Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with riding

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anderjen — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:59:49 -0800

[Possible Pipe Dream Filter] I used to ride horses competitively, and recently am longing to hang out with horses again. I'm not looking to compete, nor do I want to take lessons or go on guided trail rides, since I already know how to ride. I just want to get back into riding for the fun of it. What are my options, if any? My mom and I used to own multiple horses and I competed in saddle seat equitation for several years. However, that was a dozen years ago (I'm now 28) and I'm out of touch with the riding community in my area. I don't know anyone who might let me ride theirs, and I don't have the means to purchase, lease, or board a horse of my own.

I know my way around stables, tack, grooming, etc. and am confident that I could ease back into it quickly, but I don't know how to make this happen. Would my best bet be to look for opportunites to work in a stable, in exchange for riding time? Other ideas?

I'm in the Twin Cities area—St. Paul, to be exact. Thanks!

Warmed Over Cycling

orville sash — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:53:12 -0800

Can you please recommend some good urban winter bicycling clothes for me? I live in NYC, and I ride my bike to and from work as much as possible. Last winter, I stopped riding because it got cold, and I turned into a humungous gelatinous blob. If at all possible, I would like to avoid this fate.

Can you recommend some winter biking clothes that will give me a good range of movement and keep me warm? The cheaper the better! Any available links appreciated.

Bikes and such.

disillusioned — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:12:14 -0800

I want a motorcycle, but I don't know where to start. I've liked the idea of learning how to ride and buying a bike for some time. I have enough cash to at least get me some lessons, and there's a nice place out here that should do the trick (covers MVD driving test, etc.) for a good price that comes well recommended.

But I realized I don't know anything about anything about what bike I might want myself. I want to be comfortable and not look like a complete idiot, but I'm thinking more a Sport that fits would be best.

Here's my thinking thus far:

No Harley's or anything chopper-style
I'm not insane about going crazy fast or being able to win off the line or anything like that. But I don't want a scooter.
What brand/makes/models do you like? What should I avoid?
I'm about 240lbs 6'1. (Pic here, on the left.) Not "Commander Fat is looking awfully fat today," but not skinny either. Will a rice rocket make me look horribly oversized? Will it be ridiculously uncomfortable?
I don't really like the look of touring bikes, either. My dad has a Goldwing. It's great, for my dad.
What price range will I end up pegging for a decent, comfortable bike? (I've been expecting somewhere between $1,500-$3,000... new or used, doesn't matter to me.)

I'm finding that I don't know enough about bikes, performance-wise, to know what features are important, who does what better, etc. I'm not partial to anything, simply because I know basically nothing about this space. (Whereas I have defined impressions of car companies, know what I'm looking for in performance in a regular car, and know what terminology means.)

Is it just a matter of trying different things and seeing what fits best?

Specific makes and models welcome, other advice about comfort for someone a bit bigger on a bike that still looks cool also welcome, etc. (Also, I am fully aware of how ridiculous I look in that photo. Kthx.)

How can I travel in Europe on a horse?

snoogles — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 06:49:47 -0800

I want to spend a month in the summer either horseback riding or hiking/camping with a pack mule somewhere in Europe. How do I go about this? I'm a fairly experienced rider, but I'm also asking this question for a friend who doesn't really know how to ride, and who would be leaning more to the pack mule option. We have limited budgets. We don't want to join a week-long organized trek. We will go anywhere that's cheaply reachable from France.

- Are there companies that "rent" horses or pack animals for that long?
- Would I have to buy the animal and then try to resell it at the end of the trip? Is there any way to do this fairly cheaply that doesn't involved buying an old horse and then selling it to a glue factory?
- How easy is it to find places in the countryside (wherever in Europe) to pasture a horse for the night?
- Where would it be easiest (country/region)?
- How much would it cost for the horse + tack + feed, etc?

- Do you know of any forums/resources where there might be more answers available?

- And most importantly, is this even remotely feasible?

Please help me get back in the saddle!

bunnycup — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:32:58 -0800

Where should I start - a chiropractor, a sports massage, an orthopedist, acupuncture or what? I recently started horseback riding again, and though I have NOT suffered a fall or other acute injury, I have had crippling pain in my upper back (between shoulder blades) for about 2 weeks. I have tried stretching and gentle yoga, soaking, heating pads, ibuprofen etc., resting the muscles - and none of it has helped. I really want to get back in the saddle sooner rather than later, because it is really helping me cope with a very difficult personal situation and has become my primary form of exercise.

I know there are a lot of directions to go, and I've gotten some conflicting advice about what to pursue first: a chiropractor, a sports massage, an orthopedist, acupuncture or a few other things. If anyone has some advice on which may be most likely to help, which should logically precede the others, which is not likely to help at all, or any other thoughts, I would be really grateful. If you want to accompany your advice with any recommendations for specific practitioners in the Bucks County, PA area, I would welcome that, though it is not the primary purpose of my question.

Assume cost is not really an issue (my insurance covers these things if referred by my PCP) and I have easy access to each type of practitioner. I am female in my 20s.

Someone took my keys at party, crashed my car, and abandoned it. I found out who did it. Now what?

ad4pt — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:22:17 -0800

Someone took my keys at party, crashed my car, and abandoned it. I found out who did it. Now what? Friday night I was at my friends house. She had a small get-together with a few friends she said she knew very well. There were eight of us.
I passed out around 3am.
When I woke up to go to my car Saturday morning it was gone. I freaked out, searched for the keys, couldn't find them and reported it stolen. I was transferred to a police officer who asked me many questions and then finally told me they found it earlier that morning with the keys in the car and it was involved in a hit and run. The officer told me they wouldn't file a stolen car report and they were going to hold it for investigation and call me.
Today my friend who hosted the party called me. She told me she was at a friend's house yesterday and he told her a story about how "Trevor" and "Simon" were at party on Friday night and they took someone's car to go do donuts and mess around but they crashed into a wall so they parked the car somewhere near the house and left it. It was her house and my car.
I called the cops and told them that I know who did it, explained how I knew and gave them "Simon"s number. The cop told me he'd review the report and if I called tomorrow he'll tell me whether or not he'll release the car.

Now what? How likely is it that the cops will find these guys guilty? If they do find them guilty, are the liable for my insurance deductible? Can I press charges? Is this common?

I don't know anything about riding or buying a bike. Help!

actionpact — Mon, 19 May 2008 11:26:11 -0800

Had my tricycle stolen this weekend. Thinking it's time to bite the bullet and learn to ride a bike. Questions inside. So some jerk decided to steal my adult tricycle (a Worksman Port-o-Trike) while I slept and now I'm pretty much stranded. Thank goodness for that tax rebate coming soon, huh?

I have no idea what to do next though. I have only ridden a tricycle so I need to learn how to ride. But I don't know if I should get a good bike first? I liked the looks and features of the Electra bikes-- the Townies and the Amsterdams. I'm a girl, 5'10", and I want to be able to ride around town, run errands, etc-- currently I only rode 2-5mi. at a clip but I'd like to go farther, across town if need be. But I'm doubtful I'd do a long tour. I live in Arizona currently and hope to move to Portland, OR, so I'd like a bike that can still work well there. Should I just get a cheap bike off craigslist? I get the feeling that a good bike will make all the difference between me loving the experience or hating it.

I know people suggest testing a bike out at a bike shop, but since I don't have any bike practice, I don't see how that'll work. I figure if all else fails I'll visit my cycle shop and ask them to help me out-- explain I'm clueless about riding and maybe they'll provide some solutions. Unless somehow riding the trike helped-- somehow I doubt that though.

Should I be looking for anything in particular? Can I get away with a 3-speed bike or should I get more speeds? Are there any other beginner friendly bikes? Preferably under $600.

Thanks so much, you're helping me get over a big fear!

Heading out in twos.

1f2frfbf — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:34:30 -0800

Tips for motorcycle passengers? What do you tell first-time motorcycle passengers? With the arrival of riding season, I want to take friends out riding and I'm looking for good tips to help passengers feel more comfortable and safe when we go two-up. Ideally, such tips should be easy for non-cyclists to understand, ie: "Look over my outside shoulder when we bank in a turn, not the inside one" instead of "Don't lean."

Bay Area (horse) Riding School?

penciltopper — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:43:11 -0800

Looking for SF Bay Area equitation schools (wanna make with the horse-riding). I have pretty much the same question as this one.

Lots of good information there. But I'm looking for recommendations in the SF Bay Area.

I've lived in suburbs or cities all my life, so my exposure to horses has been limited. But I've gone on trail rides as described above, had a friend as a teen who was a show-jumper, etc. I've found that I like just being around horses in general.

So I'd like to spend my weekends this spring/summer learning to ride (instead of just sitting on top of a horse). Bonus for some place that would allow me to spend time there cleaning stables, grooming horses, whatever, if I wanted/they'd have me, rather than "your 1-hour lesson is over, please go home now".

(also, I don't really have the income that many in the horsey set do; so if I could cut my lesson rates by shoveling sh*t, that would be welcome.)

Help me think up ways to soup up my tricycle riding experience.

actionpact — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:34:39 -0800

Help me think up ways to soup up my tricycle riding experience. OK, don't laugh-- I'm a 24-year old girl who rides an adult tricycle (Actually, wait, go ahead and laugh, everyone else does!). I never learned to ride a real bike and so I would up purchasing a tricycle--Like this one, essentially: a Worksman 3-speed Port-o-Trike I've lovingly named Manny (folding, 20" wheels, etc.) . But I'm pretty out of shape and the extra weight of lugging around a tricycle + things in the basket mean that I only clock 7mph (though I have yet to ride that far in an hour, as I get pretty winded), and get pretty tired out a couple of miles into it. I know part of the solution is 'Ride the bike more, dummy', but here's my other quandry: I live in Phoenix, AZ. Right now it's beautiful and great riding weather, but in two months it will be time for shrubbery to set aflame again, and riding out there will make me want to keel over. I'd really like to improve my tricycle skills so I could theoretically go across town and be less dependent on a car.

Today I saw someone riding a tricycle with a canopy-- but I don't know if such things exist for bicyclists or what. Googling just turned up children's trikes' suggestions. What can I do to help make my tricycle a more awesome ride-- either by shading me from sun, or somehow souping it up to move faster, or some such thing. The ground's super-flat, but there's a lot of resistance pushing the sucker, especially when I'm stopping and starting. (The dealer said this is the way tricycles work. I wonder if he's right?) A canopy/sunscreen project (either bought or DIY) seems like it might be a great improvement. I kind of wish there was a way to get fancy and put an electric motor on the trike, but I don't really know if that's just a pipe dream. Maybe there's some kind of hack to lessen resistance on a bike though?

Conversely, suggest to me other good tips for not dehydrating and feeling weak/light-headed when the heat reaches triple digits and you're pedalling about. That sun is hot! I was tempted to get one of those water packs bicyclists use--a Camelbak?

Thanks everybody in advance. I know it's kind of a weird question!

Where can I buy an adult seat for the back of a bicycle?

chrisalbon — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 23:35:11 -0800

Where can I buy an adult seat for the back of a bicycle (like a boda boda)? My main transport while in Kenya was riding on the back of a boda boda, and I was hoping that I could buy a seat like that to put on the back of my bicycle here in the US (from online, or I live in SF). My only luck online is to find things that have a 20 or so pound limit, but 200lb guys could ride on the back of boda bodas and be totally fine.

You can see from this picture that the boda boda seat is attached both to the frame under where the main bicycle seat is and then 2 metal attachments to the frame at the same place the back wheel attaches - I presume these latter attachments allow much heavier loads.

Any suggestions? I have no tools or expertise to be able to make it...

It's easy as riding a bike. I want to believe!

iamkimiam — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 10:12:13 -0800

At the relatively old age of 29, I've decided to relearn* how to ride a bike. Bicycle, that is. What are the unspoken (ha!) rules and things I should know? I'm looking for answers along the line of when to ride on the street, when to ride on the curb, where to lock the bike up and how, what not to wear and how best to carry stuff, braking tips, biking ettiquette, etc. These are all things that don't seem to be written down anywhere, but everybody pretty much picks up with experience. Except me, of course. I'd like to NOT learn the hard way! Please help me.

Picture of my bike is here: visible.
Other helpful background info: I am a small girl (5' tall, but I haven't even figured out how to adjust the damn seat yet!), I live in semi-sketchy part of Oakland, and *I knew how to ride a bike for about a month when I was six, but then my parents took it away and I was never able to ride again. Otherwise, I'm normal, active (lots of other sports in the mix), and happy (except for the bike part. But I don't want to hear "your parents took your bike away, us MeFites think you need to go straight to therapy!")

With your help, I hope to be out there confidently biking along soon! Thanks!

Boots!

backseatpilot — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 18:15:09 -0800

I need a pair of men's riding-style boots for cheap. Where do I find them? I need a pair of boots for a community theater production and I can't find any that are ridiculously expensive. They should be a riding style - that is, plain black or dark brown, up to at least mid-calf. So far, all I've been able to find are several hundred dollar pairs - ideally, I'd like to spend less than fifty dollars on these. Online stores and stores in the Metro Boston area work equally well.

There are pictures of style suggested by the costume designer here and here.

Learning to ride horses

procrastination — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 11:29:32 -0800

How do I learn to ride horses as an adult? What to look for in an instructor, school, and horse? I am in the DC area. Over the last six months, I rode horses for the first time as an adult. All the rides were basically adult pony rides that are given to tourists (like me). They had super gentle horses that walked the same trails every day, so about all I had to do was sit and enjoy it. Most recently, another person on a trip gave me some hints so that I was able to enjoy riding at a trot and canter (the horse stopped galloping after a few steps because I think it figured out I had no idea what I was doing there).

Those rides, combined with the fact that the new Mrs. Procrastination comes from a family that has horses, make me want to learn to ride so I can join them. Their horses, however, are not ridden often so cannot be counted on to be kindly and gentle. I would like to learn to ride well enough so that I can go on basic trail rides with the relatively less-gentle horses.

I have googled and found some places around DC that offer lessons, but I don't know the difference between the styles they offer (english, western, and dressage). Any recommendations for specific places or styles? What do I need to know about horse body language? Is there anything I should be asking that I am not?

Thanks.

Gel, GU or?

fixedgear — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 06:28:33 -0800

What sort of fuel should I use for long-distance cycling events? Yes, there is I'm getting started riding brevets. No major problems on the two 200K rides I did this year, but I'd like to try some longer distances next spring.

I came from a running background and have sucessfully compleetd three marathons, but three and half hours is not the same as ten or prehaps much, much longer on the bike. I just drank fluids on long runs and races, but long endurance cycling needs way more calories.

I'm interested in liquid/gel type calorie sources. Eating enough solid food is difficult, though a banana or fresh baked scone from a bakery is great for variety. What products have worked for you? What didn't work? From what I've read, simple sugars are pretty bad in terms of absorbtion rates and insulin spikes.

Ultrarunners can chime in here, too. No support cars or drop bags on the shorter events, so anything has to be carried on the bike with the exception of more water picked up a c-stores, etc.

How to plan the most efficient route?

jasonsmall — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 06:59:31 -0800

I'm planning to visit every stop on a major metropolitan subway system in a single day (long story), and need to plan the most efficient route. Anyone know of useful technology/mathematical theories that help with route planning?

When will Detroit build a sunroof for the husky gentleman?

pdb — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 14:21:04 -0800

Where can I find cycling clothes that fit my frame? I was out looking for a cycling jacket today, and I just ended up getting frustrated. I cycle about 30-50 miles a week, but I'm not, to put it mildly, built like a typical cyclist - I'm 6' 2", 270.

I'm in the process of losing as much of that weight as I possibly can in the next year, but for now I have a problem - most manufacturers' XXL sizes make me feel like ten pounds of sausage in an eight-pound bag.

So, until the day that I hit my target weight of 215-220 and can fit into "normal" sizes, do any of y'all know where (either on the Internet or in the Portland, OR area) I can find cycling wear (primarily outerwear, but also shorts as well) that is sized to fit the outsized individual?

Tips for commuting by bicycle

josh — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 17:19:04 -0800

In a couple of weeks I'm going to start bicycling to work every day (excepting rain or snow). There'll be hardly any traffic to speak of, since I'll be biking on the Charles River bike paths in Boston. I've never biked to work regularly before: any commuting bicyclists have any tips? I actually learned to ride a bike only about a year ago, so I'm pretty new to the whole biking thing -- but it seems like a manageable trip (about six miles, if that) and it'd be good exercise and good quality outdoors time. I'd like to know more about gear (should I buy panniers? how big? or should I get a courier bag? should I get those yellow-tinted sunglasses everyone has?) and about ways to integrate biking into a workday (i.e., how to arrive at work without being nasty and gross -- I won't have really easy access to a shower, necessarily). What about biking in the cold in Boston? For any Bostonians, I'm going from Beacon Hill to Harvard Square, more or less.

I'm really excited! -- but I want things to go smoothly so that I keep it up and make it a habit.