First ride in a long time today
11-06-17, 01:56 PM
#1
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First ride in a long time today
I hadn't ridden a bike in more than 50 years before today. I turned 69 on 10/26 and bought myself a new Electra Cruiser 7D to celebrate.....my across the street neighbor has been after me for years to get a bike and go riding with him so I finally did it.
My friend took me to the Spring Creek Greenway in Spring, TX which is just a few miles from our houses and although I was a little shaky at first, I was able to follow him for a first ride going 7.2 miles. He usually does 25+ miles but today took it easy for me. At 6 or so miles my legs were pretty tired so I struggled back to my car and he took off for the rest of his ride. Its about 3 hours later now and I feel pretty good....maybe I'll be a little sore tomorrow, maybe not but I look forward to the next ride in a few days.
My friend took me to the Spring Creek Greenway in Spring, TX which is just a few miles from our houses and although I was a little shaky at first, I was able to follow him for a first ride going 7.2 miles. He usually does 25+ miles but today took it easy for me. At 6 or so miles my legs were pretty tired so I struggled back to my car and he took off for the rest of his ride. Its about 3 hours later now and I feel pretty good....maybe I'll be a little sore tomorrow, maybe not but I look forward to the next ride in a few days.
11-06-17, 09:19 PM
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it always warms my heart when I hear about a new addict who has surrendered his/her future to the two-wheeled side.
11-06-17, 09:58 PM
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Congratulations! That's pretty good for the first time in 50 years :-) When I first got my wife to go cycling, she went to the end of the block and stopped. (That was 20 years and thousands of miles ago, so she did get over the initial slow start.)
11-06-17, 10:31 PM
#6
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Rubber side down, at all times = that's most important. Second most important = smiles on every ride.
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
11-07-17, 06:56 AM
#7
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Thank you all for the kind words and encouragement. Not sore today at all, guess I didn't work hard enough.
11-07-17, 07:00 AM
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That's pretty good distance for a "first" ride. Starting again after a decades long break, I think you'll find your capacity increases quickly in the first couple of months.
11-07-17, 07:22 AM
#9
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Welcome back to the world's greatest sport!
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
11-07-17, 07:51 AM
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Good goin'! I looked up the Electra Cruiser 7D and it looks like a good bike to get on after so many years. It looks like it has one of those extra low 1st gears, which help with whatever hills you may have in Houston.
I also noticed the tires. All the photos I saw showed the bike with somewhat knobby tires. If you aren't riding in loose dirt or mud, you will find a set of wide, smooth, slick street tires will roll much easier and faster and they're oh, so comfortable.
I also noticed the tires. All the photos I saw showed the bike with somewhat knobby tires. If you aren't riding in loose dirt or mud, you will find a set of wide, smooth, slick street tires will roll much easier and faster and they're oh, so comfortable.
11-07-17, 09:18 AM
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keep it fun!
11-13-17, 03:23 PM
#13
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Now that you're hooked, let's talk about n+1...
11-13-17, 06:14 PM
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Congrats!
I love threads like these. Strips away all the tech and strava and just makes it about riding a bike; just like we did as kids.
John
I love threads like these. Strips away all the tech and strava and just makes it about riding a bike; just like we did as kids.
John
12-13-17, 01:35 PM
#16
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I've been trying to ride the nearby trails at least twice a week and have been doing 15 or 16 mile rides for a while now. Yesterday, I broke the 20 mile barrier, proud of myself and looking forward to 25....
12-13-17, 08:16 PM
#17
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I hadn't ridden a bike in more than 50 years before today. I turned 69 on 10/26 and bought myself a new Electra Cruiser 7D to celebrate.....my across the street neighbor has been after me for years to get a bike and go riding with him so I finally did it.
My friend took me to the Spring Creek Greenway in Spring, TX which is just a few miles from our houses and although I was a little shaky at first, I was able to follow him for a first ride going 7.2 miles. He usually does 25+ miles but today took it easy for me. At 6 or so miles my legs were pretty tired so I struggled back to my car and he took off for the rest of his ride. Its about 3 hours later now and I feel pretty good....maybe I'll be a little sore tomorrow, maybe not but I look forward to the next ride in a few days.
My friend took me to the Spring Creek Greenway in Spring, TX which is just a few miles from our houses and although I was a little shaky at first, I was able to follow him for a first ride going 7.2 miles. He usually does 25+ miles but today took it easy for me. At 6 or so miles my legs were pretty tired so I struggled back to my car and he took off for the rest of his ride. Its about 3 hours later now and I feel pretty good....maybe I'll be a little sore tomorrow, maybe not but I look forward to the next ride in a few days.
12-13-17, 08:54 PM
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Welcome back to the thrill of riding! Good job on that first ride!
12-16-17, 05:02 PM
#19
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Okay, I'm a bad boy....the Cruiser isn't fast enough. Here is a picture of my new bike! I'm hoping to put lots of miles on this one!
12-16-17, 05:35 PM
#20
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12-16-17, 05:52 PM
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Good going! Make sure the pressure in your tires is at its maximum to give easy pedaling. Keep us in the loop about your riding!
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12-16-17, 07:05 PM
#23
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I expected that to happen, Swiftycoop, but you got there a little faster than I'd have predicted. Good job! The new bike looks nice.
12-21-17, 02:12 PM
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Awesome!
