New guy

What's up everyone. I am new to the sport. I am currently in Afganistan but should be back soon. I know nothing about road bikes and any info would be awsome about getting into the sport ( what I need etc). I really would like to get into raceing and be competitve. I am not to excited about the spandex thing I guess that takes getting used to. Well thanks.

Welcome to the sport and to the forum. Although I have been a recreational cyclist since 1986, I am relatively new to the forum as well, having joined in June, but not really participating unitl last week. First, while you are away and cannot ride, continue to browse the many threads in the forum and read good publications online, such as velonews and roadbikeaction. It is such a broad sport/hobby that we each find our areas of interest and niches. See what catches your fancy. If you hope to race, then determine what kind of racing you like (criteriums, road races, triathlons, cyclocross, track, endurance, etc.) and join a club that is appropriate for what you want to learn and begin to train with others. Cycling is a great addiction.

King thanks for the advice. I am thinking I would like to road race and do triathalon's. I have done quite a few combat cross country racees and have done pritty well. I think it would be similar to tri except you are wearing heavy boot's and you carry alot of heavy stuff and then shoot. I have been training my ass off for the last 10 months at 9,500 feet above sea leavel but something tell's me that I will get destroyed at my first triathalon! Thanks for the encouregment and good luck to you.

Well it certainly sounds like you are building strength, endurance and a competitive spirit, all things that will help you in triathlon or road racing. I have never done any competitive cycling, but I follow pro road racing almost daily and love it. I enjoy knowing about the teams, the riders and the equipment. There is a great deal to the tactics, too. I have many friends who do triathlons, as one of the larger tri events is held in our area in Spring, the Wildflower Triathlon at Lake San Antonio/Lake Nacimiento. Thousands of all shapes, sizes, ages and abilities compete as individuals or as a part of teams. It is quite an event.
Thanks for your service. My son is joining the Navy and goes to boot camp in two and a half weeks. What branch are you in?

And in keeping with your forum moniker, you just might need to get a Land Shark bicycle. Land Shark 2009

I am in the Army. Good luck to your son what carrer field is he going into? I might need to get a land shark and keep with the name sounds like a good plan.

__________________
Here is to parachutes that inflate, gun's that shoot straight, and chick's that f*** on the first date.
-John

Hey King, I just checked out the land shark bikes they look a lttil to gody for me. thoses are some serious paint job's on there. Thanks for the info on the triathalon stuff by the way.

__________________
Here is to parachutes that inflate, gun's that shoot straight, and chick's that f*** on the first date.
-John

My son is going into Information Technology (IT). I just saw your new post about the Land Shark looking gaudy. The ones I have seen in real life weren't wild like the ones on the web page. It is a one man custom shop, so he makes them to order how the owner wants it. I agree I would not prefer ones like on their Home Page.

The best website I have found for triathlon info is www.slowtwitch.com . Check it out if you have not.

Just did that is a great web site thank's. IT that seems like a cool job I am an airborne scout sniper but it is not nearlly as cool as it sounds.

__________________
Here is to parachutes that inflate, gun's that shoot straight, and chick's that f*** on the first date.
-John