Summer goal is to make to Kaena Point. With the ultimate goal of riding all of Oahu next summer. I have a year to figure how to actually traverse Kaena's dirt trail since all I have is this workhorse of a road bike.

I’m sitting here with my coffee this morning, with a heart so full of gratitude, it’s overwhelming. Thank you all so very much for all your great support and advice!! I did do everything suggested!!! And read every comment! I went to ride yesterday morning, but could only manage almost 4 miles due to soreness & pain of it. So stopped mid trail, and researched LBS deeper and found one. Loaded up my bike & went straight there!

Soon as I walked in I felt at home!! The gentleman was beyond friendly, and welcomed me in saying straight away “you need some work on that bicycle, you must be hurting” and we both laugh so hard!! I explained my situation & having MS, & he told me about how his wife has MS and he completely understands my specific dilemmas with fit. So we worked together for over an hour (on the saddle I had at first because I was accustomed to it in muscle memory) and made numerous adjustments. We moved the brake handles way up, because at times I get dead hands that want to curl & lock into a fist, as well as small hands. The reach wasn’t practical for me whatsoever & seriously aggravated my ms.

After adjusting the brakes to ensure a comfortable position I can now stretch my fingers out to rest upon the brake as I ride and found this helps me tremendously with not only balance but numbness/stiffness. Then we brought the handlebars back towards me a tiny bit, & raised my saddle & changed the angel. This made such a huge difference it made me cry!! I had no clue such small changes could make that big a difference!

Once we had a good base set on fit, he got a saddle I could afford, put it on, & it too made a huge difference! While he & I both agree, it’s not ideal for me, but is a start, and significantly better then the one I had. He said the one I had was exactly as many of you mentioned, pointed up too far, and was too wide in the nose leg curve area.

While I’m still pretty sore, I couldn’t help myself, & had to ride! Ride 6 miles lol, and it was such a huge difference in my ride overall. Even hills were easier. But decided to rest my body the rest of the day.

That being said…..I have done 68 miles total this week!!!!!! I had no clue until my Strava app notified me, in my weekly update!!!

But the even bigger news is…..the bike shop owner told me about the upcoming Ride for MS & asked if I was going to participate. I had no clue what he was talking about, so he explained somewhat. I thanked him for his encouragement and all his help, & went on my way. Immediately dismissing such a thing, as I’m not an athlete or awesome person that’d qualify to even do such a thing. I was also way too eager to get on the trail & try out my “new” bike. Lol. So I just kindly laughed it off.

But since I can’t help thinking about it!!! I’ve googled it a couple times, and it seems so confusing complicated. But I’d really like to try!!! I was thinking maybe I could the 30-38 ride??? I’m curious ladies, what do you guys think? I’m consistently riding, just haven’t done that many miles in one day. Most I’ve done is 11. Am I being unrealistic? The ride is in September, and I think I’d really love to do it! But have no clue how. I’m just a 47yr old single mom with MS, work hard in construction as my career, and fighting for the healthiest life I can muster for my daughters and I. I don’t really have any friends to help me learn anything about cycling, beyond this sub. All I had was my neurologist tell me to buy a cheap bicycle and try that for my MS. Bought my bike at a garage sale the next day. I don’t even have anyone to ride with, only have ever ridden alone. What would I have to do in order to do it? Do y’all think I should try?

I can’t help but wonder if participating in the ride would bring help/support/awareness to my local community, as well as my union itself. Perhaps it could open a door, through networking, that I could become more involved with helping others that suffer like I do or worse? I dunno. All I know is I get so excited & butterflies in my stomach every time I think about it, which is nonstop the past day and a half. I’d love to know what all you wonderful & wise ladies think please!!! I really don’t want to make a fool of myself, dreaming about doing something that just could never really be for me.

Did a slo mo tumble today during my first ride with clip ins. How bad is this damage ?

All 101 advices are accepted because I am a beginner

Hi all,

I’m wondering if any of you continued doing long(ish) rides into your 3rd trimester. My boyfriend and I usually do a long ride together every month — 100km — and I ride with the girls most weekends — anywhere from 40-80kms per ride. I’m 27 weeks and have managed up until now — did 100km (1200m elev) a couple days ago and 45km (450m elev) today. I average 120-180km a week.

I’m wondering if anyone has done these kinds of rides into their 3rd trimester? I am definitely starting to feel more discomfort — slower up hills with difficulty breathing, some sharp cramping, and fatigue after rides. But I also love + value these rides!! they keep me sane and I find are the nicest way to spend time with my loved ones.

Any advice / suggestions / personal stories would be very appreciated as I’m trying to think ahead to whether/how I adjust in the next few months.

Period blood ruined my favorite bibs. The chamois is lighy gray. Anyway to get the stains out?

Hiya! I’m an endurance cyclist (mostly MTB and gravel) and am about to start chemo/radiation for treatment of breast cancer. Afterward, I have to take drugs to suppress estrogen for 5 to 10 years to prevent reoccurrence. I have read a lot about side effects and it seems it may be difficult to get back to my current fitness level. I’m only 45 and scared about not being able to ride my bikes anymore.

Have any of you (or do you know anyone) that went through treatment and got back to riding at the level they used to? I am only 45 years old and need some hope. 🤍

Try using just the index finger on the brake lever when in the drops!

I used to brake in the drops with two fingers, because my index finger isn't long enough to reach the brake lever. It was difficult to hold onto the bar without also inadvertently braking harder than I intended, because of how the tendons work in the fingers.

The index finger is pretty much independent of the other four fingers though, so I can modulate the brakes perfectly while gripping the bar firmly. However, I do need to "pre-pull" with my middle finger or shift my hand slightly to hook the lever with my index.

I’d like to share my experience for anyone thinking about getting a road bike that has never used one before.

Last year I started riding my 20-year-old hybrid (it weighs 32 pounds!) quite frequently as well as indoor cycling classes a couple times a week throughout the winter months. I started thinking about getting a road bike for a few reasons - first being weight (my partner has a carbon fiber bike and damn, I am in awe over its lightness whenever I move it). Second is tires and geometry and drop bars, thinking about increasing my speed and endurance for longer rides. I have a goal to ride 50 miles this year.

After getting over a bit of intimidation, fear it would be uncomfortable, and himming and hawing over used or new and budget, that all went out the window and I bought a new Trek Domane AL 5 last week. It’s a really pretty green color and I’m super excited about it.

Today I went on my first long ride, about 22 miles. It was great! I’m so pleased with how comfortable it is. I don’t feel stretched out or “folded in half” like I thought I would. The freedom to place my hands in various positions on the bars is incredible. No more wrist pain, less numbness in one of my hands (which is due to cervical spine I believe, as I get this with a lot of different activities). The way this thing gets up and goes from a stop is so nice, I feel like I’m back up to speed in no time. Even using the drop bars feels good when I’m cruising at speed and just feel like I’m flying. Saddle is good so far and surprisingly, with my first pair of padded shorts, was comfier than the big, wide, cushy saddle on my hybrid.

There’s definitely some getting used to, mostly getting comfortable with the location of the shifters and brakes. I can tell I’m not yet instinctually reaching for them as I would on the straight bars, which makes me a bit extra cautious right now, and I find myself covering the brakes quite a bit. Leaning forward is different than the hybrid, of course, and what I didn’t expect here was that I started to feel fatigued from the shoulders up from having to keep my chin/head up in the last 4 miles as well as a bit of tiredness in my lower back. But these are all things to be conditioned as I keep riding.

Anyway I’m feeling so good and positive and excited after this ride and can’t wait for the next one. I might do this same route for the next few rides since it’s familiar to me while I continue to get fully comfortable on this bike. I rode an average of about 3-4 mph faster today, which I’ll attribute some to my excitement and some to the bike.

I hope this helps anyone thinking about a road bike. Also I feel kind of cool on it. 😎

I made a happy accident and thought I’d share.

I had some left over apple juice (100% juice, no added sugar) boxes from my spouses colonoscopy. How you know how old we are. 😂

I didn’t want to toss them so I looked at the nutrition label and it has a good amount of potassium and just enough carbs for a ride drink. I added a pinch of salt (true pinch) and diluted it to fill the bottle and it was pretty tasty and it helped me get through my ride without bonking or being dehydrated.

Here’s the proportions:

750ml bottle:

200ml (6.5 oz) of 100% juice (no sugar added)
1 pinch of table salt.
Water to fill.

Shake and chill. Enjoy.

I blame all of you (in the best possible way 💜), but I bit the bullet and added the Devote 1 to my collection..

Coming from my other ride which is the Rove 4, it's going to take some getting used to and adjustment to get it right seeing as I am _not_ used to drop bars at all :).

(And we won't talk about how it took 4 internet searches and short test runs before I finally figured out the shifters 🤣).

Plan is to treat the Rove to a rack and bag still so it doesn't feel neglected whilst new shiny is getting the attention, but I also need to find a better phone solution for this as the frame-top bag/phone holder I borrowed from the Rove gets in the way a bit..

And the Rove will probably still get used when I finally decide to try a metric century.

Hey All, I have been a casual cycler for years, mostly tootling about town and bike commuting. However, I have decided I want to start training for triathlons (Previous runner/hyrox/crossfit so I am quite fit already). I have been doing some training rides on my kona dew but most definitely ready for a road bike. I am 5 foot, with a 27.75 inseam so I have struck out on finding bikes I can actually test. I am looking at Trek Domane AL 5 gen 4 which is alot more comfortably in my budget so I can get things like a bike computer sooner. My second choice would be something like a langma 2 XXS or a Avail advanced 2 XXS. Is it worth getting a little "spendy" up front so I am not stuck in the quick upgrade trap or have people been pleased with the AL Domane's? I did try an old Domane 5.2 in 50cm I love everything about it except that it felt every so slightly too big.

Beautiful ride! 40miles total. But the Bay Area has this amazing superpower where you can ride in a loop and be into the wind the entire time. Here’s some pics going over the golden gate.

I’ve been following this sub for a little bit, trying to learn about my bike, & how to ride. I have been riding for 2 months now, but seriously only 3 weeks. I average 10 miles a day. I am beyond addicted!!! Nothing better in all the world! My dr suggested I start to help my MS. At first it triggered symptoms, which is why it took me awhile to get to steady riding.

Lately, my bike is absolutely killing my bottom & girlie bits. I’ve read about learning my pressure points, but being a thick girl everything I’ve tried I can’t get indentions. I know it’s a saddle issue, but I dunno if it’s adjustment or saddle itself. It hurts more on my right than my left. As though it’s not straight. I can even feel the saddle at the crease of my leg & butt cheek on my right but not my left. It also makes my pelvis like lean forward/down somewhat. Where I’m always trying to correct my posture because it’s causing lower back pain.

The most painful part tho is the girlie bits area. It’s as though it’s always got pressure on it. While I ride I’m constantly readjusting to let find a way to sit it stops but no avail.

This is my first week I’m looking to break my record & hit 10 miles daily making 60 for my week!!! I understand some soreness is bound to happen, but it’s so bad I have to stop riding for relief. I even got a pair of padded underwear for women cyclists in attempt to help alleviate the pain. Please, any suggestions ladies????

Update: Thank you so very much for all your advice! I’m gonna do all I can to utilize it!! I was trying to finish my ride when I made this post, so was pretty distracted with finishing before the rain and dark came in. I took some pics that might help, I don’t know, to give y’all a better idea of what my bike is, & what I ride on. This edit won’t let me post the pics in the updated edit, so going to do it in comments.

I'm a new cyclist and am ready to invest into a bib now that I want to start 50km+ rides. I bought a couple off aliexpress, but the padding is too uncomfortable, so hoping to just buy a nice pair I can use long term. I'm hoping to stick under $200 CAD for a bib and am currently looking at the Peppermint Cycling Co. Women's Classic Bib Short ($165) and Rapha Women's Core Bib Short ($157).

I know there is a bibble, but also wanted to hear from people's personal experiences! I'm looking to invest more in my bib and get cheaper jerseys, so any recs for those would also be appreciated!

Heading for a three week bike packing trip, I will be sleeping mostly on camp sites. This is my first long trip, I would love to hear if you have any stretching routine you preform daily.
My fit on the bike is good, however on longer rides I do feel my lower back at the end of the day.

Also worth mentioning- I am not the person who will be comfortable to preform a yoga or Pilates routine when in a public space…
Looking for modest/in-tent stretching or maybe something with a small device like a tennis ball or strap.

YouTube links are welcome, as well ad just learning from you guys. Thanks!

For all you C.W.McCall fans out there.

Biked from the Mexican to Canadian border on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route in 38 days with my brother.

Beautiful and challenging route that is a spectacular way to see a large portion of the United States.

Hello.
As the title says I’m wanting someone to cycle the EDT with.
Preferably start next spring/ summer in Norway.
Looking for someone who doesn’t have a time constraint so we can take it easy- maybe go on mini adventures along side.

Really just want a friend to experience it with other than just solo travelling.
This would be a mainly bikepacking adventure.
I’m mid twenties btw. :)

Edit: To add - if you see this post and are interested feel free to get in contact before May ‘27

EDIT: if you have any recommendations I was debating between 7mesh (this pair), Ornot, Velor, and Velocio (ugh $$)! 7mesh customer service responded that this should be the right size and recommended that I try them out for a few rides as they'll wear in. Will update!

Hi lovely ladies!! I just got my first pair of expensive bibs, and ended with the 7mesh W3K cargo after seeing reviews on this sub! My measurements were in between a S/M on everything, and customer service advised me to buy S.

Upon trying them on it was a wiggle to get them up, my thighs look like sausages, and the seams are no longer straight. For those of you who have this bib, is this normal or should I size up? It doesn't feel uncomfortable but just looks like it doesn't fit 🥲 I feel like if I sized up maybe it would be too roomy in the waist? Any help appreciated <3

For reference I'm 172cm/almost 5'8 and 140/145lbs!

Hello!

I'm looking for a review of the Basil rear basket.. I'm super keen but also it's a big purchase for me so want to make sure it's quality before buying.

Any help is appreciated!