I had been doing Yoga for about 6 months when I realized that my routine needed to include a cardiovascular component.
I had tried running in the past, but my knees just weren't cut out for running. (Although, a year later, I am now able to run/walk about 1.5 miles before I fall down in a heap.) At that point, I didn't want to spend much money getting into a cardio fitness routine, so I dragged an old mountain bike from my parents' basement. I cleaned it up and rode about 2 miles. My behind hurt so bad I couldn't stand it.
So, I went to the local super store and started looking for a bike with a softer seat. I was lucky to find a six-speed 'comfort' bike with a nice gel-filled seat for under $100. That bike and I spent the rest of the summer rediscovering the joys of riding a bike. I hadn't had so much fun exercising since I was a kid riding my bike all over town.
The next spring, my inexpensive bike started having a little trouble keeping up with my rides that were starting to reach the 15 mile mark on a regular basis. So, I took some money and invested in my first real "grown up" bike. I visited my local bike shop and, based on the salesman's advice, I bought a Giant Cypress hybrid (cross between a road bike and mountain bike). This bike has a great gel-filled seat, a seat post with a big spring in it and lots of gears to help me get up those hills.
After about three weeks of increasing mileage on that bike, I participated in my first organized bike ride at Billie Creek VIllage in Rockville, Indiana. My new bike and I went 50 miles that day. I was very proud of myself, but my behind and back were very sore. That day I talked with a lot of serious cyclists who told me that going 50 miles or more on a hybrid was asking a lot of a bike designed for short jaunts around the neighborhood. (I still use this bike for jaunts around the neighborhood with my family, by the way.)
So, reluctantly, I headed back to the bike shop to talk to the salesman again (Hi, Travis.). Based on the fact that I had greatly increased the distances and frequency of my rides in the past month or so, he recommended I take the next step and invest in a road bike. So, I went home the proud owner of a Giant OCR2 road bike.
Within 4 weeks of buying that bike (and some cycling shorts with a padded seat built in) I finished my first century ride at the Crawfordsville Strawberry festival. For those who don't know: a century ride is any ride over 100 miles in a single day. That day, I rode 100.1 miles and although I was really tired, I was proud to have done it.
At this point, I ride almost every day and I average between 100 and 150 miles per week. I recently told my dad that I'd rather be riding my bike than sitting in a recliner watching TV. It's the first time in my life that I've found a sport that I really enjoy and I'm pretty good at too.
Here are some cycling links that have helped me a great deal:
