Digest 2001-04-19

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 22:49:42 -0400
From: Nancy Dickenson 
Subject: [WCDL] Hi
Reply-To: womens-cycling@teamestrogen.com
I just joined the list because I recently bought a bike and I'm totally 
addicted already. The information on this list is great, especially about 
things like bike shorts. I mean, where can you get that kind of information 
but on a list like this?

I've signed up for my first century for November in Georgia, so I have a 
goal. I've just started riding again after years of not even owning a 
bicycle and I joined a local bike club. I live in Northern New Jersey and 
the weather is still kind of cold up here. I'm from Atlanta though, and 
it's already very hot there. I've lived in California and right now I'm 
missing that California weather and all those bike lanes!

Nancy



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Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 21:03:45 -0700
From: 
Subject: Re: [WCDL] Hi
Reply-To: womens-cycling@teamestrogen.com
Hello Nancy,

My doctor suggested more physical activity, I have diabetes Type II, 
and have only known about it for 6 weeks.
My last bike was in 1973, and I only stopped biking because I was cut 
off by a car and it totaled my 10 speed which already had survived 
two previous hits. You can say it was the last straw.

I was looking for shorts because I had done some power pedal classes 
in a gym three years ago when I was training for outrigger canoe 
racing.  Well, it wasn't comfy in that pedal class and I remembered 
riding all day on my 10 speed without a problem.  But also I was 50 
pounds lighter!

The bike was a birthday present I got to choose myself.  I went to 5 
different shops and tried all kinds.  Since I have been away for so 
long bikes and equipment sure changed.  So I chose a Mongoose Hybrid, 
road and off road, comfy.  I started out yesterday after picking it 
up and did 3 miles of small hills that we call our backyard.  I live 
in Goleta, just 30 miles north of Santa Barbara.

I was interested in all the short information but didn't find the 
shorts I was looking for.   I finally found them at 
www.pearlizumi.com but went to Sportsmart to purchase the shorts. 
Journey Short entry level cycling shorts, with a shorter leg length 
and a chamois padded center.  Bulky at first but I could ride all day 
in these shorts.  I was looking for a fast drying Multicore type of 
short since I have beaches 3.5 miles away I like to ride to and if I 
want to take a dip I don't have to worry about if I remembered to 
take my swim suite with me.

I am now looking for a collapsible bag for my rack.  I've seen some 
bikes with it.  It opens upward to accomadate a grocery bag size 
load.  We have a organic farm I get my veggies at only 3.5 miles away 
and it would come in very handy.

I just retired from beach volleyball and outrigger canoe racing so I 
am not yet interested in riding clubs.  Perhaps later, just taking a 
break from competitive sports.  Gosh I just realized I've been 
competing in sports since 1967! Whoa...think I was addicted!

It's spring weather, warm most days, not hot, cool in the shade, rain 
due this weekend.

Nice to have email from you.

Keep in touch!

Yes, bike lanes are grand!

Mar


>I just joined the list because I recently bought a bike and I'm 
>totally addicted already. The information on this list is great, 
>especially about things like bike shorts. I mean, where can you get 
>that kind of information but on a list like this?
>
>I've signed up for my first century for November in Georgia, so I 
>have a goal. I've just started riding again after years of not even 
>owning a bicycle and I joined a local bike club. I live in Northern 
>New Jersey and the weather is still kind of cold up here. I'm from 
>Atlanta though, and it's already very hot there. I've lived in 
>California and right now I'm missing that California weather and all 
>those bike lanes!
>
>Nancy
>

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From: "Susan Otcenas" 
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 21:16:11 -0700
Subject: RE: [WCDL] Hi
Reply-To: womens-cycling@teamestrogen.com
> I am now looking for a collapsible bag for my rack.  I've seen some
> bikes with it.  It opens upward to accomadate a grocery bag size
> load.

I think I know what you are talking about.  My sister has a great bag made
by Jandd, that she used when commuting to school. It hooks onto the side of
her rack, like a pannier.  It flattens against the side when not in use, but
when open it is shaped basically like a grocery bag, but with an open top.
I went to the Jandd website but they don't seem to have any information
about their individual products.  I'll send my sister an e-mail and ask her
where she got hers.

Susan

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Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 08:45:06 -0400
From: Nancy Dickenson 
Subject: Re: [WCDL] Hi
Reply-To: womens-cycling@teamestrogen.com
Mar,

I'll check out those shorts. I love that area of California where you live. 
I lived in Campbell last year for about four months and worked in Mountain 
View. Last June was so hot there and the power brownouts were interesting. 
I moved there in early April and moved back here in July. I had gotten rid 
of all my NY winter clothes and moved there to work, but got homesick and 
it was impossible to find a decent apartment at anywhere near a reasonable 
rent, so I came back to the east coast. I miss California now though. My 
daughters are in Atlanta in college and California was a little too far away.

I'm exercising for my health too, I need to lose 30 pounds and I don't want 
to have health problems and I'm 45 now. However, when I bought my bike they 
would barely show me anything but real basic cruiser bikes. They didn't 
want to take me seriously. I guess they just saw me as an overweight 
middleaged woman! Yuk! I feel young, but I do need to drop that extra 
weight for my health and my self esteem. Cycling seems like a really fun 
way to do it. I rode a lot last weekend, maybe overdid it on Sunday, but I 
can't wait until this Saturday. I've also got to work out some time in my 
schedule during the week, or else go to the gym and take a cycling class. I 
don't really enjoy going to the gym though, I'd rather be outdoors. That's 
why I bought my bike.

I had a ten speed that I bought in high school and rode it in college. Then 
I bought another bike about ten years ago when I went back to finish 
college after my divorce. I rode it up and down those hills in Atlanta 
while I was going to Agnes Scott. Ponce de Leon wasn't a very friendly road 
to ride on though, and I was terrified all the time. I tried using it for 
commuting to school, but I didn't do that as much as I wanted to because 
Atlanta (at that time, it may be better now) traffic is a nightmare and 
people aren't used to sharing the road. Actually, you can barely walk in 
some of the suburbs. There are few sidewalks and they will definitely hit 
you when you are on foot.

Gotta get to work--my next step is riding the route on the weekend and 
commuting by bicycle! 




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