jim_de_hunter

Decided to try out cycling this summer because I hate running, walking is boring, swimming costs money, and I could try it with out spending any money by riding an old department store mountain bike that I had in my garage.

Well, I'm still on the original mountain bike but I added clipless pedals and shoes, lighting, shorts, gloves, etc. with the idea of moving it all to the road bike that I'll buy shortly. I got a chance to get out for just a few minutes last night so I went the state park to get some climbing in.

Even though one hill beat me and another one took even more out of me because I refused to let beat me, when I got to the car at dark (the park closes at dusk) I was disappointed that I had to get off of the bike.

Do you suppose that I have the fever?

NVanHiker

If you had asked for counseling before you took these actions, perhaps we could have helped you. Now, sadly, it's too late. You may need a second job.

Bikey Mikey

You've now been infected since you've being bitten by the bug. One bit of advice, be careful of zombies.

spdracr39

the prescribed medication for temporary relief is to go and buy that road bike your disease is permanent.

DnvrFox

For $150 I will diagnose and prescribe a treatment for your problem, but on the surface description, it sounds fatal.

RoadTire 

Ya, you are really not doing so well. Don't give up on the mountain bike therapy, just change the application, step by step - Up the toughest hill.

Then ride that sucker all the way down, screaming like a little girl. The poisons will be flushed out of all your orifices by the time you reach the bottom. Wash and repeat as necessary. Use the road bike for long term wellness - it's the modern equivalent of Native American Sweat Lodges, complete with ceremonial clothing, sipping and sweating special brews, and hallucinations.

Insidious C. 

Sorry, no cure for what you got. Side effects include progressively better health, sleep better at night, generally feeling happier. Only thing to do is live with it.

cobolman

I’ve been riding for three months. First a fifteen year old mountain bike and then two weeks ago a road bike. Three times a week. I rode 20 miles yesterday and then took a hour ride this morning. I’m moving towards one longer ride and then a shorter ride the next day with one day off each week. One might say it’s a positive addiction. As I live in Oregon the rains will eventually come and then I may use the mountain bike with the wider tires to deal with the slippery roads. In a pinch the exercise bike in the cellar will also work
The riding gets better all the time and I pedal far more than coast. You will love having a road bike.

downtube42

There is one possible cure... risky and certainly not guaranteed. Go to your lbs and test ride the two most expensive bikes in the shop. Look at a good pair of road shoes, 2-3 pairs of shorts and jerseys, gloves, helmet, pedals, gps, seat bag, tire repair kit w/co2, nice floor pump, spare tube. Got a figure? Now double that if you have a spouse because balance is required for home harmony... if the spouse does not already have a hobby then that must be addressed.

This is the initial capital investment. The annual operating budget will be some percentage of that, depending in annual mileage. Subsequent capital expenses are guaranteed but amounts unknowable at this time.

linnefaulk

Definitely chronic. You will spend your lifetime living with this. Enjoy it.

MikeWMass

Road tires are not bad on wet pavement. They are narrow enough to displace the water and don't hydroplane. Just watch out for painted lines and metal (railroad tracks, etc.).

BlazingPedals

The proper number of bikes to start with is 4: a road bike, a mountain bike, a recumbent, and a tandem to share with the Good Wife(tm). You can add as many as you want after that (N+1) up to the point of (S-1,) which is where one more will cause the spouse to divorce you.

Wheever

Dear lord, man! I suffer from the same illness! I contracted it this spring, also after taking an old mountain bike out of storage! But for me, the disease progressed so quickly that a month later I had a road bike!! Is there hope for us?

jim_de_hunter

Uh oh... This isn't going so well... I just ordered my first smartphone and upgraded to a data package so that I can run Strava.... oh my aching wallet!

GlennR

That's how I started, on my son's old $400 mountain bike. After 10 miles I was exhausted. At the end of the summer I bit the bullet and bought a carbon road bike. 3 years later i'm doing 40 mile rides with 1500' climbing.

Yes... you're real sick.

Retro Grouch 

Those old department store mountain bikes. The major bicycle manufacturing companies sneak those into random garages. That's how they get you sucked in.

MickeyMaguire

There is a twelve-step program.

Frizlefrak

Yep, it's an addiction....and those dept store mountain bikes are nothing but gateway drugs. I started that way not long ago....next thing I know I'm pulling money out of savings and meeting some shady dude over in a neighborhood. He hands me a Trek FX, takes my money, and disappears. That's when the real problems started....avoiding yard work and household chores to ride....thinking about riding when I'm at work....traipsing through every neighborhood in town....sneaking around buying accessories....

You had a chance to stop.....now it may be too late.

cobolman

I was concerned about leaves. We get a lot of them on the streets in the fall.

Cognitive

Minor thread hijack - are leaves as dangerous as I think they are traction wise? I ride an awesome rainforest canopy like trail but in another month it's all going to be leaf covered so...

The original poster's ailment can be cured with about 15-20 lbs of carbon fiber

qcpmsame 

FIFY

Bill

leob1

You have a severe illness, the ONLY cure is to got to your local bike shop and by a new bike. NOW!

berner

Where's your patriotism? The economy need you.

jim_de_hunter

Case closed - Last night was the first time since Sunday (it was Friday) that I could ride. I park at the midpoint of my route and pass my car halfway through. Even though NO rain was in the forecast, just as I passed the half-way point and my car, it started raining... hard. After about 10 second of thinking about turning back to the car, I thought, "I need to ride more than I need to be comfortable and dry." and I kept right on going.

The diagnosis is in - I'm sick all right.

Frizlefrak

Yep. You're a goner.

I had the same thing happen....my day off, and it's a light drizzle. Weather dude says 60% chance of rain. Guess that means I should stay home right? Then again, I bet I could get my ride in in under an hour without encountering heavy rain.

At 1/3 in, it had started to come down pretty good. I could have turned around.....but what the hell, it's just water, right? I did the full ride, was soaked when I got home, and would do it again in a heartbeat.

BTW....my Trek is in the shop for a tune up, so back to riding my dept store mountain bike affectionately known as C.J. (Chinese Junk) for now.