Cycling

[Livingstrong]

Cycling anybody?
I was wondering how many cyclists there are in this lovely forum. I am a cycling fanatic for the last 9 years. This is my Misty bike, I named it Misty after my 14 year old Misty cat past away almost 5 months ago.

[Mr. Sun]

I can't do much cycling right now due to health problems but I LOVE cycling. It's so fun. I especially love hitting the trails with a mountain bike but going really fast on a road bike (on a road, of course) is really fun too.

So are you into racing and stuff or just fun cycling?

[jenna]

I would love to get a bike. I'm really wanting to get a spin bike so I can bike all the time and not worry about weather, etc.

[Lucious]

I love cycling, but not in the winter. I live in a very cold city, and I only get the chance to cycle from around May to September. My brother is very passionate about cycling. He does it to and from work everyday, getting about 20 km in. I have a lot of respect for people who are willing to keep fit and help the environment at the same time.

[Brandon]

I very much enjoy riding my bike. It's a mountain bike. I don't ride in the winter much either but if it's just cold and not precipitating I will. I would love to have a road bike but wow, most of them are pretty expensive. I've been keeping an eye on yard and garage sales and stuff since I live in a college town and there's always students selling stuff and leaving town at the end of semesters.

[Mr. Sun]

Vegan cycling:


What? A vegan cycling team?

Yes, and before you ask, we get our protein from plants. TeamVegan.org is the website for the OrganicAthlete Cycling Team presented by VegNews Magazine. OrganicAthlete is a nonprofit organization that promotes a plant-based, vegan lifestyle through sports.

Here's the Idea

OrganicAthlete's mission is three-fold: information sharing, community building, and inspiring through athletic example. Our elite cycling team integrates all three of these strategies into one program. First, team members will give talks at schools and community groups about health and plant-based nutrition and distribute information about plant-based nutrition, including OrganicAthlete's Guide to Sports Nutrition, at events. Second, the cycling team serves as a rallying point for the entire OrganicAthlete community and promotes our membership organization. Finally, on the inspiration front, what better way to promote a plant-based, vegan lifestyle than an entire team of vegan athletes?

Our Goal

Our goal is not to force veganism upon anyone. Our goal is share information about how our diet and lifestyle affect our health, other beings, and the environment. Our goal is to make people aware that you can be an elite athlete and still be vegan, and, contrary to popular belief, it's not that difficult. Our goal is to inspire people to eat more fresh, organic fruits and vegetables.

http://www.organicathlete.org/content/view/409/286/

[Bios]

I got in over 4000 miles this year. Winter's hard though; choosing between the cold slop and the trainer. Today the cold slop won.

[Hag]

I'm pretty knee deep in cycling preping for olympic distance tri's for next season and I'm riding a trek 1500 which i got a sick deal on. Winter is all trainer the canadian winters wont allow me out on a bike between november and march

[Livingstrong]

I can't do much cycling right now due to health problems but I LOVE cycling. It's so fun. I especially love hitting the trails with a mountain bike but going really fast on a road bike (on a road, of course) is really fun too.

So are you into racing and stuff or just fun cycling?

I am an amateur racing cyclist but I also go every where on my commute bike, I barely use the car, only when I really really have to, otherwise I use my bike.

I hope you recover soon from your health problems, I really do.

[Livingstrong]

I would love to get a bike. I'm really wanting to get a spin bike so I can bike all the time and not worry about weather, etc.

That's a great idea if you don't like the cold weather, and you can get well fit using those spinning bikes. Another idea is to get an indoor trainer and put your bike on it to train. It's just a matter of preferences.

[Livingstrong]

I love cycling, but not in the winter. I live in a very cold city, and I only get the chance to cycle from around May to September. My brother is very passionate about cycling. He does it to and from work everyday, getting about 20 km in. I have a lot of respect for people who are willing to keep fit and help the environment at the same time.

Please congratulate your brother for me, would you? Thanks.

I'd like to ask you a question. How is it for you, physically speaking, when you go back to cycling on May? I mean, how do your muscles feel? Is it hard for your heart and lungs after 4 or 5 months being off the bike or does it take you few days to go back to feel in shape again? I'm just curious.

[Livingstrong]

I very much enjoy riding my bike. It's a mountain bike. I don't ride in the winter much either but if it's just cold and not precipitating I will. I would love to have a road bike but wow, most of them are pretty expensive. I've been keeping an eye on yard and garage sales and stuff since I live in a college town and there's always students selling stuff and leaving town at the end of semesters.

That is an awesome idea. A used mountain bike for commuting can cost you as low as 50 bucks, and maybe now that is winter some students might decide to get rid of their bikes and sell them. I hope you find what you want. :up:

[Livingstrong]

Vegan cycling:
http://www.organicathlete.org/content/view/409/286/

Oh wow oh wow oh wow, you made a cycling fanatic a very happy girl, :pibo: thank you so much for the link, I loved the website. I had no idea there was a Vegan Cycling Team. Awesome, thanks!

[Livingstrong]

I got in over 4000 miles this year. Winter's hard though; choosing between the cold slop and the trainer. Today the cold slop won.

4000 miles in a year is fabulous. Do you try to improve your distance every year or you try to stay in between a certain range?

[Livingstrong]

I'm pretty knee deep in cycling preping for olympic distance tri's for next season and I'm riding a trek 1500 which i got a sick deal on. Winter is all trainer the canadian winters wont allow me out on a bike between november and march

Then you are a pro-cyclist aren't you? You must be in excellent shape. Whenever I see a male or female cyclist who is in excellent physical shape I just can't help myself but to stare at them. It's a view my eyes can't resist to watch.

[Lucious]

Please congratulate your brother for me, would you? Thanks.

I'd like to ask you a question. How is it for you, physically speaking, when you go back to cycling on May? I mean, how do your muscles feel? Is it hard for your heart and lungs after 4 or 5 months being off the bike or does it take you few days to go back to feel in shape again? I'm just curious.


Well, I use a treadmill and elliptical trainer on a regular basis, I also walk a few kilometers a day around campus. And also, I teach skiing (which involves a lot of walking in skis and ski boots), and ski vigorously on the weekends. So my muscles really don't get a break throughout the year. It's refreshing to get started in the summer on a bike to keep me in shape.

[Bios]

4000 miles in a year is fabulous. Do you try to improve your distance every year or you try to stay in between a certain range?

Usually I set some ridiculous goal for the year that sounds like a fun thing to shoot for -- one year was trying to time trial at 25 mph (I got to 24 mph for a 30 K); one year was trying to ride the whole 235 mile Katy Trail (a rail trail) in one day (I made it 167 miles), one year was just not stopping cycling while on chemo. Next year ..... Haven't decided yet, any suggestions anyone? For a 43 year old chick who swims like a tugboat and runs like an arthritic turtle? (Tri's would be great fun otherwise. :) )

My worst failure was my plan to commute by bike 3 days a week one summer. It's a 50 mile round trip. I gave it up after a few trips -- too much traffic on a road with no shoulder; I got run off and it spooked me.

I would feel I wasn't taking care of myself if I didn't ride five days a week for an hour a day, minimum; and lift weights twice a week for an hour. At my age, it's way easier to maintain fitness than to try to raise it back up after I've let it slide.

Do you all ride with partners? And if so, how do you find them?

[Livingstrong]

Well, I use a treadmill and elliptical trainer on a regular basis, I also walk a few kilometers a day around campus. And also, I teach skiing (which involves a lot of walking in skis and ski boots), and ski vigorously on the weekends. So my muscles really don't get a break throughout the year. It's refreshing to get started in the summer on a bike to keep me in shape.

Oh wow, you must be in excellent shape! Thanks for answering my question.

[Livingstrong]

Usually I set some ridiculous goal for the year that sounds like a fun thing to shoot for -- one year was trying to time trial at 25 mph (I got to 24 mph for a 30 K); one year was trying to ride the whole 235 mile Katy Trail (a rail trail) in one day (I made it 167 miles), one year was just not stopping cycling while on chemo. Next year ..... Haven't decided yet, any suggestions anyone? For a 43 year old chick who swims like a tugboat and runs like an arthritic turtle? (Tri's would be great fun otherwise. :) )

My worst failure was my plan to commute by bike 3 days a week one summer. It's a 50 mile round trip. I gave it up after a few trips -- too much traffic on a road with no shoulder; I got run off and it spooked me.

I would feel I wasn't taking care of myself if I didn't ride five days a week for an hour a day, minimum; and lift weights twice a week for an hour. At my age, it's way easier to maintain fitness than to try to raise it back up after I've let it slide.

Do you all ride with partners? And if so, how do you find them?

That's how I feel myself. If I don't exercise at least 5 days a week I don't feel good, and now with the winter is kind of hard to do it.

I only ride with other cyclist friends few times a year, it's rare when we all can get together because of work. I have to ride every morning around 5:30 am to 7:30 am and then go back home and get ready to go to work, and nobody wants to go out with me at that time of the day :lol:

[Gnome Chomsky]

I have one of these:
http://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/APR-4500-Details.html
I get out biking ~7 hr/wk...mostly hills, so distance isn't very meaningful.
I live in the SF bay area, so there is no off-season...it's ****ing great! :)

ebola

[techwins]

I got in over 4000 miles this year. Winter's hard though; choosing between the cold slop and the trainer. Today the cold slop won.

What do you use to keep track of your miles for the year?

I am going to buy a bike in the next couple weeks, and that sounds like an interesting idea to track total distance for a year.

[Bios]

What do you use to keep track of your miles for the year?

I am going to buy a bike in the next couple weeks, and that sounds like an interesting idea to track total distance for a year.

I used to just list miles on my calendar. Now I've got a GPS cyclocomputer that keeps track and keeps a training log for me. It's a fun toy. :)

Honestly though, I've never managed to make it through a year with a complete record; I lose interest in recording. Fortunately my husband does a better recording job, and we are pretty closely matched in miles, so I ride his coattails to some extent.

[avocado]

i love cycling, i havnt been able to for a while due to knee problems. i cant wait to get back into it though:)

[animal_luvr]

I'm glad someone posted this. I just got into cycling about a year ago, a guy I was dating let me use his spare bike (which was fit for someone 6'1" and I'm 5'6") I loved it and I really could hold my own with the experienced riders on 30, 40 mile rides. Now the relationship is over and I can no longer rely on his bike, his expertise or his fix-it skills when it comes to cycling (pity me not, I found something I loved out of this relationship). Now for the coming spring I have planned to buy a bike, heart rate monitor, and cleats. I want to really get into it on my own. I was wondering if anyone had any tips for breaking into this sport? Any suggestions on road bikes under $1,500? Leaning how info on fixing stuff on your bike etc?

[Bios]

I'm glad someone posted this. I just got into cycling about a year ago, a guy I was dating let me use his spare bike (which was fit for someone 6'1" and I'm 5'6") I loved it and I really could hold my own with the experienced riders on 30, 40 mile rides. Now the relationship is over and I can no longer rely on his bike, his expertise or his fix-it skills when it comes to cycling (pity me not, I found something I loved out of this relationship). Now for the coming spring I have planned to buy a bike, heart rate monitor, and cleats. I want to really get into it on my own. I was wondering if anyone had any tips for breaking into this sport? Any suggestions on road bikes under $1,500? Leaning how info on fixing stuff on your bike etc?

I'd go to a (good) bike shop and get a professional fit, and try out the frame styles and sizes. Then I'd buy all the accessories from the bike shop to pay them back for their effort, and buy the bike used. If buying new, buy in February! Sales are soooooo slow in Feb (if you live in a cold climate) you can get a heck of a deal on what's left of last year's models.

Fit is way more important than you might guess, so if it's not a good fit, it's not a good deal.

As for learning maintenance, many bike shops, clubs, or triathalon clubs have little seminars. Or get a hold of one of the guys you used to ride with and bribe him (her?) for a bit of a lesson. Just pick someone who always had a quiet chain. :) Or buy the equipment at a bike store and ask them to show you how. Especially if you go in when they're slow, I've always found bike store people like to share with a newbie.

Have fun!