Congrats on the new bike! You could always borrow someone elses white garage door for the pics. It's worked for me.

Now that takes some real coordination! I'd be terrified to even try it for fear of crashing (coming to a stop at least).

What hasn't been mentioned here is that the guys have a psychological block about getting the family jewels slammed while throwing the leg over the seat. What works good for me is this: stand on the side of the bike and have hips face the seat, with both hands, grip the handlebar grips. Lean bike toward you and then with your left hand grip the seat. Then while throwing your left leg over seat and on to the left petal, use you're left hand to raise and lower the seat as needed to allow just enough room for your leg to clear comfortably.

I have compact frames which means it is easier to get on or off the bike without crushing anything vital. But I still have to lean the bike to one side to put a foot down. Just something you find your own system on but a few more trips out and you will get it.

That's what I do as I stated in a previous post, assuming "scooter-style" means just stopping without swinging your right leg over like you do when you mount.

I understand. You are in the 50+ forum after all. I have a friend that rides with me that has had open heart surgery and the cold hurts his chest where they put in the stitches. But he loves riding so much that even when it gets into the 40s he shows up to ride. He not only uses a base layer and cycling jacket but also put a heavy piece of plastic, like they make lawn and leaf bags from, between his jersey and base layer. Like I said for some cycling is addictive. And in the group I hang around with vitamin I, (Ibuprofen) is the PED of choice. But I also understand building up to it slowly so keep up the good work and keep us posted.

I went for my 30 miler yesterday with a starting temp of 44F. Arm warmers, bibs, base layer on top under bib, long-sleeved jersey with hood, leg warmers and windbreaker and full-fingered gloves. It wasn't too long - as the weather and I warmed up - that I was shedding stuff. And, for this stuff, I carry a very small "key chain" folding backpack that works very nicely. I also brought regular gloves and traded for the full-fingered. Since I had an apple and other stuff in my rear pockets, I couldn't stuff everything in there. Hence the tiny backpack.

I used to do that on my fixed gear commuter - which was extra cool because the crank would sort of lift you up on the backstroke. But when I added the rear rack and trunk bag I kept catching my leg on it and it didn't look cool when I nearly fell over a couple times.

Nice looking ride for sure. Here's wishing you many safe and carefree miles, enjoy!

Gotta get that leg up. If you're doing it right, you should look roughly like this...

Just NO! Cycle shorts are bad enough. I am not, repeat NOT, going to wear a tutu!!

Great looking bike! Keep it fun, push enough to challenge yourself and you'll do fine!

Tried for thirty miles this morning. Wind was blowing me all over the road and traffic was picking up. I cut it short at a little less than thirty minutes because I just did not feel safe. After I get more time in the saddle on this bike, it probably won't bother me, but, right now, it just doesn't work for me.

You folks out West probably have to deal with a lot more wind than I do; how do you cope with it?

I consider it the "standard of riding" here. If you can't ride in the wind, then you, generally, don't ride. However, we have had some great days lately with winds only about 10 mph.

How do I cope? Practice and just doing it. It was interesting to me when my good friend from Alaska remarked that, where he lived, they didn't have this wind!! I also keep in mind that downslope in the early morning and upslope as things warm up - but not always. Then there are the thunderstorms and cold and warm fronts moving through which throw all calculations off. Just keep doing it - you will get better - and consider it a training activity such as hills and intervals.

Gee ... ya think?

Pretty sweet bike, but do I spy platform pedals on it? When you get more comfortable with the dismount, go for some clipless pedals and cycling shoes. You won't believe the difference they can make.

On the other hand, in a crosswind or being passed by semi's on the I-5, my steel touring hybrid feels a nice and stable. It's a trade-off.

Fortunately, up here in the Pacific Northwest, wind is seldom a factor.

I considered both clip and clipless. I just do not like the idea of being "tied" to the bike if something (as it frequently does with me) goes wrong. With the platform pedals, which are not bad btw, I know I am coordinated enough to bail and do a PLF (parachute landing fall) when I hit. No, I was never airborne, but I did get trained, many years ago, as a skydiver. Those were back in the days when I thought I was immortal!

I got platform pedals , and just use regular shoes , never used my clipless stuff in a couple years..

Another short, thirty minute, ride this evening. I've finally got the mount/dismount thing down and don't come close to either killing myself or looking like the idiot that I probably am.

Two of the things that are taking me some time to get used to are the facts that this bike is much faster than anything I've ever ridden (and I love it!) and that the steering is far more responsive. Every time I twitch, it changes direction. I suspect that I am a little ham-handed, but perhaps my touch will improve with time.

Yes, your touch will get so fine-tuned it will amaze you.

I pulled a road bike off the rack that I had not ridden all year and pumped and lubricated and took it out. Because I had not ridden this bike in some time, it took about 15 minutes to adjust my body to the different steering response!!

Keep in the back of your mind that most of your steering should be done by your butt - as in leaning your bike instead of turning the bars.

From the photo, it looks to be a 2013 Trek 1.2 (the "compact" refers to the bike having two front chainrings of a particular gearing, as opposed to a "triple" with three chainrings). A fine choice, if you ask me.

There ya go....with a brake held on. When dismounting, If you're wearing MTB shorts, just reach down to the front of the seat and grab it like a saddle horn so you won't catch the crotch of the shorts on it when you're wearily getting off after a long ride.

Good ride this morning; a little over 24 miles. Then the Old Man got home and promptly erased the ride from the bike computer. I'm glad the neighbors and my wife were not able to hear what I was thinking when I found out what I had done!!

I'm much more comfortable on the bike now, and it didn't take as long as I thought it would. Tomorrow morning, after it warms up a bit, I'm going to try my first road ride. I also do not want to get on that particular road and it still dark. Although I have good lights front and rear, I'd just as soon not risk it as the road is not well-lighted.

One more question: Have any of you shipped a bike by air? Can you give me a rough idea of the cost? Wife wants to go to China next year and all her relatives want me to go with her. I don't really want to be off the bike for two months, but may have to. I would really love to have the bike with me as there are some beautiful place not far from my wife's home in China.

It varies from airline to airline, so contact them and ask. Having it fly with you is best, but can get fairly expensive (>$100 each way).

You can also ship it by FedEx and the like, but that is just about as expensive, in my experience.

Thanks for the advice. I checked and the prices and conditions they quoted very quickly blew that idea out of the water. Maybe I can get lucky and rent something to do a few rides on.

To get onto my diamond frame beater bike I lay it on the ground, step over it and lift it up under me. Dismounts are similar only reversed of course. If I try to swing my leg over I have to twist my foot on the ground and it makes my hip hurt.

When I ride my recumbent I can just lift my leg over without hurting anything.