Anyone wanna be my virtual bike buddy?

Hey,

I recently bought a bike and want to maybe find a few people who bike, or wanna start biking for exercise. Maybe we could develop our own exercise plan, or tracker etc.?

It's just an idea, but I'm hoping to get the best usage outta my bike before it gets too cold! 

If you are an experienced cyclist, I would love advice!

Look forward to your reply,

Cheers

I second the idea of joining the cycling group.  We need more active members.

I am also a beginning cyclist.  I want to get good enough to go on 25-50 mile tours with bike clubs, but right now, I am too slow and consider 12 miles a long ride.  I am trying to make myself ride twice a week, but haven't been too sucessful.  I think I really need a buddy to help me make myself get on that bike.  I think a tracker would be good.

Oooooohhh - you will love your bike!  I got mine a couple months ago.  First time out - I went 2 miles.... Last weekend, I did a 20 mile ride without a problem!  Love it!  Going to really miss it in our yucky cold winters here in MI.

Wow!  I love you guys! youre so positive! hahaha.

I hate to be utter stupid... but, how can I measure a mile- without buying a gadget? Like how many blocks roughly is a mile? Or, how can I measure it? lol. 

I have no idea how far I ride right now... I go probably about 20-30 blocks and back (can anyone give me an estimate as far as miles go?). I know I will get better, since I'm new, but I would love to be able to track my progress...

PS

I have joined the cycling group! Thank you for the invitation!!! :)

Even a cheapo cycle computer will tell you how far you're going (and how fast, and your average speed).  You put a clamp-on magnet on a spoke, the pickup on your fork (or chainstay, depending upon the model), and then tell it the circumference of your wheel (best measured by rolling one revolution beside a tape measure).  It does the rest.

Alternately, you could drive your route and note your odo readings.  Having the cycle computer lets you wander and still know how far you went, though.

Or, just ride by time.  Lots of people eschew cycle computers and just ride by time.  You won't be able to track progress in terms of how far/how fast that way, but there are those who utterly disdain keeping stats about their riding, beyond "I went out for an hour today and looked at butterflies."

I just bought a Raleigh Detour 4.0! It's a beautiful blue hybrid bike and I love it. I took it out for the first time yesterday, but 4 miles had me exhuasted. I rode to my Hung Ga class and back, so of course my legs are SCREAMING right now, as well as a lot of my torso and arms so that makes propping myself up on the handlebars a little more tricky too.

I am still adjusting the seat; pedaling uphill is HARD now. I've tried it sitting down and it burns a lot more, but I have to get used to the wobble of a thinner tire. This is my first time on a bicycle in a decade.. back then I could take San Francisco-style hills no problem, now I can barely do these little sustained inclines in my neighborhood. I feel like my legs are spaghetti! I guess that's a good sign, I'm working things that have been long neglected.

But I'm addicted to the pain. Even though I've only been cycling in 15 min chunks for leisure or commuting to martial arts and back or to the store, I feel great on my bike. I've missed it SO much.

Get the bike propped up in a doorway.  Initially, set the saddle such that with your heel on the pedal and the pedal at the bottom of the stroke, your knee is straight.  That way, your knee will be slightly bent when the ball of your foot is on the pedal, and you'll get more efficiency with less risk to your knees.  Make small adjustments from there.

The saddle should not be so high that your hips are rocking when you pedal, but it should be almost that high.

FLED:  Check out www.mapmyride.com  They let you map out where you go using Google maps and will give you the mileage.  It is free for basic functionality, but you will have to pay if you want to save your rides.  It will also give you some information about popular rides in your area.

On map my ride - you can save your rides for free.  You just can't print them.

I just started to bike!!! I live in TN and yeah its been a long time since I have even been on a bike let alone doing exercise lol. Well out here I was sweating after 3 miles we have hills and yeah they suck!! But I really want to keep it up! But lol no more wearing short shorts.... I think I rubbed my skin raw... lol But yeah I really am excited about it!! (not the raw skin hehe)

Glad to of come accross this thread!!

Hello,  I love this site, I was thinking what are the benefits of biking and wham here is a thread.  I just started riding yesterday and everything hurts today, even my abs.  Is this normal.  What are the benefits of biking?

I had a great time and I do use the mapmyride and it is very helpful/

I didn't get to ride at all this weekend. 

It rained ALOT all weekend in MI.

Clang:  Biking is a good cardio exercise.  It also does some strength training in the lower body.  Plus it can be fun.

for some reason map my ride doesnt work for me... boooohoooo! :(

Ah well. I really appreciate all your answers!

Original Post by clharr:

Clang:  Biking is a good cardio exercise.  It also does some strength training in the lower body.  Plus it can be fun.

 Hey clharr does it do anything for the abs because they are killing me and I am not sure if it is part of the exercise or if I did something wrong?

cool.. this weekend we  a group of us went camping rode a 60 mile loop around a lake! it was beautiful. next morning quick 20 mile for stiff thighs! i love biking cause it's not like exercise, it's enjoyable ha!! i try to ride a 100 miles a week and then do some group rides and hopefully a century soon.

Clang: It is not a great abs workout, but it might be good for a beginner.  Do make sure that your seat is properly adjusted.  If it is too high, you might be having to twist too much to reach the pedals.  Check the adjusting procedure suggested in post #7 to make sure the seat is right.