About

I’m Ray Niekamp, also known as “rainycamp,” a 60-plus road bike rider from Austin, Texas. Although I’ve been biking awhile now, I learn something new all the time, so I still consider myself a newbie — hence the name of the blog. My experiences might be of interest and use to others who are getting into the fun and challenge of road biking.

If you would like to contact me directly, send an email message to rainycamp at yahoo dot com.

At the start of my first century ride, the Outlaw Trail 100, Round Rock, Texas, Oct. 18, 2008. I’m in the foreground in the red jersey. Ride report.

36 thoughts on “About

  1. Congrats on your new blog. Looks like you’re off to a fine start! I relate to your posts — I’m a 50-something guy who got back into cycling in 2005. It’s so much fun! I ride a Specialized Roubaix these days, after starting on a Trek 3900 for the first 2000 miles.

    Good luck!

  2. Thanks for looking. It appears you have more miles behind you than I do, but our stories seem similar. Drop in from time to time.

  3. I’ve got you added to my reader. Glad to read fellow Austin Bike Bloggers. I too did my first organized ride late last year, I did the Outlaw Trail (40 miles) in Round Rock. This year I’ve already done 3 (Tri-County Hill Hopper – 83 miles (read my blog on how I turned a 62 miler into 83), Pedal thru the Pines (50) and Spokes N’ Spurs (6 miles with my 7 year old). Hope to see you out on the event circuit this summer.

  4. Thanks for reading, Mike. I had actually registered for the Outlaw Trail, but a family emergency came up, and I was forced to miss it. Pedal Thru the Pines is on my agenda for next year, when I hope to be up for the hills.

  5. Hey mate – what a site very interesting will read all of it tonight when finished with work – found it as I was searching for a review on the trek 7.6 fx

    What did you think of it? Please pop me a mail if you can – cricketsa@gmail.com

    Cheers
    Pete

  6. Ray, any time you want to ride, just let me know. My husband and I are avid riders, live out towards Dripping Springs. We are also in the “50-plus” age bracket and are NOT hammerheads. I love the ride, but not the race! We’re what I’d call moderate paced riders. I love the hilly rides out west, although I have to work hard to keep thinking that the hills are my friends, instead of the enemy. Nice web site. I’ve put it into my favorites. Thanks.

  7. Ray, glad to see you are coming out on some club rides. Sorry I missed you Sunday I still dominate the back of the pack when I go with them. I guess the last time you were out when I was there was Fitzhugh in March. I usually go out at 7 on Sunday since it has gotten so hot.
    I have ridden with Debra a few times and I think we should have a Cerious C (get it CCRCC CC’s)catagory for riders that like to ride for fittness but are not hammmerheads or wannabees.

    We should ride, I work out of my HO and can meet up with you on the Veloway or Autobahn. I have a couple of optional neighborhood rides that you might like as well. Contact my email and we will set something up, Dolly not withstanding.
    David

  8. Ray,
    Greetings from a native Austinite and TSU alum from the SWT days (MA, English). Like you, I’m a prof and I cycle to work (though not the distance you ride).

    Out of curiosity: do you also have an academic blog? At my blog, I have a (so far very short) list of academic bloggers who have a separate blog for their cycling experiences, and though I’ll be linking to Bike Noob elsewhere there, I’d like to include you in that other list as well.

    Happy riding, and here’s hoping the new semester goes well for you.

  9. Thanks for the visit and link, Professor B. Bike Noob is the only blog I have, and it’s enough. BTW, I don’t bike to work. It would take 2 1/2 hrs from my house. I do cut down on driving by using another bike to run errands in the area.

  10. Way to go Ray – I love biking too and commend you for your efforts. Do you ride a specialized? I have a trek multitrack and an old giant mountain bike (really heavy). Do you know of any easy rides around Austin I could do with my 10 year old? We biked from Tahoe to Squaw Valley this summer and she did great. Have a great Thanksgiving.

  11. Hello, Judy–my esteemed colleague. You might try the Veloway, down in my neck of the woods. No car traffic to contend with. The Austin Cycling Assn. has weekly rides, some are easy, and one is around Pflugerville. Check austincycling.org.

  12. Hello chap, hope you had a nice Christmas and new year! Right now that the pleasantries are over :-) please can you update my link in your blogroll?
    Thanks mate,

    Paul.

  13. I’m a first time visitor to your site today and I have to say that I’m already a big fan. Keep up the great work.

  14. Hi

    Great site. I’ve just started my own blog and like my riding, it is way behind yours. I take encouragement that others out there have started on the same quest I now find myself on, and they have all been quite successful.

    Looking forward to reading the rest of your blog and hopefully picking up some pointers before I learn the hard way.

    chris.

  15. Glad I came across you! I am 10 years your junior and have really only just got back on a bike after years off and concentrating on lifting weights. Now I am older my body isn’t liking the weights, so I am back on a bike. Will be following you now. Great stuff!

  16. I like your blog. I’ve been a cycling since 89 and there’s still a lot to learn. Guess we are all noobs in a way.

    I lived in Austin back in the early eighties, when Bergstrom was still an Air Force Base. I lived in South Austin and used to see the 7-11 team practicing there a lot.

    You should do a post on getting stopped by the police while cycling. I have a story I could tell!

  17. Bike Noob. You da man! Finally, a site I can relate too. I’m a forty-something guy just getting back into cycling after a number of years off. It’s nice reading comments from regular people instead of all the elitists stuff. Spent this past year getting back into shape and taking part in my first organized ride. Looking forward to trying my first century next year. Will definitely be reading up from your site as I prepare. Keep up the great blog.

  18. Hello Ray,
    I stumbled upon your blog while searching for images of specialized bike, I also ride and love the same bike as yours.
    Very good read thus far, actually inspired to ride more as my running mileage will be tailored off considerably (possibly permanently) due to foot injury. I am from Canada , so it will be mostly on the trainer till the snow goes away.
    Anyway keep up the good work, it’s fun reading when I want to take breaks at the computer at work.
    Cheers mate!

  19. I’m really enjoying following your blog. I myself am a noob and have learned a ton through your trials and tribulations. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge.

  20. Greetings from the Pacific Northwest,
    My name is Cat, I’m not 50+ but close, and have taken up the sport of cycling after about a 25 year interlude. I’m riding a hybrid right now (didn’t know which way I wanted to spin) and will be purchasing a road bike eventually. Right now I’m just devouring everything cycle I can and getting in shape. Could a century really be in my future? You and your blog and your followers make me think it might be possible.
    P.S. I stumbled across your blog in my search for data on the value of decent cycling shoes. I’ll be back. You have some great info here.

    • Thanks, Cat. Several of my regular readers started out on hybrids. Some of them have done centuries. No reason you can’t. I look forward to seeing your comments on future posts.

  21. I really like your blog and noticed that you mentioned you wanted to freshen up your site…There’s a guy that has a bike blog (bike198), his name is Rob Sutton (robsutton.com) and provides some information on how to blog…you may already know about it but, just thought I’d share that with you. Thank you!

  22. Great start! While I’ve been riding pretty consistently my whole life, I had gotten away from it for a bit. Now that I’ve been riding again, I instantly remember why I love it so much. Everyone has different things they love about riding, I’m trying to list some of mine…

    http://www.1000reasonstoride.com

  23. We’re constantly trying to encourage others to get into cycling, and blogs such as yours can really inspire noobs! B+L Bike & Sports is based in San Diego and we’re really trying to expand in the bloggersphere. We would be delighted if you would be interested in writing a guest post on our blog. Check it out and let me know what you think. Thanks!

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