Beginning Bikers? Or Advanced with tips
Zodia81
Posts: 43
My husband is an avid bike rider, both road and mountain. He competes in races and everything. He recently purchased a mountain bike for me and I have been out a few times. The first time I only made it a mile and a half before I thought I was going to die. A week later I was up to three miles on mountain bike terrain with little elevation. The longest ride I have been on to date is 8.5 miles on a paved bike path with some minimal elevation.
I enjoy it but sometimes I feel like I am never going to be fast or be able to ride long distances. Meanwhile going up hill is almost impossible for me right now. I usually ride up as far as I can then get off the bike and push it to the top. My husband is really encouraging and is always telling me I will get better.
If there are any others here that have just started riding feel free to add me and any advanced riders that have tips please feel free to share.
I enjoy it but sometimes I feel like I am never going to be fast or be able to ride long distances. Meanwhile going up hill is almost impossible for me right now. I usually ride up as far as I can then get off the bike and push it to the top. My husband is really encouraging and is always telling me I will get better.
If there are any others here that have just started riding feel free to add me and any advanced riders that have tips please feel free to share.
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Replies
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I'm with ya! I felt/feel the same way. But over time it has gotten easier and easier. You're training your body to do something it probably hasn't done since you were a kid. You'll start covering more miles and bigger inclines over time. Your husband had to start where you are too and now he's racing...it just takes time sweetheart!
Just keep at it! And be proud you are even trying it.0 -
it takes time, patience, and practice. Try bicycling where it's not so hilly, then build your way up to the mountain hills. Baby steps. :flowerforyou:0
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I've been riding a road bike for a year and a half now, and I vividly remember feeling like you do now. My husband has been amazingly encouraging, and now I've come into my own. I think the mtn bike being a lot heavier will make it harder for you at first, but it will also help you get that much stronger because of it. I used to find hills especially intimidating becasue where I live is completely flat, but learning technique and how to quiet my mind has made all the difference. And just simply lots and lots of time in the saddle. I know most consider it a torture device, but I highly recommend using a trainer to help you get the most imrovement in the least amount of time. I'll send you FR:)0
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You are right! When I got on the bike for the first time last month it was the first time I had been on one since I was probably 12 years old. So 20 years ago. It came right back though, I guess you really never forget how to ride a bike haha.
My husband will ride the 8 miles with me at my pace and then go ride 20 by himself after our ride. I can't wait til the day I can keep up with him.0 -
Make sure you have a good bike. Wal Mart doesn't cut it. You can get a decent hybrid, like a Zebrano, which can handle both on and off roads for about $500. Try riding a Wal Mart bike for 5 minutes and then a real bike for 5 minutes. You will immediately see the reason for the price difference. Even a $500 bike will be a bit heavy. If you have the money, you can drop $1000 or more on a decent road bike. You won't be able to go off roads, but you will be amazed at how much easier/faster a quality road bike is than even a $600 hybrid. Since your hubby is into biking though, you probably already know this.
But overall, for a new person, I'd say don't try to jump to long rides too quickly. Add on a mile or so each week. Don't jump from 8 miles to 20 miles and expect your body to accept it. Also, the thing I like best about biking is that you can go on some of those trails that you are talking about, and enjoy the scenery. You don't have to keep a 17 mph pace. I have a rails to trails paved trail close to me that winds along a river through a beautiful forest, and has gently sloping hills. I ride it myself, or with friends, or with my kids. Gives me a chance to take in the beauty and get a workout in at the same time.0 -
Don't be afraid to use the easy gears to spin up the hills. It's not about going fast as first as it is about enjoying the ride. The stamina to ride longer distances comes with time and practice. There will come a day when you will have ridden longer distances not because your trying to ride a long way but just because you felt great and wanted to keep riding.0
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If you haven't already get a proper bicycle fitting done. Maybe you husband knows the specs but a local bike shop will have a tech that can help get everything adjusted to fit your body which will help.
Keep you tires inflated properly to reduce rolling resistance especially if you are on road. Some other tires instead of the off road knobbies may be in order if you ride on road most.
Get some bike shorts to reduce bum fatigue and take ibuprofen or the like for the first few weeks until your rump gets used to it.
Moderate your breath and your pedal cadence. Specialist say that the most efficient cadence is about 80 pedal revolutions per minute. Higher than that and you are not applying effective power and below that you are over powering your legs. There are sweet bike computers that monitor and alarm this for you if you are inclined.
I have tips and tips as I have been riding non stop since I was a child. I currently commute to work on a single speed fixed gear but own several other bikes for mountain, road, and even an adult tricycle for booze cruises.0 -
My bike is a Motobecane Fantom29 trail....my husband wouldn't let me ride a Walmart bike or any kind of cheap bike at all even though I told him maybe he should start me out on something cheap incase I wreck. So far no wrecks!!
I live in Hawaii (for now) and we have tons of trails but most of them are up hill. There are a few trails here that I have found that are relatively flat that I frequent. The Pearl Harbor Bike Path is a favorite of mine because it's all paved and not alot of incline. I am still terrified to ride on the road with cars, even on low traffic roads. I guess as I get better that will change, I hope.0 -
My husband is an avid cycler as well, though doesn't compete. He bought me my first road bike two years ago because he wanted cycling to be something we could do together. I too struggled with the hills especially when I first started but could manage the miles pretty well. We live in Wyoming, where pretty much everything is hilly, but after a little experience and some confidence building in the first year, I grew to love it as much as him. I was always worried that I was slowing him down and that he wasn't enjoying the ride, but it turned out that he just wanted this to be something we could do together.
We're now both avid cyclists and put on many miles each year. We even did 75 miles on our vacation together last year in Montana and hope to do some big rides this summer as well. I'm gonna "earn" my third road bike by the end of the summer!! You'll definitely build more confidence the more miles you complete!! It's fun and also great exercise and a chance to spend time with the hubby. Strength traing has helped me a lot too as well as training on my cycle trainer in the off season/winter.
You can do this!!0 -
I was always worried that I was slowing him down and that he wasn't enjoying the ride, but it turned out that he just wanted this to be something we could do together.
That is me! I always feel like he is hating it. But he says he doesn't and he is so encouraging. I really do enjoy it even if I can't go very far. I loved riding my bike as a kid and I would take it anywhere and always keep up with the boys. I find that I still have that in me I just need to get in-shape so I can do it again!
We are going to a race this weekend here called "6 hours of heck in paradise". It's a mountain bike race and I will only be a spectator but I am looking forward to it and hoping it motivates me 0 -
Thanks everyone for all the tips and kind words. I hope one day I can post here and say "I just completed my first race" or even "I out rode my husband today" it's not likely for the second one but hey you never know. 0
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Like everyone else has said, be patient. Every time you ride, you'll be a bit stronger. Don't put too much pressure on yourself or you'll learn to hate it instead of loving it, and loving it is the most important part. Make sure the hubs stays patient with you. There's nothing worse than a bad riding partner.
I can't imagine riding in Hawaii. You wouldn't be able to get me off my bike. Ever.0 -
Slowly add more distance, when I started cycling I could only ride a mile or so. Now just 8 months later I am training for my first century. If you are a member of a gym with a spin class try it out, thats a really good way to learn about cadence and get used to climbing, other than that just get out and put some miles in.
Hope you enjoy!0 -
Sounds like you're making remarkable progress, so don't be down on yourself.
On the hills, remember that granny is your friend. Put that bike in the lowest (easiest) gear that you can do without spinning out the tires, get your butt back as far as you can without popping a wheelie, and take your time going up the hill. At first, a fast walker will be able to pass you -- no big deal, you'll get faster as you develop strength, endurance and technique.
While I doubt that you're riding full suspension (because you either spent a crapload of money or are riding a POS), if you are, make sure the lockout is enabled on the climbs -- pedal bob can rob you of a lot of energy on the uphills.
BTW, unless you're running slicks on that mtn bike (unlikely if you're doing the dirt, too), you're putting quite a bit of extra effort into riding, even on pavement -- knobbies aren't made to have low rolling resistance. So don't be surprised if the road bikes go blasting past you...it's just the nature of the beast.0 -
Make sure the hubs stays patient with you. There's nothing worse than a bad riding partner.
I can't imagine riding in Hawaii. You wouldn't be able to get me off my bike. Ever.
He is the MOST patient person I have ever met in my life. I think he would let me throw myself on the ground and throw a fit and just stand there til I was finished and then positively encourage me. I don't think I would have even got on the bike to begin with if it wasn't for his encouragement
And it is beautiful here but I'd give anything for some cold mountain air. I am originally from West Virginia, lived in North Carolina for 5 years and now I have been in Hawaii for about 9 months.0 -
My husband also races mountain bikes, long 50 to 100 mile races. I got my first MTB when we first started dating 12 years ago. I didn't ride it much for the first oh, 9 years, but have been slowly increasing in the last 3. I don't road bike at all. I took a clinic last year which really helped, I'm not sure if you can find one in Hawaii but you can look. I'm actually doing my first race next month! But yeah, I'm pretty sure I'll never "out ride" the husband, maybe when he's 60 and I'm 52 but probably not.
Tips for riding trails:
Definitely use your easiest spinning gear for hills, lean forward a bit on the handlebars elbows tucked back to keep weight and traction on the front wheel.
Start on dirt road, move up to non-technical trails with some hills, then once you get good with those see if you can add some obstacles ("technical").
Pay attention to your form on your bike, don't roll your back, bent elbows, lean forward a bit.
On the down hills (on trails) keep your pedals perpendicular to the slope, stand up, but your butt back, your belly button should be over your crank.
Always look ahead, don't focus on the first 2 feet in front of you, look 10-15ft down the trail.
Try not to over-brake, let the bike do the work for you, let it roll over things, don't fight it.
HAVE FUN!0 -
Also, this group is a little slow but good.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/361-bicycling-road-and-mountain0 -
I started using cycling for cross training just a couple weeks back. Of course, that first week I went up the steepest, longest, hardest hill in the area. Or, well, 1/3 of it before I gave in and started walking. On the way back there was another hill, and I was so miffed when I had to give up just a few meters short of the top. Ah well. Usually I cycle on a fairly flat trail. And I am noticing I don't feel as weak after an hour anymore - time to up the intensity
One thing DH keeps telling me is cadence, you want about 90 pedal strokes a minute, no high gears and slow pedalling... Not sure if I am quite up there yet, but working on it, especially since apparently that's the same number of steps you should be taking when running for a minute. And it does seem to help with that...0 -
I get all excited on trails and I am pumped up before we go. About halfway through I am sweating and complaining but I do as much as I can before I turn around.
My biggest problem is worrying about going back up the hill I just came down if I have to go back the way I came.0 -
Start at the bottom of the hill, that way you "earn" your downhill. :drinker:0
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My biggest problem is worrying about going back up the hill I just came down if I have to go back the way I came.
Don't worry -- soon you'll be so good at climbing that you'll start worrying about going back down the hill you just climbed up. :noway:0 -
Don't worry -- soon you'll be so good at climbing that you'll start worrying about going back down the hill you just climbed up. :noway:
I really hope you are right! There is one trail here and it's 3.5 miles to the top of the mountain. I really want to do that one.0 -
Hi! I'm also a newbie to bike riding. I had a goal of when I reach 250lbs to get a bike.
First of all to all the bike purist, I would love a very nice bike, but right now as a student and not working, a $500 bike is so out of reach ( that's almost half of my monthly income) so WalMart or Target are the options. I managed to save $100 for a bike and so far it's great and rides good. Maybe in another two or three years when my income increase, I can look at the option of another bike.
I got a women's bike and did get another seat (thanks for a gift card from a relative).
The first time getting on, couldn't even stay on the bike! It been over 25 years since riding a bike! I had to learn how just to ride in the driveway!
About a month ago start riding around the neighborhood three days a week 20 minutes. That's when noticing there are quite a few hills and rises! Like you, I had to get off and walk my bike half the way because no way I could ride it.
But each day I took it in strive. I also tell myself once I get to the top of that rise, it's over and done with.
I'm riding 40 minutes everyone other day and amaze myself how far that I can ride in that 40 minutes. My goal is to ride five days a week for at least one hour.
Set short goals! I started with 10 minutes at a time. The hills and rises are easier and I get a little rush and "pat" on the back. There's two parks a distance away that have great bike trails that in another month I want to venture out and enjoy. But the neighborhood is a great workout right now!0 -
@airdiva1 we have alot in common!
I need to get out and ride around the neighborhood but I currently live on a military base and the traffic is quite heavy sometimes and people like to speed. It worries me. However there is a place on base with little to no traffic and a running trail that has these really fun little up and down hills that I can ride without getting off and they give me a good workout. I am always really out of breath after I ride them. I'd like to go over there every day.
Another problem I have is I am still really self conscience of being "the big girl" on the bike. I know it shouldn't mattered. But like I said I live on a military base, you can't even walk without being stared at so I can't imagine what they would do if they saw me on a bike haha. I am trying to get over that though.0 -
I only ask because I've seen several mention it, but never saw you confirm it, and because I've seen plenty not know how so they never did it.
You are shifting, right, to make it equal effort when the road goes up, right?
85 - 95 cadence, rpm, is good, higher if your cardio is decent and you just don't have bike legs yet. If good muscle strength just keep applying good spin methods.
Practice pulling back on bottom of stroke like scraping mud off your shoe, it'll help in spinning better circles and unweighting the leg that is coming up so the force of the one pushing down is all for forward movement.0 -
cycling endurance builds fast. I think I'd mostly stick to less hilly terrain to get some base miles in. Doing a ton of hill climbs doesnt seem like the right way to get introduced to cycling whether your goal is mountain biking or not.
less impact>faster recovery> more miles> faster pace> more endurance and stamina
More impact> higher injury risk> longer recovery> less endurance> more strength
thats why I dont advocate hills.... a beginning runner doesnt get better at long distances by doing HIIT sprints. They usually just break something.0 -
I only ask because I've seen several mention it, but never saw you confirm it, and because I've seen plenty not know how so they never did it.
You are shifting, right, to make it equal effort when the road goes up, right?
Yea I am shifting some, my husband is usually riding right beside me and if I forget to shift or shift in the wrong direction (hey it's happened) he reminds me.
The last bike I had was when I was 12 or 13, then I stopped riding. Picking it up again at 33 has a bit of a learning curve on the gears, especially since my last bike was a 10 speed (haha) and my bike now is 27.0 -
I only ask because I've seen several mention it, but never saw you confirm it, and because I've seen plenty not know how so they never did it.
You are shifting, right, to make it equal effort when the road goes up, right?
Yea I am shifting some, my husband is usually riding right beside me and if I forget to shift or shift in the wrong direction (hey it's happened) he reminds me.
The last bike I had was when I was 12 or 13, then I stopped riding. Picking it up again at 33 has a bit of a learning curve on the gears, especially since my last bike was a 10 speed (haha) and my bike now is 27.
If you are on a hilly course, keep it in the smallest gear on the front for now and just use it as a 1x7. If you are in the wrong gear on the hills, no wonder you are having a hard time!
Regarding feeling weird about being a big girl on a bike, I follow this site on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/mtb4her
It's run by a couple of ladies in Canada. This lady is badass inspite of her size.
http://mtb4her.com/dropping-in-with-my-demons/
https://www.facebook.com/mtb4her0 -
Thanks for those links, I am checking it out now. 0
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Thought about you today Zodia81! Went bike riding with the intention of just 30 minutes. End up riding a hour!
Each time the riding is easier and easier!
As for being a big girl, I'm 225 and ride with my head high!
Felt so great after the walk, did some more cardio at the house!
One day at a time and you will soon have your husband trying to catch up with you!0
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