zraigy7

2morrow after my ride I'll try to post a few pics and tell more about the bike. I mean my cuz spent a few hundred dollars on a nice bike, I think trek, Im not sure though. I said what the heck its just in ur garage collecting dust so y don't I take it off ur hands LOL. Its in like new condition 2

zraigy7

Yes I shld go out and buy a decent helmet soon.

Pugsly

Yeah I started riding around your age. You're indestructible, you probably just keep it locked in top gear and crank up the hills with a cadence of 30. *******... Get a helmet, and just ride the snot out of that bike. Show up for fast group rides and ride hard. You'll get blown out the back for a while but...

Stallionforce

You sound really pumped about road riding! That's great! There's lots of good advice here already about what to wear and how to adjust your saddle, so you don't hurt yourself. That's important, so take that advice.

However, the MOST important thing right now is just be safe on the road. Talk to the guys at the shop if you have to take your bike in to be adjusted or tuned; try to enroll in a safe riding course. Signal, be polite.

And ride lots! Good luck.

zraigy7

awesome, I am supposed to be going to pick up the bike tonite but mayb not until tomorrow. Im stoked!

zraigy7

WOOOOOOHOOOOO! lol, i just picked up his bike. It is covered in dust/pollen and cobwebs! I am going to clean it up tomorrow and air up the tires. as soon as i wake up i am gonna ride to a frnds house lol. His bike is a GMC 7005 aluminum series, I think. I dont know if this is a good bike or not but it feels very comfortable. What do you think of the bike? Tomorrow, i will take some pics b4 i clean and pics after. Or i will atleast try. thx

cooker

Is that what you got? It is a fairly inexpensive bike sold in stores like Walmart, which is fine. The most important thing about a bike is if it fits and feels good to ride it. Have fun and keep reporting on you progress.

castillo

Thats awesome. Good on you guys for giving the young guy lots of positive encouragement too. I have just started road cycling in my area and the response from other riders has been less than encouraging.
Let us know how you go young padawan.

ahuman

two miles on a road bike? you wont even be warmed up. road bike vs bmx? that would be something to see.
will the race include a hill? make it a mile race. can yu post a picture of you new found bike?

K

daoswald

That's a hilarious observation. Cell phones nowadays are so much more powerful as computers than home computers were when I was in 8th grade (which was about 1981). I got my first computer in around 1983; a TI99/4A. But frankly, what brand you had didn't matter all that much back then; each computer was an island unto itself until the online revolution really got into full force in the early to mid 90's.


Ok, back to bikes.....

Whether it's your friends, or a used one for sale on Craig's List, get a used road bike that fits. The most important thing at your age is to get one where you have sufficient stand-over height, and sufficient reach.

Wear whatever you have on. Get a pant-leg strap, or two, preferably with reflective material on them. Get a helmet. Put a rack on the back. Use sneakers to ride in until your riding style evolves to the point that you feel compelled to migrate to clipless (for that, wait until your feet are done growing).

Now ride!

I guess I always rode as a kid, but found I was able to fit my father's old ten speed when I hit about 7th grade. Seat was all the way down, and I probably had barely enough stand-over height, but we weren't as particular then. At that point I began riding almost daily. I remember, I'd go up the street to the lake, and around the lake a few times (1.9 miles each lap), and then back home.

A couple years later we moved from the SF bay area to Salt Lake City, and I got my own ten speed. There I really started putting on miles, but all within 5 miles of my home. I remember by the time I was in 10th grade my father told me, "You're getting these massive leg muscles." haha. I was a skinny kid, by the way. I hit 6'1" in 10th grade, long before I ever hit 160 lbs. (finished growing at 6'3" and settled to a body weight of 180-190ish).

The point is, make biking your mode of transportation at a young age, and it will become a lifelong pleasure.

biker128pedal

Keep the tires pumped up to the proper pressure.

Tires
https://www.parktool.com/repair/byreg...mageField2.y=9

Tips
https://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6...0902-1,00.html

Nachoman

So how did it go, you young whipper snapper?

zraigy7

who ever said after 2 miles I wouldn't b warmed up was right! I rode 2 miles and as soon as I was about to pull into my driveway I stopped and talked to a friend. He then got is Trek mountain bike out pumped up the tires and we rode. He ended up riding about maybe 15-20 miles. I ended up riding about 20-25 miles. We were just so addicted. I had a b-day party to go 2 today. My sis and aunt told me to throw my bike in the trunk so we could go pick up my cuz on the way. I said no way. I rode the 2.5 miles to my cuzins house and then changed shirts and then l threw the bike in the trunk. I am already tanned and can see my "farmers tan" LOL. I can't wait to ride tomorrow. I'll get pics up sometime 2morrow. Thanks everyone for all your support. Oh yes, cleaning the cob webs sucked but it was totally worth it! This ride was all done withins 5 miles of my house.

cooker

You might enjoy renting the old movie "Breaking Away".

Nachoman

I sense the force is strong within you, young man.

zraigy7

whats breaking away about? My friend and I are about to go ride for a few hours maybe another 20 miles mayb a little more.

mustang1

+1 on most of the above. Also wear some gloves - I hope you dont fall down but in case you do, always good to protect your hands.

CrimsonKarter21

I wish I was allowed out of the basement when I was in 8th grade.

caloso

Life, love, refunds.

zraigy7

WOW, is all i can say! Today was a great 20 mile bike ride! Yesterday when we were riding my friend sid its like reading a book all over again. He said this cuz the scenery. We never noticed half the stuff or how awesome it looked before, when we were always in cars. Today we just rode through dif neighborhoods and just had a great ride. We picked up some gatorades over halfway into the ride. He said he is not gonna ride on the days we have Taekwondo. I said u dont have to ill bring my ipod and only ride about 10 miles. I am so addicted right now!!!!!! I might even buy my cuzins bike for like $50 tonight. I would have given him $10 but i took it off hs hands for him and i cleaned all the cobwebs lol.

jupiter422

Mine did... it was used to interface to a cassette player. (yes, that was a 600 baud modem).

*sniff*

jupiter422

Or the Triplets of Belleville