New OLD Rider (50)

Hi, and congratulations! Say, I just had to see the bike so I peeked here online and found an example,
http://www.ubcbike.com/store/product/150904/2011-Cannondale-Synapse-Carbon-6-Apex-Road-Bike-%2854-cm---Grey%29/
and the specifications are really delightful.

Your bike shop can advise you well. You probably want a water bottle and biking shorts...

...members here will advise best, as I am fifty seven, a very light daily rider, and spin on a Trek Lime cruiser.

((I like to sit full upright, even leaning back, due to wry neck and a bad back, that's just me))

What a super value in a carbon bike, though. It looks wonderful. Wish I were fifty again : _)

The must haves are:
Helmet
Cycling Shorts(any style as long as it has the padded crotch and no seams in the contact area)
Hydration System (water bottles and cages or backpak water bladder, aka Camelbak)
Tire patch kit and a seat bag or jersey with pockets to carry it in
A portable tire inflation system(either a CO2 inflator or a minipump, or best, a combination CO2 Inflator minipump like Innovations Second Wind).

The must haves will get you riding. There are other nice to haves, some that you will take along on your rides and others that you will leave at home. The ones to take on your rides are:
Cycling Jersey(one that has high visibility colors so that you can be seen on the road)
A multi-tool so that you can do adjustments and minor repairs on the side of the road
Cycling shoes that will accept clipless pedal cleats and a set of clipless pedals
A spare tube or two
Individually wrapped moistened towlettes
Sports drink in your hydration system.
Lock if you are going to stop and leave your bike untended.
Cell Phone.
Cycle computer
Gloves( fingerless or full fingered, saves the hands if you crash)

The ones that are nice to have but you leave them at home:
Floor air pump(the ones with the gage on them are nice to have)
Chain Lube(many varieties)
Any tools that you think that you might need, usually depends upon how muchwork you want to do on your own.
PC or laptop computer with an Internet connection so that you ask us questions if you get stuck or tell us of your riding exploits.

Thanks guys. I bought a bike stand that yo roll the tire into. Been riding a little and haven't bought the gloves yet. My hands keep going numb. I seem to be too stretched out also. Maybe need a shorter handlebar stem?????

Any suggestions?

Gloves would help. You also need to vary your hand positions frequently. Ride for awhile in the drops, then move to the top of the bar, then go to the tops of the brake hoods.

Take your bike back to the shop and tell them that you feel like you are doing a Superman (stretched out like Superman when he flies). Getting you hooked up with the right stem is part of the basic fitting and they should have noted it when they sold you the bike.

Thanks. I'll take it back to the shop. I'm a novice at best. Just wanted a good bike.

Great news to see another youngster out there! Like yourself, I'm 55 and just recently got back into road riding. I'm a type 2 diabetic and got tired of hearing the Doc lecture me. In less than a month, have dropped insulin use 10 units per day. I ride 7-8 miles each morning and feel great! Purchased a Trek 2.1 to get back on to the road, and love the bike! The only item I'm not especially happy with is the 100mm stem. My natural hand position is about 1 inch back from where the hoods are located now. Even if it costs a little more, I would recommend doing all that you can to make your riding comfortable. If you're not comfortable, you won't ride. Best of luck with your new ride!

Hey Bret welcome aboard. I have the same bike although it has Tiagra components. Let us know what you think of Apex after you have ridden it for a few months. Enjoy. Dave

I am 56 and am up to about 150 miles a week! Exactly one year ago I weighed 325, now down to 225 and my endurance has soared. I have a 2006 Synapse Carbon 2 with full Ultegra and a 2010 Orbea Onix with full SRAM Red. I like them both equally, but the Cannondale got me going last year so my heart is with it. Kdelong has got it all down on your accessories. Especially, carry a tube, a Co2 cartridge, tire tools and learn how to change a tire. That is essential. You will get flats. I live in Chicago and the streets are not asphalt, they seemed to be paved with broken glass! Keep it up. Join a club and do club rides. Make it a regular part of your life!!

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It's a great bike, maybe a little over the top for a first time bike because a lot of folks buy a bike like that with great intentions then ride for 2 or 3 months then hang it in the garage where it becomes an expensive piece of garage art! I hope your the type of personality that will continue to ride it for a long time. I also hope you got a doctors clearance to participate in rigorous exercise, if not, please go NOW and get a physical and tell the doctor what your planning on doing and let him do a complete workup and clear you for it before you start "going for it"..

Here's a training schedule that can help you stay on track to eventually do a 100 mile ride, the only difference in this schedule is a slight modification by adding 3 weeks onto the beginning where you start on Mon riding 2 miles, then on Tues ride 4 miles, Wed ride 5, Thur 0, Fri 4, Sat 12, Sun 3; then week 2 Mon 3 miles, Tues 6, Wed 8, Thur 0, Fri 6, Sat 18, Sun 6; then week 3 Mon 5, Tues 8, Wed 10, Thur 0, Fri 8, Sat 24, Sun 8; then follow the schedule as is from the 1st week. I know some of the beginning miles seems small and babyish but it's all intended to build you up slowly and reduce chances of injury and/or burnout.

Other then that I can't recommend anything that someone else hasn't already mentioned.

I'm surprised you left the lbs without the accessories. Most shops would have made suggestions for you. My best accessory next to water cages and chamois is the computer. The stats it generates keep me moving!