I posted this comment a few days ago, and now I'm ready to put my money where my mouth is.
We should think about a series on cycling issues.
* How to get started if you haven't ridden since you got your driver's license
* BWOW (Biking While OverWeight - not as scary as it sounds!
* Finding the right commuter bike
* Safety and sharing the road
* Panniers, trailers and baskets
* Rails-to-trails movement
* Equipment and repair
* Community rides
* Community issues
* Bike porn
JamesGG helpfully suggested Bikeshares as another topic, and I'd love to hear other suggestions.
The topic for today is How to get started if you haven't ridden since you got your driver's license, with special attention to picking out your bike.
I rode my bike everywhere when I was a kid. Around the neighborhood, to school, to do the shopping. We lived in a rather congested suburban neighborhood so there was always plenty of traffic to contend with.
I stopped biking pretty much the same day I got my learner's permit. Then in my mid-thirties, disgusted with my weight and overall fitness level, I began shopping for a bike.
At first I was intimidated. Would all those thin bike store people sneer at me? Would they be mean to me? Would they speak some obscure slang only insiders could understand? But I'd done enough research to know that the best way to get knowledgeable help and find a good bike is to go to a bike shop, not a chain retailer like Target or Walmart. That also fit neatly with my preference to shop in locally-owned stores and not national chains.
So armed with a bit of reading material, some internet searches, and a determination to support local business I went shopping.
The first place I went into was a large, very busy shop (A wonderful shop - I later bought my second bike there). A few employees offered to help me, but I was too shy and embarrassed to ask my specific questions in front of other people. So I went to the next shop on my list, a small shop staffed by the owner and a few volunteer interns. I meekly approached the owner.
"I need some help. I'm looking for a good bike for somebody who hasn't gotten on a bike since she was 15. I also need a sturdy one that will suit somebody of my size."
The owner smiled and said that most people who came in said very much the same thing. He then explained the different types of bikes on the market.
There are road bikes, with very thin tires and those ram-horn handlebars. They range in price from $600 - $5,000++++. They're very fast and efficient, but can be challenging on rough, uneven, or slick surfaces.
There are mountain bikes, with nubbly fat tires, straight handlebars, and shock absorbers. They're terrific all-terrain vehicles, but they're not the fastest or most efficient on the roads. They cost anywhere between $300-$5,000+++.
Then there are specialty bikes: single-speeds, cyclocross, touring bikes, beach bikes, folding bikes - a host of design options for different sports, commuting, and travel needs. Some fairly inexpensive, some ruinously expensive.
The new things at the time were hybrid and comfort bikes. Hybrids aimed to capture the best of road and mountain bikes: good for commuting and social riding. Not optimal for high-speed or rough terrain, but something study and adequate in between. Comfort bikes are similar to hybrids, with large, cushy seats, wider handlebars, and a lower profile to make it easier to put your feet on the ground while seated. They range from $250-$800+.
After hearing my intended use: Commuting, shopping, and leisurely weekend pleasure rides, he recommended a hybrid or comfort bike with a rack for panniers. He also recommended a women's frame, so that I could step through instead of having to throw my leg over the seat to mount the bike. That can get tricky with your panniers full of groceries!
I asked what brands might be best. His recommendation: test ride! Good bike shops will let you take the bike out for a spin. Test the fit to your body type, test how the gears work, test how easy it is to make adjustments (raising/lowering the seat). Different manufacturers and different models will suit different people. Don't buy a bike until you're pleased with it. You don't want to buy a several hundred dollar clothing rack.
I asked about shifting gears. When I was young, the big thing was 10-speeds, and I was more comfortable with a 3-speed. Most of the hybrids and comfort bikes he was describing had 24 speeds! He explained that on the flat, you can use a high gear. Your legs will do most of the work and you'll go fast. On hills, it helps to have low gears to let the bike do more of the work and spare your legs. You might go slow, but you won't have to get off and push. A bit more on gears.
Then came the challenge: actually riding. It's true! You really don't forget. It's hard to describe the pleasure of getting back on the bike after so many years. It took a while to build my confidence, but I started with riding a few blocks and soon moved on to miles. The thought of commuting through traffic was terrifying. I started off driving to a place about 5 blocks from work and biking from there. Gradually I parked further and further away until I was confident and ready for the whole trip.
There were some added costs to that first bike. I chose a comfort bike, which itself was about $300. I also needed a helmet, rack, grocery panniers, and a lock, and front and rear lights which totaled another $200. I also spent another $100 for a rack to carry the bike on my car. I'll do a whole diary on accessories later - I am obsessed with accessories!
You can certainly start off cheaper, getting stuff used off Craigslist, but I consider $600 well invested in getting me started on a path I really love. One that's helped me lose weight, improve cardio-vascular fitness, meet great people, and have a lot of fun. I rode that first bike to my first date with the man who's now my husband.
What do you think? Should I continue the series?