New to This Board

[jade]

Hey!
I'm very interested in exercise so I thought I would come visit your board. Today was my first day of OWL. I lost 12 lbs on Induction and wanted more food choices so moved on.
I am a rabid cyclist. In fact, I'm training for a 500+ bike tour that I will be riding in, in three weeks. I also like to lift weights and walk my dog Buddy!
Anyway, just wanted to see what this board is all about.

Be well-
jade :wave

[Isabeau]

Hi and welcome to the exercise forum! I'm just getting into cycling and would love to hear about your experiences!

[Piasabird]

Welcome Jade!

I'm glad to see another cyclist on here. It looks like most people are runners.

I've done no where near the distance as have but I do like biking. I'm very interested in extending my rides past 30 miles this summer. I work midnights and get off at 8 a.m. and I've got to decide whether I want to try and ride right after I get off work or go to sleep and ride in the afternoon. I do like going in the mornings but I want to have the energy to increase my mileage. So, I guess the only thing to do is experiment.

I'll head on over to your journal and welcome you over there also.

:wave

[2big4mysize]

welcome to the exercise board!
Labarum will be very happy to see a long distance biker in the group.

you can join any of our exercise challenges you like too.just post telling them you are new when you make your first post.

How long is your training rides for your trip and how many days is it? will you be using sag wagons for your gear or transporting it all on your own bike? I used to back in the 80s do bike touring before the knees said no more pedaling.

Happy low carbing.

[ttdriver]

Jade,

Glad you found the exercise board!! I assume you are referring to the BRAN? (being from Nebraska, I am quite familiar with it...although I don't have enough cushion on my butt to ride that far, I envy those who do!!)

Best wishes as you prepare for it!

Betty

[jade]

Hey "Isabeau"!
Good to see you here at the exercise forum! Familiar name to me!
I'm glad to hear you're getting into cycling. But let me warn you: IT IS ADDICTIVE! For me it is more than a form of exercise, it is also a stress buster. When I'm feeling frustrated or stressed out I hit the saddle (bike seat that is!) Nothing calms me down like a good ride outside.
I've rode a bike since I was about 9 years old. That was back in the day when you had pedal brakes and no change in gears! I didn't really ride again until after I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia back in 96. I went out the next day and bought a Huffy bike from K-Mart! I rode that bike to death! I eventually graduated to a TREK hybrid. A hybrid is a nice bike to start out on because you can ride it on the road and on like a limestone trail. I also have a Cannondale road bike. It's the one I tour on. It's lightweight and fast!
One of my most memorable cycling adventure was on my first bike tour. I'm from Nebraska and we have the Bike Ride Across Nebraska (BRAN) every year. Well, this was my first one. I wasn't sure what to bring so I brought EVERYTHING! I brought a hairdryer, hot rollers...you name it...I brought it. I caugh so much flack for bringing all of that stuff (But I like to look nice when I'm riding and especially afterwards! lol) Well, on the next to the last night of tour we had a tornado touch down 5 miles outside of the town we were camped in. I put my TREK bike in my tent and we all took cover in the high school boys locker room (STINKY!) After a little while the all clear was given. When we went back outside things were a mess! Some people's tents were 5 blocks down the street...one tent was up in a tree! But there was my little tent standing proudly! And all because I brought my extras! lol

Be well-
jade :wave

[jade]

Hey "Piasabird"!
Glad to see you again!!!

"I'm glad to see another cyclist on here. It looks like most people are runners."

*Glad to know there are other cyclists here too! We are a rare breed eh! lol

"I've done no where near the distance as you have but I do like biking. I'm very interested in extending my rides past 30 miles this summer. I work midnights and get off at 8 a.m. and I've got to decide whether I want to try and ride right after I get off work or go to sleep and ride in the afternoon. I do like going in the mornings but I want to have the energy to increase my mileage. So, I guess the only thing to do is experiment."

*What kind of bike do you have and where do you ride? My bike mentor told me to increase your mileage simply add a mile on a day (or even a week) and build up very gradually. Before you know it you'll be riding 40-50 miles at a time and it won't even phase you.

Talk with you again soon!
Be well-
jade :wave

[jade]

Hey "2big4mysize"!
Thanks for the welcome!

"Labarum will be very happy to see a long distance biker in the group."

*Great! I think I responded to one of his posts about doing Atkins while riding a Century (100 miles)

"you can join any of our exercise challenges you like too.just post telling them you are new when you make your first post."

*I would love to! I see that the current one ends on May 21st. Will the next one start directly after that? How far in advance do you let them know you want to join in? Let me know.

"How long is your training rides for your trip and how many days is it?"

*Right now it depends on how much time I have! I work in an elementary school and we have less than 2 weeks of school left. I like to try to get at least 20 miles a day in and on the weekend I like to get in 40-50. When school is out I will try to mimic the ride, riding the same amount of miles I would ride on that day on BRAN. The tour is a 7 day tour. If you would like more information on it please visit our website:

http://www.bran-inc.org

Look under the Message Board Silver Lining Tour. There is information on the route there. The mileage is different each day ranging from 39 miles to 104 miles a day. It's a longer tour this year but I'm looking forward to it!

"will you be using sag wagons for your gear or transporting it all on your own bike?"

*We have a semi truck that transports our gear. The only things we carry on our bike are water bottles and maybe a repair kit. We have SAG wagons that ride with us every mile of the tour. The stationery SAG wagons are set up every 10 miles so that we can refill our water bottles and get snacks if we need them. This tour is a yearly event. 600 riders ride on it and we ride through various towns/cities in Nebraska. Several of the towns are 'host' cities that we stay overnight in. It is a camping bike tour.

"I used to back in the 80s do bike touring before the knees said no more pedaling."

*What a shame! I was going to invite you to join us!! What do you do now instead of cycling? What phase of Atkins are you on? I'm on Ongoing Weight Loss (Today was my second day!).

Thanks again for the warm welcome! I really like it here!
Be well-
jade :wave

[jade]

Betty!!! Hey Girl!

[quote]Glad you found the exercise board!! I assume you are referring to the BRAN? (being from Nebraska, I am quite familiar with it...although I don't have enough cushion on my butt to ride that far, I envy those who do!!)[quote]

Right you are!! This is my 8th year on BRAN and our 25th anniversary. You'll have to visit our website!

http://www.bran-inc.org

It's a long tour this year. Something like 540 miles! Our second day is 104 miles!!! But I'm really looking forward to it. I just hope I can stay on program! I've decided that I am and that's half the battle. The other half is to simply make sure I have food on hand when I'm hungry. I should be able to have nuts and fruit by then so that will help alot!

Thanks for the warm welcome!
Be well-
jade :wave

[ttdriver]

Jade, I know you'll do great in the BRAN. Give my regards to the endless miles of cornfields ... oh yes, you can take the girl out of Nebraska, but you can't take Nebraska out of the girl! I lived there 43 years ... do I miss it? NO!! Especially not from November to April ... :nono

Best wishes on your long trek ... please let us know how it goes!!

Betty
Now a Florida resident, but always a Husker fan!

[Piasabird]

*What kind of bike do you have and where do you ride? My bike mentor told me to increase your mileage simply add a mile on a day (or even a week) and build up very gradually. Before you know it you'll be riding 40-50 miles at a time and it won't even phase you.

I have a Fuji mountain bike and sometimes I ride my bf's Muddy Fox mountain bike. I also have an old Schwin ten speed that someone was throwing away even though nothing is wrong with it. I haven't taken it out yet. I would love to get a better bike but they're expensive you know. I've already got enough debt. lol

I live in Illinois and we have miles and miles of trails. http://www.mcttrails.org/ They're still being worked on and some will eventually hook up with other ones. One of ours will take us across the Mississippi and join with some Missouri trails.

I'll take your advice with increasing mileage. I did 30 miles yesterday and today which is the first time I've tried to do that much two days in a row. Whew! That was a bugger.

BTW, got any remedies for saddle soreness? lol

Good luck on your BRAN tour.

[jade]

Hey Betty!

[quote]Jade, I know you'll do great in the BRAN. Give my regards to the endless miles of cornfields ... oh yes, you can take the girl out of Nebraska, but you can't take Nebraska out of the girl! I lived there 43 years ... do I miss it? NO!! Especially not from November to April ...
Best wishes on your long trek ... please let us know how it goes!![quote]

LOL! You sound like my sister-in-law who grew up in Nebraska and now lives in St. Petersburg!! I will indeed salute the cornfields in your honor!
I just wrote a note to Labarum. I'm steaming after the post some one put about Atkins folks and cycling on the bike forum he's on. So I posted a reply. The guy has obviously NOT read the book so his response makes him look like an idiot! Glad I got that out of my system. Whether Labarum decides to post it on the bike forum or not at least folks here will know the truth!
Anyway, thanks for the well wishes. If I get near a computer, I'll give you guys an update while I'm on tour.!

Be well-
jade :wave

[jade]

Hey "Piasabird"

"I have a Fuji mountain bike and sometimes I ride my bf's Muddy Fox mountain bike. I also have an old Schwin ten speed that someone was throwing away even though nothing is wrong with it. I haven't taken it out yet. I would love to get a better bike but they're expensive you know. I've already got enough debt. lol"

*The next thing on my bike want list is to get a good mountain bike. It's a toss up between a Lemond or a Klein. I have friends who have those. They are both sweet looking bikes but pricey! I know what you mean about the better bikes being expensive. BUT! Go ahead and look. Sometimes bike shops will have last years' models priced lower so they can sell. That's how I bought my first TREK.

"I live in Illinois and we have miles and miles of trails. http://www.mcttrails.org/ They're still being worked on and some will eventually hook up with other ones. One of ours will take us across the Mississippi and join with some Missouri trails."

*I've been to your state on serveral occasions and would love to ride there sometimes. I'm originally from Missouri. One of my goals for this year is to ride the Katy Trail. My brother lives near it and is always telling me that I ought to ride it. I would LOVE to!

"I'll take your advice with increasing mileage. I did 30 miles yesterday and today which is the first time I've tried to do that much two days in a row. Whew! That was a bugger."

*How did you feel after you rode? You can even ride every other day at first. Don't push yourself. If you over do then you'll get very slow and quit altogether.

"BTW, got any remedies for saddle soreness? lol"

You bet!! You need to 'lube' up before and after you ride. I use Balmax. It's the diaper rash cream I used on my girls when they were babies. I put some on before I ride in all of the areas that I know will get chafed then after I ride and after my shower I reapply to take care of any rash or redness. Works great. But any kind of 'butt butter' will work.
Another thing you might consider is getting different seat. Mine is small seat but it has the middle cut out of it. That way I don't get all of that pressure on those delicate areas. Terry Performance which is a biking company exclusively for woman, has a nice variety of seats to choose from. Your local bike shop probably carries her products.

"Good luck on your BRAN tour."

Thanks so much! I told Betty if I get near a computer (which we do from time to time) I'll give you guys an update on how it's going.

Be well-
jade :wave

[2big4mysize]

I used to ride the BRAT Bike ride across TN and it was a bugger running from west to east the long way instead of north to south. LOL I did the NC Mts to the sea trail but it is an individual ride.

I don't think I ever rode in Nebraska on my cross country rides. I heard if you catch a prevailing wind you can sail cross the state LOL but if you catch head winds you will ride backwards your state is so windy in the sumnmer.

You can join any challenge at any time. the new 6 week exercise challenge sign up is up so please sign up if you'd like to join that the ADBB PRES challenge is open enrollment and you can join any day you'd like too.

Have fun riding

Oh I lift weights, power walk on my treadmill doing an HIIT program and use my fitness ball as a chair for free exercise. I also have been doing the 10K aday walking program since Jan 2003

[Isabeau]

Hi Jade! I've always ridden a bike for pleasure, and when I was a kid, transportation! The cycling I'm getting into is racing. Specifically, I'm training to do my first triathlon. A really good friend of mine and triathlete sold me her one year old road racing bike. It's a Davinci with a custom 'woman's' saddle, computer doo-dads, triathlon handlebars etc. All I know is that I got a 2,000 bike for 200 bucks! What's causing me the most problems, and I suppose with more experience it won't, is unclipping my shoes fast enough when I have to stop. It's okay if I see a stop sign in the distance, etc. and have some time to unclip my cycling shoes, but man, any sudden stops, I"m going down. Any suggestions?