I want to ride my bike

As Queen sang:  I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike...


In this second Tri - Talk Tuesday, I have a few words of advice, even if you just ride your bike for enjoyment.  But first, a little history of where my advice comes from.




I started riding back in high school on my brother's Huffy 10 speed.  No clips.  No padded bike shorts.  I just loved to ride.  I would go out for 20 plus mile rides almost every morning before swim team practice, before the heat came.  (I also remember flying over the handle bars at least once a week.  I still don't know how.)  When I turned 16, I didn't care about getting my driver's license, I could just ride my bike everywhere.


In college I joined the Cycling Team.  I was the only girl.  (And I didn't date much.) I enjoyed it.  I learned a lot from the guys.  Even today, I challenge myself more when I ride with the guys. First lesson, ride with the guys, they let you keep up just enough to make you work harder.


When I got back into racing, I dusted off my old racing bike from college and headed out the door.  Blessing or curse, my husband dove head first into it with me. He is my sag wagon when something breaks, and my at home equipment guy.  Knowing how I loved my Moser from college, he started to research the latest and greatest.  Now, I have a well loved new Moser.  Aero bars and all.
It amazes me when I hear about someone testing the waters of racing by borrowing their friend or mother's bike for a race.  For me this is a red flag - if they don't own their own bike, what are they training on?  And second, how do they know it fits them?


Don't get me wrong.  If your race is only 6 miles long on the bike, and your goal is to finish, you can borrow my daughter's bike.  It will get you from T1 to T2, but you'll feel it the next day.  A co-worker participated in a short sprint triathlon with me last year.  She borrowed a bike, not a racing bike, a regular mom bike.  It had a cushy seat and she sat upright.  She trained by riding a stationary bike.  And she finished.  However, she swore she would never do it again because she was sore for the next week.


I understand not shelling out money for a bike until you commit yourself.  But please take this advise: use a bike that fits you and your event.  Even if you are borrowing a bike, understand, you need to have someone who knows what they are doing fit you to the bike.  Adjust the seat level, as well as the seat.  Adjust the handlebars.  Make sure the bike is tuned up before the race, too.  Your friend won't mind you adjusting things on their bike as much is they know they got a tune-up out of the deal.


Include the bike mechanic on your friends list.  In fact, remember their birthday, bring them bagels now and then.  Stop in during the off season and say "hi."  This person is more valuable than gold.  A few years ago, I took my kid for a ride through the Arboretum.  I rode my Mom bike.  And when we left, I proudly had it in the rack on top of my car.  Unfortunately, I was 1 inch too tall to go through the McDonald's drive-thru on the way home.  It ripped off the left gear shifter.  I immediately took it to my bike mechanic.  I rolled the bike in.  They looked at it.  30 minutes later, I rolled out with a new gear shifter. No wait.  No "we have to order the part" or "come back tomorrow."  We were regulars at the shop and they took care of us.


And wear padded shorts.  If you find the perfect seat, and it is adjusted perfectly, you won't even notice if you forgot your shorts.  But this is something that takes time and that perfect mechanic.  And even then, wear the padded shorts.  Even the tri-shorts.  When you find the perfect padded shorts, buy 5 pair.  It may be a few years before you find another pair so perfect.


See you on the roads...

Bicycle bicycle bicycle
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I want to ride my
Bicycle races are coming your way
So forget all your duties oh yeah!
Fat bottomed girls they'll be riding today
So look out for those beauties oh yeah
On your marks get set go
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Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/queen/bicycle-race-lyrics/#Y6aVL4uOJUfY87QY.99

Bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my
Bicycle races are coming your way
So forget all your duties oh yeah!
Fat bottomed girls they'll be riding today
So look out for those beauties oh yeah
On your marks get set go
Bicycle race bicycle race bicycle race
Bicycle bicycle bicyI want to ride my bicycle
Bicycle bicycle bicycle
Bicycle race
Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/queen/bicycle-race-lyrics/#Y6aVL4uOJUfY87QY.99

Bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my
Bicycle races are coming your way
So forget all your duties oh yeah!
Fat bottomed girls they'll be riding today
So look out for those beauties oh yeah
On your marks get set go
Bicycle race bicycle race bicycle race
Bicycle bicycle bicyI want to ride my bicycle
Bicycle bicycle bicycle
Bicycle race
Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/queen/bicycle-race-lyrics/#Y6aVL4uOJUfY87QY.99