Hi from a Newbie

NoddingCyclist

Been a lurker for a while, but today, finally bit the bullet and registered. Have been very entertained reading all your posts recently.

Really just wanted to give y’all a nod and say hello.

My background is…
October 2008 (yes, strangely enough, decided to make that decision at the end of the summer, rather than beginning), after many years of gym membership, decided to pack it in and return to outdoor training. Initially, I just started back at the running. Three months later, first day back in work in January after the Christmas holidays, registered for a half marathon in Chicago (June), the Dublin marathon (October) and also booked myself a cycling holiday (Cape Cod – September / October – was a wonderful holiday).

Decided than I should probably go out and buy myself a bike J

Last year, my primary focus was on the running, while doing some cycling. My plan was once the marathon was complete, I would then switch my focus to be a bit more towards the cycling. Unfortunately due to some personal circumstances, didn’t get on the bike much after completing the marathon.

Finally in the last few weeks, have been getting back out on the bike. I still run too, so my basic fitness is relatively decent, but from a bike perspective obviously need to get the ass used to the seat again and strength in the legs.

At the moment, am just cycling by myself at weekends. But once I get the mileage up (am up to about 40 miles at the moment) and speed up, hope to perhaps join some group spins. Am also cycling to work once or twice a week – 10.5 miles each way.

I consider myself more a roadie.

My aims…
Well don’t intend on racing, but do want to get my cycling up – both mileage and speed. My aim is to be up to 100 miles by my birthday (end of October).
So really my aim is to cycle for fitness and fun.
And definitely more cycling holidays.

One of the things I have found I love about the cycling is the camaraderie among cyclists – especially at the weekend when I’m out on the road bike (cycle to road on mountain bike) – always get a nod or hello from fellow cyclists!!!

That’s it, really just wanted to say hi to everyone and look forward to hopefully joining in your chats over the coming months.

Oh yea, one more thing – I love cycling!!!

DualFrontDiscs

Hello!

TinyExplosions

Welcome, have some cake

strummer_ie

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Welcome, have some cake

Dammit that looks good..........

funkyjebus

welcome,welcome. make your self at home why dont you.

TinyExplosions

strummer_ie wrote: »

Dammit that looks good..........

it's just something I whipped up for the OP

07Lapierre

Welcome! But I'm very disappointed that you went out and bought a bike without telling us first! What did you buy?

AstraMonti

07Lapierre wrote: »

Welcome! But I'm very disappointed that you went out and bought a bike without telling us first!

hahaha

NoddingCyclist

Thanks for the cake, it looks lovely. Since you went to the special effort of making it for me, I'll even pretend I like chocolate
Oh dear, I'm gonna really be in trouble and guess I'll have to find a way to seriously make it up to you all - I've actually bought two bikes without consulting you - the first, my road bike is a Giant Avail 2.5.
More recently, for my work commute Trek 6300 in root beer!

Bunnyhopper

07Lapierre wrote: »

Welcome! But I'm very disappointed that you went out and bought a bike without telling us being told what to buy first! What did you buy?

strummer_ie

NoddingCylist wrote: »

Thanks for the cake, it looks lovely. Since you went to the special effort of making it for me, I'll even pretend I like chocolate
Oh dear, I'm gonna really be in trouble and guess I'll have to find a way to seriously make it up to you all - I've actually bought two bikes without consulting you - the first, my road bike is a Giant Avail 2.5.
More recently, for my work commute Trek 6300 in root beer!

Nice bike alright......still prefer the cake......:D:D

The tax man

Wave goodbye to your bank balance,it's the done thing around here.:)

Joxer_S

I'm going to be doing a charity ride down around cape cod in a few weeks, how was it?

fondriest

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Welcome, have some cake

DROOOOL

on_the_nickel

Your background is similar to mine. I cycled a bit as a kid, then ditched it when I moved to Dublin for college.

After many years of doing feck all, started running and of course soon decided a marathon was the only sensible thing to do. After completing the marathon, decided I wanted to get back to cycling so bought an entry level bike and did a bit of that for a while.

Then I had twins and stopped pretty much everything for two years, now they're old enough to look after themselves (3 is old enough, right?) I'm back into cycling big time. I did the ROK a few weeks ago, and plan doing a lot more sportives. I'm even toying with the idea of joining a club, though I like the freedom heading out on my own gives me.

It's getting so addictive, I found myself out last Saturday morning doing 90k in the lashing rain! As others have said, the only downside is to my bank balance.

NoddingCyclist

Thank you for the welcomes everyone!

On the bank balance - yea, I understood pretty quickly it would disappear - within weeks of buying my first bike, I wanted to buy another and I am constantly looking out for the next one I am buying. But way I see it is I work hard, I deserve to treat myself, lol. Besides, I consider sporting goods necessities - all very important for my health.

Joxer_S - cycling around the Cape was great. The terrain is not too difficult - few rolling hills, but nothing too challenging. The roads are very smooth and clear (i.e. not covered in debris, etc), they also have plenty of trails. Found them to be very cycle friendly, even when cars, trucks, etc had the right of way, they still yielded to cyclists.
The Cape itself is lovely too - while it is commercial from a tourist aspect, it is all local business - no typical American chains i.e. no McDonalds, Starbucks, Macy's, etc.

on_the_nickel - I hear you on the cycling club versus on your own side of things. Reckon I will look at cycling club at the end of the summer, maybe, mainly as I think it will be better for pushing myself, improving my speed, etc. For now, I am enjoying the freedom of cycling on my own, especially while I'm building up. However, I do find when I'm out on my own, it's very easy to start cruising at an easy pace.

I am definitely interested in doing some of the Sportives too.
I have actually set myself a long term goal of maybe doing something like the Pacific Coast Highway, from Vancouver to the Mexico Border for charity - it's close on 2000 miles and would like to do it in a month! But like I said, it's more a longer term goal, something for either 2012 or 2013 :mad:

Away from the cycling - a boards.ie question - does anyone know how you can change your username - I have a "typo" in mine, missing the C in cyclist - now I understand why I was having so many problems logging in yesterday

07Lapierre

Bunnyhopper wrote: »

Yep thats better! thanks bunny