Biking for Weight Loss?

kristiedroseh

As summer approaches I've been thinking about getting a bike to help with my diet. It's one of the few exercises that doesn't aggravate an old hip injury and I think it would definitely be more fun than riding at the gym. Are there any bikers out there who have lost weight through cycling ? Before and Afters? Tips tricks warnings?

Thanks!

trinitrate

Theres a cycling group on MFP with a fair number of people on it. I'm still a rookie, only been serious for a few months but it does certainly help.

My biggest hurdle getting started was getting my fittment on the bike proper. I got there through trial and error, but if you find you're getting sore after riding (knees, hands, butt etc.) might be worth paying a bikeshop for a proper tune and fitting.

MoreBean13

Bump.

What about not-so-serious bikers?

cyclingben

i started my journey on a bike and finished 150 miles for MS today. Its a great way to keep you HR up and build endurance and loose weight. It is not a cheap sport unfortunately but it is a great hobby however far you want to take it. Biggest thing is not a big fat cushion seat but yet really good bike shorts.Im trying to post pics but it wont let me for some reason today

ronkoscelnik

I've been riding for a couple of years now. I ride because I like it. It has helped with my fitness level. Can't say it made me skinny. Still gotta eat right and all. It does burn a lot of calories and that helps. I agree you need the right bike with proper fit...an expensive bike you hate to ride is not worth it. Go to a bike shop where someone can help you

CatseyeHardcast

Not a serious road cyclist, but a regular cycle class cyclist and occasional Sunday rider.

I love riding, wind in your hair, freedom, all that jazz. Combined with the right diet any activity will help you lose weight. In one 45 minute cycle class I can burn well over 600 cals. Obviously when riding in traffic it is hard to maintain that intensity, but slightly longer times and a steady pace should achieve similar burns.

Just remember though, weight loss is 80% nutrition.

Roll out!

Takes2long

I try to get on my bike for fun with my daughters, and alone when I want some different for my exercise. I have padded bike shorts, the big padded Cadillac seat, and gel gloves. No reason to have an uncomfortable ride!! No pain = better ride. The one thing I found out for an easier, more enjoyable ride is make your seat is high enough. If it's too low, your thighs will do most of the work and B U R N, and you won't go as long or as hard. Too high and it's unsafe. I love my bike because I can go faster, see more things, and it just seems easier than running :-)

kristiedroseh

Thanks for all the replies! I'll definitely be sticking to my daily calorie goal, this will just be an exercise supplement. I live in a rural area with a lot of paved trails so hopefully I'll be able to maintain a steady speed on those. I'll also try going to a bike shop when I get my bike (hopefully this week?) I was planning on doing the cheap Walmart route but seems like proper fit is very important so I'll pony up some more cash

trinitrate

Before considering the Walmart route, go check Craigslist. Im not completely up on all the cool bikes etc., but as I understand it just about any of the bike shop brands even used will serve you better than a new walmart or target bike.

I found a 15 year old Trek for $100, paid another 100 to clean it up and tune it, and have a bike that runs a lot better than the equivelant $200 walmart bike.

RedSunshine365

^^^^ this!

When buying from a bike shop, the initial investment is going to be higher, but you will gain so much from the sale that Walmart can't provide. First, the bike will be put together properly. You will get good advice on fit, safety, maintenance, etc. you will often get a free tune up with the purchase....most new bikes need an adjustment or two after it has a few miles on it. My local shop offers free tune ups for the life of the bike while you own it. If you can't buy new, definitely ask a fellow cyclist friend for help and look on Craigslist.

Good luck! I started out a few years ago and I've caught the bicycling bug. I love it!

Moriarty_697

I finally broke down and bought a bike last spring. By June, I was commuting to work, rain or shine. I've commuted by bike, bus, subway and car. Biking is truly the only time I've actually had fun on my way to work. I even rode through the winter (though I didn't on days when there was snow on the roads). I also use my bike for running errands and some grocery shopping. It's been a great way of incorporating exercise into my everyday life.

Definitely go to a bike shop. Get a good basic bike by a decent maker. It will cost you more than the Walmart bike to start off but it's worth it for the better quality and better comfort that a good bike company will provide.

shani251

I finally bought a bike in March - my whole family are avid cyclists and do lots of events together and i was the only one who didn't. i have a seizure disorder that prevents me from riding a regular bike, so i invested in a really good recumbent trike that i just love. Since i started riding i have lost 30 pounds, so yeah, its amazing exercise and for me, a ticket to freedom since i can't drive (no license due to seizures). Great stuff, i wholeheartedly recommend it - now i can't wait to get on the trail each and every chance i get.

crazyellybean

I found a 15 year old Trek for $100, paid another 100 to clean it up and tune it, and have a bike that runs a lot better than the equivelant $200 walmart bike.

I have a Trek and love it, it's also very old 20 years old, but I would not trade it for the world!

Biking reduces insulin sensitivity which ultimately let's your body burn fat quicker and more effectively versus burning sugar first.. over time you could see a great improvement in your sugar levels and the way your body burns fat. It also works your entire body versus running or the walking.. so it's great for all your muscles.

esphixiet

yesterday I burned 1300 calories mountain biking. I wasn't even out for 2 hours. The harder you ride (trail, road, or mountain) the better your burn will be. But I know myself, I get lazy on paths, I like the built in difficulty of a good single track.
But yeah, get fitted by a professional. I've known too many people who drop $500+ on a bike only to find out they bought the wrong size and no amount of adjusting seats or handlebars will make it comfortable.

PS I have a women's 15" Rocky Mountain Soul.

b0t23

cycling changed my life

I say got for it!

carjohnson2

I agree with the used bike advice. I bought an excellent road bike off Craigslist, including the helmet, lock, gloves, and car rack for 125.

As far as using a bike to lose weight I lost close to 90 pounds through cycling. It is easy on the joints, and great for trimming the hips.

Good luck.

One bit of advice, the seat may hurt at first, use Bag Balm (or something similar) to help cut the friction.

MissNations

Go to a bike shop, it's worth it. They know their stuff and will help you a LOT.

Your butt will be sore the first few days, but after that you should have smooth sailing. A great way to get exercise w/o aggravating your knees.

drapisking

Can't say that it's a miracle cure, but it certainly is an easy way to burn calories.

Drawberry

I am not a serious biker at all, but I ADORE bike riding as a leisure sport and just a few short years ago could be gone for well over 3 hours riding up and down the neighborhood faster then the speed of light! Well not quite that fast...but it felt like it!

Recently, as in just a few days ago, I was able to get biking again and just 40 minutes on the bike cut off a little over 400 calories from my day.

There is one problem I am noticing is that a previous knee injury is causing a pretty harsh amount of pain after a short amount of time on the bike A few years back I tripped over a metal 'rope' and landed on my left knee on the cement. Ever since then, as one can imagine, I've been able to dislocate my knee in and our of place at random and from time to time the injury seems to flare and become painful enough I can't walk correctly. While that kind of extreme pain is very rare, being on the bike seems to cause some non-lasting pain.

Brittmy

I joined this group back in January and, in conjunction with healthy eating, I have lost 20 pounds so far, biking! :-)

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/2771-100-miles-a-month-2012

It works for outdoor bikers, indoor bikers, serious cyclists, and recreational cyclists. Hope to see you there! :-D

beanerific518

Biking made a big difference in my weight loss journey because I discovered that exercise can be fun! I didn't want to make any excuses not to go out and ride! I highly recommend going to a bike shop to check out the type of bike that is right for you. It is a higher initial investment, but you won't be replacing the bike in two years either. I went with a Trek fitness hybrid - I love it - perfect for trails (paved and limestone) and road.

DenverKos

Lots of great advice here! I work in a bike shop, so here's my $.02

Absolutely go to a bike shop - staff is knowledgeable and the bikes are of better quality and put together properly. Most offer a basic fit when you purchase your bike, as well as a tune up after 100-200 miles to tighten up the cables that stretch (totally normal for new cables to stretch after an initial period). Our shop also does free yearly tunes during the off season. You an get a decent bike for $300-$500 so know your budget.

Think about what kind of riding you want to do. A lot of new riders are afraid of road bikes and go in adamant that they want a mountain bike because it's lower to the ground and has fat, knobby tires. You said you plan to ride on paved trails and roads - that being the case, don't get a mountain bike!! If a road bike isn't your style, get a nice hybrid/comfort/fitness bike, one that has 700 tires on it and flat handle bars. You'll sit more upright, and the set up is going to be more like a mountain bike in terms of how the shifters work and whatnot, but it will be much more efficient on the road and when you're riding in traffic. You'll also be able to get a lot more distance in on that kind of bike than on a mountain bike. Even if you have some gravel trails, you can still ride a hybrid bike as the tires are fatter than a regular road bike.

The best advice I can give is to really consider the kind of riding you want to do and what you think you may want to do. Are sprint triathlons a possibility? Riding a community bike event or century? Commuting by bike? Cross country riding or vacationing by bike? One can quickly "out grow" a bike. I went from a comfort trail bike to a larger and lighter commuter bike in 6 months, and I got a road bike a year after that. I've also "borrowed" a friend's mountain bike that she no longer rides. I primarily ride my road bike, and the commuter is my secondary bike for going to school and what not. Again, I work in a shop and my "job" is actually to ride bikes - I lead group rides on the weekends. It's definitely a great workout, but you become accustomed to it pretty quickly. To ensure a good workout, constantly challenge yourself by tackling hills, doing intervals, and joining a local group ride - nothing pushes you like riding with faster people

scorpio516

I lost 40 lbs by commuting by bike every day.

If you can swing it, get a road bike. Preferably one with a compact crank.
Road bikes are best for traveling on any hard surface because they are the most efficient bikes and have a wide variety of hand positions. If you are riding a flat bar hybrid, and your arms or hands get tired, what can you do? Stop biking. If you were on a road bike, you could start riding on the hoods, then transition into the drops, then on to the flat, then back to the hoods

Speedtrap

I am “That Guy”, you know, the one on the road bike riding in traffic.
I use my bikes as a form of both exercise and personal therapy. A good bike is one of the best single investments you can make for your health.
I am not a small guy, I am what most cyclist refer to as a “Clydesdale, or Clyde” at 6’1” and 250 lbs I thought I would need a mtn bike to support my weight, so when I started riding I bought a mtn bike, and rode it a bit and lost interest. The knobby tires, and the rough ride, even with the front shock it was not a great ride in the city. I spent a great deal of money trying to make that bike into a commuter bike, slick tires, fenders, different hand grips, rack, lights and it worked well, but it never felt right.
This past year I picked up a road bike. And all I can tell you is that is you are riding on paved trails or on the road, it is outstanding, I can commute to work (15km each way) in 35-40 min, I feel confident riding in traffic and it is a fun ride as well, but I like speed.
My wife on the other hand does not like the geometry of the road bike, she rides an eight speed Linus Commuter bike, it is a bit more upright ride but with the larger tire diameter of a road bike.
Just like everyone else has said, go to a bike shop and look there, it is worth the extra investment to get fitted properly, and for the after sale service. As well with most bike shops, you can take the bikes on longer test rides to see if you like the feel. Try out several different styles and find what works for you.
Lastly, get a good helmet, bell and rear light, I use the rear light whenever I am in traffic, it just helps to make you more visible.
Good luck and find the right bike for you to have fun on!

Moriarty_697

I guess it depends on what you use it for, but I'm not sold on the road bike thing if you're just looking to get into riding for pleasure. I'm a fan of hybrid bikes - bikes that are designed for the road but usually with the more upright riding position of a mountain bike - strictly for the comfort factor. I have a Trek Allant. I love riding it in traffic because I am upright and able to look over most of the cars to see what is coming up. It's a very comfortable ride that makes errand running and getting around the city a lot of fun.

Zoeotis

I'd definatly recomend cycling, I got my first bike since I was a teenager about 3 years ago. I bought an old second hand one to begin with to see if I'd stick with it and then this year I bought a aluminium frame trail/town hybrid. My first one was a heavy steel frame and had just 3 gears but I found that I totally love cycling. My new one cost £195 which I don't believe is very expensive for what it is, it's got a lighter frame and more gears, I use it to commute to work I cycle to my Zumba classes and go to the local shops with it. I can easily cycle 25 miles a week without realising it. And I've noticed a difference in the shape of my bum and thighs...... they look ace:laugh: .

If you want a wee bit inspiration check out some of mark beaumonts videos, not really specifically about weight loss but about achieveing your goals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzhPZjWgLt4

If you are definatly going to stick with it, do a bit of research on getting the best bike for your budget, if you are not sure if you are going to keep with it, maybe buy a decent second hand bike that you can sell on if it's not for you.

as a warning, watch out for grit, I fell off my bike last week when I skidded in grit and have a very colourful scabby elbow and a blue thigh, but hey, these things happen

trinitrate

Another cool thing I like to do (because I'm a geek)... If you have a smart phone, install an app like Endomondo and take your phone with you on rides. It'll track your progress and pace etc. I like using a feature on there to race against one of your previous rides. It's a great way to 'compete' even if you dont have someone to ride with.

Mdin1029

Yes! Biking is great fun and burns calories! I have a Specialized Hybrid which I love. I agree with the tip to check Craigslist. Getting in a few hills will give you the effect of high intensity intervals that burns more calories. It is so fun! Rollerblading is another fun one for summer

LovelyLibra79

Bump!
I found an awesome Trek bike on Craigslist over the weekend for 100 bucks...in almost new condition. You can burn 300 plus calories easily in 30 minutes riding uphill depending on your weight!

trinitrate

Congrats on the CL score! And, yes depending on weight you can burn way more than 300 in 30 minutes. My average is around 1000 an hour right now... Guessing you weigh less than I do