Author Topic: Starting over.  (Read 9804 times)

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Offline rider

Starting over.
« on: February 08, 2007, 03:30:15 am »
Hi folks, whew it has been along time since i have riden a bike. Why back in 92 was the last long ride i took. Since that time i have been off the bike, and have been driving a car. I have to tell ya that i do have good mememories of my cycling days. which of course makes me miss those times of riding. So i sit everyday looking at my bike just sitting there in front of me in my room, i dust it off now and then. and then i go put gas in the car, and renew the registration on my car. , wow i think. kind of an oxi morron happening. folks i miss cycling. It has been a long time.. and i am not so thin anymore. What happen, and what should i do. The answer is quite simple. use the car for work, and shopping, use the bike for long rides again, time to get back into the ride again. But it is scary to even think about after all that time of the bike, i guess just do it hey. I know what i need i need to know if anyone else has the same thing going on that i just talked about, and share it with me. Looking forward to hearing from you all. See you on the road.  :)


Offline qajaq

Starting over.
« Reply #1 on: February 08, 2007, 02:00:58 pm »
I was in a similar situation several years ago. I took up riding again when I was 51, after not having ridden (except a couple isolated, ten-minute rides in a park) since I was probably 14 or 15. Lotsa years in between there!

I got back into bicycling after reading an Adventure Cycling magazine in my dentist's office, so the dream that led me to the bike shop was the long-distance trip. But I didn't try doing LD rides right out of the box. I've done that with other things, and have finally learned that I can spoil anything by trying too hard at the start.

Instead, I used the bicycle for short errands. I was fortunate in that my job was just four miles from my home, so I could ride to work, too. Short rides got me re-acquainted with the feel of riding, and gave me oppportunity to know what I needed to change--most noticably, the saddle!

Get the old bicycle tuned, make sure it still fits, and go out for a quick spin around the neighborhood. Good luck!Text


Offline litespeed

Starting over.
« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2007, 05:09:00 pm »
Pick a nice nearby rural area or trail and go for a regular Sunday morning ride. This is a good time to ride as there are no drunks, kids or commuters on the road - just farmers and churchgoers. And not many of them. Increase your riding distance as you wish. You'll be back into bicycle riding in no time and you'll find your style, whatever it is.


Offline undies

Starting over.
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2007, 02:48:53 pm »
I also quit riding bicycles in the early 1990s, sticking to cars and motorcycles instead. About 1.5 years ago I picked up bicycling again and it has been one of the most positive things I have ever done for myself.

If your locale is accommodating, I would recommend trying to use the bicycle for errands if possible. This will be good for your fitness and waist line, it will save you gas money, and it will train you to carry stuff on the bike which will be important for longer rides. I have a pair of grocery panniers and they are so easy to use that I am encouraged to use the bike instead of the car for many errands.


Offline Tom*3141

Starting over.
« Reply #4 on: February 15, 2007, 02:10:43 pm »
Dear Day Tripper:
Your post describes me as well. I only started bicycling about 10 years ago, after I could no longer run. I had surgery and after that my running days were about over. So after talking to some cyclists who said: "A lot of our older riders are former runners. The reason they ride now is that riding doesn't hurt your knees.", I bought a bicycle.

Depending on where you live there may be one or more "rail-trails". These are former railbeds converted into what are called "multi-use trails." They are good for riding, running, in-line skating and walking.

Where I live in Southwest Ohio we have over 268 miles of trails of which 204 miles are connected. The best news is that we are building more new trails in every direction.

If you live in Southwest Ohio or nearby take a look at my website. I have been keeping track of all the trails here for over nine years. I have every trail, every rest stop, every water fountain, every parking place as well as all the restuarents and accomodations on all of the trails.

Perhaps we will see you on the trails.

Thomas J. Recktenwalt
Webmaster
Miami Valley RailTrails
http://www.miamivalleytrais.org
Your Guide to the Multi-Use Trails
In the Miami Valley (Ohio)


Offline Tom*3141

Starting over.
« Reply #5 on: February 15, 2007, 02:12:25 pm »
Dear Day Tripper (and others)

The URL in my above message is mis-spelled! Duh!

Thomas J. Recktenwalt
Webmaster
Miami Valley RailTrails
http://www.miamivalleytrails.org
Your Guide to the Multi-Use Trails in
the Miami Valley (Ohio)