Hello Fellow Addicts!
 

I'm fairly new to the wonderful world of road cycling, but I'm already vaguely obsessed.

It all started when a friend of mine gave me her Trek Hybrid and we rode to the trail by my apartment together. At first I was scared to go by myself, then I found I was going as often as I could, wherever I could. Luckily, here in Tampa Bay (FL) there are a lot of great paved trails.

I convinced my husband to buy a cheap hybrid via Craigslist and we've been biking every weekend with a small group of friends since.

That was about 5 or 6 months ago. Today, actually, we're going to our local bike shop and looking at possibly purchasing our first road bikes! I can't even begin to articulate how excited I am.

I'm looking at possibly getting the Raleigh Capri 2.0 and he's looking at possibly the Felt F90. (We're trying to stay below $800 since these will be our first bikes)

The main reason we're getting road bikes is because we plan on doing charity rides whenever we can. I've already signed up for the Tour de Cure in April 2012 (http://main.diabetes.org/goto/BriForLee) I plan on doing the 62 mile ride. I'm extremely excited and nervous about it. The longest ride I've done so far is just over 20 miles, but I have a 30 mile ride scheduled for this weekend with some friends who are doing the Tour de Cure with me. I'll definitely be scouring these forums looking for advice on preparing for the longer rides.

One day, I wouldn't mind attempting a century ride or one of the 3-Day rides to Key West that they have around here or even maybe a triathlon at some point. They've been added to my bucket list :)

Anyway, the basics, I'm 26, I live in Palm Harbor FL and I ride a Trek Hybrid, but that will soon change (likely, tonight). I'll post pictures of the new ride soon.

Welcome to the addiction! :D

Howdy, looks like you and the hubby
are hooked; just like everybody here :)

Welcome to the forums! Great job getting obsessed, you'll fight right in around here!

Welcome to Bike Forums Trixie.

Now have 32,000 miles on my Felt F-85.

Rode this one three times..fun ride.

http://s256.photobucket.com/albums/h...view=slideshow

Thanks for the warm welcomes everyone!

The hubs and I did end up purchasing our first road bikes last night!

It was REALLY exciting and somewhat torturous because I don't have time to ride my new bike until this weekend. :( I'm not really a fan of riding in the dark and I get home too late from work during the week. But there will be lots of riding this weekend!

We're planning to do a 30 mile training ride on Saturday (it will be the longest ride I've done), and then I have a group of friends riding with me to a craft fair and back. We've also planned a day where we'll be riding to Honeymoon Island (a beautiful beach) and then to a fun little downtown area for lunch. So, very exciting rides coming up!

Anyway, more about my little beauty: she's a sexy matte black & teal Specialized Dolce Compact: goo.gl/7ij7k

I took the Raleigh Capri 2.0 for a ride up and down the street a few times and really liked it, but I thought, before I made any big decisions, I should see some comparable bikes in the same price range. I ended up falling in love with the Specialized even though it wasn't as cute & girly as the Raleigh (lol). It just FELT so much better.

My husband ended up getting the black & red Raleigh Revenio 2.0 http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/road/revenio-2-0-12

So, anyway, just wanted to share the exciting news with people who would understand my excitement!!

Good decision. Post some pics when you take it out for a ride.

Many of us ride at night. Get some lights.

I have one of these very bright tail lights.
Free shipping right now.
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/193...fety-Light.htm

Well, where I typically ride, the paved trails close at dark anyway. The roads by me are a tad too busy to ride more than just getting to the trails.

Maybe if I find somewhere safe to ride at night, I'll invest in some. Thanks for the suggestion!

Being safe and having fun is the way to ride.

Rode early in the morning on one tour to beat the heat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNL16...eature=related

Just a suggestion....I ride around our local Mall late at night or early in the morning. It is 1.8 miles around so I take as many laps and it is safe and well lit. Just a suggestion