Subscribe to FTLOB
Join 1,305 other subscribers
3 feet 30daysofbiking advocacy aquabike bike accident bike love bike safety bike share CA Central Coast Campagnolo Classic Adventures community crash cycling cycling accident fitness fortheloveof half im hit by a car injured katy trail Northern CA coast and wine country notaboutthebike quebec bike tour recovery Ride for the Roses share the love share the road swim TDF texas hill country tour de france touring training Truth videos why we ride women
Previous Posts
Subscribe!
Tag Cloud
30daysofbiking
accident
Advocacy
bike racing
bike touring
CA Bike Tour
CA Central Coast
cycling
grand tour
KATY Trail
professional bike racing
professional cycling
Quebec
random
recovery
Redman
Riding
TDF
TDF 2010
TDF 2011
TDF 2012
TDF 2013
Texas Hill Country
Tour de France
Tour de France Guide
training
triathlon
I had one too many running injuries when I started exercising at 29 after being overweight for many years. I decided to buy a bike to do some cross-training, and maybe even a triathlon or two. I fell in love with my bike. At first I had a young-person mentality (speed is king) but time and age have taught me I don’t have to spend every ride going as fast as I can. It’s OK to slow down and enjoy the ride and scenery. I never would have thought I would ride my bike for transportation, for touring,and for pure enjoyment. I still enjoy speed, but now realize it’s more about the journey than about the average at the end.
Thanks Tanya, I love your story and can relate to it too. Thanks for sharing it.
I just got back into cycling last October, when I bought a Schwinn hybrid. I originally bought it to ride with my children, but soon discovered that I could find a temporary escape by riding through the old neighborhoods between my home and downtown Okla. City. My riding desires grew into a desire to commute to work by bicycle. I found Nathan’s blog, http://www.okcbicyclist.com, and discovered that his route for work would work well for me to commute to my work. In January, I started commuting once a week on my hybrid. My commute is 27 miles round trip. I am able to ride secondary roads, such as Drexel, Independence, and Greystone, which provide a safer route from my home by the fairgrounds to work by Quail Springs Mall. I am now up to commuting by bike 2-3 times per week, depending on family scheduling. I set my self a goal to conserve one tank of gasoline in May by commuting to work at least 8 times, and surpassed that goal last Wednesday, May 25. I have also started using my bike to do small grocery runs, as Aldi and Crest are both easy trips on the bike.
I have now branched out, riding the various trails I have found around town and doing a few group OBS rides. I soon discovered that my hybrid was limiting me, so I purchased a basic Specialized Allez road bike so I could keep up in group rides. My monthly mileage has increased as well, to the point that I may ride 400 miles in May before the month is over (if I ride out to the Cherokee Trading Post on Monday).
Brian, Thanks so much for sharing your story, I really enjoyed it. Your’s mirrors mine somewhat – my hybrid was also a Schwinn and I bought it so I could ride with my daughter… and then like you it grew. I love those neighborhoods you’re talking about (Heritage Hills and Mesa Park) where you ride. I follow Nathan’s blog, plus on twitter and fb too. That’s cool his commute helped you to navigate your own. I’m very impressed by your commuting, the way you made it a goal and then surpassed what you had originally set. A 27 mile commute will make the miles add up quickly. I go for side streets too and would think it’s especially important on commutes since drivers are in a bigger hurry and more distracted than normal.
Congratulations on reaching and surpassing your commuting goal for May – very impressive given the length of your commute! I understand about buying the road bike, the Specialized Allez is a nice one. A year and a half after I bought the Schwinn hybrid I bought a used Trek 560, made a huge difference in ease and speed like I’m sure you’ve found.
I love your story! In just over 6 months you have turned into a cycling machine – I love it when I hear about another cycling convert and you are definitely one! I hope you’ll check in here from time to time. I want to add a page/section for other people that love bikes to post and people/stories like yours are just what I have in mind. Thanks again for sharing your story.
Happy riding!
When I was a teenager in the early 80’s I didn’t own a car (child abuse by today’s standards) and I rode my trusty Raleigh to the swimming pool for my job as a lifeguard. After getting a used Pontiac Sunbird while in college I abandoned my faithful Raleigh. Fast forward to 1999… a friend from California was in town and we rented bikes and rode on the Katy Trail. I was hooked and bought a bike that Fall and have logged over 8000 miles on the Katy Trail. Recently I started branching out and am trying to discover safe bike routes on roads. I love cycling and reading cycling blogs!
P.S. The Pedaler’s Jamboree from Columbia, MO to Boonville, MO was a ton of fun (offtrackevents.com).
Kim, I can easily understand how you got hooked on biking again after riding on the Katy! I can also see why you’ve continued to ride it, and favor it over road cycling, I think I would too. We love it, you’re one lucky cyclist to live where you can ride it all the time! I’ll check out the website and I appreciate you reading and commenting here.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Life is smooth until one hits that small peddle in the road. While finding out I had cancer my life soon turned into a gravel road with potholes every other peddle stroke. After undergoing surgery, therapy, and other post surgery task life has finally swung back into the cycle. In the mean time, during those 3 years I have became an avid cyclist who now rides 600 miles a month. My bicycle’s are my form of transportation and it has also re-energized my power of thinking. I tell myself being a all year round ride 7 days a week will prepare me for when I become sick again! Cycling simply makes any person a stronger individual ill or not!
Kristopher,
Your analogy of a gravel road with potholes everywhere is a good one. I can only imagine how it is to deal with cancer – to keep fighting, to keep going. I am amazed and yet can understand too how you turned to cycling – and now ride 600 miles a month. I have also used cycling to get me through difficult times in my life and it has. I agree with you 100% that cycling makes any person stronger and healthier. It also clears my mind and focuses me in on what’s important. As much as cycling benefits me physically it helps me mentally and emotionally (and spiritually) even more. I’m glad that it has done and continues to do so much for you.
Your story is powerful and inspiring, thank you for sharing it here. Best wishes for future good health.