Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

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Date: 24 Dec 2006 11:25:08
From: The Historian
Subject: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

My Trek and I went for a ride today. Other than practice in Bikesport's
parking lot, this was my first real ride. It took me about ten minutes
to get underway, and at first I could stay balanced for only a few feet
at a time. The length of time I could spend underway grew, however, and
by the end of my ride I could travel several hundred feet without
stopping.

I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
circumstances. Add in his newness on a bike, hills on the route, and
the high winds today and you are courting problems. And on the homeward
leg, I ran into one. Or almost; I missed the mailbox, but in missing it
I took a spill. Fortunately I was wearing jeans and lifting gloves, so
I escaped with only a scraped and bruised left knee. I seem to be OK.
The chain came off the bike in the spill, so I walked it home. It's
fixed now, but I'm done with riding for today. :-)

My total riding time was about an hour, including the time spent
walking the bike back home. Total distance covered, excluding the
walking, was about 1.5 miles.

Neil

Date: 01 Jan 2007 21:03:44
From: The Historian
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

Zoot Katz wrote:
> On 31 Dec 2006 13:48:49 -0800, "The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> \
> >
> >Thanks. I've been out again. I took the bike to a nearby field and we
> >spent an hour taking practice rides. I didn't fall once. I bought a
> >bike rack for the car, and later this week we will be going to a local
> >bike path. And yes, I am determined to ride. Nearly as determined as I
> >am to lose weight, in fact. BTW, I'm down another pound, making 111
> >pounds in 12 months.
>
> At that rate you will have lost me around the middle of ch.

Congratulations on your weight loss. However, I doubt I can keep up the
pace. Your 'lead' is secure for a while.

> Be careful, bicycle riding can get addictive if you keep it fun.
>
> As your fitness improves and your experience builds bicycling becomes
> even more fun.
>
> Then you don't mind the addiction so much.
>
> bon route. bon courage.

Thank you.

Date: 01 Jan 2007 03:59:03
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

In article <1166997076.171324.146080@a3g2000cwd.googlegroups.com >,
"The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com > writes:

>> Anyway, if you're getting intimate with mailboxes, but the street's not
>> busy, by all means ride in the lane. I'd say ride where your right
>> wheel would be with a car. Act like the vehicle that you are, powered
>> or not, and you might feel the confidence affect your balance a bit.
>
> Thanks. Confidence is something I lack.

Confidence is an interesting thing. It's like cholesterol --
we need some. But not too much, and not the wrong kind.

I've heard it opined that new drivers get into collisions,
not so much when they're first trepidatiously trying [to
remember] to do all the right things, but when they've gotten
a few incident-free miles in. That's when Confidence rears its
ugly head to bite 'em in the ... well, you know what I mean.

Drivers who got pasted while trying to beat trains at level
crossings had Confidence. Fat lot o' good it did 'em.

I guess confidence needs to be tempered with something.
Not fear, though. I honestly don't know what to call it.
Words like "discretion", "awareness", "intelligence" etc
spring to mind, but they don't really cover it.

Just remember there's no shame in bailing rather than
sticking one's neck out, and you'll be okay. For example,
when riding on narrow residential streets that are so
choked with parked cars on either side that there's not
enough room for two oncoming vehicles to pass each other
comfortably, I have no qualms about pulling over between
parked cars, enough to let an oncoming car get by. And
I frequently get an appreciative thank-you wave from the
driver when I do so. Unless another rider coming up from
behind me spoils it by unrelentingly and "Confidently"
squeezing between the moving car and the parked cars.

But I don't want to scare you. Cycling can be really
quite safe. It's just that we've got the onus to make,
or at least contribute to our own safety.

A certain amount of confidence is good. But there's more.
I wish I could articulate about it.

cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

Date: 02 Jan 2007 06:13:59
From: Roger Zoul
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

Tom Keats wrote:

> Confidence is an interesting thing. It's like cholesterol --
> we need some. But not too much, and not the wrong kind.
>
> I've heard it opined that new drivers get into collisions,
> not so much when they're first trepidatiously trying [to
> remember] to do all the right things, but when they've gotten
> a few incident-free miles in. That's when Confidence rears its
> ugly head to bite 'em in the ... well, you know what I mean.
>
> Drivers who got pasted while trying to beat trains at level
> crossings had Confidence. Fat lot o' good it did 'em.
>
> I guess confidence needs to be tempered with something.
> Not fear, though. I honestly don't know what to call it.
> Words like "discretion", "awareness", "intelligence" etc
> spring to mind, but they don't really cover it.
>
> Just remember there's no shame in bailing rather than
> sticking one's neck out, and you'll be okay. For example,
> when riding on narrow residential streets that are so
> choked with parked cars on either side that there's not
> enough room for two oncoming vehicles to pass each other
> comfortably, I have no qualms about pulling over between
> parked cars, enough to let an oncoming car get by. And
> I frequently get an appreciative thank-you wave from the
> driver when I do so. Unless another rider coming up from
> behind me spoils it by unrelentingly and "Confidently"
> squeezing between the moving car and the parked cars.
>
> But I don't want to scare you. Cycling can be really
> quite safe. It's just that we've got the onus to make,
> or at least contribute to our own safety.
>
> A certain amount of confidence is good. But there's more.
> I wish I could articulate about it.
>
>
> cheers,
> Tom
>

Fear is a good thing. It keeps us alive.

Date: 01 Jan 2007 18:50:30
From: nash
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

>>>A certain amount of confidence is good. But there's more.
I wish I could articulate about it.
<<<

How about "experience" Time tells all so to speak
I would also add politeness and good ole common sense.

KISS :) principle

I am amazed I am still alive considering every time I am out I have close
calls by over confident drivers. If only we could switch places for a
minute. Looking at my mirror as close to every 8 seconds as I can makes me
less uncertain about my fate.
Having said that I do not think I could go out if I did not give drivers
the benefit of the doubt. Maybe more than I should I will never know for
some of them, true. I am pretty cautious, and I know I piss them off if I
can maneouver better than them. I expect them also to always break the
rules so I do my best to take my right of way and have the brake grips at
the ready.
If you can think of what an escape route would be if something did
happen your reaction will be one second faster.
There are bike trails off the street that I take to be away from the
pollution and danger even if it takes longer. Residential streets are safer
and not too much longer too.
I hope that will help in the long run.

Cheers

Date: 31 Dec 2006 14:23:57
From: The Historian
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

frkrygow@gmail.com wrote:
> The Historian wrote:
> > ... I am determined to ride. Nearly as determined as I
> > am to lose weight, in fact. BTW, I'm down another pound, making 111
> > pounds in 12 months.
>
> Awesome. I have a friend that could use you as a role model.
>
> Or is it "roll model"? ;-)
>
> - Frank Krygowski

If your friend will actually lose weight, instead of merely talk about
it, he can call me anything he likes.

Date: 31 Dec 2006 13:55:39
From:
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

The Historian wrote:
> ... I am determined to ride. Nearly as determined as I
> am to lose weight, in fact. BTW, I'm down another pound, making 111
> pounds in 12 months.

Awesome. I have a friend that could use you as a role model.

Or is it "roll model"? ;-)

- Frank Krygowski

Date: 31 Dec 2006 13:48:49
From: The Historian
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

Zoot Katz wrote:
> On 24 Dec 2006 13:51:16 -0800, "The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> >>you might feel the confidence affect your balance a bit.
> >
> >Thanks. Confidence is something I lack.
>
> That's why bicycing is so great. It boosts your confidence by
> teaching self-reliance. That attitude affects all areas of your life
> and that's why bicycling still gets branded as "radical"
>
> Riding a bicycle is one of the most difficult things we ever learn to
> do. That's why we don't forget how to do it.
>
> One of the hardest lessons to learn is to get up and get back on the
> bike. That is a life lesson.
>
> You're over that hump.
>
> Congratulations.

Thanks. I've been out again. I took the bike to a nearby field and we
spent an hour taking practice rides. I didn't fall once. I bought a
bike rack for the car, and later this week we will be going to a local
bike path. And yes, I am determined to ride. Nearly as determined as I
am to lose weight, in fact. BTW, I'm down another pound, making 111
pounds in 12 months.

Date: 31 Dec 2006 15:39:51
From: Zoot Katz
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

On 31 Dec 2006 13:48:49 -0800, "The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com >
wrote:
\
>
>Thanks. I've been out again. I took the bike to a nearby field and we
>spent an hour taking practice rides. I didn't fall once. I bought a
>bike rack for the car, and later this week we will be going to a local
>bike path. And yes, I am determined to ride. Nearly as determined as I
>am to lose weight, in fact. BTW, I'm down another pound, making 111
>pounds in 12 months.

At that rate you will have lost me around the middle of ch.

Be careful, bicycle riding can get addictive if you keep it fun.

As your fitness improves and your experience builds bicycling becomes
even more fun.

Then you don't mind the addiction so much.

bon route. bon courage.
--
zk

Date: 30 Dec 2006 00:48:17
From: Richard B
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

"The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com > wrote in
news:1166988308.200720.223660@42g2000cwt.googlegroups.com:

SNIP
>
> I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
> pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
> circumstances.

I am something of a Clydesdale myself at 6'1" 225 I have no problem
balancing. On my ten mile commute I nearly always ride with panniers
carrying an additional 25 pounds for a total of 250; all you really need
is practice.

> Add in his newness on a bike, hills on the route, and
> the high winds today and you are courting problems. And on the
> homeward leg, I ran into one. Or almost; I missed the mailbox, but in
> missing it I took a spill. Fortunately I was wearing jeans and lifting
> gloves, so I escaped with only a scraped and bruised left knee. I seem
> to be OK.

SNIP

As others have said, don't look at what you want to miss, look at where
you want the bike to go. I used to hit small rocks and debris all the
time until I realized that I was looking at them, now I look next to
them and they are no longer in the way, it works, try it.

Do not ride in the gutter... that is where the road debris and goathead
thorns live...

Now for traffic...
My policy is BE SEEN:
I dress in a bright florescent highlighter-yellow jersey or jacket. For
after dark I have four blinky lights on my bike, a blinky Cateye
headlight in front, a red blinky Cateye on my seatpost, two no-name
red blinkys, one on the side of each pannier, plus reflectors and a
reflective vest.

Wherever possible I ride about six to eight feet out from the curb in
the edge of the "car tire sweep zone", this keeps me visible and
somewhat of a minor obstacle to cars so they notice me and move away. As
a side benefit I am out of the debris zone (the area at the edge of the
road where the passing cars sweep road debris).

If I need the lane, I take it. In one part of my commute I have to pass
over a bridge with a three foot high concrete wall and no shoulder; I
take the center of the lane leaving no room for a car to squeeze between
me and the white line, the last thing I need is to be crushed against
the wall or pushed over the wall to fall to the riverbed below.

Use hand signals when in traffic lanes. I find that when I need to cross
a lane to get to a left turn lane, the cars nearly always slow to let me
cross over when I ask politely with the appropriate hand signal.

Ride in a straight line; do not swerve in and out of parked cars. Riding
in a straight line lets the drivers see you ahead of time and to
anticipate where you will be when they get to your position.

One final thing... stay out of the door zone; that is the area where the
door of the seemingly empty parked car suddenly flies open in front a
unsuspecting bicyclist sending him on a trip to the hospital.

Have fun, ride safe and with confidence.

Richard B.

Date: 28 Dec 2006 10:25:05
From:
Subject: Re: Problems to work on for a beginner.

Claire wrote:
> Leo Lichtman wrote:
> > <frkrygow@gmail.com> wrote: (clip) I think you need some parking lot time.
> > (clip)
> > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > Yes. Parking lot time.
>
> Another place to practice would be a cemetary. It'd be quiet and no one
> minds if you're moving slowly in a cemetary.

Oddly enough, one cemetery here which serves as a very useful shortcut
for me has signs at the entrances: "No bicycles allowed."

Another has signs saying "Entrance is permitted for cemetery purposes
only." (Whatever _that_ means!)

Of course, if anyone should ask, I haven't seen those signs. ;-)

- Frank Krygowski

Date: 28 Dec 2006 19:44:16
From: Leo Lichtman
Subject: Re: Problems to work on for a beginner.

<frkrygow@gmail.com > wrote: (clip) Another has signs saying "Entrance is
permitted for cemetery purposes only." (Whatever _that_ means!)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It means, "They check in, but they don't check out."

Date: 27 Dec 2006 21:03:31
From: The Historian
Subject: Re: Problems to work on for a beginner.

Leo Lichtman wrote:
> <frkrygow@gmail.com> wrote: (clip) I think you need some parking lot time.
> (clip)
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Yes. Parking lot time. But, better than going it alone, take a friend on a
> bike, to ride along with you and watch what you are doing. And, of course,
> you watch him/her as well. It sounds to me like you may be making errors
> that you can't describe to us, because you don't recognize them yourself.

Agreed.

> Such as going too slow. At low speed, the steering corrections you need for
> balance will be ungraceful, and they may scare you.

Agreed.

As your speed
> increases, you seem to be getting frightened. This should not happen. At
> higher speed, the bike should stabilize and become more like skiing.

I've never skied. 385 pound guys aren't terribly agile. And again, fear
of falling might be an element of it.

A more
> experienced cyclist riding behind you will recognize what is wrong, and that
> may be all it takes.

Again agreed. I'm going to go back to my initial plan and find someone
to work with me on this. Pardon the expression, but I'd rather not spin
my wheels and not get anywhere.

Date: 27 Dec 2006 16:25:00
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: Problems to work on for a beginner.

In article <1167262398.369777.176570@i12g2000cwa.googlegroups.com >,
"Claire" <cpetersky@yahoo.com > writes:
>
> Leo Lichtman wrote:
>> <frkrygow@gmail.com> wrote: (clip) I think you need some parking lot time.
>> (clip)
>> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>> Yes. Parking lot time.
>
> Another place to practice would be a cemetary. It'd be quiet and no one
> minds if you're moving slowly in a cemetary.

I've actually had road rage inflicted on me in Mountain View
Cemetery. One of our bike routes intersects it -- bikes are
allowed, but cars aren't. Once in a while a car driver will
take a notion to shortcut through the cemetery and find themselves
trapped in a bicycle-only facility, with no way out except the
way they came in (off 41st Ave). Then they get mad at cyclists
robbing them of their "right" to go where they want.

It kinda grieves me, because when I ride through there I
do so with a certain quiet respect & regard for the interns
(and the resident cemetery crows.) I certainly wouldn't
blast past them in a stoopid hotrod, or get irate because
somebody's in front of me.

So many drivers see any and all pavement as something
for their personal convenience. Put asphalt down, and
it becomes just another street to them.

cheers,
Tom
--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

Date: 27 Dec 2006 15:57:49
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: Problems to work on for a beginner.

In article <1167234931.331745.169290@79g2000cws.googlegroups.com >,
"The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com > writes:

> I tried riding today, only to be driven in my the cold. After ten
> minutes my fingers were numb, even with gloves.

Try layering your gloves with bigger gloves that'll fit over them.
That 3-M Thinsulate[tm] stuff works pretty good.

> Meanwhile, my problem areas, as far as I can tell, are:

....

You've already made better progress than any tyro
using training wheels (not that I've ever seen any
adult beginners using them.) I'm just exploiting
your experience to deprecate training wheels :-)
Training wheels hold people back from really getting
the "feel".

You're doing just fine. You're probably already addicted.

If you find yourself tightly gripping the handlebar,
I'd suggest concentrating on loosening up and just
resting your hands on it, just enough to have control
while maintaining access to the brakes & shifters.
You don't have to strangle the handlebar. And remember,
the handlebar isn't exactly like the steering wheel of
a car. A bicycle is steered a lot more by /leaning/, than
by forcing the front wheel around. The handlebar just
helps keep the front wheel from guiding the bicycle too
far out from underneath you while turning. At least,
that's how it's supposed to work, but there are exceedable
limits. Those are typically reached while bombing down on
curvy downhills, but you don't have to worry about that yet.

It doesn't hurt to relax your shoulders, too. I know,
I get all uptight at first when trying something new.
But the key to riding fluidly is to apply /only/ the
make-the-bike-go muscles to making the bike go. When
I want to relax my whole body, I do this self-styled,
pseudo-yogic thing of visualizing my solar plexus as
a sort of hub with radial cables that connect to my
limbs & organs, and focusing on relaxing those cables.
And breathe comfortably. Become part of the bike.
Or, rather, think of the bike/rider combination as
a unity.

Do all that, and remember to look at the line of
where you want your wheels to go instead of looking
at the things to avoid hitting, and the next thing
you know -- you've got finesse.

You'll know you're there when you're going somewhere,
and you suddenly realize & remember you're riding a
bicycle. Nothing beats that feeling.
Except maybe astral projection.

cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

Date: 27 Dec 2006 15:33:18
From: Claire
Subject: Re: Problems to work on for a beginner.

Leo Lichtman wrote:
> <frkrygow@gmail.com> wrote: (clip) I think you need some parking lot time.
> (clip)
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Yes. Parking lot time.

Another place to practice would be a cemetary. It'd be quiet and no one
minds if you're moving slowly in a cemetary.

Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org

Date: 27 Dec 2006 14:10:47
From: Art Harris
Subject: Re: Problems to work on for a beginner.

The Historian wrote:

> I tried riding today, only to be driven in my the cold. After ten
> minutes my fingers were numb, even with gloves. It's supposed to be a
> little warmer tomorrow, with less wind, so I'll try again then.
>
I find that if I'm comfortably warm at the start of a ride, I'm
over-dressed. I rode this morning under conditions probably similar to
yours (40F and a stiff breeze here on Long Island). My hands were a
little cold for the first couple of miles, but fine for the rest of the
ride. You generate heat as you ride, especially if you ride hard. The
whole clothing thing is a topic for another discussion. But for now,
just think "layers." No heavy/bulky coats. Keep yer feet warm with a
heavy pair of socks and maybe those chemically activated toe-warmers

> Meanwhile, my problem areas, as far as I can tell, are:
>
> 1. getting underway. I need to coordinate my downstroke on the left
> pedal with my pushoff with the other foot. Often I pedal down and the
> right foot doesn't make it to the pedal before I have rolled a couple
> feet, so that I am 'riding' with one foot sticking out. Am I doing
> something wrong or do I just need a lot of practice?
>
That first stroke should be enough to get you going _and_ boost you
into the saddle. If you're in too low or too high a gear, you either
won't get enough momemtum going or you'll find it hard to keep the
pedals turning.

> 2. Once I am underway, I need to better control the bike. Too often it
> seems the bike controls me. I can travel a couple of hundred feet, and
> then I need to stop because it feels as if the bike is taking over, so
> to speak - often because it's going too fast. Also, I wobble too much.
>
You should try for a cruising speed of at least 10 mph. Anything less
will make balancing and steering more difficult. I agree with others
that a quiet parking lot would be a good place to learn the basic
skills without worrying about traffic. Practice riding a straight line,
turning, braking, etc. I also have a hunch that your saddle may be way
to low. Can your feet touch the ground while in the saddle? If so, just
the toes or feet flat on the ground? Not to harp on this, but if I try
to ride a bike with a too low sadde, I have trouble starting off and
balancing.

Art Harris

Date: 27 Dec 2006 12:18:53
From: Claire
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

The Historian wrote:

> Any advice for avoiding mailboxes? The spill came about because I was
> trying to avoid one when I lost control of the bike. Perhaps I am
> riding too close to the shoulder?

Yes, this is probably your problem.

This is the way you need to think about things. You are King of the
Road. You rule over everything from the center line to the curb, or on
rural roads, past the fog line to where it is no longer paved.

Since you are a sovereign, you are gracious in the use of your
pavement. Noblesse oblige: you can allow other vehicles to pass you, by
riding on the shoulder, bike lane, or a bit over to the right on a wide
curb lane. However, because, indeed you own the entirety of the
pavement, you may also ride quite comfortably about where the right
wheel well is for the motor vehicles, or pass slower vehicles on their
left, or trip the loop sensor for the traffic light on the left hand
side of the lane, rather than the right. You will place your bike where
it makes the most sense for your personal safety first, your
convenience second, and then for the benefit of the other road users,
third.

Cowering in the gutter is beneath you. And in fact, the more you cower,
the more other vehicles will push you over. Claim your bit of road. It
may seem contradictory, but you will find less conflict with cars when
you're more properly placed. This is particularly true at intersections
-- if you're in the lane when you're crossing the street, you're much
less likely to get right-hooked or hit by a left-turning motorist. This
is because you're where the motorists are looking -- in the lane -- as
opposed to being in the crosswalk or gutter, where they're not.

As you gain confidence on your new steed, you will ride with the
nobility that is your natural right as a cyclist. You will no longer
joust with mailboxes. People who fail to bring their garbage cans in
from the curb will no longer be your foe. You will be out of the deadly
door zone. Instead, you will be riding with poise and self-assuredness.

Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org

Date: 27 Dec 2006 09:11:27
From:
Subject: Re: Problems to work on for a beginner.

The Historian wrote:
> DanKMTB@gmail.com wrote:
> > Anyway, welcome to the sport Neil. I'm sure if you keep with it you'll
> > be stable & loving it in no time.
>
> I tried riding today, only to be driven in my the cold. After ten
> minutes my fingers were numb, even with gloves. It's supposed to be a
> little warmer tomorrow, with less wind, so I'll try again then.
>
> Meanwhile, my problem areas, as far as I can tell, are:
>
> 1. getting underway. I need to coordinate my downstroke on the left
> pedal with my pushoff with the other foot. Often I pedal down and the
> right foot doesn't make it to the pedal before I have rolled a couple
> feet, so that I am 'riding' with one foot sticking out. Am I doing
> something wrong or do I just need a lot of practice?

I wonder if you're starting in too high a gear. If you're in a
sufficiently low gear, you won't need any "pushoff" from your other
foot.

There's some comment on this under
http://www.bicyclinglife.com/SafetySkills/FrankNFred005.htm

The best gear for most people is a sort of "medium" gear. That is,
about the middle of the 8 or 9 gears in back, and not the biggest
sprocket in front. For most people, it allows for an easy enough
start, but not so easy that you can't pick up enough speed to balance.

You might enjoy the entire Frank and Fred series at
http://www.bicyclinglife.com/SafetySkills/
and look around the rest of the site while your'e at it.

> 2. Once I am underway, I need to better control the bike. Too often it
> seems the bike controls me. I can travel a couple of hundred feet, and
> then I need to stop because it feels as if the bike is taking over, so
> to speak - often because it's going too fast. Also, I wobble too much.

I think you need some parking lot time. Go to a big empty parking lot
and spend an hour or two just swooping around, starting, stopping, etc.
Make a game of trying to ride on the parking stripes. (It's not easy
to ride a 4" paint stripe, but it's fun trying to do it.)

Try these as goals: Ride a 4" paint stripe at normal speed. Ride it
using only one hand. Look over your left shoulder while riding
straight. Do a "drag racing" start, seeing how fast you can cover 25
yards. Do some slaloms, zig-zagging around spots on the pavement.

Those are basic. Some advanced challenges come later.

> 3. My stopping isn't bad, but it is going to take some getting used to.
> In the case of the spill I took, I managed to avoid the mailbox and
> would have probably safely stopped on the shoulder, but there was a
> large gravel border around the mailbox, and that caused the bike to
> lose traction. When I was testing the bike in Bikesport's parking lot,
> Pete, one of the store staff, had to shout "brake" at me; now that I
> know I have them, I need to use them better.

Some of the advanced challenges is to learn not just normal braking,
but emergency braking; not just normal turns, but emergency "quick
turns." And dodging potholes that suddenly jump out in front of you.

These items (and much more) are covered in the Bike Ed classes
sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists. There may be an
instructor near you, and if so, you can contact him to find out about
the classes. See
http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/education/index.php
or, more specifically,
http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/education/course_schedule.php

Also see http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsts/usa/index.htm for lots of
good info.

> The idea of whooshing down a country road
> on two wheels thrills me.

It thrills me too. And I've been doing it for many decades!

- Frank Krygowski

Date: 27 Dec 2006 19:12:28
From: Leo Lichtman
Subject: Re: Problems to work on for a beginner.

<frkrygow@gmail.com > wrote: (clip) I think you need some parking lot time.
(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yes. Parking lot time. But, better than going it alone, take a friend on a
bike, to ride along with you and watch what you are doing. And, of course,
you watch him/her as well. It sounds to me like you may be making errors
that you can't describe to us, because you don't recognize them yourself.
Such as going too slow. At low speed, the steering corrections you need for
balance will be ungraceful, and they may scare you. As your speed
increases, you seem to be getting frightened. This should not happen. At
higher speed, the bike should stabilize and become more like skiing. A more
experienced cyclist riding behind you will recognize what is wrong, and that
may be all it takes.

Date: 27 Dec 2006 07:55:31
From: The Historian
Subject: Problems to work on for a beginner.

DanKMTB@gmail.com wrote:
> Anyway, welcome to the sport Neil. I'm sure if you keep with it you'll
> be stable & loving it in no time.

I tried riding today, only to be driven in my the cold. After ten
minutes my fingers were numb, even with gloves. It's supposed to be a
little warmer tomorrow, with less wind, so I'll try again then.

Meanwhile, my problem areas, as far as I can tell, are:

1. getting underway. I need to coordinate my downstroke on the left
pedal with my pushoff with the other foot. Often I pedal down and the
right foot doesn't make it to the pedal before I have rolled a couple
feet, so that I am 'riding' with one foot sticking out. Am I doing
something wrong or do I just need a lot of practice?

2. Once I am underway, I need to better control the bike. Too often it
seems the bike controls me. I can travel a couple of hundred feet, and
then I need to stop because it feels as if the bike is taking over, so
to speak - often because it's going too fast. Also, I wobble too much.

3. My stopping isn't bad, but it is going to take some getting used to.
In the case of the spill I took, I managed to avoid the mailbox and
would have probably safely stopped on the shoulder, but there was a
large gravel border around the mailbox, and that caused the bike to
lose traction. When I was testing the bike in Bikesport's parking lot,
Pete, one of the store staff, had to shout "brake" at me; now that I
know I have them, I need to use them better.

4. Experience, experience, experience!

Did Lance have these problems when he started? :-)

As for loving the sport, I am already investigating a club I can join
when I have more experience. The idea of whooshing down a country road
on two wheels thrills me. Perhaps I am going a little fast here,
imagining the day when I can ride with a club or in a race, but then
again, I had to imagine my losing 110 pounds before it could happen.

Thanks again,
Neil

Date: 30 Dec 2006 04:35:53
From: mark
Subject: Re: Problems to work on for a beginner.

The Historian wrote:

> I tried riding today, only to be driven in my the cold. After ten
> minutes my fingers were numb, even with gloves. It's supposed to be a
> little warmer tomorrow, with less wind, so I'll try again then.
>

Your extremities will always be warmer if you keep your head warm. If
you're a helmet wearer, a thin lycra skull cap on your head under your
helmet will help retain heat. There are also thin wool beanies
(Stwool, Rivendell, and probably others) that are a little thicker
than the lycra beanies but insulate much better. There are also lycra
balaclavas that will keep your head, neck and throat protected, making
you even warmer. A wool balaclava would be even warmer, if you can find
one that will fit under your helmet (if you wear a helmet). Bell makes a
rain cover to fit their "Metro" helmet, as well as plugs to fit the vent
holes and ear pieces to cover your ears in cold weather riding.

Mittens are inherently warmer than gloves, although the lack of manual
dexterity may make shifting and braking difficult, especially for a
novice rider. Glove liners (Thermax, Capilene, silk)are a relatively
cheap way to boost the warmth of any hand covering. Pearl Izumi offers
three fingered and two fingered cycling gloves that offer much of the
warmth of mittens and much of the manual dexterity of gloves.

Do you already know better than to wear cotton clothing (especially next
to the skin)in cold weather or should I explain why mountaineers call
cotton "the death fabric"?

k

Date: 27 Dec 2006 19:16:23
From: catzz66
Subject: Re: Problems to work on for a beginner.

Dealing with the cold: Try to ride out into the wind and back with the
wind. Your ride home will be your reward for the hard work riding out.
I use one layer of high tech clothing (upper body and lower body) with
the most important thing being keeping my torso out of the wind. Some
people here ride in more extreme low temps than I do. I usually have to
deal with the mid 20s several times during the winter but not much
colder than that. I have adapted running clothing for winter riding and
it has been adequate for my purposes.

Date: 27 Dec 2006 19:10:21
From: catzz66
Subject: Re: Problems to work on for a beginner.

Starting off: Different people do different things. I anchor one foot
and roll for a while before cranking up a regular pedal stroke. I
didn't really think about it. It is just something I started doing.
Try a few things. Something will work for you that'll feel natural.

Date: 28 Dec 2006 00:47:19
From: Werehatrack
Subject: Re: Problems to work on for a beginner.

On 27 Dec 2006 07:55:31 -0800, "The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com >
wrote:

>
>DanKMTB@gmail.com wrote:
>> Anyway, welcome to the sport Neil. I'm sure if you keep with it you'll
>> be stable & loving it in no time.
>
>I tried riding today, only to be driven in my the cold. After ten
>minutes my fingers were numb, even with gloves. It's supposed to be a
>little warmer tomorrow, with less wind, so I'll try again then.
>
>Meanwhile, my problem areas, as far as I can tell, are:
>
>1. getting underway. I need to coordinate my downstroke on the left
>pedal with my pushoff with the other foot. Often I pedal down and the
>right foot doesn't make it to the pedal before I have rolled a couple
>feet, so that I am 'riding' with one foot sticking out. Am I doing
>something wrong or do I just need a lot of practice?

Practice, Grasshopper. Style and grace will come with experience; for
now, strive merely for survival and adequacy. It takes more than just
an afternoon to master this for most people.

>2. Once I am underway, I need to better control the bike. Too often it
>seems the bike controls me. I can travel a couple of hundred feet, and
>then I need to stop because it feels as if the bike is taking over, so
>to speak - often because it's going too fast. Also, I wobble too much.

This, too, shall pass.

>3. My stopping isn't bad, but it is going to take some getting used to.
>In the case of the spill I took, I managed to avoid the mailbox and
>would have probably safely stopped on the shoulder, but there was a
>large gravel border around the mailbox, and that caused the bike to
>lose traction. When I was testing the bike in Bikesport's parking lot,
>Pete, one of the store staff, had to shout "brake" at me; now that I
>know I have them, I need to use them better.
>
>4. Experience, experience, experience!

Precisely.

>Did Lance have these problems when he started? :-)

He was much younger than you at that point. Wobbles in one of that
age go unnoticed.

>As for loving the sport, I am already investigating a club I can join
>when I have more experience. The idea of whooshing down a country road
>on two wheels thrills me. Perhaps I am going a little fast here,
>imagining the day when I can ride with a club or in a race, but then
>again, I had to imagine my losing 110 pounds before it could happen.

The ultimate reality may be some time in coming, but keep in mind that
it is not out of reach; as you gain experience and the stability that
comes with it, you will discover that your stamina will grow even
though the rest of the pounds have not yet departed. There are
several faces frequently seen on group rides around here who are
perched atop figures of the more-circular-than-linear persuasion; it
doesn't stop them from wearing lycra, and there's no reason that
having more improvement possible in the future should deter *you* from
pushing onward now. But push at the rate with which you are
comfortable plus just a bit to keep forward progress from stalling at
some small hurdle.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Date: 27 Dec 2006 05:49:38
From: DanKMTB@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

I find the SPD style of clips easier to get in & out of than toe
straps. If I'm coming to a stop and the bike is leaning over, or if
I'm falling, my reflex is to take my foot sideways away from the pedal
and to the ground on the low side of the bike. The SPD clips release
this way, making the transition easy & smooth. With toe straps I find
if they're tight enough to work well, I need to come back before going
sideways, and I need to be smooth. I can jerk out of my SPD's in a
split second if need be (though smooth is preferred).

It's all objective, but this has been my experience. I also only fell
once with them, and it was a matter of forgetting I was clicked in.
Everyone told me the first time I stopped I'd forget I was clicked and
tip over. Properly warned, I assured everyone I would not. The second
time I stopped, however, I tipped over. No harm, no foul. Hasn't
happened since.

Anyway, welcome to the sport Neil. I'm sure if you keep with it you'll
be stable & loving it in no time.

Date: 26 Dec 2006 20:59:28
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

In article <1167034013.592041.317640@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com >,
"ian.rosenberg@gmail.com" <ian.rosenberg@gmail.com > writes:
>
> Ernie Willson wrote:
>> The Historian wrote:
>> > My Trek and I went for a ride today. Other than practice in Bikesport's
>> > parking lot, this was my first real ride. It took me about ten minutes
>> > to get underway, and at first I could stay balanced for only a few feet
>> > at a time. The length of time I could spend underway grew, however, and
>> > by the end of my ride I could travel several hundred feet without
>> > stopping.
>> >
>> > I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
>> > pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
>> > circumstances. Add in his newness on a bike, hills on the route, and
>> > the high winds today and you are courting problems. And on the homeward
>> > leg, I ran into one. Or almost; I missed the mailbox, but in missing it
>> > I took a spill. Fortunately I was wearing jeans and lifting gloves, so
>> > I escaped with only a scraped and bruised left knee. I seem to be OK.
>> > The chain came off the bike in the spill, so I walked it home. It's
>> > fixed now, but I'm done with riding for today. :-)
>> >
>> > My total riding time was about an hour, including the time spent
>> > walking the bike back home. Total distance covered, excluding the
>> > walking, was about 1.5 miles.
>> >
>> > Neil
>> >
>> Congratulations! You've made a start. Keep at it and you'll be OK.
>>
>> I fell over on my first trip out because I couldn't get my feet out of
>> the toe straps when I stopped. Truly embarrassing.
>
> On my last road bike the bike shop refused to set me up with both toe
> straps on the grounds that I was too new to toe straps and too new to
> not having suicide lever brakes that I was likely to do something
> stupid like forget to take my foot off the pedal and fall down. I had
> to get used to the bike first and then I could have both toe straps.
>
> Two days later, with ONE toe strap I came to a stop at a traffic light,
> failed to put my foot down, and fell over.
>
> Embarrassing enough to fail to unclip, or to fail to get your feet out
> of the straps when you have two of them ,but when you only have one...
> sheesh...

Y'see, there're toe clips, and there are toe clips (and straps).
The MTB ones such as Zefal's are dead easy to extracate one's
foot from. They provide a good-enough attachment without
committing the rider to the whims of the Fates like an errant
space-walking astronaut whose tether has broken and he's floating
uncontrollably off into outer space. The Zephal straps and toothed
buckles have a certain amount of give to them. Even if you cinch
'em a little too tight, you can wriggle your foot loose enough,
while still maintaining a fair degree of attachment.

Then there are those inescapable track rider's combos of
old-style cleats, clips and double straps. Those are the
things to shun in traffic.

But there are different kinds of clips-&-straps.
Some good, some not so good, depending on what
you use 'em for.

cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

Date: 26 Dec 2006 20:19:09
From: The Historian
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

Roger Zoul wrote:

> > I've fallen off a total of 5 times (six
> >> times if you count my recent recumbent fall)
> >
> > Over how long a period of time?
>
> Hmm...let's see. I started riding again at age 45 in October 2003. I
> didn't go clipless until end of ch 2004. So three falls happened on my
> first real road ride. The 4th was at a stop light in traffic...I tried to
> put my right foot on the curb as I got in position...but it was still
> partially clipped in...people in cars laughed at me...that has to be a few
> months after going clipless. the 5th was right after Thanksgivings in
> 2004....the week before my first formal century ride. So, about 9 or 10
> months is the span of the falls.

Good, so my next fall won't be for a while. Or at least until tomorrow.
:-)

Date: 26 Dec 2006 16:07:26
From: Stephen Harding
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

The Historian wrote:

> My total riding time was about an hour, including the time spent
> walking the bike back home. Total distance covered, excluding the
> walking, was about 1.5 miles.

So average speed was about 1.5 mph.

Hey, you can only improve!

SMH

Date: 25 Dec 2006 10:07:38
From: The Historian
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

Roger Zoul wrote:
> "The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1167057149.589608.48460@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> >
> > Paul Turner wrote:
> >> landotter wrote:
> >>
> >> > The Historian wrote:
> >>
> >> > > I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
> >> > > pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
> >> > > circumstances.
> >> >
> >> > Nonsense, I see big guys on hybrids on my local bike trail all the
> >> > time, zooming along. Ya just need to get your "sea legs" is all.
> >>
> >> Absolutely right. Experience matters, not weight. There was a time when
> >> I weighed way more than 275, and it didn't affect my ability to stay
> >> upright. I would expect the OP to feel perfectly comfortable on his
> >> bike in two or three weeks if he keeps at it.
> >
> > Thanks. I wondered about the learning curve for a beginning bicyclist.
> > I'd like to go out again today, but it's cold and wet outside. Plus my
> > knee is swollen and bruised from the fall yesterday. Unfortunately,
> > winters in SE PA aren't known for good biking weather, so I may get few
> > chances to practice before spring.
> >
>
> I'm sorry that you got so hurt.

I'm lucky I didn't hit the mailbox. As it is, I'm bruised, swollen a
little, and stiff, but OK.

I've fallen off a total of 5 times (six
> times if you count my recent recumbent fall)

Over how long a period of time?

...the first 4 times had to do
> with not getting clipped out properly when coming to a stop (the first 3 of
> those happened on my first road ride after going clipless). The 5 time I
> went down I was crossing some railroad tracks. I was riding a loop, trying
> to build up miles in prep for a century the next week. On about the 10th
> time around, I guess I lost attention while crossing the tracks. I let my
> front wheel get in the track by not making sure I was crossing at a right
> angle. I went down at about 12 to 14 mph. I throw the bike over me, scraped
> my helmet on the pavement, tore my brand new tights, put a hole on the upper
> right shoulder (the top part) of my new cycling jacket, and scratched up and
> bent my left shifter/brake lever out of place. I also busted up a tail
> light, too. Fortunately, I just had one sore spot on the top of my right
> shoulder and a bit of road rash on my leg.

Aside from the damage to your bike and gear, you sound fortunate to get
off so easily. I'm glad I was wearing jeans when I fell.

I was more embarrassed than
> anything, but I could not see anyone else in sight.
>
> While I would not wish this upon anyone, there was a certain excitement in
> going down.

As strange as it sounds, I feel better for falling. I've fallen and
survived. Now I can concentrate on riding.

I think mainly because I remember it in slow motion and I didn't
> get hurt. I did complete my first organized century the next Saturday.

Date: 26 Dec 2006 20:23:08
From: Roger Zoul
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

"The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1167070058.441101.281570@h40g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
> Roger Zoul wrote:
>> "The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:1167057149.589608.48460@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>> >
>> > Paul Turner wrote:
>> >> landotter wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > The Historian wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > > I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A
>> >> > > 275
>> >> > > pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
>> >> > > circumstances.
>> >> >
>> >> > Nonsense, I see big guys on hybrids on my local bike trail all the
>> >> > time, zooming along. Ya just need to get your "sea legs" is all.
>> >>
>> >> Absolutely right. Experience matters, not weight. There was a time
>> >> when
>> >> I weighed way more than 275, and it didn't affect my ability to stay
>> >> upright. I would expect the OP to feel perfectly comfortable on his
>> >> bike in two or three weeks if he keeps at it.
>> >
>> > Thanks. I wondered about the learning curve for a beginning bicyclist.
>> > I'd like to go out again today, but it's cold and wet outside. Plus my
>> > knee is swollen and bruised from the fall yesterday. Unfortunately,
>> > winters in SE PA aren't known for good biking weather, so I may get few
>> > chances to practice before spring.
>> >
>>
>> I'm sorry that you got so hurt.
>
> I'm lucky I didn't hit the mailbox. As it is, I'm bruised, swollen a
> little, and stiff, but OK.
>
> I've fallen off a total of 5 times (six
>> times if you count my recent recumbent fall)
>
> Over how long a period of time?

Hmm...let's see. I started riding again at age 45 in October 2003. I
didn't go clipless until end of ch 2004. So three falls happened on my
first real road ride. The 4th was at a stop light in traffic...I tried to
put my right foot on the curb as I got in position...but it was still
partially clipped in...people in cars laughed at me...that has to be a few
months after going clipless. the 5th was right after Thanksgivings in
2004....the week before my first formal century ride. So, about 9 or 10
months is the span of the falls.

>
> ...the first 4 times had to do
>> with not getting clipped out properly when coming to a stop (the first 3
>> of
>> those happened on my first road ride after going clipless). The 5 time I
>> went down I was crossing some railroad tracks. I was riding a loop,
>> trying
>> to build up miles in prep for a century the next week. On about the 10th
>> time around, I guess I lost attention while crossing the tracks. I let
>> my
>> front wheel get in the track by not making sure I was crossing at a right
>> angle. I went down at about 12 to 14 mph. I throw the bike over me,
>> scraped
>> my helmet on the pavement, tore my brand new tights, put a hole on the
>> upper
>> right shoulder (the top part) of my new cycling jacket, and scratched up
>> and
>> bent my left shifter/brake lever out of place. I also busted up a tail
>> light, too. Fortunately, I just had one sore spot on the top of my right
>> shoulder and a bit of road rash on my leg.
>
> Aside from the damage to your bike and gear, you sound fortunate to get
> off so easily. I'm glad I was wearing jeans when I fell.

I was wearing lycra cycling gear and gloves....always wear gloves...in case
no one else mentioned that. They are most important for zero-mph falling.

>
> I was more embarrassed than
>> anything, but I could not see anyone else in sight.
>>
>> While I would not wish this upon anyone, there was a certain excitement
>> in
>> going down.
>
> As strange as it sounds, I feel better for falling. I've fallen and
> survived. Now I can concentrate on riding.
>
> I think mainly because I remember it in slow motion and I didn't
>> get hurt. I did complete my first organized century the next Saturday.
>

Date: 25 Dec 2006 10:34:53
From: Jack Murphy
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

Congratulations!

Some in this group may disagree, but a great confidence booster is a helmet
and rear view mirror.

The mirror especially helps, since you can relax more when you see how wide
a berth most cars give you. When you hear a car coming up but aren't sure
where they are you may tend to veer in towards the curb to keep out of their
way - with a mirror you'll see that they see you fine and are already way
out in the other lane to pass you. Or that they are bearing down straight on
you -- either bit of information is useful when riding.

When you get to the bike paths, the mirror will help you to avoid all the
joggers, frisbees, skaters, walkers, dogs, etc that populate most paths,
you'll get good at glancing back and knowing you can move to the side to
pass or avoid them.

Slow and steady, you'll build miles over the months until you're riding what
now seems like an impossible distance (20 miles? Impossible! 50, 75, century
ride... all are possible eventually)

jm

"The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1166988308.200720.223660@42g2000cwt.googlegroups.com...
> My Trek and I went for a ride today. Other than practice in Bikesport's
> parking lot, this was my first real ride. It took me about ten minutes
> to get underway, and at first I could stay balanced for only a few feet
> at a time. The length of time I could spend underway grew, however, and
> by the end of my ride I could travel several hundred feet without
> stopping.
>
> I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
> pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
> circumstances. Add in his newness on a bike, hills on the route, and
> the high winds today and you are courting problems. And on the homeward
> leg, I ran into one. Or almost; I missed the mailbox, but in missing it
> I took a spill. Fortunately I was wearing jeans and lifting gloves, so
> I escaped with only a scraped and bruised left knee. I seem to be OK.
> The chain came off the bike in the spill, so I walked it home. It's
> fixed now, but I'm done with riding for today. :-)
>
> My total riding time was about an hour, including the time spent
> walking the bike back home. Total distance covered, excluding the
> walking, was about 1.5 miles.
>
> Neil
>

Date: 25 Dec 2006 10:48:06
From: Roger Zoul
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

Good job. Keep at it and you'll improve.

I want to say, though, that your weight, age and time off bike don't really
factor into the issues you mention regarding stability, etc. Perhaps you
just have an issue with balance, which you'd probably have even if you were
normal weight. Even hills are undoable for heavier riders, even though they
are more of a challenge than if you were normal weight. Moving slowly on
any bike is going to lead to instability, since as you approach zero mph you
get closer and closer to falling over. Keeping your speed up (not
necessarily fast) will help you remain stable. Don't be afraid to keep a
little speed, as that typically makes things on a bike work better (I'm
talking about > 3-5 mphs).

Since you're riding, why not just find a huge parking lot to ride in....with
few things to run into, you can zero in on your feel for the bike...

"The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1166988308.200720.223660@42g2000cwt.googlegroups.com...
> My Trek and I went for a ride today. Other than practice in Bikesport's
> parking lot, this was my first real ride. It took me about ten minutes
> to get underway, and at first I could stay balanced for only a few feet
> at a time. The length of time I could spend underway grew, however, and
> by the end of my ride I could travel several hundred feet without
> stopping.
>
> I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
> pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
> circumstances. Add in his newness on a bike, hills on the route, and
> the high winds today and you are courting problems. And on the homeward
> leg, I ran into one. Or almost; I missed the mailbox, but in missing it
> I took a spill. Fortunately I was wearing jeans and lifting gloves, so
> I escaped with only a scraped and bruised left knee. I seem to be OK.
> The chain came off the bike in the spill, so I walked it home. It's
> fixed now, but I'm done with riding for today. :-)
>
> My total riding time was about an hour, including the time spent
> walking the bike back home. Total distance covered, excluding the
> walking, was about 1.5 miles.
>
> Neil
>

Date: 25 Dec 2006 07:02:40
From: The Historian
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

Mike A Schwab wrote:
> http://bmob-bwob.tripod.com/ Big Men / Girls On Bikes Cycling Club was
> created by http://bikejournal.com member mrprudhom for riders with
> similar problems.

Thanks for the tip, Mike!

Date: 25 Dec 2006 06:32:29
From: The Historian
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

Paul Turner wrote:
> landotter wrote:
>
> > The Historian wrote:
>
> > > I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
> > > pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
> > > circumstances.
> >
> > Nonsense, I see big guys on hybrids on my local bike trail all the
> > time, zooming along. Ya just need to get your "sea legs" is all.
>
> Absolutely right. Experience matters, not weight. There was a time when
> I weighed way more than 275, and it didn't affect my ability to stay
> upright. I would expect the OP to feel perfectly comfortable on his
> bike in two or three weeks if he keeps at it.

Thanks. I wondered about the learning curve for a beginning bicyclist.
I'd like to go out again today, but it's cold and wet outside. Plus my
knee is swollen and bruised from the fall yesterday. Unfortunately,
winters in SE PA aren't known for good biking weather, so I may get few
chances to practice before spring.

Date: 25 Dec 2006 11:41:53
From: Roger Zoul
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

"The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1167057149.589608.48460@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
> Paul Turner wrote:
>> landotter wrote:
>>
>> > The Historian wrote:
>>
>> > > I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
>> > > pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
>> > > circumstances.
>> >
>> > Nonsense, I see big guys on hybrids on my local bike trail all the
>> > time, zooming along. Ya just need to get your "sea legs" is all.
>>
>> Absolutely right. Experience matters, not weight. There was a time when
>> I weighed way more than 275, and it didn't affect my ability to stay
>> upright. I would expect the OP to feel perfectly comfortable on his
>> bike in two or three weeks if he keeps at it.
>
> Thanks. I wondered about the learning curve for a beginning bicyclist.
> I'd like to go out again today, but it's cold and wet outside. Plus my
> knee is swollen and bruised from the fall yesterday. Unfortunately,
> winters in SE PA aren't known for good biking weather, so I may get few
> chances to practice before spring.
>

I'm sorry that you got so hurt. I've fallen off a total of 5 times (six
times if you count my recent recumbent fall)...the first 4 times had to do
with not getting clipped out properly when coming to a stop (the first 3 of
those happened on my first road ride after going clipless). The 5 time I
went down I was crossing some railroad tracks. I was riding a loop, trying
to build up miles in prep for a century the next week. On about the 10th
time around, I guess I lost attention while crossing the tracks. I let my
front wheel get in the track by not making sure I was crossing at a right
angle. I went down at about 12 to 14 mph. I throw the bike over me, scraped
my helmet on the pavement, tore my brand new tights, put a hole on the upper
right shoulder (the top part) of my new cycling jacket, and scratched up and
bent my left shifter/brake lever out of place. I also busted up a tail
light, too. Fortunately, I just had one sore spot on the top of my right
shoulder and a bit of road rash on my leg. I was more embarrassed than
anything, but I could not see anyone else in sight.

While I would not wish this upon anyone, there was a certain excitement in
going down. I think mainly because I remember it in slow motion and I didn't
get hurt. I did complete my first organized century the next Saturday.

Date: 25 Dec 2006 06:21:49
From: The Historian
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

Ernie Willson wrote:
> The Historian wrote:
> > My Trek and I went for a ride today. Other than practice in Bikesport's
> > parking lot, this was my first real ride. It took me about ten minutes
> > to get underway, and at first I could stay balanced for only a few feet
> > at a time. The length of time I could spend underway grew, however, and
> > by the end of my ride I could travel several hundred feet without
> > stopping.
> >
> > I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
> > pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
> > circumstances. Add in his newness on a bike, hills on the route, and
> > the high winds today and you are courting problems. And on the homeward
> > leg, I ran into one. Or almost; I missed the mailbox, but in missing it
> > I took a spill. Fortunately I was wearing jeans and lifting gloves, so
> > I escaped with only a scraped and bruised left knee. I seem to be OK.
> > The chain came off the bike in the spill, so I walked it home. It's
> > fixed now, but I'm done with riding for today. :-)
> >
> > My total riding time was about an hour, including the time spent
> > walking the bike back home. Total distance covered, excluding the
> > walking, was about 1.5 miles.
> >
> > Neil
> >
> Congratulations! You've made a start. Keep at it and you'll be OK.
>
> I fell over on my first trip out because I couldn't get my feet out of
> the toe straps when I stopped. Truly embarrassing.

Sorry to hear that. I have flat pedals for just that reason.

Date: 25 Dec 2006 06:07:21
From: Art Harris
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

Date: 25 Dec 2006 00:06:53
From: marian.rosenberg@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

Ernie Willson wrote:
> The Historian wrote:
> > My Trek and I went for a ride today. Other than practice in Bikesport's
> > parking lot, this was my first real ride. It took me about ten minutes
> > to get underway, and at first I could stay balanced for only a few feet
> > at a time. The length of time I could spend underway grew, however, and
> > by the end of my ride I could travel several hundred feet without
> > stopping.
> >
> > I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
> > pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
> > circumstances. Add in his newness on a bike, hills on the route, and
> > the high winds today and you are courting problems. And on the homeward
> > leg, I ran into one. Or almost; I missed the mailbox, but in missing it
> > I took a spill. Fortunately I was wearing jeans and lifting gloves, so
> > I escaped with only a scraped and bruised left knee. I seem to be OK.
> > The chain came off the bike in the spill, so I walked it home. It's
> > fixed now, but I'm done with riding for today. :-)
> >
> > My total riding time was about an hour, including the time spent
> > walking the bike back home. Total distance covered, excluding the
> > walking, was about 1.5 miles.
> >
> > Neil
> >
> Congratulations! You've made a start. Keep at it and you'll be OK.
>
> I fell over on my first trip out because I couldn't get my feet out of
> the toe straps when I stopped. Truly embarrassing.

On my last road bike the bike shop refused to set me up with both toe
straps on the grounds that I was too new to toe straps and too new to
not having suicide lever brakes that I was likely to do something
stupid like forget to take my foot off the pedal and fall down. I had
to get used to the bike first and then I could have both toe straps.

Two days later, with ONE toe strap I came to a stop at a traffic light,
failed to put my foot down, and fell over.

Embarrassing enough to fail to unclip, or to fail to get your feet out
of the straps when you have two of them ,but when you only have one...
sheesh...

-M

Date: 24 Dec 2006 20:23:43
From: Paul Turner
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

landotter wrote:

> The Historian wrote:

> > I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
> > pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
> > circumstances.
>
> Nonsense, I see big guys on hybrids on my local bike trail all the
> time, zooming along. Ya just need to get your "sea legs" is all.

Absolutely right. Experience matters, not weight. There was a time when
I weighed way more than 275, and it didn't affect my ability to stay
upright. I would expect the OP to feel perfectly comfortable on his
bike in two or three weeks if he keeps at it.

--
Paul Turner

Date: 24 Dec 2006 20:04:03
From: Mike A Schwab
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

http://bmob-bwob.tripod.com/ Big Men / Girls On Bikes Cycling Club was
created by http://bikejournal.com member mrprudhom for riders with
similar problems.

The Historian wrote:
> My Trek and I went for a ride today. Other than practice in Bikesport's
> parking lot, this was my first real ride. It took me about ten minutes
> to get underway, and at first I could stay balanced for only a few feet
> at a time. The length of time I could spend underway grew, however, and
> by the end of my ride I could travel several hundred feet without
> stopping.
>
> I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
> pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
> circumstances. Add in his newness on a bike, hills on the route, and
> the high winds today and you are courting problems. And on the homeward
> leg, I ran into one. Or almost; I missed the mailbox, but in missing it
> I took a spill. Fortunately I was wearing jeans and lifting gloves, so
> I escaped with only a scraped and bruised left knee. I seem to be OK.
> The chain came off the bike in the spill, so I walked it home. It's
> fixed now, but I'm done with riding for today. :-)
>
> My total riding time was about an hour, including the time spent
> walking the bike back home. Total distance covered, excluding the
> walking, was about 1.5 miles.
>
> Neil

Date: 24 Dec 2006 18:15:23
From: The Historian
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

rms wrote:
> > That is probably the source of my problem. I am so afraid of falling in
> > the street that I was keeping too close to the side of the road.
>
> Jebus, man. Get off the road and onto a paved biketrail. You will have
> so much more fun if you're not worrying about the damn motor vehicles. Call
> up the city, they'll have biketrail maps.

I live in the country. Cars are few and far between. And I haven't
purchased a rack for the bike yet. It's a pain to squeeze it into the
back of the Neilmobile to cart it around. When I have a rack I'm on the
way to the bike trail.

Date: 24 Dec 2006 13:51:16
From: The Historian
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

landotter wrote:
> The Historian wrote:
>
> >
> > Any advice for avoiding mailboxes? The spill came about because I was
> > trying to avoid one when I lost control of the bike. Perhaps I am
> > riding too close to the shoulder?
>
> LOL, I've never been one to have problems with mail boxes. It could be
> "crow syndrome" and you're secretly drawn to the mailbox.

I hope not.

Bikes are
> just like motorcycles, that in a sense, you just need to look where ya
> want to go and your body will point the bike there.

That is probably the source of my problem. I am so afraid of falling in
the street that I was keeping too close to the side of the road. As a
result, I noticed I was very close to the large mailbox, and so steered
towards it. I swerved, missed the box, but spilled instead.

I see this a lot
> with younger kids on my local trails, they'll be headed towards me
> riding great with their parents, then catch eye of me in my cycling get
> up and by staring at me, they'll end up riding right into my path. I
> don't wear anything flamboyant to get their attention, honest.

Pity. One reason I am taking up biking is to stand out. The jersey I
ordered from Nashbar is probably visible from space.

> Anyway, if you're getting intimate with mailboxes, but the street's not
> busy, by all means ride in the lane. I'd say ride where your right
> wheel would be with a car. Act like the vehicle that you are, powered
> or not, and you might feel the confidence affect your balance a bit.

Thanks. Confidence is something I lack.

Date: 31 Dec 2006 11:01:33
From: Zoot Katz
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

On 24 Dec 2006 13:51:16 -0800, "The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com >
wrote:

>>you might feel the confidence affect your balance a bit.
>
>Thanks. Confidence is something I lack.

That's why bicycing is so great. It boosts your confidence by
teaching self-reliance. That attitude affects all areas of your life
and that's why bicycling still gets branded as "radical"

Riding a bicycle is one of the most difficult things we ever learn to
do. That's why we don't forget how to do it.

One of the hardest lessons to learn is to get up and get back on the
bike. That is a life lesson.

You're over that hump.

Congratulations.
--
zk

Date: 25 Dec 2006 01:52:42
From: rms
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

> That is probably the source of my problem. I am so afraid of falling in
> the street that I was keeping too close to the side of the road.

Jebus, man. Get off the road and onto a paved biketrail. You will have
so much more fun if you're not worrying about the damn motor vehicles. Call
up the city, they'll have biketrail maps.

rms

Date: 24 Dec 2006 16:29:42
From: Ernie Willson
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

The Historian wrote:
> My Trek and I went for a ride today. Other than practice in Bikesport's
> parking lot, this was my first real ride. It took me about ten minutes
> to get underway, and at first I could stay balanced for only a few feet
> at a time. The length of time I could spend underway grew, however, and
> by the end of my ride I could travel several hundred feet without
> stopping.
>
> I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
> pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
> circumstances. Add in his newness on a bike, hills on the route, and
> the high winds today and you are courting problems. And on the homeward
> leg, I ran into one. Or almost; I missed the mailbox, but in missing it
> I took a spill. Fortunately I was wearing jeans and lifting gloves, so
> I escaped with only a scraped and bruised left knee. I seem to be OK.
> The chain came off the bike in the spill, so I walked it home. It's
> fixed now, but I'm done with riding for today. :-)
>
> My total riding time was about an hour, including the time spent
> walking the bike back home. Total distance covered, excluding the
> walking, was about 1.5 miles.
>
> Neil
>
Congratulations! You've made a start. Keep at it and you'll be OK.

I fell over on my first trip out because I couldn't get my feet out of
the toe straps when I stopped. Truly embarrassing.

EJ in NJ

Date: 24 Dec 2006 13:28:46
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

The Historian wrote:

>
> Any advice for avoiding mailboxes? The spill came about because I was
> trying to avoid one when I lost control of the bike. Perhaps I am
> riding too close to the shoulder?

LOL, I've never been one to have problems with mail boxes. I could be
"crow syndrome" and you're secretly drawn to the mailbox. Bikes are
just like motorcycles, that in a sense, you just need to look where ya
want to go and your body will point the bike there. I see this a lot
with younger kids on my local trails, they'll be headed towards me
riding great with their parents, then catch eye of me in my cycling get
up and by staring at me, they'll end up riding right into my path. I
don't wear anything flamboyant to get their attention, honest.

Anyway, if you're getting intimate with mailboxes, but the street's not
busy, by all means ride in the lane. I'd say ride where your right
wheel would be with a car. Act like the vehicle that you are, powered
or not, and you might feel the confidence affect your balance a bit.

Date: 24 Dec 2006 13:14:52
From: The Historian
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

landotter wrote:
> The Historian wrote:
> > My Trek and I went for a ride today. Other than practice in Bikesport's
> > parking lot, this was my first real ride. It took me about ten minutes
> > to get underway, and at first I could stay balanced for only a few feet
> > at a time. The length of time I could spend underway grew, however, and
> > by the end of my ride I could travel several hundred feet without
> > stopping.
> >
> > I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
> > pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
> > circumstances.
> > Neil
>
> Nonsense, I see big guys on hybrids on my local bike trail all the
> time, zooming along. Ya just need to get your "sea legs" is all. If
> forget if you mentioned when you last rode, but if it's been years and
> years,

31. And I wasn't very good at it then. If I had been, I would have kept
up with it.

then you have to relearn a bit. I got my mother bike on a bike
> last year, and she was pretty wobbly at first, and she's a svelte 135#.
>
> Relax, you'll get the hang of it. Best part is that you're riding on
> top of two big gyroscopes. :-P
>
> Good luck!

Any advice for avoiding mailboxes? The spill came about because I was
trying to avoid one when I lost control of the bike. Perhaps I am
riding too close to the shoulder?

Date: 25 Dec 2006 00:41:48
From: Leo Lichtman
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

"The Historian" wrote: Any advice for avoiding mailboxes? The spill came
about because I was
> trying to avoid one when I lost control of the bike. Perhaps I am riding
> too close to the shoulder?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I am sure you could easily walk the full length of a 2x6 that's lying on the
ground, but try to do this on one that is resting on two saw horses.
Nervousness makes a huge difference. I suggest you find an empty parking
lot, where you can ride without worrying about mailboxes, curbs or other
people. Just ride. You will get so the bike becomes a part of you, and it
will be just like walking. Set up little challenges for yourself, like a
couple of cardboard boxes to ride between. You will soon be able to ride in
traffic and everything--that's when you are in danger of becoming over
confident, so be careful.
>

Date: 24 Dec 2006 13:01:57
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

The Historian wrote:
> My Trek and I went for a ride today. Other than practice in Bikesport's
> parking lot, this was my first real ride. It took me about ten minutes
> to get underway, and at first I could stay balanced for only a few feet
> at a time. The length of time I could spend underway grew, however, and
> by the end of my ride I could travel several hundred feet without
> stopping.
>
> I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
> pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
> circumstances.
> Neil

Nonsense, I see big guys on hybrids on my local bike trail all the
time, zooming along. Ya just need to get your "sea legs" is all. If
forget if you mentioned when you last rode, but if it's been years and
years, then you have to relearn a bit. I got my mother bike on a bike
last year, and she was pretty wobbly at first, and she's a svelte 135#.

Relax, you'll get the hang of it. Best part is that you're riding on
top of two big gyroscopes. :-P

Good luck!

Date: 24 Dec 2006 12:45:00
From: The Historian
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

Ted wrote:
> Good job; keep it up Neil! I hope you have fun.
> Ted.

I will, as long as I continue to miss hitting mailboxes. That was a
close one today!

Date: 24 Dec 2006 20:40:17
From: Justa Lurker
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

The Historian wrote:
> My Trek and I went for a ride today. Other than practice in Bikesport's
> parking lot, this was my first real ride. It took me about ten minutes
> to get underway, and at first I could stay balanced for only a few feet
> at a time. The length of time I could spend underway grew, however, and
> by the end of my ride I could travel several hundred feet without
> stopping.
>
> I'm still far from saying I'm in control of my bike, however. A 275
> pound guy isn't going to be very stable under the best of
> circumstances. Add in his newness on a bike, hills on the route, and
> the high winds today and you are courting problems. And on the homeward
> leg, I ran into one. Or almost; I missed the mailbox, but in missing it
> I took a spill. Fortunately I was wearing jeans and lifting gloves, so
> I escaped with only a scraped and bruised left knee. I seem to be OK.
> The chain came off the bike in the spill, so I walked it home. It's
> fixed now, but I'm done with riding for today. :-)
>
> My total riding time was about an hour, including the time spent
> walking the bike back home. Total distance covered, excluding the
> walking, was about 1.5 miles.
>
> Neil
>

Good for you !! May you have many, many more miles of riding enjoyment
in the year(s) ahead.

Stick with it, and a Merry Christmas / Happy New Year :-)

Date: 24 Dec 2006 12:38:52
From: Ted
Subject: Re: Bloodied but Unbowed - My first bike ride!

Good job; keep it up Neil! I hope you have fun.
Ted.