edster63

After deciding not to give in to my age (63) and out of shapeness I decided to give cycling a whirl. Cripes, I hadn't ridden for well over 40 years and I was scared. Well anyway I had a friend who works at Blue Sky bicycle shop in Saratoga Springs NY and he spent over two hours with me helping me decide on what to ride and how the bike should fit me. Bought a beautiful Specialized Cross Trail because my riding would be a combination of pavement and dirt/hard pack roads here in Galway NY. To make a long story short, I found that I wasn't in as bad of shape as I thought. And the gearing on my bike made it possible to keep going even on some pretty steep terrain. Now I'm thrilled with how I'm feeling and I can't wait for the next ride. My longest distance so far has been just over 20 miles but before you start to snicker, I've only been riding for a couple of weeks. I'm pretty darned pleased

Well, nice to meet you all!

BengeBoy 

Welcome! A 20 mile ride is nothing to sneeze at for a new/returning rider. You *should* be pleased.

Nice bike, too.

dahoyle

Hi and welcome to the madness.

If there is one sport in the world which will make you feel younger than your actual age, this is it. The good news is that it will only get better from here, as you actually begin to turn back the clock physically.

I haven't quite hit that 50+ mark (a couple of years short), but most people mistake me for 10-15 years younger than I actually am, and usually think I look old for my age, till they learn how old I really am. Granted, my skin is somewhere between shoe leather and old bicycle tires, from a lifetime of working and playing outside, and I carry around some grey, but I honestly feel close to my prime.

In any case, 20 miles is an extraordinary accomplishment, for a new rider of any age. Nothing to snicker about.

Have fun with it.

stapfam

No Snickering here for short milage. I have recently been happy to get a 10 mile ride in.

Glad to see you have started riding- but look out for the next stage of your riding development. Won't be long and all it takes is milage and distance to start it off.

No chance in avoiding it- but it can be delayed by leaving your wallet at home.

edster63

I'll bite, what is the next stage and why leave my wallet home?

edster63

Oh, and thanks everyone for your kind welcomes.

stapfam

You have the bike- but will it work better with a lighter weight tyre? wonder what those "new" saddles are like? Everyone keeps going on about Bib Shorts so I had better get a pair and while I am at it- better make them a top quality pair of "Assos" and then the final accolade of N+1.

And then there is the other factor that comes into play. May take a while to get into it but bike rides need nourishment. In fact if you are riding right they need good nourishment. Takes a little bit of practice to find the right cafe- serving the right coffee and the array of PIE to keep you going on the ride.

Enjoy the riding and don't put on too much weight before you find the right cafe

kenkayak

Welcome to the Single Track mind crowd edster63 sounds like your hooked/Kenneth

Garfield Cat

Start saving up for that next bike

BluesDawg

Looks like you're off to a great start. Keep it it up.

SaiKaiTai

It's not the number of miles but, rather, the quality of the miles that matters
Sounds to me like yours are of Grade Double-A quality.

I'm kind of the king of the 15 mile ride around town. Sometimes if I can only get 10 miles in, I just make them the hardest 10 miles we have here (and that can be pretty hard)

Congrats, keep at it.

big john

It took me longer than 2 weeks to work up to a 20 mile ride, and I was only 32, or so.
Enjoy, and be careful out there.

Nogyro

Congrats on taking up cycling. I started a few months ago myself and have enjoyed every minute of it.

Building up to 20 miles in a couple of weeks is nothing to sneeze at!

guybierhaus

Welcome to the gang. I was 60 when I got back to biking. Took me about 3 months to ride 20 miles. Now at 64 it's my minimum ride. And yes it starts with one bike, but in 4 years I've bought and sold 3 bikes. Built 2 bikes. Currently satisfied with 2 working bikes; but suspect that won't last.

Metric Man

Did someone say "Snickers"?

Congrats on the ride and welcome.

Robert Foster

Good job edster63. Stick with it and see where you go. when I started back into cycling all I wanted was a comfort bike and a few miles to ride. It wasn't long till all I wanted was a comfort bike and a trailer to go shopping with and to ride a few more miles a week. It wasn't long till ten miles was a good ride and then it was only a warm up. Now 40 miles is average and my Road bike is my comfort bike.

maddmaxx 

Welcome edster63.

Timtruro

Had a similar experience, but went from an inexpensive mtn bikt to a comfort bike, then a flat bar road bike and now a carbon drop bar road bike. The noob needs to prepare for n +1.

bcoppola

When I got back into cycling, my first 20 mile club ride nearly killed me! You're off to a great (re)start.

Speaking of n+1, I'm going to look at another vintage steel bike, a Lotus 3000r. Guy wants way too much but if I can talk sense into him...

edster63

Thanks for all the responses. Funny but all I was looking for was some exercise and I've already changed my saddle, went to an ergonomic specialized grip and am stocking up on several changes of bike shorts etc etc etc. When I rode a Harley I swore off all the accessorizing and here I go again.....

Oh, a question.......has anyone altered a pair of fingerless gloves in order to build up portions where the gel padding has just sorta disappeared? I get numbness and discomfort after about 10 miles. Just for fun I've cut up a pair of Dr. Scholls gel foot pads and inserted inside my gloves. Gonna try it today.......

Pat

Why should I snicker? When I started cycling years ago, my first rides were shorter than 20 miles. Sounds like you are off to a flying start.

PaulH

My office is 10 miles from home, so a 20 mile round trip is as far as I ever go -- no snickering here!
Besides, it's the smiles, not the miles, that matter.
Welcome aboard!

Paul

BluesDawg

Don't you ever take the long way home? More miles means more chances for smiles.

Timtruro

Stretched a normal 19 mile ride to 26 today, just by making a small detour, it was along the beach and was well worth it. 20-25 miles is a nice distance, leaves you fresh enough to do other things (like eat pie).

big john

I don't know, these days 25 is just a warm-up, a recovery, or an after work ride.