I bought a thing

"FKA-RacecaR" (FKA-RacecaR)
08/05/2014 at 15:34 • Filed to: None

So I bit the bullet a few weeks back and bought this.

Trek 1.1

Pretty nice starter bike. Super light. It is the first road bike I have owned, and really rode. Still getting used to the riding position, and shifting, and riding on tires that are about as wide as one of my fingers.

It has been about 15 years since I have seriously rode, and it shows. But I am glad to be back out and riding. I have really missed it.

DISCUSSION (23)

ttyymmnn > FKA-RacecaR
08/05/2014 at 15:39

Good for you. I've got a Giant that I bought almost twenty years ago. I swapped the super knobby tires out for some more road friendly treads, and ride 10 miles a day for fitness.

FKA-RacecaR > ttyymmnn
08/05/2014 at 15:43

Good for you.

I read that as sarcasm...

I would LOVE to get up to 10 miles a day. Oh well, if I keep at it, I should start dropping weight soon and get back in to good riding shape. Then I can get more and more miles in.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > FKA-RacecaR
08/05/2014 at 15:45

Awesome! I just b ought one myself :D (an mtb), I do road bike as well though.

Going to be doing some events with your road bike? Looks like a nice bike! I personally have been riding a late-80's Fuji Espree, haha.

ttyymmnn > FKA-RacecaR
08/05/2014 at 15:46

No sarcasm intended whatsoever. I'm 47 and hypertensive. The exercise really helps. I have to get up at 6 and ride before my kids wake up. Not bragging, just hoping to be inspirational.

FKA-RacecaR > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
08/05/2014 at 15:51

Yeah, your post made me think about putting a picture of mine up.

I hope to do some events, but not sure if I'll make any this year. My buddy is trying to get me to go on one with him in early October. There is a 15-ish mile, 30-ish mile, and then a longer one. I think he is doing the 30-ish, and wants me to do the 15-ish. Just need to train more.

I used to ride mtb years ago. COMPLETELY different than riding road. It is weird how different it is.

FKA-RacecaR > ttyymmnn
08/05/2014 at 15:54

I know it was not intended as sarcasm. Just when I see "good for you" that's how I take it. LOL

I have high blood pressure and other heart issues/high risk factors, and have for about 20 years now. As I get older (hitting 37 this year), I want to stay as active as possible to keep my heart working the way it should. I need to get into a routine of getting up early to work out or ride. Thanks for the encouraging words.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > FKA-RacecaR
08/05/2014 at 15:58

It is, I regularly mtb 5-7 miles and then my dad had me doing a 36 mile road event, it's nuts how in shape I was from that 5-7 miles, haha. I could have easily doubled those 36 miles. With a nice road bike you should be able to do 15 miles with very little practice, shit, you can do that in an evening after work. I say go for 30 miles! You should easily be able to do that by the time October rolls around.

ttyymmnn > FKA-RacecaR
08/05/2014 at 15:58

I can tell you that, from my own experience, that regular exercise and good sleep habits make a world of difference. I would like to shed a few pounds, but my main goal is lowering my BP and relieving stress (I'm a stay-home dad of three boys, and the stress can be pretty heavy at times). The days I don't ride, I really feel it. Once the boys go back to school, I can start riding in the mornings after they go to school. I only get up this early in the summer so I can get my ride in before my wife has to go to work, and it's cooler (I'm in Texas). The hardest part is getting started. The days that I really don't feel like going, but still do, I consider to be a double win. Get into a routine and stick with it. Your heart will thank you! Best of luck with it.

FKA-RacecaR > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
08/05/2014 at 16:00

That's what I'm talking about! I used to ride 5 or so miles on the mtb and be DONE! 5-6 miles I have done on the road bike, and I'm like, "okay, what now?"

I just need to get comfortable and some more seat time in before committing to a 30 mile ride.

Frank Grimes > ttyymmnn
08/05/2014 at 16:04

How do you make it a habit? I have a hard time keeping doing something as routine.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > FKA-RacecaR
08/05/2014 at 16:09

I know exactly what you mean.

I went from this:

to this:

5 years ago and I haven't looked back. I was getting a little too old and chubby for the BMX. The new bike (Specialized Langster Boston) is much easier to ride.

I'm thinking of also getting a Norco Rio Vista for just messing about around town.

Kinja'd!!!

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > FKA-RacecaR
08/05/2014 at 16:09

Yeah, the last time I rode I did like 7.5-8 miles, because I did part of the course twice, and wow! That really took it out of me, haha.

I had no idea I was getting in good enough shape to bust out 36 miles like it was nothing, I had to reign in my tempo so my dad could keep up.

FKA-RacecaR > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
08/05/2014 at 16:11

I'd like to get a hybrid bike for each my wife and I so we can ride with our kids. Then I'd also like to pick up an old cheap mtb, like from a yard sale or something, to show my daughters how to jump, pop wheelies, ramp, do stupid stuff on a bike. When I rode my old mtb, I loved jumping/ramping. It was such an awesome feeling.

ttyymmnn > Frank Grimes
08/05/2014 at 16:13

Probably because I enjoy it. It takes me about 45 minutes to finish my route, and it's some great head time. Quiet, no headphones, little traffic in the neighborhood. I make the coffee the night before (it's on a timer) and it's ready when I get up. A cup of coffee and a Zone Bar and I'm on my way. I also enjpoy the quiet few minutes at home before everybody else is up. Some mornings it's tough to get up, but I do it anyway. Mind over body, I suppose. But I know I feel better when I ride, and I use that as a motivator.

I also use the Map My Ride app on my phone. It keeps track of data such as time, distance, calories burned (I think it overstates here), and average speed. Since I ride the same route every day, I try to improve my average speed rather than my distance traveled. My best so far is 13.8 mph. My goal is 14. So it's nice to see the calendar fill up with days that I've done my heart some good. As much as I like sleeping in, I feel much better about myself when I'm sitting at the computer Oppo-ing after I've ridden. I don't feel (quite so) guilty about it. I also feel less guilty about the cigars I smoke and the beer I drink.....

ttyymmnn > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
08/05/2014 at 16:18

When I was buying a bike for my older son (11), we talked to the bike shop owner about the two different styles. He asked, "Do you want to ride sitting down or standing up?" We opted for sitting down, and I got him a nice Raleigh. I just wish he rode it more. But it's damned hot in Texas, and he will be too far from middle school to ride it there.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > FKA-RacecaR
08/05/2014 at 16:22

I've always had an addiction with wheelies. On the BMX I replaced the back tire 4 times while I'm still on the original front. The front wheel touches the ground literally about 20% of the time.

I can wheelie essentially for as long as I feel like it. 1 mile no problem.

It doesn't help that I also ride one of these:

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > ttyymmnn
08/05/2014 at 16:30

I rode that BMX for over 10 years from 15-25(it was the first thing I bought with my first summer job) and I rode sitting down a lot and I have put a ton of miles on that thing(it was my main transportation until I was 19). Nowadays they put the seat at the lowest possible setting where it would be impossible to sit and pedal(your knees would lock up if you tried). As you can see in my pic I had the seat much higher, in the early 2000's people had the seats higher than the kids do these days. Now I don't even get why they bother with a seat in the first place it's just there for looks.

ttyymmnn > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
08/05/2014 at 16:32

Yes, I see that the seat is almost even with the bars. On my bike, the seat is even with the bars. I hardly ever stand, except when starting out. Kids these days....

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > ttyymmnn
08/05/2014 at 16:34

GET OFF MY LAWN !!!

CAAD2 > FKA-RacecaR
08/05/2014 at 17:27

Congratulations on the new bike. Hope you get many miles of enjoyment from it. I started out riding about 4 years ago and its been a great hobby and past time.

Frank Grimes > ttyymmnn
08/05/2014 at 17:54

I envy you doing this. I need to exercise more or at all to be honest. I try to stay active and love sports and active things but doing it as routine for the purpose of staying fit is seemingly impossible for me.

ttyymmnn > Frank Grimes
08/05/2014 at 17:59

I found that I have to make an "appointment" with myself to get it done. Schedule it. I have a M-F alarm on my phone that goes off at 6:00 am. When my kids go back to school, I'll walk (or ride) with them to school and take my bike. When they go inside, I hit the road. If you don't schedule it, you'll never find the time. Good luck.

ttyymmnn > Frank Grimes
08/05/2014 at 18:01

It also helps that I don't have a day job.