Hello everyone. I've finally used my bike! My car needs new brakes, so it was the perfect opportunity for me to do my first commute to work this morning. Going into work it was really easy as it's mainly downhill, coming back it was a LOT harder, but still not too bad and still faster than the bus. THEN when I got home I realised I neeeded to go to the supermarket, cycled there and then back with my shopping (that's a way to reduce the amount of rubbish I buy!).

In total I think I did 14 or 15 miles, which I'm quite pleased with for a first time out. Although I may be buying some padded shorts tomorrow...

That is SUPER, Helen! Way to go! LOL I know what you mean about the padded shorts. :)

Bike Envy
 

I've only recently bought myself a bike, and while I've been using it to get around town, I still have been getting my 'real' exercise at the gym. This by way of saying that I am *not* a biker-chick :)

Anyway, I met some people last week (I'm a waitress) who are riding their bikes from the Oregon coast to Maine this summer. How amazing would that be? They gave me the address to their blog so that I can read about their travels. Check it out; I think the reading is giving me a life goal :)

http://tomsride.blogspot.com/

Fun!

Wow, Oregon to Maine - that's amazing. I've always wanted to drive cross-country, and haven't even managed to do that yet.

Today I biked along a highway that is closed on summer Sundays for recreational use. There was a great mixture of people, from little little kids to people out for the bike equivalent of a Sunday stroll to some very serious bicyclists whizzing along. The highway is two lanes, though, so there was plenty of room for everyone at their various speeds.

I think I rode about 15 miles - I was glad to test out a longer distance because the triathlon will be 12 miles. I also got a book of day trips in my area that are mostly 25-40 miles, so now that I've gone a longer distance, I'll feel more confident about trying one of them.

Oh, to cycle cross country, that must be fun, someday I'd love to do that ...

Today I was only able to get 15k/9miles in, but I also ran 5k this morning....

You ladies are awesome! i bought a bike last summer at Wal-mart for about $50+. I got it mainly for when i go to the lake because people are always walking or biking around the lake. You have to deal with the cars but the speed limit is like 10mph. :) Anyway, it was bought without realizing that we only go to the lake like 5 times a year. LOL! And even then. . . i get down the road. . .maybe a mile and realize how much my legs are angry at me! So i think i can ride 2 miles but that's all. Guess i'm not a biker chick. :( But you gals really inspire me anyway. Of course, i don't have a nice bike or padded shorts or anything like that. But it's really nice to hear your stories. I live in a small town and there just isn't anywhere to ride. The few people i see on bikes are on the 2-lane roads. Passed a biker one morning riding in the middle of the road and wouldn't get over. I got a little ill because i was on my way to work and was in a hurry! I tooted my horn and waved for me to go around. didn't want to scare him but i wanted to make sure he knew i was coming around him (since he was going with the traffic instead of against). We don't really have sidewalks. the road i live on would be perfect riding for me but the people who drive up and down the road scare me to death! They just can't drive! lol! We do have a bike group and they ride LONG distances and one invited me to go with them but considering i can barely go 2 miles and they are riding double digit rides. . . i had to decline the offer. I think it's mostly men anyway. Anyway, just wanted to tell you ladies how much of an inspiration you are.

Amy

I'm planning to ride into work again tomorrow. I might try coming home the slighly less hilly way though this time! (Also if I go round the other way it's mainly left turns rather than mainly right turns which might be easier).

:welcome: Amy, you're a biker chick no matter how much mileage you do, we all had to start somewhere...

Today I did 20k/12miles...

I made it into work OK. Why did it stop raining just as I got here though? Never mind, I actually quite like cycling and running in the rain.

bike rack question
 

Amy - You are a biker chick! I go just 3 mi at a time most days...

Does anyone use a bike rack? I've been using mine, but I can't find the instructions for it. It has four brackets, two that hook onto the top of the trunk, and two that hook onto the bottom. My two questions are - once I've tightened the straps, do I need to tie them so that they don't loosen? And, there's tons of strap left over once I've tightened. Should I just bind the extra up in a rubber band? These two questions are related, because I've been tying the straps and then wrapping them to get rid of the extra, and it would be much faster to just tighten them and have the extra length already bound up.

Thanks!

I made it home safely, I definitely prefer the route I tried today. Next biking day is meant to be Thursday, I'm keeping it at two days per week for now.

I agree with Sarah! Anyone biking is a biker chick here! :) It's not about how far we go. LOL even though I usually go about 10 miles I can't begin to keep up with a lot of the chicks here! I am so wobbly when I start off I am sure it is comical, especially on the hills! :)

I don't use a bike rack but have thought about going to Craigslist and looking for one. My bike will fit into the trunk of my car but also I live on a bus route so am planning to pop my bike onto the bus and take it down to the big bike trail we have here. Also I was reading on the Internet and apparently there is a park just down the street from my house with a trail that I had no idea was there... it is kind of "hidden" down a back street. I am going to check it out tonight and see!

Happy biking!

Well, I could not believe it... I took my brand new bike out for the fourth time yesterday... and blew a tire! Had to bring it home on the bus! Then I got on the wrong bus and it only went halfway home so I got off and walked it back about two miles instead of waiting for another bus. Decided it was good exercise! Now I am bikeless again!

But I did ride down to what was supposed to be a bike trail but turned out to be only a walking path... went down a big hill and thought I would end up pushing it back up but I didn't. I was amazed as I rode all the way up the hill!! :bike:

Sorry to hear that Misti, hope you get it sorted out and back on the road. I did my third bike commute to work, why is it that every day I've got scheduled to cycle in it pours with rain? I don't normally mind exercising in the rain, but it's getting a bit repetitive now! Today I was a bit naughty and went for free drinks with work before cycling back, but I was careful to make sure that I didn't end up too wobbly, and I suppose cycling was a good reason not to do my normal "just one" then wobble out of the pub four hours later routine...

I've done my two cycling days for the week now. Two is my target at the moment, but next week I might do three if I feel OK on Friday. And if it's not raining ;)

Good for you, Helen, for biking to work! Hope all the rest of you are getting in some biking!

I am back in business! Took the bike in and obviously I had hit glass or something as there was a big gash through the tire and tube. LOL had to replace both after having ridden the new bike a week but hey, that's life. I bought it to ride, and ride it I shall... new tire here and there or what. :bike: Actually it was only $22 total so that was not bad. I just got back from a 78 minute ride. Wow felt good to be out there again! :)

I could not believe... when I got it out of REI I decided since it was already in the car to go to the bike trail. Got down there, got it out and duh.. helmet at home! So back into the car, came home and just rode my usual route with some side jags.

Blessings to all
Sue