19-03-2005 17:28									#1
	I want to start Cycling Remove this text

I got my dad's old road bike that he used to climb the santa cruz mountains for many years. Ive got the bike, a lock, and a helmet. I would potentially like to become really good at cycling.

Now im in pretty good potential shape, that is: im 5'10 150-160 lbs, but i have very low endurance right now from sitting on my ass for the past year and a half. I know i could be in EXCELLENT shape if i rode all the time.

I guess the biggest questions i have are:

1. how important are shoes at this point? im just starting, should i wait a few months?

2. how should I change my nutrition if im going on 2-3 hour rides every other day?

3. What are some drawbacks to cycling?

4. Do I HAVE to wear ****ing spandex and lycra?

5. will people beat me up if i dont think lance armstrong is the best cyclist ever? (Merckx is and you know it)

	19-03-2005 17:36									#2
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1. Shoes are not that crucial at this point (at least get those baskets though. But I would get pedals and shoes soon. You will go faster.

2. Normal eating patterns are fine.

3. Can hurt your ass. Look into a split seat. Also, there is a large danger of being hit by cars. Learn to cycle safe.

4. yes.

5. Nevuhoid of him. Greg is the best ever.

	19-03-2005 17:46									#3
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Recycling maybe, but cycling sounds too much like hard work!

	19-03-2005 17:49									#4
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i figure i will also feel better about myself and not be depressed if i work out and have a goals.

TCO, thanks! What are you doing back though? This is most wierd.

	19-03-2005 17:53									#5
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Whoa! GP sighting!

	19-03-2005 17:55									#6
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merckx is the best ever

but at the height of his ankles the rest are rather close together

	19-03-2005 17:57									#7
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I just wear tshirt, jeans and my work boots. I dont think you really need to spend any money for a while. If youve got your bike and its all you need really

All I worry about with food is eating sensibly before going out. If you know the difference between fat, protien, fast and slow release carbs then youve got the knowledge to eat well. It makes a big difference to the way I feel when I cycle to work if I eat right.

I get a 'bad' pain in my knee if I push myself too far on a cycle, but it only really hurts for a day or two. I just need to get a bit fitter and it will take much more for it to start hurting

Im having fun cycling this year so far Ive done a bunch of 1 1/2 hour rides, 2x 3hr and a 4 hr. I got started much earlier this year, so before long I should be able to do some of the silly long rides I was doing last summer

quote: Originally posted by Provost Harrison Recycling maybe, but cycling sounds too much like hard work!

Thats the thing, for me it stopped being hard work once I got fit You dont have to thrash it all the time

	19-03-2005 18:15									#8
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1. Wait for the shoes, you'll want to have some experience before you use them.

3. Cars, car doors (they're worth a seperate mention) dogs, pedestrians, slotted drain covers, not being able to stop, knee injuries (depends on build).

4. Yes, Its actually more comfortable.

5. Carry a gun if you're worried about it.

	19-03-2005 20:03									#9
	Re: I want to start Cycling Increase the size of your Attachments

quote: Originally posted by MRT144 1. how important are shoes at this point? im just starting, should i wait a few months?

Shoes aren't very important.

quote: 2. how should I change my nutrition if im going on 2-3 hour rides every other day?

You should always eat heathily. You want to drop refined carbs and switch to things like whole wheat and brown rice. It gives you a more steady supply of energy than eating white bread, sugars, rice, etc. Those give you an energy spike, and then a crash.

quote: 3. What are some drawbacks to cycling?

Cars.

quote: 4. Do I HAVE to wear ****ing spandex and lycra?

No. Loose fitting shorts and shirts are fine. You do not want loose fitting clothing anywhere near the gears, however.

quote: 5. will people beat me up if i dont think lance armstrong is the best cyclist ever? (Merckx is and you know it)

Just keep quiet about it.

	19-03-2005 21:37									#10
	Re: I want to start Cycling Tired of ads?

quote: Originally posted by MRT144 5. will people beat me up if i dont think lance armstrong is the best cyclist ever? (Merckx is and you know it)

I will personally track you down and beat you up if you DO think Armstrong is the best

Merckx!

	19-03-2005 21:40									#11
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che is spot on

spandex is... well... nevermind

	20-03-2005 00:07									#12
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3. Crotch rot.



ACK!

	20-03-2005 00:25									#13
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Hey do you happen to live in or near San Jose? I started cycliing there, they have this excellent trail I trained myself on and soon I was able to cycle from San Jose to Captiola right up to the ocean water.

	20-03-2005 05:19									#14
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I used to live near san jose! MAN the bay area has such nice areas for riding. Skyline Blvd and King's Mountain were my dads old haunt. I wish i lived in the bay somewhat...but im sure ill find great places in seattle.

	20-03-2005 07:32									#15
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1. You can wait on the shoes-- toeclips are ok for a while

2. Normal eating is ok. 2-3 hours isn't that long and if you bring a decent sports drink in one of your water bottles you should be ok. If riding 3 hours, I recommend carring two water bottles, one with water and one with a sports drink.

3. Its been covered-- Sore ass at the start and all those dangers of being on a small two wheeled vehicles

4. NO you don't have to but I do recommend a good cycling short with good padding. You can wear something over them if you don't like the look.

5. Believe what you want. Hard core cyclists are divided.

As for using an old bike, ensure you get a good tune up and you might also want to make sure the bike fits you. Have an experienced cyclist or the bike shop check the fit. Riding is so much better on a bike that fits

	20-03-2005 11:14									#16
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quote: Originally posted by Flubber 4. NO you don't have to but I do recommend a good cycling short with good padding. You can wear something over them if you don't like the look.

Agreed. Worth it.

quote: As for using an old bike, ensure you get a good tune up and you might also want to make sure the bike fits you. Have an experienced cyclist or the bike shop check the fit. Riding is so much better on a bike that fits

Yep. I don't know if Washington have Rei's - I have a membership there and they do a great service.

MRT144 - San Jose I wish I never had to move to Los Angeles. Only if I could find a good job up there I'd move back in a second.

	20-03-2005 11:47									#17
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yeah i got the tune up today at this one shop. everything is a go! im gonna do my first ride monday. after i turn in my application at the movie theater

	20-03-2005 12:10									#18
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The county council round here treats us well with special cycle maps. They publish free street level maps with all the different types of cycle path (pavement, road and offroad) coloured in on it. I found using a map a great way to explore far from my house without having to worry about getting lost, and found plenty of interesting stuff that I would otherwise have cycled right past.

Dont push yourself too hard at the start of your ride, at least until you know your limits. The last hour of your ride will be a lot more fun if you didnt knacker yourself in the first hour.

Ive not had many problems with cars to be honest, maybe its because I like to mostly ride in rural areas, or maybe its a UK thing.

	20-03-2005 21:46									#19
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If youre going to be way from civilization for a bit its probably worth taking a little repair kit with you. Just the allen/hex keys you need for the middle of your handle bars, your seat and your gears.

I also take a spare inner tube with me, little hand pump, cable ties and a bit of gaffa tape/heavy duty selotape. My seat bust apart one time when I crashed so I just taped it back together and got on with my ride

	20-03-2005 21:51									#20
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5) I usually don't consider cyclists who use doping all that great. So no...I'll not beat you up for thinking Merckx was better. 'Cause he was

Asmodean

	22-03-2005 00:03									#21
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quote: Originally posted by Snotty If youre going to be way from civilization for a bit its probably worth taking a little repair kit with you. Just the allen/hex keys you need for the middle of your handle bars, your seat and your gears. I also take a spare inner tube with me, little hand pump, cable ties and a bit of gaffa tape/heavy duty selotape. My seat bust apart one time when I crashed so I just taped it back together and got on with my ride

All prudent-- I always take a spare tube and a patch kit as well as a couple of key tools. I actually hate using the patch kit but I hate the second flat more and carrying a second tube is a lot more bulky

I also always take a cell phone--- If you pancake a wheelyou might need a pick-up

	22-03-2005 00:29									#22
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quote: Originally posted by Asmodean 5) I usually don't consider cyclists who use doping all that great. So no...I'll not beat you up for thinking Merckx was better. 'Cause he was Asmodean

I have seen no proof of Armstrong doping and he is perhaps the most tested man on the planet. Have you seen proof?


Oh and I don't see Armstrong as the greatest cyclist ever. He has edged into position as the greatest Tour de France rider ever IMHO but considering that he pretty much ignores other events, he would have a long way to go to surpass the other greats who won the TdF while also winning lots of other things

	22-03-2005 00:36									#23
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quote: Originally posted by Barinthus Yep. I don't know if Washington have Rei's - I have a membership there and they do a great service.

Dude, REI started in and is headquarted in Seattle. They have the mother of all stores there, along with several other ones in the area.

	22-03-2005 00:51									#24
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quote: Originally posted by Flubber All prudent-- I always take a spare tube and a patch kit as well as a couple of key tools. I actually hate using the patch kit but I hate the second flat more and carrying a second tube is a lot more bulky I also always take a cell phone--- If you pancake a wheelyou might need a pick-up

i have a saddle bag with all my **** in it, including patch kit, extra tube, tools, etc etc.

im gonna go for my first long ride today

	22-03-2005 01:52									#25
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heres how you get good.

1. for the first 500 km or so, put the bike in the lowest gear (1, 1) and pedal. work on keeping your legs cycling at the same rate. dont go crazy fast, but dont go very slow slow either. go at a regular slow pace.

2. once you have done that, then you are ready to go, your body knows at what speed your legs must be pumping at.

3. this sets you up, because to be a good biker, you must maintain the same speed of your legs no matter what the incline is. change gears immediatly as you feel your rotations per minute dropping. this keeps your legs and heart fresh, and you can go for miles and miles up or downhill, no matter what.

4. bring power bars, and water with you.

	22-03-2005 01:53									#26
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I don't know if they're myths (and if they are I'm sure someone will pop up imminently and explain what an idiot I am) but I've heard that cycling can do some damage to little MRT144, if ya know what I mean. I'm sure those in the know will set me straight if I'm wrong. I just bring it up because I'm sure you wouldn't want any damage whatsoever down there.

And, Lance is the greatest, if only for overcoming testicular, lung and brain cancer to win, what is it, 6 times in a row. C'mon, that's just cool.

	22-03-2005 01:59									#27
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Lance Armstrong is a tool, and probably a blood doper.

quote: But at the Tour de France in 1999 he failed a test for the corticosteroid triamcinolone - a banned substance which is found in some medicines and creams - although cycling's ruling body the UCI did not sanction him for the offence. [...] However claims by a former physiotherapist with the US Postal team, Irishwoman Emma O'Reilly, that Armstrong succumbed to using the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin) threaten to take the shine off the American's glittering reputation. O'Reilly worked with Armstrong for three and a half years from 1998 and was in almost constant contact with his close-knit team. She reveals how, among other dubious tasks, she was asked by Armstrong to dispose of bags containing syringes after the end of the Tour of Holland in 1998, only months after the Festina drugs scandal at the Tour de France almost brought the race to its knees. O'Reilly also says that in May 1999, while Armstrong was at a training camp in the Pyrenees, she was asked to drive to Spain to collect drugs and bring them back into France, which she later handed to Armstrong at a rendez-vous in a car park.

link: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stor...w/89817/1/.html

If these allegations are false, why has Lance not sued for libel/slander?

It's just like the Canseco book and baseball.

Lance is probably a cheater.

	22-03-2005 02:22									#28
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quote: Originally posted by ajbera I don't know if they're myths (and if they are I'm sure someone will pop up imminently and explain what an idiot I am) but I've heard that cycling can do some damage to little MRT144, if ya know what I mean. I'm sure those in the know will set me straight if I'm wrong. I just bring it up because I'm sure you wouldn't want any damage whatsoever down there.

There was some evidence of problems but usually in people that were experiencing "numbness" in the area from long rides . . . I think the cycling industry has respondedn with better saddles so the nerve endings in question aren't so compressed.

	22-03-2005 02:24									#29
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there is a definite improvement of seats. the main issue isnt nerve endings but penile arteries being crushed. and being the swinging bachelor i am now...well thats going to be needed.

	22-03-2005 02:29									#30
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quote: Originally posted by Sava Lance Armstrong is a tool, and probably a blood doper.

Hmmm -- it does appear that he may be a bit of a tool -- he seems arrogant-- but I still doubt the doping.


Do you realize that Armstrong has been tested randomly and by suprise frequently? Until a test turns up positive, I will take with a huge grain of salt any claims by some physiotherapist.

AS for syringes, I don't think it is at all rare for a cyclist to take injections for any number of non-banned reasons.

Armstrong may be a cheater but until there is more than one individuals alegation, I will continue to give him the benefit of the doubt