One of the most common questions we hear when a new rider signs up for an event is "what kind of bike do I need?"
This is a loaded question... and has lots of potential answers depending on your individual situation. So it's simply not possible to provide a definitive answer here and now. The odds are, so long as you have a machine with two wheels, a saddle, a set of pedals and some gears, you'll do just fine with it! Although fitness is key, the bike you ride may contribute to your comfort level, being faster, or slower, help you zip up the hills or cause you to be challenged by them, be a reliable companion or a source of frustration; but the Ride To Empower is absolutely do-able on whatever your "iron donkey" of choice.
If you've caught the cycling bug and wish to upgrade to a bike more suited for a long, comfortable day in the saddle, or a sleek, light-weight dazzler you'll ride to win races, we can absolutely provide some guidance. Since each person's goals, style, and, of course, finances, are unique, the best way for us to help you is for you to contact us personally, or post a specific comment on this blog, and we'll do our best to point you in the right direction.
In the meantime, we just want to say that WE LOVE BIKES! Cycling is, first and foremost, a wonderful way to exercise for your good health and well-being both physically and mentally; which you can do from today until your 100th birthday (and beyond, should you be so lucky).
A bicycle is also a fabulous way to travel! We've traveled all over the Western States, doing much of our most memorable site-seeing on our bikes. Sometimes we pedal solo -- sometimes we enjoy special moments of marital bliss by cycling in unison on tandem!
We also enjoy getting dirty on our mountain bikes! Whether riding through a vortex in beautiful Sedona, Arizona, or pedaling through aspen forests in Utah, going off-road is a blast!
All you have to do is hit the road. There are endless places to explore. What a great way to see the back roads of Zion National Park at Kolob Terrace!
We meet lots of wonderful people who share our love of cycling. Many are casual, weekend riders, who ride a century now and again. Some are hard-core, training thousands of miles a year, and riding centuries or double centuries every weekend. Some are cycling tourists, some are car-less cycling commuters. Some are in a league of their own. (Like Tinker Juarez, pictured below. Tinker is a world class mountain biker, Olympian, and the the most famous cyclist we've ever hosted at a Planet Ultra event. It was quite a treat to watch him fly up the hills!) But all of us share a special bond - a shared knowledge that life is sweeter when you're outside riding your bike.
Cycling is a family-friendly sport, for all to enjoy!
So, which bike? Between the two of us we have four road bikes, three mountain bikes, and two tandems. Someday I want a little Townie, with a basket, to ride around the neighborhood and run errands. Life's more fun when you ride bikes. So get out and ride yours!!!
Deb & Brian
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