New Clyde in the Stable! Hi!
 

Been lurking around the site and have really liked the atmosphere here so I've decided to come out of hiding. Hi! I'm 32 yrs old and am a Male Emergency RN. Am 240lbs and 5'5", so I guess I count as a Clyde, maybe one of those small miniature ones for petting lol. Recently bought an Trek FX 7.2 and have recently loved riding it. The seat hurt like hell in the beginning but after buying padded shorts, it's a lot more comfortable.

I picked riding to try and lose weight since nothing really has been motivating me, not even Insanity or P90x. I like going fast. I also own a 350hp car that, sometimes, I want to get from my house after a ride, so I can chase some fools who pick on me while I'm riding lol.

I recently have been taking it slow since I haven't ridden in about 15 years since in high school. My quandry has been about routes and where I should go biking. I have mapped out a 3 mile route that I have developed stamina to actually do it twice. All in 2 weeks since I have bought the bike. I still feel a little shameful that I have not been able to go as far as some people around my area that have these 10-20 mile routes.

I think the anxiety of having to go and deal with traffic is kinda getting to me. My current route goes with 2 major roads that have space for a bike, but outside of this area, I would have to go and really hustle while traffic is next to me. I think my motivation in going fast is not to get hit lol.

Already feeling like I need to mod this bike. I've noticed that my hands do get sore after 4 miles and am looking to change the way I'm holding the bar. I'm thinking maybe I can get some Ergons. :D:D:D So many questions and concerns that I hope people will be able to help out in the future.

Anyway I just wanted to say hello and introduce myself so I can just jump in and not look like a total stranger. Cheers!!!:thumb:

Well, welcome! I'm a Resp. Therapist, one of at least two on the boards and I seem to recall there's another RN around here somewhere so you'll have some familiar company. Going fast is fun, and you'll need the speed if you're in busy traffic!

My best advice is you haven't ridden near enough to change anything on the bike. If you received a proper fit / set-up from the bike shop, then just go ride. When you get 300-500 miles under your belt, then your body will have had time to adjust and at that point you will know of you really want to change parts, or you have adapted to the riding position.

I put 1000 miles on my stock saddle and it hurt like heck the first month, little less the second, and then less the third. Even when I switched, it actually hurt more the first two weeks, then got better.

My hands, wrist, and shoulders all use to hurt...now not so much...my left elbow was sore for two months....now not so much.

Give it some time.

Yay! More car guys! Welcome FMadrid! I'm not a big HP car guy, but I have lots of respect for anyone who take their driving seriously. I came from auto-crossing, and have since given up the expense of competing, and just hit up the road course every year. Here's me in the MR2 hardtop at Thunderhill a few years ago:
http://carpron.com/multisite/d/156731-2/turn+3.JPG

My little 100hp MR2 does really well against Miata's of course, but at the same time on curvy courses like Thunderhill, I can totally hang onto the more timid Corvette drivers. So much fun! I recently took my 207hp MINI up there, and there's no way the MINI did the course as fast as the MR2. Mid-Engine is just too much fun, and it just turns way too good.

I wish there were more people like us, because we give the bikers plenty wide space, and don't dive bomb in front of them pulling into a driveway. I have no reservations about speeding when it's to get well ahead of a bike, or waiting patiently to let a bike pass my driveway. It's the half-assers who don't pay attention or can't make a decision well in advance of a situation who always cause problems.

The one thing I have to suggest coming from driving is to resist the urge to mod until you are thinner and more comfortable. Over your first year of riding you can probably expect your body condition to change a ton, and any mods you do now might become less useful as you get better. It'd be like putting some drag radials on a car that you've only had a few weeks, and expect to go beat people who've been practicing their launches for years. You'd just embarrass yourself.

Ooh and I wanted to encourage you to lose whatever weight you can, I think there's a quantifiable number boost to your car's accelleration for each pound of weight removed from it, and if that weight is from the driver, that's even better. I know when I had a 300lb passenger squeezed into the MR2, it didn't accelerate half as good as normal, hehe.

Cath lab RN here. Welcome to cycling.

In my opinion a little discomfort is normal. Your body is trying to adjust to something it either has never done, or hasn't done since grade school. As far as sore hands, try changing hand position. I own a stock 7.2FX as well. My favorite hand position is near the middle, most of my hand is off the grip with my pinkies on the triggers of the shifters. This position is not the best for access to braking obviously, so care must be taken when using this hand position.

Welcome RN! It seems like most on the C/A board are big and tall but there are a few of us that are or were short and round. :) I am 4'11" and a former Athena.

You might check to see if Ergon grips work on the Trek FX bars. I have this vague recollection that they do not but I could be wrong.

welcome man, it seems there are quite a bunch of car guys over here. im into drag racing but will one day have a road course car or racing shifter kart

I am just getting back into cycling after been away for 10 years. But if your hands hurt, do you have gloves? They aren't as important as a helmet. But they do help with comfort and they have saved me some skin over the years.

I do have gloves. I have been trying to keep my arms bent so my arms don't get too tired. I guess I'll get used to that the more I ride.