Peter_C

I rode to the end of my 400ft driveway when I first started, and that took me 3 tries too.

Dudelsack 

Candidate for the weirdest post of the week. Could that be why the pastor still only has one post to his name?

Just sayin'.

Altair 4

I had not been on a bike in about 20 years when we bought my kid a bike. On a lark, about a year ago we took her to a trail in the City and I rented a bike to ride a few miles with her. I found that I really enjoyed it and remembered that I enjoyed riding a lot when I was younger (in my mid 50's now).

One thing led to another and I bought a hybrid from REI. I began to ride on my own and also with my family (we bought my wife a bike too). By the middle of this summer, I rode 150 miles on the Great Allegheny Passage over 3 days. That was a little taxing for me, but I'm pretty comfortable riding up to 35 miles at a time.

Family rides for us are about 7 to 10 miles, but that's fun too. I'm looking forward to next spring and we've already got some family rides planned that are a bit longer. I'm trying to figure out how to build my endurance for longer rides (time commitments at work, Scouts, extra-curricular school activities, and church don't leave much extra time for riding longer distances). But I can squeeze in a hour or two here and there.

Enjoy your time on the bike. I find that I enjoy the solitude of a quiet ride on my own; time to actually think without a cell phone ringing or some other distraction. You've gotten some great advice and I really don't have anything significant to add other than to echo the sentiment to have fun and let cycling take you where it may.

jbkirby

I started riding again after a thirty-five year hiatus at the age of 55. Since May, I have logged 1,400 miles. My advice is to get your doctor to say it's OK before you begin, then keep at it. I had my first accident two nights ago...on a bike path of all places. The radius of the curve decreased and my tires are cheap with hard compond all across the tread, so I bit the big one. Road rash all over the left side of my body...fun. I will be back on the road soon, however. The scrapes are well worth the benefits I have received!!! Start easy and don't quit!!!

teachme

Wash your cycling clothes after every ride!

BlazingPedals

DO: Have fun!
DON'T: Share your pie!

Daspydyr 

Hey Brother Pastor Jim. I enjoy time with "the Lord" on my rides. But don't get so lost n prayer that you forget the traffic. Keeping riding and smiling. The improved Cardio vasucular exercise will also improve the speaking, if you do any of that.

bigbadwullf

Unless you need to ride before you get them washed.

VertigoFlyer

Learn to BREATH while riding! This is what messes me up on a long climb. I get all wrapped up grunting my way up the hill I stop pumping oxygen into my lungs. A bonk is soon to occur.... (Bonking is running out of energy to keep going)

Learning to keep your blood oxygenated will be your ace in the hole as your climbing skills improve!!

Fuel up before a ride. Driving off on a near empty tank is bad mojo. This is the same for cycling. This includes making sure you are well hydrated before departure!! Keep food and water with you on your rides. Staying fueled up/hydrated will keep you moving forward without bonking.

Breath baby breath!

Daspydyr 

HEY-PASTOR JIM! Where did you go?

NOS88

First, welcome to the 50+ Forum.

If I were just now starting out, I'd probably spend the time reading all of the posts in this thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...0-newbie-rider

PastorJim

I hear ya David. Isn't it great health wise and to not be so winded so fast anymore :-)

PastorJim

I do agree with you on it being a heavy bike. I figure at some point I will like a lighter bike, but for now it is enjoyable and getting me out there riding so it is serving it's purpose. Thanks for sharing.

PastorJim

Hi Gary,
Thanks for sharing. I appreciate your input as well as many others :-)

stapfam

The first bike is never the right one-and neither is the last one.

But you have a bike- use it. If you have a goal in mind like weight loss or fitness then it will work.

However if you plan on doing Century rides then something better would be more suitable

Watch out for a few points to come up like the 10% hill for a mile should not be tackled for a while--Next weekend will be soon enough and if you stay around this forum then start saving for N+1 now and don't tackle the Pie rides till you can do the milage to work off the weoght gain.

Gravity Aided

Pastor Jim- I hope you are getting to enjoy cycling! As mentioned above, clubs can be a lot of help. So will N+1. My first bike , when I got back into cycling, was a Huffy, backed up by my trusty Murray.
Lighter bikes = more miles = more fun , Here endeth the reading , here starteth the fun...

Dudelsack 

What car is specifically mentioned in the Bible?

A - a Honda. For it is written: the apostles all left Jerusalem in one Accord....

DnvrFox

It's the SMILES that count. 100 smiles per ride = a SMILE CENTURY!!

lphilpot

I thought it mentioned motorcycles... "David rode his Triumph through the hills"....

Peter_C

It always amazes me how we can get from the OP's original topic onto something totally different - LOL - but i like it!

tcs

When Thomas Stevens arrived in Liverpool on his around-the-world bike ride, he was met by members of the local cycling club. Many of these fellows had ridden a century (100 mile) ride the fall before, and a few of them had ridden a double century.

This was in the spring of 1885.

Keep your Sidewinder lubricated and adjusted and keep the tires pumped up and it will be a fine companion for many, many rides to come.

On the topic of "need to know dos and don'ts", your local library should have a copy of this cycling book, or be able to get it for you on inter-library loan. Chock full of good information across the spectrum of cycling (you can pick and choose which sections are applicable to your flavor of riding.)

Oh, and about the much-maligned Varsity...

downtube42

An important thing to keep in mind is that many of us ramped up our cycling with little more than a bicycle and the road. No internet, no fancy cycling food, no lights, no fenders, no helmets, no cyclocomputers, and not even any lycra.

What you need is a bike, the desire to ride, and the good sense to keep it fun. All the other stuff may increase your safety or your enjoyment, but are not must-haves.

PastorJim

Hi Brother,
I am mainly in subdivisions and paved/gravel trails so I too enjoy my time "with the Lord". I am excited about doing this and getting in better shape, the discipline, and being out among the Lord's creations, especially on the trails.

Jim

PastorJim

My rides are longer now. Usually 20-26 miles. my total miles since starting in 2011 is over 14,000 miles.
Thanks encouraging me many years go it worked.

PastorJim

My rides are longer now. Usually 20-26 miles. my total miles since starting in 2011 is over 14,000 miles.
Thanks encouraging me many years go it worked.