Hi all....

[ejoyce]

Sorry to have disappeared for a bit. I am now one week out from arthroscopic surgery on my knee. (Torn interior meniscus, frayed outer meniscus, cartilage fragments and arthritis behind the knee cap). Walking ok, done with crutches, still stiff and a bit swollen. My running (jogging) days are over. Darn. I will be getting bike. All bike advice appreciated. I will be shopping tomorrow. The things I know are that I want a comfort seat, upright handle bars and fat tires. Do not want anything complicated. 10 speed or under is fine. I will ride on asphalt trails I am not interested in sharing the road with drivers. I am fortunate to have plenty of bike trails available, now just need a bike and a biking partner (no confident I feel safe on the trails alone just yet).

[Smoke]

Was hoping you were just out enjoying the summer..guess not so much. Sorry about your Knee, glad surgery went ok. Hope you don't have any complications from it.

Come to PA. and I'd be happy to ride with you.

Couple years ago I got back into riding. I have a beat up ol Mt bile. Diamond Back Ascent..heavy bikea really good one. Good for 20 - maybe 25 after that it gets uncomforatble. So I thought I would get a road bike...went all out and got a Cannondale CAAD 10....Awesome road bike...I still go back to my mt bike for most of my riding. Trying to get back into it...if you read my Motivation post.

There are some really good Hybrid bikes out there for not a huge investment...I wouldn't recommend an off the shelf bike from say Walmart. Go to a good bike shop and ride a few...I was surprised at the minor differences in feel when you ride similar bikes.

Fish might be able to give some advice on this as well..and I know Pam got bikes a couple years ago as well.

Nice to see you back

[fish]

sorry to hear about the knee.

how did you take the injury ?

i will bet that you will want to trade up in the not too distant future, so don't spend a lot of money on that first "cruiser" you are talking about. just make sure it fits.

later we can talk about getting a very good used bike for not too much money. the folks who wear "Tour" outfits keep trading in for latest technology. a lot like many golfers.

so really good stuff comes available.

[Pam]

I one of those hybrids sue was talking about. Just went out for a ride. I love my bike. It's a neko trek. It has shock absorbers on the front wheel. It's nice for the really bumpy roads but makes it harder to ride for sure. I almost got one that wouldn't allow you to lock it out, glad I didn't.

I also like a comfy seat. I replaced the seat that came with mine for one from Terry I also wear padded shorts. I have a tender rear and they do make a big difference.

Sorry about your knee but glad it's healing up!

[ejoyce]

So you are all bikers? I have come to the right group. Did not shop tonight, planning to go tomorrow. There is a bike shop nearby that allows trade ups, so they have some quality bikes to sell used (so I am told). I will be going there, they have a good reputation for fitting the bike to the customer.

If I want to replicate the cardio I got from run/walking (2:1) for 3.2 miles how far do I need to bike? Do I just start out and go till I cover the same amount of time no matter the distance? Or do I gauge by my perceived exertion?

Pam, thanks for advice about the padded shorts. At the risk of TMI, I did a spin class a few months ago and couldn't sit comfortably for a week, I seriously think I bruised my "sitting bones". I know that doesn't happen to most folks, but not uncommon either? Do you get used to it? It wasn't a muscular issue, it really felt like the bones were bruised.

Fish, my knee was not a result of a single injury, simply old age wear and tear combined with family genetics (we all have bad knees).

[fish]

i have always ridden and rowed for enjoyment. the benefits just come with it.

drive around your area and map out two or three rides of different distances. i have the blessing of back roads.

i had from 6 to 18 mile routes and would ride them according to time availability and weather.

get a cycling computer with or without a heart rate monitor.

you mention perceived exertion. i take that to mean that you have correlated your observed actual heart rate with your physical sensations so that you don't need to rely on a monitor except once in awhile to confirm that your PE and AHR are still in sinc.

in any case, if you find some nice rides, and if you have the cycling computer, you will want take the rides and you will be able to measure your increased cardio pulmonary fitness. personal bests are nice. keep your records.

because you are comparing your personal ride results, it does not matter what kind of bike you have. just make sure you are comfortable.

you want to want to go riding.

ps. padded pants and seats are nice, but after a few hundred miles you won't need them.

start slow and build up your fitness. if you have not been biking, you will be using old muscles and joints in new ways.

take it easy, have a good time.

i used to carry a flora and fauna book and stop when i saw flowers or birds or animals i did not recognize.

riding a bicycle is really nice.

[Pam]

Fish I must have to ride a lot more. Glute pain is what always determines how long I ride. I thought having "extra padding" would help, it doesn't! Good to know that maybe I just have to toughen up more.

[Smoke]

You need to ride more Pam.

Amazing...LOL I have all the padding I could possibly hope for back there but it all comes down to toughining it up.

A decent seat and basic comfort is important...the seat that came with my bike I think I could have ridden 100 years and I don't think my butt ever would have gotten used to it. I switched mine as soon as I got the bike as well.

[ejoyce]

So, dipping my toe in the water with a refurbished, trade in bike, a Giant Upland. thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/m0NczQH3-2HFoRBN6LnoXPw.jpg

They are replacing the seat, tires and full service tune-up. I can ride for a few months and decide if I want to trade it up for a better bike, possible a Fuji Crosstown www.fujibikes.com/bike/details/crosstown-23

Hopefully not an expensive mistake :-)

[fish]

no matter what you buy, have them put on toe cages or clip ins.

make sure they explain exactly how they have measured you to the bike.

what road surface are you going to ride on ? how often are you going off pavement ?

cross bikes are nice, but if you are doing most of your riding on the road, they feel heavy.

for what you get, used bikes are cheap, and depreciation is only huge if you buy new and sell used. if you buy used and sell used, you won't loose much, so don't worry too much about mistakes.

try a dedicated road bike with drop handlebars before you buy. most of the time you will ride sitting up holding onto the top of bars. dropping down increases involvement of the glutes when you want more power, but just for cruising you will be sitting up.

i'm guessing that you don't have many miles.

there really is nothing i can tell you until you have spent some serious riding time.

try to find and spend some time on different bikes so you can recognize the differences.

if you go back in my posts a couple of years you'll find a lot of road bike riding posts.

a couple of injuries combined with perfect boat weather has kept me off the bike this year, but i am doing a rebuild and expect to be back on the road before the snow flies.

smoke has a really nice road bike.

i have two.

[fish]

do a little homework. there is so much out there on the net.

for example:

sheldonbrown.com/frame-sizing.html

[ejoyce]

Actually this was the suggested next step up www.fujibikes.com/bike/details/absolute-23-stagger it was pretty light. I will ride the used one for a bit and decide if biking is for me and what best fits my style. At least the helmet, bike rack etc will still be good even if I trade up later. There's a group that meets once a week for ride - all skill levels. I look forward to joining them soon. As soon as my knee allows.

Thanks for the info, fish.

[fish]

don't buy a new bike !!!

ten years ago i got a triple butted chrome moly frame hung with the best for a hundred bucks. it was used. in terms of its frame and components, it is still one of the best bikes out there. i usually do about a thousand to fifteen hundred miles a season. the bike is still nice and stiff. needs a new crank set and some other stuff, but still a great bike.

found a complete Campagnolo bike at a yard sale. frame and every component except the seat which was an unbroken in Brooks. The bike was old, but almost unused. got it for 25 bucks.

www.bicycling.com/news/featured-stories/italian-job

do some reading on the net. time well spent.

go to see what the folks in that group are riding. look for the folks who look like you and make note of their bikes.

don't pay any attention to the silly costumes, i have found that otherwise sober people are not only willing, but actually anxious to dress like riders on the Tour de France.

just look at their bike and find out when they are going to trade up.

they always do.

or consider e-bay.

riding a good bike is as close to flying as can be.

[Smoke]

I agree with Fish on the clips..I have FatBoys or something of the sort on my Mt Bike...they are great, I keep them loose enough so I can easily slip out of them but they do make a difference in riding. I have the shoes & clip ins on my road bike...they take a bit of getting used to!..they are great on the long haul but for kicking around with shorter rides I'll wear sneaks...I do have reversable pedal on that bike as well so you can use either or.

He is also correct on the drop bars.....my issues isn't my glutes...more my sega ( gut) gets in the way...LOL You don't have that problem.


I think you will enjoy riding, I wish we had a group closer...local bike shop has alot of rides but they have them near their main shop..so it becomes a haul for me to go there from home on a weekend just to ride.

We can start up a virtual ride though...as you may or may not have noticed we now have a new catagory.