LakeWashington

I nevervously took the plunge and bought myself bicycle for Christmas. I haven't ridden a bike in years but I need the exercise and a new hobby to get out of the house. Most of the websites on cycling seem to be for hard core racers or mountain bikers, not a casual rider like myself. Can anyone provide links and advice for an early middle-aged someone whom...

1) didn't spend a car downpayment on a bike
2) won't be racing with any Frenchmen or Italians or Spaniards in the Pyrenees
3) off-road intentions include only the local minimally forested municipal park
4) won't wear spandex bike pants or shirts.

See you on the road.

emeraldkity4

I don't ride around my neighborhood, except in the summer- I am hardly hard core.
My daughters roommate last year ( and his dad) regularly do the Seattle to Portland-
She doesn't own a car- and uses public transportation and her bike to get around generally- but she is also not a spandex wearer.

Are you just thinking of using it around town for fun and errands?
Where you ride makes a big difference- my daughter feels that in Portland for instance, both drivers and bicyclists are much more aware of each other.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/...&entry_id=8817
In Seattle, many bicylists are very law abiding, although I really wonder about the ones who don't have any reflectiveclothing/lights/helmets, and fail to pay attention to lights/signals.
I don't really think much of Seattle is that safe- I worry about getting hit in my car by someone running a red light, let alone getting hit on a bike.
Yes they are expanding the Burke-Gilman and that is very cool- but still I don't think in our area, bikes and cars co-exist very well.
But good for you-
http://www.amazon.com/How-Live-Well-...e=UTF8&s=books
I got this for my D- it has some common sense things about not owning a car- which apply to bicylists

ophiolite

I really like the bike I bought over the summer. You may want to look into what they call hybrids (half mountain/half racing). They have wider tires than the racing cycles, but thin enough to make it easier to ride on the pavement than mountain bikes.

The one I got was from a fairly new brand called Iron Horse. I've been pleased with it despite its short history. I think I got it on sale for ~$350. I also really liked the Trek one I tried out, but I opted for a female bike that ended up cheaper than the Trek.

I would suggest you go to your local bike specialty shop and try a few out for a ride (most places will let you try before you buy) and see what you like and what you don't like.

StickerShock

http://www.nashbar.com/index.cfm

Spandex is not for everyone. Unless you look like Lance Armstrong. You should still get bike shorts (they have baggy styles) with padding or chamois lining. Very comfortable.

Learn how to replace your tubes & carry a spare with you.

mommusic

I've thought about getting a bike, but didn't feel in shape for it (muscle-wise, not looks-wise--I still weigh what I weighed in college!*) Plus traffic around here is not bike-friendly and we would have to load the bikes in a car just to go somewhere to ride. So we just got a recumbent exercise bike which DH and I use as well as son who runs cross country--it's great for cross training and for those days it's too cold/rainy to run.

It has been the best thing for my knees which were complaining about the passing of time, or something. Strengthens the muscles around them.

So yeah, I would recommend biking in any form you find convenient!

*not that I *care* how I look on a bike

NJres

So what kind of bike did you get? I have 2 bikes. 1 is a 30 yr old 12 speed that I use for rides into town - has a lock and a rack on the back with bungie cords and a pouch in front. The other is a road bike with clipless pedals and handlebar shifters that I ride when I put on my spandex and gloves and helmet.

MomofWildChild

My husband is a serious cyclist and I am a former triathlete. Do not even leave the garage without a helmet. If you are looking for exercise value, it takes about 4 miles of biking to equate to 1 mile of running. You are going to have to push fairly hard to get your heartrate up.
Another tip (and something many cyclists get wrong)- You should not be pushing hard on the pedals. You should be pedaling at a faster cadence with less resistance than one tends to do initially. Higher gears put more resistance on the pedals.

digmedia

LakeWashington...

If, as the name implies, you are close to Lake Washington in Seattle, try the trails in St. Edward State Park, right on the lake. Not hard core at all, and beautiful.

mattmom

Make sure you wear a helmet. Don't worry about how you look as far as your clothes and shoes go--be safe and comfortable. I hate wearing my helmet but I do anyway, even though I am of the generation that grew up loving to ride with the wind blowing our hair out behind us and never heard of bike helmets until we were thoroughly grown up.

For ideas about good rides, look at books in the regional travel section of your local mega-bookstore--you are likely to find several appealing paperback books that suggest routes at a variety of levels of difficulty in your state or region (depending on where you live). The drawback is traffic--country roads are lovely to ride on except they often have narrow shoulders if any at all, and dealing with cars takes away some of the enoyment. If you are lucky enough to live near any purpose-built bike paths, rails-to-trails conversions, or old canal paths, you have a ready made place to ennoy your bike without auto traffic, although rollerbladers, dogs on long leashes, and little children learnign to ride without training wheels may be hazards in their own right.

If and when you want to be more adventurous, the domestic and international bike trips run by several companies (I've used one based in Bristol, Vermont) also offer a great though rather expensive way to tour by bike without having to worry about carrying your own luggage or make your own reservations.

Keep in mind too that drivers aren't necessarily out to get you, and that you are responsible for your own safety juat as drivers are responsibel for being courteous and considerate (but often are not). As someone who has ridden on narrow roads and tried to stay out of cars' way without skidding on a gravel shoulder and also been disconcerted when I am driving and have to pass bikers taking up lane space on similar roads, I see the problem from both sides.

massmom

Look for some local bike trails. A number of old railways have been redone as bike paths. Try the "rails to trails" association. You should be able to search on a town or zip code to find local trails. There are few good ones in the Boston area, where I live. That would be a good place to start. No traffic.

-Allmusic-

Hubby rode 30 odd miles on the Burke-Gilman when we were in Seattle last summer. He thought it no more congested or dangerous than our bike paths here in Boston (which, really, are full of a lot of hot-dog riders).

I am not as serious a cyclist, but rode 3-4 times a week all summer, about 10 miles or so, each trip. I have an upright handlebar bike which doesn't make me have to lean over and break my back, I wear no spandex at all but a bike helmet is a must.

Have fun! I had such a good time this summer!

parent2noles

As someone who has tried mountain biking several times on a so-called 'technical' trail, I urge you to buy appropriate riding shorts. They might have fabric like spandex on the inside, but something more appropriate on the outside. Your backside will greatly appreciate the lack of chafing and bruising.

It's really a lot of fun. Don't be afraid if you fall off ...just get back on.

Remember to *stay hydrated* (beer doesn't qualify ) and carry water to drink during the ride...especially in warm, humid areas.

Post-ride, beer is recommended.

digmedia

massmom - speaking of rails-to-trails, one of the best bike rides EVER was the trail that went the length of Cape Cod. We "bike-packed" and stayed halfway in a state park. What a great (and totally level) ride.

cleveland

As someone whose drive in to work in the dark includes a route heavily used by bikers, I beg (BEG) you to get a reflective vest and light for your bike.

massmom

digmedia - We do the Cape path a few times a year. If you extend the path through some relatively quiet roads through Wellfleet, it brings you by some beautiful beaches. Many places to stop along the path. There is also a path in RI along the bay with some spectacular water views.