The Beginners cycling challenge

[Salim]

It's natural to be afraid of something you've never done before - that's just what they're experiencing. You're also threatening their preconceived notion that it is dangerous to bike on the road, and that it is necessary to drive to work.

I live in a pretty bike unfriendly city - Atlanta - and many people are impressed/shocked when I say that I don't use my car very much. Then they doubt me. Then I say I haven't filled up my car at all this year (which is true. I haven't filled up my gas tank since 12/19). They then sort of believe me (although I'm sure some of them just say yea sure and don't).

Ignore them. Yes, there will always be drivers who are assholes and cut you off because they think you belong on the sidewalk. But that's just a part of being a cyclist on a system designed for cars.

@johnny847, Well said! I'll follow your good advice.
mara

[jordanread]

Yes, I've been told I have to start off very gently - must do it several suburbs away, and not in our street or over the road in the park. Our street has about 5 cars per day!

5 cars per day sounds very manageable! It's sad to think we can't share our new fun adventure with friends without the negativity. I'm glad we can talk about it and get support here.

Five cars per day is nothing. I probably have five or more cars pass me per minute on a normal ride.

Yes, I really couldn't understand why I was told I need to go somewhere else to practice. It will be much easier around home, because it is difficult to put the bike in the car. Anyway, the cat is away for the weekend so this mouse will be able to play (bike around home).

Way to go!! Don't let fear run you life.

On my side, my little sister (who continues to total cars, and now can't get it replaced), started biking, and is super stoked that she is hitting 10 miles a day. She hadn't ridden in years, but got a few good buys off of craigslist.

[Salim]

I rode my new bike to work and home again today for the first time, a total of about 11 miles. It was thrilling and fulfilling, but I ran into quite a bit of rush hour traffic on the way home, which was a bit scary. There were no other bicyclists in sight on either trip. I did see a motorcycle on the way home. The rider looked very bundled up and not friendly, so I didn't wave.

I will commute by bike again, but think I should plan most of my riding for now to avoid rush hours when possible. It's cool to be a trendsetter, but the drivers here aren't used to commuters on bicycles. This was only my fourth time on a bike after no riding for about 20 years; there's no big rush. And I can carpool when I want with DH, who seems uninterested in riding his bike to work. We'll be moving our office back to the house in two months, ending commuting. I'm very excited about using the bike then for errands and fun outings.

[Sibley]

Rode the Divvy bike from work to the train station yesterday! I got the wrong size helmet - it won't fit with my hat, and a hat is required apparently.

Colder today and I'm a wimp, so will walk to the train station instead of biking. But I know how to do it now!

[FoundPeace]

Finished wrapping my handlebars, fine tuned my derailleurs, and calibrated my brakes.

I took my bike out for a 5 mile ride yesterday. It was glorious! I have never ridden on a bike that was so fast before. A nice bike really does take a lot less effort than a cheap one.

My plan is to start training almost every day so I can work my way up to riding all the way to work (15 miles).

[Hvillian]

This has been a great thread to read through.  I have been recently venturing out of my neighborhood on my bike, trying to increase my road comfort and fitness so that I can take the plunge and ride to work.  I do have a few questions if anyone can offer advice.

1) My commute will be about 12 miles each way, and I think it will take me about an hour to cover that distance.  Is that considered a reasonable distance for a relatively young and fit person to cover, given that it is mostly flat?  Is that far enough that I need to make special considerations for my comfort (arms/shoulders/back)?

2) My current bike was given to me by my father-in-law several years ago, when he bought something better.  It is a 2006 Raleigh Passage 5.0.  The bike is in great condition and the fit is comfortable.  However, it feels like it was designed for my mother - big shocks, wide cushy seat, upright riding position.  Given the 12 mile commute distance, should I try the bike and see how it goes, or invest a little more money in a a road bike or hybrid that is more similar to a road bike?

Thanks for the inspirational thread and any help you may have.

[Kmp2]

@ Hvillian
My current commute is 6 miles (12 miles round trip), it takes 30-40 minutes one way depending on the wind... don't underestimate wind! I am just getting back into the longer commute and after 2 days - so on my fourth ride I'm really dragging it.

 - a 60 minute 12 mile commute is attainable, but you might not want to start off there, it may take a few days or weeks or months of getting faster.
 - if you can park'n'ride in closer and work up to the full distance, or bike in one morning and bus it home, then ride home the next day... are a few good intermediate steps.
 - the bike doesn't look too big or heavy compared to some. I would try it out, and it may become uncomfortable as you build mileage. You can then look at switching out the tires to a smoother skinnier set, seat, handlebars for more aerodyanmic position and comfort etc. or consider a new bike. (I recommend getting into the habit first, and then when you know you'll keep it up you can justify spending some money on comfort... but I have never done it this way, I always buy the gear first hoping to get into the habit...usually the guilt at the money spent is enough to spur me on though...) so do as I say, not as I do???

- when you are ready to try a test commute, try a weekend first, be prepared for the weather... nothing stops a new bike commuter faster than one really cold ride in the rain.
- if there are urban bike courses where you are, consider one of those. It'll help with handling, riding in traffic, route finding, gear and all sorts of other goodies.

Cheers, and enjoy!

 

[Optimiser]

I finally fixed by bike so I was able to complete steps 3, 4, and 5. I made 2 bike trips so far this week. I'm still walking to school everyday though. It's only 2 miles and I enjoy the time to think. It's nice to know I could take my bike if I was running late and needed to get there fast.

[Maya]

I'll follow the thread if folks need advice/encouragement. :)

Cycling is awesome. My best advice to get from step 5 to step 6 is "pretend your car is broken". When the car isn't even an option is when the mindshift really occurred for me.

This is what I'm trying on days I don't work... no available car so bike it. So far got my bike 2-3 weeks ago and I'm at 88 km done!I'm loving having the odometer to track things! I hope to eventually bike to work, but I'm building endurance so far. It's 30 km one way

[jordanread]

Keep on keeping on everyone!! You are all doing a great job!! I am back now, and available to answer questions for people, like TGC.

[tmac]

I don't know how I missed this thread! Love it! I actually have that Bikeyface cartoon posted on my fridge already. :)

DH and I got bikes about three weeks ago (Giant Escape and Giant Liv Alight, respectively), and have gone out every day, almost. We've missed a day here or there to weather or time limitations. I took the first weekend to tidy up the garage to make bike storage more efficient. Now the second bay has all five bikes lined up at the door, just begging to be taken out for a ride. :)

Sometimes, DH and I will just tool around the neighborhood at lunchtime, but more often, I'm on an errand of some sort -- the bank, the Y, the post office. Today, we'll bike to lunch. Tomorrow, I'll head to the Y again. This weekend, I'm going to do some light grocery shopping. I'll probably have to go back with the car to get most of the food, but I really want to test it out. I'm considering stealing the most excellent Wald folding basket from my daughter's bike.

DH is finding that he likes getting off the road, so he's been finding little unpaved paths to ride on. I hadn't anticipated that we'd each prefer a different type of biking, but I think that's good.

Two of our three kids can ride, and the third is almost there. Looking forward to family bike rides. :)

[Hvillian]

@Kmp2

Thank you very much for the advice.  I have been practicing on the bike, and have a strategy to build up to the distance.   I will also be testing portions of the ride before I make the jump to biking the whole way.

[Maya]

I don't know how I missed this thread! Love it! I actually have that Bikeyface cartoon posted on my fridge already. :)

DH and I got bikes about three weeks ago (Giant Escape and Giant Liv Alight, respectively), and have gone out every day, almost. We've missed a day here or there to weather or time limitations. I took the first weekend to tidy up the garage to make bike storage more efficient. Now the second bay has all five bikes lined up at the door, just begging to be taken out for a ride

Just bought myself the Alight 2 (yeah for work fitness credit) I'm loving it!

[tmac]

I don't know how I missed this thread! Love it! I actually have that Bikeyface cartoon posted on my fridge already. :)

DH and I got bikes about three weeks ago (Giant Escape and Giant Liv Alight, respectively), and have gone out every day, almost. We've missed a day here or there to weather or time limitations. I took the first weekend to tidy up the garage to make bike storage more efficient. Now the second bay has all five bikes lined up at the door, just begging to be taken out for a ride

Just bought myself the Alight 2 (yeah for work fitness credit) I'm loving it!

Great bike! I've never had one that was big enough (I'm pretty tall), and the Alight comes in a large frame, so the difference in comfort and control is amazing.

[Hvillian]

I tried out an older Trek FX bike last night.  Wow, it was so much fun.  It felt like I was flying, even on some of the uphills. 

Unfortunately, my left hand and wrist went numb then pretty sore after about 30 minutes.  After poking around online, it was probably because I am not used to leaning so far forward on a bike, so I likely had my arms locked out and was putting too much weight on my hands.  Hopefully a solvable problem because I really enjoyed the ride.

[Kmp2]

She is at again with more great beginner advice!

http://bikeyface.com/2015/05/15/two-mile-touring/

[Jerusha]

I have just started to get back on my bike after a long time away and I have been totally enjoying it.  I was really a bit nervous at first, as the reason I stopped riding years ago was that I got hit by a car (no serious injuries but it hurt when I hit the road!!!).   

I felt I was not ready to start riding to work (17km /10miles away), so instead I have started small. I have found that my local area is great for cycling.  It is flat and situated between the beach and a lake, where there are many dedicated bike paths. This month I have challenged myself not to use the car for any local trips under 5km (3miles).  So far it is going very well and it has had the added bonus of developing my 6 year old sons bike skills too.  In just a few weeks we have transitioned to riding every day and our bikes have quickly become part of our daily life.  Now they live under the stairs inside the house,  as we use them so often.

[PJ]

I have just started to get back on my bike after a long time away and I have been totally enjoying it.  I was really a bit nervous at first, as the reason I stopped riding years ago was that I got hit by a car (no serious injuries but it hurt when I hit the road!!!).   

Me too!  It's been, I think, 4 years since I last rode, which is when I got hit by a car that pulled out in front of me (failure to yield the right of way - technically, I hit them, but it was their fault).  I think it scared me more than I realized even though I managed not to fall and wasn't injured.

Anyway, further back than that, I rode daily to and from work, about 10 km away.  It was so good for me, and although I didn't ride in the winter, I rode in all kinds of weather spring through fall, and for all kinds of shifts at the group home.  Luckily it didn't matter too much what it looked when I arrived at work. 

A few years back, I planned to start again, got my bike tuned up, and promptly put my back out.  Didn't ride that summer, or the next.  Then I moved, only 5 km away from work (little more by car, less by bike through paths).  Resolved that I was going to start riding most of the time.  But didn't.  Have been in this house just under 2 years, and hadn't ridden at all. 

Until today :-) 

When they tuned up my bike, they changed the seat for me and screwed up the adjustments, so first I had to lower my seat.  I need to raise my handlebars too, but couldn't figure out how to do it.  If it's the place where you put the allan key right on the top of the shaft and handlebars, then it must be seized.  Couldn't budge it.  Will try to oil it and try again.  Anyway, didn't let that stop me, even though I'm shifted too far forward for comfort, it's only 5 km!  So I hopped on and off I went.  Gosh, I've missed that lovely feeling.  And I can already tell, though I'm waaaay out of shape, that it's going to be a totally great ride.  Mostly flat-ish, only a couple small hills (which I walked today, because my knees were complaining - they got messed up a little while ago and not fully back to normal yet).  Not too far to be difficult, once back in the routine, but far enough to be worthwhile doing it.  Slightly more downhill on the way home, which is always nice.

Favourite moment of the ride was going past a spot and noticing (because of the smell) a spot with a whole lot of lilac trees.  Also, though I wimped out and rode mostly on the sidewalk on the way there, dismounting to cross at lights, on the way back I got brave and made my left hand turn at the lights from the normal turn lane. 

[PJ]

Just made it in to work on my bike for the 2nd time! 

Don't know when I got so old and out of shape - it should be an easy ride but it took a lot more out of me today than on the weekend.  I guess maybe because I had a pretty physically active day yesterday, planting in the garden and mowing my hilly lawn.  Anyway, I will persevere, and I'm hoping to get some help with adjusting my handlebars, from a guy at my church.

I will persevere!

[FoundPeace]

I started commuting home this week. I hope this to be an almost everyday kind of thing. The commute is 15 miles, so  the second day was pretty tough, but I did it!

[Hvillian]

I started commuting home this week. I hope this to be an almost everyday kind of thing. The commute is 15 miles, so  the second day was pretty tough, but I did it!

Great job building up to the distance.  I am still only riding one way per day as well, so you have my sympathies when it comes to getting used to riding a bike after years away from it.

I just look backed and that specialized cyclocross looks like a pretty sweet bike.  Is it living up to your expectations?

[FoundPeace]

I started commuting home this week. I hope this to be an almost everyday kind of thing. The commute is 15 miles, so  the second day was pretty tough, but I did it!

Great job building up to the distance.  I am still only riding one way per day as well, so you have my sympathies when it comes to getting used to riding a bike after years away from it.

I just look backed and that specialized cyclocross looks like a pretty sweet bike.  Is it living up to your expectations?

It looks great, but it ended up being a being a bit of a mess. I needed to do quite a bit of work to get the bike in riding condition, (the fork wasn't compatible with the frame, the rear derailleur broke, the cables were worn out, etc.) but now it is working great. I have never had such a lightweight bike, or used integrated shifters before. It certainly is pretty too!