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27 & a Rookie

Old 08-02-03, 07:41 PM
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27 & a Rookie

Well I am from Kansas City and from the subject line you can see that I am 27 and a new rider. 27...Man, I am getting up there!!

I will give you a little bio of my life so you can give me the appropriate help if you are so inclined. Basically, I love to race and see who can get to an agreed finishing spot the fastest. I ran Division 2 track as an 800m runner. I was fairly successful earning 2 All-American awards. I say this not to brag but to emphasize my knowlegde that hard work pays off.

Well after college I was sick of training. Now I find myself missing the competition. Running is out because of bad ankles due to Rec League Volleyball and Slowpitch) Anyways I am always intrigued by great athletes. Enter Lance Armstrong. I read the Sports Illustrated article about his Athlete of the Year Award. I was blown away by this guy. I teach middle school PE and I had my students read the article and write a paper. He is such a great role model for all ages.

Well I started getting up early to watch the TDF (It took me 15 minutes to figure out that acronym . I thought I should try cycling. So I got pumped up one day after watching the TDF that I jumped on my wife's little Cross/Comfort Bike and went for 10 miles. I had a blast but obviously not the most comfortable bike for me. I have a GPS Ironman that I use to map out courses for my track athletes. Well it was cool to see how fast I was going and to set goals for myself throughout the ride. I borrowed a friend's old 1978 Puch and broke down and bought some biking shorts(ooh my butt). I still wear regular shorts over my biking shorts being I am shy.lol... That sums it up !!

So if you have made it this far and are still awake I could use some help with:
1. Bike Selection....remember I am a teacher and make squat!!
2. Training Tips for Beginners
3. Just general biking knowledge...

Thanks for sticking with me for this long process and advanced thanks to all who help!!!
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Old 08-02-03, 07:43 PM
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Oh by the way my name isn't Brock Landers!! Brock Landers is a name from a movie. My real name is Cory!!
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Old 08-02-03, 08:00 PM
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cory, welcome to the forums! I would start your bike search in your LBS (local bike shop) and test ride a few. I have an allez sport form specialized, and its the greatest bang for the buck... well it was when i got it!

-Ross
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Old 08-02-03, 08:09 PM
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Welcome 'Brock' (few people here use real names)

I started riding mountain bikes seriously when I was 27 and now I ride them and road bikes passionately and I'll be 36 in a couple of days. Believe me, the time flies.

The great thing about cycling is its ability to get you in shape without a lot of impact (hopefully). You are going to find of world of knowledge from the people here--I know I have.

I will address your questions and am sure you will get more imput from others as well. If you don't get it answered here just post a question in the specific topic areas.

1. Sounds like after watching the tour you're ready to buy a road bike. If it were me I'd skip the hybrid route unless you're going to be commuting or aren't interested in high speeds. Most the major manufacturers at your local bike shops (LBS) have great aluminum road bikes equipped with Shimano 105 components for around a grand. If I was you at 27 again, this is where I'd start.

Most important thing when buying a bike is FIT. It must fit you correctly. Do a search in this forum for more info.

2. Training tips. Pick up the LA training guide since he's probably been inspiring you lately and it'll have everything from learning to handle the bike to heavy duty training. Otherwise again, do a search here there's lots of more knowledgeable posters and moderators here who know tons.

3. General bikingknowledge? Wow, I've gone on long enough. Just ride and enjoy. How's that?

Good Luck!
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Old 08-02-03, 09:51 PM
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Welcome Cory,

I've got a couple of questions for you.

What type of riding do you intend/anticipate you doing? Road or Mountain or just leisure? What is your budget? Approximately how often do you intend to ride? Do you think you'll be more than just a occasional cyclists? Will you get your wife involved? Do you like solo activities or group activities? Interested in social activities as well or purely excercise?

Ah, there is so much to learn and so many diverse types of cycling.

As a runner, do you see yourself entering any triathlons or do the ankles limit your running?

Just keep asking, we're here to help with any thing you want to know!

BTW, say Hi to my sis, she lives in KC.

L8R
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Old 08-02-03, 10:21 PM
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Aaahh You all are GREAT! I totally love to immerse myself in my new adventures and you all are great help. Here are my answers to most of your questions.

I see myself as a cyclist who trains for road racing. I know that takes time and effort but that's what I thrive on. I love to train for competitions not just for fun. I don't like to do things if I don't have a goal towards competition.

People used to say to me when I ran track, "I can't believe you like to run." My response was, "I don't like to run, I like to race." Meaning I will train hard because I know it will make me race faster. Which brings me to my next question. Please explain the classes for me. I see 1/2, 5, C....I am lost!!!

I am both a solo/group person. I think for training purposes it will be good to do both. So finding groups to ride with on long rides will be a must. Another question pops up!! As in track training do you start with high miles at low intensity then shift to high intensity at low mileage as competitions start?

One last thing...Check out this bike and tell me what you think of it.
Click Here
I have checked on sizing and I think this one is correct. I am 6'1 and about 165lbs. About a 35 inseam. So 61cm would me a correct size right??

Thanks all, you Rock!!
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Old 08-03-03, 12:45 AM
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It might fit you properly there is no way to definately say without test riding a bike. On paper is one thing in reality could be something completely different. The general rules are based on average person.. average legs and torso lengths.. Before you make any decisions I would test ride a few bikes see what you truly like. Then we come down to Steal.. Aluminum if sticking to the lower price range they both can ride differently and just based on how they design then makes the ride differnet. Al on average is stiff and you feel all the road vibration while steel offers a bit of flex and absorbs alot of the road vibrations.. You can pick up a new low end Fuji for around $600, which that one up for auction is. He does not give a age or any spec's about it.. so figure it is completely stock a few years old..
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Old 08-03-03, 05:13 AM
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As stated above, the sizing can make or break your riding experience. A really ace bike that doesn't quite fit can in the best case lead to irritation and in the worst case injury. Definitely shop around and talk to sales people. Get tested on a fitting jig (at a highend shop) so you know your size exactly. Buying used, from ebay or local classified is not so dumb, once you know your size. You can get a lot of bike for a few hundred! If you are mechanically inclined and see the bike itself as an enjoyable part of the overall experience then you will generally lead a happier biking life. You really need to learn about maintainance and repair because a bike that rattles, squeaks and wobbles is going to end up not being used. A mistake that some people make in the beginning is getting a lower quality bike thinking that it is "good enough" and then realizing almost immediately that this or that would have been better. If your budget is limited as you said then get a used bike, preferably with a quality steel frame and mid to high range components, Shimano 600, 105, Utegra, or Campagnolo Victory, Athena, Chorus and then be prepared to spend some time and a little money restoring or replacing. Ebay is a goldmine for parts and not least information. When you have been inside your bike yourself you will know how to deal with the small problems that inevitably arise instead of being a slave to your local mechanic. If you start with a quality frame then upgrades in various components make more sense. A quality hand built steel frame can be repaired and straightened, gives a fantastic ride and is a thing of beauty. A used aluminum bike is a bit of a question mark since aluminum fatigues and cracks. Then there are tons of other considerations, too numerous to test your patience just now. The learning curve is a fun ride as well.
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