I just started riding again 2 weeks ago and am loving it. I wanted to be a racer when I was younger but didn't have the support or monetary funds at home to do it. Somehow I got the bug a couple of weeks ago and decided better late than never. If nothing else, at least I'll hopefully get skinny again. /img/vbsmilies/smilies/smile.gif Fortunately I have a DH who is very supportive and told me to have at it.
Right now I have a Gary Fisher Marlin bike my parents bought me for college. I can't afford a new bike although DH wouldn't be opposed to it later when I am ready for an upgrade and actually racing. What are some tips, ideas, techniques or any other things you think of that would be helpful in getting me started? Right now I am doing a "fun" event next week and am not sure what to do to get ready for it. The things I know I need to do are:
A) take extra accessories off my bike I don't need - and hope someone has a bolt cutter to remove my old bike lock.
B) Dad, who rides a lot and his sister is racing nationals this year, says my tires are on backwards and explained I will want to get a new tire that has a continuous thread instead of my "aggressive" mountain bike tire as he called it. Any ideas on tires? Honestly, I am looking at these from WalMart because that is my budget. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Bell-Sports-26-Ultimate-Commuter-Comfort-Tire/15188841 Will they make a difference? Also, apparently a higher PSI helps you go faster from what I've read, is that correct? So, maybe new tubes, too?
C) Figure out something about the seat as my biggest issue so far is getting sore and chaffing on rides. I looked at bike shorts and the women's were way too short for my taste. I'm a prude and would like them to close to the knees. Store selection here is very limited. Any ideas on where to find them? I'm going to have to save for that, too. I figure that can be my reward for losing some of this extra weight. I had no idea they were so expensive. What about a gel seat in the meantime? My seat really is as hard as a rock. Any other ideas?
D) What is good to eat the night before our fun ride next Saturday? I was planning on oatmeal for breakfast about an hour beforehand. Also, drink lots of water the night before and a cup an hour before hand? Recommendations? What about a hydration backpack? Good to have or not. I tend to get really thirsty riding and thought this might save me stopping every two miles to get a drink.
E) Do I need to take a day off from cycling the day before to be rested and recovered from my other daily rides?
F) I'm fortunate in that the race area is right by my house where I normally ride anyway so I know where I am going. Do they normally have signs posted with directions?
G) Also, ahem, my time is about 5:30/mile. I'm assuming that is really bad but since I just started two weeks ago at least it isn't more. I started at around 6:00/mile and had one ride where it was 5:00/mile. I could tell I was a lot slower yesterday and was back at the 5:30 but I have no idea what caused it. What do most people ride at? How creamed am I going to get? My goal is to just not come in last. The race is 15 miles. So far I have only done 10 and I was fine and dandy when I got home. My problem is I got in the evening when DH gets home and I don't have time before it's dark to go longer. Next week I am going to get up early and do some longer rides.
H) I found a cycling club here and joined online. I haven't been able to make any of the group rides yet, though. I posted one also and no one showed up, probably because I said it was only a 10-mile ride at 7:00 a.m. Should I actually call and talk to someone in the club, too?
What else? Thanks so much everyone for your help! I realize I am way out of shape and can't get in seriously financially right now but at least I'm not home sitting around anymore. We've all got to start somewhere.
Right now I have a Gary Fisher Marlin bike my parents bought me for college. I can't afford a new bike although DH wouldn't be opposed to it later when I am ready for an upgrade and actually racing. What are some tips, ideas, techniques or any other things you think of that would be helpful in getting me started? Right now I am doing a "fun" event next week and am not sure what to do to get ready for it. The things I know I need to do are:
A) take extra accessories off my bike I don't need - and hope someone has a bolt cutter to remove my old bike lock.
B) Dad, who rides a lot and his sister is racing nationals this year, says my tires are on backwards and explained I will want to get a new tire that has a continuous thread instead of my "aggressive" mountain bike tire as he called it. Any ideas on tires? Honestly, I am looking at these from WalMart because that is my budget. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Bell-Sports-26-Ultimate-Commuter-Comfort-Tire/15188841 Will they make a difference? Also, apparently a higher PSI helps you go faster from what I've read, is that correct? So, maybe new tubes, too?
C) Figure out something about the seat as my biggest issue so far is getting sore and chaffing on rides. I looked at bike shorts and the women's were way too short for my taste. I'm a prude and would like them to close to the knees. Store selection here is very limited. Any ideas on where to find them? I'm going to have to save for that, too. I figure that can be my reward for losing some of this extra weight. I had no idea they were so expensive. What about a gel seat in the meantime? My seat really is as hard as a rock. Any other ideas?
D) What is good to eat the night before our fun ride next Saturday? I was planning on oatmeal for breakfast about an hour beforehand. Also, drink lots of water the night before and a cup an hour before hand? Recommendations? What about a hydration backpack? Good to have or not. I tend to get really thirsty riding and thought this might save me stopping every two miles to get a drink.
E) Do I need to take a day off from cycling the day before to be rested and recovered from my other daily rides?
F) I'm fortunate in that the race area is right by my house where I normally ride anyway so I know where I am going. Do they normally have signs posted with directions?
G) Also, ahem, my time is about 5:30/mile. I'm assuming that is really bad but since I just started two weeks ago at least it isn't more. I started at around 6:00/mile and had one ride where it was 5:00/mile. I could tell I was a lot slower yesterday and was back at the 5:30 but I have no idea what caused it. What do most people ride at? How creamed am I going to get? My goal is to just not come in last. The race is 15 miles. So far I have only done 10 and I was fine and dandy when I got home. My problem is I got in the evening when DH gets home and I don't have time before it's dark to go longer. Next week I am going to get up early and do some longer rides.
H) I found a cycling club here and joined online. I haven't been able to make any of the group rides yet, though. I posted one also and no one showed up, probably because I said it was only a 10-mile ride at 7:00 a.m. Should I actually call and talk to someone in the club, too?
What else? Thanks so much everyone for your help! I realize I am way out of shape and can't get in seriously financially right now but at least I'm not home sitting around anymore. We've all got to start somewhere.