid that until you can get the bike you buy in for a tune up, avoid shifting into the gear closest to the spokes. The weight of a rider really has no bearing on this adjustment :-).

In the late 1980's so called index shifting took from the older friction shifting, if you can get onto a bike with index shifting it us much nicer, you just click from gear to gear instead of hunting for it by feel.
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Old 08-03-15, 07:48 PM
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That bike looks to be in excellent condition. I'd definitely encourage you to go check it out. Guys like that jerk exist, unfortunately, but there are just as many encouraging people out there. I'm still a Clydesdale at 275 lbs but I've had skinny racer guys helping me out and encouraging me the whole way through 140 lbs of weight loss. I may even join their race team next summer if I can drop another 50 or so before then.
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Old 08-03-15, 08:15 PM
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Haters are gonna hate, nothing you can do about them. I applaud your decision to change your fitness lifestyle, cycling is awesome! I am sorry you had a bad experience though, jerks are everywhere. I am not familiar with vintage bicycles, so I am of no help there, but I do agree that taking the bike to a competent mechanic is the way to go just to ensure the bike is safe and roadworthy.

You didn't state what your ultimate fitness goals were, are you looking to loose weight or just build up stamina / endurance. There are a bunch of us who have lost a lot of weight and we can help / coach you if that is your plan. I personally have lost 90 pounds since Sept 2014. I will always be a Clyde because I am 6'2", and I am still teetering on the 200 lb mark but my fitness level compared to a year ago is crazy. I lost the weight primarily by counting calories without much help from the cycling. When I plateaued at 80 lbs down, I began riding in earnest (April-ish this year). Over 350 miles in June, 440 miles in July and already 102 miles this month. Still losing inches currently, leaning out but no weight loss to speak of lately. I'm OK with that
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Old 08-03-15, 08:32 PM
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Thanks everyone -- it gives me hope that so many of you have been so successful in losing weight through cycling -- that is my goal as well. If I were queen of the world, I would love to lose over 100 pounds and be a "normal" size -- not have to wear "plus sizes". I want to do it for my health and confidence, and yes... looks. I haven't always this weight -- just within the last 10 years while raising my kids, working full-time, and dealing with life in general.

However, I feel like I'm teetering on that edge of if I don't get serious about losing weight and getting in better shape now, I will start a slippery slope where I will wind up riding a scooter around walmart.

I'll keep you posted about how the trip goes tomorrow to see the bike.

Thanks again for the encouragement! It means a lot to me.
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Old 08-03-15, 09:31 PM
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New "inner" kid on the block/bike -- looking for opinions support

Welcome! No bike buying advice exactly. But as fellow Athena I welcome you
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Old 08-04-15, 05:33 AM
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I too didn't like the hybrid handle bars/ride set-up until I found the Cannondale Quick series and bought a Quick 4. But it really comes down to which bike YOU feel most comfortable so you'll want to ride it and ride it often. Good luck and ride on!
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Old 08-04-15, 06:25 AM
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IMHO calorie intake control is the key to weight loss :-). Cycling may help the equation. Cycling is good for fitness and lowering blood pressure :-). The first 100 lb loss is a gift, then the work starts ;-). Just had to get that in there hehe :-).
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Old 08-04-15, 08:29 AM
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See, for me I would drop a zero -- the first 10 pounds (which I lost last week) were a gift... now the work starts ;-)

I"m also starting to swim and hoping to do 2 legs of a baby triathlon eventually (I know my knees would never be able to handle the running -- they sucked when I was in my 20s and NOT overweight!).

As ColaJacket has been talking about in his posts, I'm fortunate to live in an area where there is so much support for cycling. I know a lot of people that cycle to work but no one heavier like us. I'm very excited to hear about the beginner rides that teach you how to ride in a group because to me, that is one of the more intimidating prospects of moving from "tooling around the neighborhood" to actually being able to RIDE, if that makes sense. I had a boss that used to do rides at work -- he was HARDCORE and was nationally ranked in his age group for amateurs... but you couldn't even think about joining that ride unless you were really proficient. He wouldn't even let his wife join until she had been practicing on an indoor trainer for at least 6 months!

Brought my tools this morning... so we'll see what happens! Looking forward to "getting to know" everyone... Y'all are awesome!
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Old 08-04-15, 08:57 AM
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I guess it's easier for someone to blame his shoddy mechanic work on someone's weight...sorry for your bad experience. Unfortunately ******** are everywhere, the best way to overcome it is to just ride on!
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Old 08-04-15, 09:17 AM
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I'm not a group rider really, did one 75 mile ride last summer that was a United Way sponsored ride. Otherwise I'm solo :-).
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Old 08-04-15, 09:47 AM
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Originally Posted by mahlers2nd
As ColaJacket has been talking about in his posts, I'm fortunate to live in an area where there is so much support for cycling. I know a lot of people that cycle to work but no one heavier like us. I'm very excited to hear about the beginner rides that teach you how to ride in a group because to me, that is one of the more intimidating prospects of moving from "tooling around the neighborhood" to actually being able to RIDE, if that makes sense. I had a boss that used to do rides at work -- he was HARDCORE and was nationally ranked in his age group for amateurs... but you couldn't even think about joining that ride unless you were really proficient. He wouldn't even let his wife join until she had been practicing on an indoor trainer for at least 6 months!
That's why there are different levels of group rides, from no-drop beginner rides, to no-holds barred race training that will drop you, if you can't do 18-20mph going uphill.

Find one that suits your ability level, and you'll have fun.

Maybe occassionally trying one that may just be out of your ability, but don't get mad if you get dropped (or if it is a no-drop ride, they ask you to go back to the next lower level).

GH
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Old 08-04-15, 12:18 PM
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Well I bought the bike... It is wonderful. It shifts so smooth and so easy to find the gears... I'm so used to my Target special that would take 5 minutes of grinding away before it figured out which gear to settle in.

It fits well... although the seat post could be a *smidge* higher... Is that something I can change to get a taller seat post? I don't need much but as it is right now, I'm concerned it is a little to close to the end of the seat post. I'll also probably swap out the pedals as well -- these have the kind of pedals where you stick your shoe in a cup, if that makes sense. Right now, I want the ability to have my feet "free".

It works soooooo much better than that POS raleigh I tried last week. So much smoother. It also feels very solid -- though the seat may be a bit wide for my comfort (though I was trying it out in jeans so not optimal riding clothes).

So now I just have to figure out good training programs to help me get going. Can anyone point me to a good thread or website for that?

I was so excited that I took it out for a ride in the parking lot once I got back to my office. It was even better then than when I was "test driving" it. The woman that sold it was very nice. said she was glad that it was going to go to someone who could appreciate it and enjoy it.

I feel like I did the year I got my first five-speed for Christmas. I lived in Chicago so it was several weeks/months before I could actually take it outside so I just sat on it in the hall way of our house "pretending".

Thanks again everyone... y'all ROCK ... and ROLL!

At Cola -- maybe I'll see you out one a group ride soon... If you see some middle-aged chick on a Suteki, you'll know it's me!
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Old 08-04-15, 02:41 PM
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That is awesome! Getting a new bike is a great feeling. One thing you'll learn about this forum is: everybody loves pictures of your bike! It's fun to see what other people ride, especially when they are as excited as you are.

I suggest starting by just riding out and exploring the areas around you. Even the most familiar surroundings seem new on a bike. Then just start going farther and farther, and faster if you like. As you get more comfortable you can seek out group rides if you want. It might not hurt to have someone who knows about bikes look it over to make sure tires brakes, etc. are in good order (including adjusting things like your seat height). It could be a friend or your local bike shop.

Incidentally, I love Mahler's 2nd Symphony.
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Old 08-04-15, 02:42 PM
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I'm getting in late with my comment but so be it.

If people can't handle large people on bikes that's is THEIR problem. If they make comments, feel free to remind them that the saying that large people are all jolly is a lie; a damn lie.

About the baby triathlon, you rock.
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Old 08-04-15, 03:03 PM
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Just start riding. Do a mile or 2 a day for a week. Then bump it up to 5 the next week and so on. Make it doable, but difficult. You'll find your mileage increasing quickly for a while. If you need a rest day, take a rest day.
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Old 08-04-15, 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by mahlers2nd
Well I bought the bike... It is wonderful. It shifts so smooth and so easy to find the gears... I'm so used to my Target special that would take 5 minutes of grinding away before it figured out which gear to settle in.

It fits well... although the seat post could be a *smidge* higher... Is that something I can change to get a taller seat post? I don't need much but as it is right now, I'm concerned it is a little to close to the end of the seat post. I'll also probably swap out the pedals as well -- these have the kind of pedals where you stick your shoe in a cup, if that makes sense. Right now, I want the ability to have my feet "free".

It works soooooo much better than that POS raleigh I tried last week. So much smoother. It also feels very solid -- though the seat may be a bit wide for my comfort (though I was trying it out in jeans so not optimal riding clothes).

So now I just have to figure out good training programs to help me get going. Can anyone point me to a good thread or website for that?

I was so excited that I took it out for a ride in the parking lot once I got back to my office. It was even better then than when I was "test driving" it. The woman that sold it was very nice. said she was glad that it was going to go to someone who could appreciate it and enjoy it.

I feel like I did the year I got my first five-speed for Christmas. I lived in Chicago so it was several weeks/months before I could actually take it outside so I just sat on it in the hall way of our house "pretending".

Thanks again everyone... y'all ROCK ... and ROLL!

At Cola -- maybe I'll see you out one a group ride soon... If you see some middle-aged chick on a Suteki, you'll know it's me!
Happy New Bike Day!

And you have to take pictures of it, or it didn't happen.

Right now, don't worry about a structured training program. Just find a loop in your neighborhood (or close to it) that's about a mile or two in distance. Ride that. If you still feel like you have a lot of energy, do it again. But I wouldn't do rides longer than about 5 miles for the first few times you ride. This will let you get to know the bike, and how your body feels on the bike. And how your body feels the next day after riding the bike. If you go too far, the first couple of times, then it may take you a few days to recover, where you can do more smaller trips that ends up being more miles, if you keep the first several trips short. Up your distance between 10%-25% after every few rides. After a while, it may only be upping 10% additional per week. Take 1-2 days a week off the bike to rest and recover. Otherwise your body might complain that you're doing too much to soon. And, other than those 1-2 days a week, if you don't feel like biking too much, still try to put in a few miles, even if it half as much (or less) than you normally do.

I also recommend taking the bike to a LBS, and having them check it out to make sure that there is nothing wrong that either of you missed.

When you get home, take a look at theNeuse River Trail. It might be a good place to go on the weekend to get some miles in. It looks like one of the higher rated bike shops in your area, may be near the trail. So you can do two things with one trip.

And don't forget to get Strava on your smartphone and join the Clyde/Athena group (Check the stickies at the top of the forum). That way you can keep track of your rides, and it does give a little incentive to ride, even on days that you may not feel like it.

And it would be cool to see you on a vintage Suteki. On the last PB group ride, someone was riding a vintage Pinarello with downtube shifters.

GH
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Old 08-04-15, 04:21 PM
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Welcome to Bike Forums! Way to go on getting back on the horse so to speak. You're in good company. I've found one of the ways that cycling helps us, that might not be the first thought that comes to mind, is that when we start riding and doing good activities for our bodies it makes eating poorly less attractive.

And the "mechanic" who you got your first bike from doesn't deserve that title.
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Old 08-04-15, 04:54 PM
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Happy New Bike! I'm glad you didn't let that first bozo throw you off and that you found a suitable bike. I hope you have many happy miles on it.
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Old 08-04-15, 05:34 PM
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Uhm, in Triangle myself.
will answer at length but had to reference the various greenways that are in the area...


The Neuse River GreenWay..
Neuse River Greenway | Neuse River Greenwat Trail

https://www.raleighnc.gov/parks/cont...ailSystem.html

The Tobacco Trail is nice...

https://www.triangletrails.org/pdfs/A...ge2-edited.pdf



There's a few smaller greenways...
The trails in Umstead are manageable, too!
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