Clydesdale bought a new bike!
12-07-14, 07:03 AM
#1
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Kunming, China
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Bikes: 2014 Trek Marlin 7
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Clydesdale bought a new bike!
Hey Gang - I would like to introduce myself:
About 10 years ago I lived in Western, PA and was an avid trail rider. My bike at that time was a Specialized Rockhopper. Fast forward to today and my life has changed quite a bit. I now live in Kunming, China and I have put on a lot of weight. I am now just over 3 bills.
I started working out again and getting in shape a couple of months back but I have been derailed by gout. I never had it before but I have now had two shots of it in just a couple of months. After discussing it the Doc says it is most likely due to the workouts I am doing and that I need to find a low impact exercise. Immediately I went back to my old love of cycling.
I started research to find a bike. After a lot of reading and internet searching I narrowed it down to two choices: Specialized Rockhopper or a Trek Marlin 7. Being in China, my options are somewhat limited but it is a growing sport here. I checked taobao - a website that is half eBay half Amazon. I was able to find both of my choices but I really wanted to be able to test ride them. As luck would have it there is both a Trek dealer and Specialized dealer in town.
At the Specialized shop the choices were limited and price were about 50% over USA retail. I went over to the Trek shop expecting the same thing but I was surprised to find that they had a good shop with good choices and the prices were amazing. Less than USA retail prices.
I bought a Trek Marlin 7 - 17.5 29er. I test rode it and fell in love immediately.
After the final adjustments and fitting as well as strapping on the water bottle and a bontrager trip 1, my first ride was to ride it home. 7.5 km.
Can't wait to be active here and add to this thread and the forums in general.
Here is a pic of my new gal.
About 10 years ago I lived in Western, PA and was an avid trail rider. My bike at that time was a Specialized Rockhopper. Fast forward to today and my life has changed quite a bit. I now live in Kunming, China and I have put on a lot of weight. I am now just over 3 bills.
I started working out again and getting in shape a couple of months back but I have been derailed by gout. I never had it before but I have now had two shots of it in just a couple of months. After discussing it the Doc says it is most likely due to the workouts I am doing and that I need to find a low impact exercise. Immediately I went back to my old love of cycling.
I started research to find a bike. After a lot of reading and internet searching I narrowed it down to two choices: Specialized Rockhopper or a Trek Marlin 7. Being in China, my options are somewhat limited but it is a growing sport here. I checked taobao - a website that is half eBay half Amazon. I was able to find both of my choices but I really wanted to be able to test ride them. As luck would have it there is both a Trek dealer and Specialized dealer in town.
At the Specialized shop the choices were limited and price were about 50% over USA retail. I went over to the Trek shop expecting the same thing but I was surprised to find that they had a good shop with good choices and the prices were amazing. Less than USA retail prices.
I bought a Trek Marlin 7 - 17.5 29er. I test rode it and fell in love immediately.
After the final adjustments and fitting as well as strapping on the water bottle and a bontrager trip 1, my first ride was to ride it home. 7.5 km.
Can't wait to be active here and add to this thread and the forums in general.
Here is a pic of my new gal.
12-07-14, 08:22 AM
#3
Just Plain Slow
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Congrats, and welcome aboard. Looking forward to hearing of your adventures, with lots of pictures!
12-08-14, 01:03 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Kunming, China
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So after buying the bike yesterday afternoon and then riding it home 7.5 km, I awoke this morning excited to delve deeper into my newly rediscovered hobby. I bought a Bontrager Trip 1 yesterday and decided that I would reset it today and make sure it was calibrated to my satisfaction. After doing so, filling up my new bidon and putting on some shorts I set out for my second ride (winter here in Kunming is very mild - it will average about 60 degrees F so riding year round is easily accomplished).
My immediate reaction to sitting on the bike was, "HOLY **** MY ASS HURTS". I hadn't noticed after riding last night that I was a bit sore down under but there was no denying that issue while I once again sat atop my bike. But the soreness did dissipate a bit as I rode and I was able to put in 6km.
When I purchased the bike I bought a few add ons: the bontrager trip 1 computer I mentioned before, a bidon cage and bidon and a pair of gloves. At the bike shop I made a conscience decision to add other gear as time went on. A helmet was number one on my list of needs. I didn't buy one straight away because I ride a motorcycle almost daily with no helmet. Not necessarily the safest and wisest thing to do but I am a big boy and riding sans helmet is what I love.
However, after mounting the bike on day 2 - a very nice pair of shorts got written in very bold letters at the top of the list. The problem with this is that because I live in China, finding clothes for me is nearly impossible. So I will have to order them and have them brought over by a friend traveling from the US. This means I cannot have a pair in my hands (and on the necessary bits) until the end of January.
As I rode today the pain did seem to somewhat decrease. As I type this however the post ride soreness is noticeable but not extreme. I am hoping that a slow and easy start will get me more acclimated to that discomfort. Either way I will keep riding. I just will continue to remember Rule #5 .
My immediate reaction to sitting on the bike was, "HOLY **** MY ASS HURTS". I hadn't noticed after riding last night that I was a bit sore down under but there was no denying that issue while I once again sat atop my bike. But the soreness did dissipate a bit as I rode and I was able to put in 6km.
When I purchased the bike I bought a few add ons: the bontrager trip 1 computer I mentioned before, a bidon cage and bidon and a pair of gloves. At the bike shop I made a conscience decision to add other gear as time went on. A helmet was number one on my list of needs. I didn't buy one straight away because I ride a motorcycle almost daily with no helmet. Not necessarily the safest and wisest thing to do but I am a big boy and riding sans helmet is what I love.
However, after mounting the bike on day 2 - a very nice pair of shorts got written in very bold letters at the top of the list. The problem with this is that because I live in China, finding clothes for me is nearly impossible. So I will have to order them and have them brought over by a friend traveling from the US. This means I cannot have a pair in my hands (and on the necessary bits) until the end of January.
As I rode today the pain did seem to somewhat decrease. As I type this however the post ride soreness is noticeable but not extreme. I am hoping that a slow and easy start will get me more acclimated to that discomfort. Either way I will keep riding. I just will continue to remember Rule #5 .
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