i got myself a bike at a yardsale and fixed it up and have been LOVING riding it!!!

i have only had it a month and am planning a wedding but have managed to log over FIFTY MILES!!! i just cant believe THAT! the most i have rode at once is 10 miles but i am still testing the waters! i really think i could do more like 20 MILES in a day if i just pack a lunch have a safe route. the safe route is the hard part. we have a 50 mile trail close by but i am afraid to get out of town alone. i have a 'tazer' you know shocker but heck i could shock myself!

today i am going out around my neighborhood instead of the trail but i may have to PUSH my bike up the hill to get home! when calvin and i walk it we call it 'heart rate hill' cause your heart feels like its gonna bust out of your chest!

wish me luck!

Shellyj, You have me inspired to get that bike off my garage wall and go give her a whirl. I have been "thinking" about it for quite a while now but other things seem to get priority. My question is, do you all ride your bikes alone? My husband has a bike but really does not like to ride it and I get bored when I go alone, any suggestions?

hi js! i do ride my bike alone. i go down to a local trail and ride it during 'prime time' hours. sure it means the trail is BUSY but i dont have to worry about being out the alone. i go usually around 4 pm thats when the first 'after work' crowd shows up.

if you are riding in your neighborhood then i suggest getting a mp3 player or headset. i dont use mine at the trail because i get scared of someone coming up behind me and me not hearing it.

i dont have any other boredom suggestions, i figure it a MILLION times better than a piece of exercise equipment. ohhh wait heres a suggestion...when i ride i pick a destination like i usually ride to a swimming hole, take a quick dip and head back. the last mile or 2 really motivates me to get to my destination!

good luck!

michelle

Hey Michelle! Just yesterday my hubby brought home a new trail bike for himself (Merry Early Christmas! ) so we're all good to go. Now we need to get a bike rack. And we're on our way!!

I've been biking for about 15 weeks and yes..it's very worthwhile and the results are amazing.

I bought an extra seat cushion made of gel from Wal-Mart for about $11usd. It works great!

Good luck!

I love my new bike. I have had it about 3 weeks. It's a hot pink beach bike; the kind of bike they ride in the Florida keys. Coaster brakes, big soft seat, and plain handlebars. My favorite place to ride is our local cmemtary. It's very peaceful. A nice place to think.

I joined the Bike Gang yesterday and bought a new Giant Mtn bike.

10 miles on night 1 in 95 degree heat here in Georgia and I about fell over.

My wind was ok...my legs were just flat out.....out of gas.

1500 calories a day for a 310 lb man probably don't help the stamina but that's the price we pay.

:heh:

hey BPM! CONGRATS!!!! on days i bike i DEFINTALLY eat more but its hasnt hurt me yet!! i also have a 'bike bag' to hold some essentials on my bike and i have a few granola bars in there for some quick energy. i get shaky when my blood sugar drops and riding 10 miles will use up your stored energy quick!

right now its getting a little too hot where i live to bike. 103! no thanks! i ride on a trail and the busiest time is 'after work' but the coolest time would be early am or later night/eve. i prefer to go when they are busy. its safer. so i may be on a bike hiatus till the end of this heat wave!

Shelly..I know how you feel...it was 95 at 9pm after the sun went down.

It's been 100 plus all week here in Georgia during the daytime.

My husband and I ride in a bicycle ride that's held once a year for a festival in town. We ride the 35 mile route. We usually start training for our ride a few months in advance with about two 10 mile rides a week. We've been doing this since 1999. One year, pre band, after gaining some weight, I rode the 10 miler and it wasn't as satisfying as finishing the longer stretch. My husband got me into biking and I wouldn't have believe it until I tried it that a good quality bike makes a difference for longer rides. Oh, and the little seat, after a while everything goes numb! But, really, that area does get use to it after riding several times.

My hubby and I started riding our old mountain bikes on July 1. We did that for about 2 weeks and then we broke down and went and bought us some comfort bikes. I bought a Cannondale and hubby got a Trek. Now all it has to do is stop raining on the weekends so we can go on one of the bike trails. We have just been riding around the neighborhood doing around 8 miles.

Unfortunately I've had less time (and less good days - take your pick, high heat and humidity or rain) to get my bike out of the garage. It's been so long I am sure I'd look like a goof ball starting out on it again, but I know I need to. We also need to go out and get my wife a new bike and replace the seats on both with 'something that has more cushion'.

Since loosing the weight I have even less of an ass then I used too (I'm still as much of an ass as I was before though ). I've come to find the 'normal' seats sold on bikes, kill my butt and make my back hurt all the way up (of course mt falling off a rough in '89 tends to be an attributing factor there as well).

Getting back to the point, I need to get back biking!!:faint:

.

if you are riding in your neighborhood then i suggest getting a mp3 player or headset. i dont use mine at the trail because i get scared of someone coming up behind me and me not hearing it.

I definately suggest against riding with any kind of music. If you cant hear traffic, you are much more likely to get hurt!

Gunn4ya,

Now, doesn't a good bike make all the difference!! I have a Cannondale, a Trek and a Schwinn and they all have their purpose. But, like you, I'm waiting for the rain to stop and get back on the bike!

LisaG,

All I can say is that Cannondale is nothing but the truth!!! I understand it was specially designed by women, at least the one I have which is an Adventure 400. I cant wait to get it out on a trail and really put it to the test.

gunny4ya I am so proud of you:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: