Any cyclists here?

lpherman01
lpherman01 Posts: 212 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
As an avid cyclist one of the best things about losing weight was how much faster it made me. I was always pretty quick on a bike and when younger could hang with the AX riders even though I was around 225~230. When that ballooned to 260, it just wasn't any fun anymore, so I stopped for a few years. When I started seriously riding again in 2008 (about 3K miles per year), the weight just didn't come off, and it wasn't until I started with MFP last year and began eating correctly that the weight came off.

Now at 188~190 I have all of my speed back plus more. Never a climber, now I can hang with most as we go up 10, 12 & even 15% grades. Talk about positive re-inforcement. As long as I can ride I will never fear gaining the weight back, because just a few minutes on the bike gives me all of the incentive that I need to stay thin.
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Replies

  • Yogi_Carl
    Yogi_Carl Posts: 1,906 Member
    Cyclist here. I used to think that cyclists could get away with eating large amounts of cake and drink copious amounts of coffee but I since found that isn't the case!
  • Cyclink
    Cyclink Posts: 517 Member
    I've been known to ride a bike once in a while :-)

    I've had that problem too: think that I'm training a lot so I can eat whatever I want. If I don't track what I'm eating, it's really easy to eat too much and gain weight.
  • cloggsy71
    cloggsy71 Posts: 2,208 Member
    Yup :wink:

    North Yorkshire, UK here :smile:
  • TheBigYin
    TheBigYin Posts: 5,686 Member
    :smile: I turn a crank now and again...
  • KatrinaWilke
    KatrinaWilke Posts: 372 Member
    I am an avid cyclist (mountain bike mostly) and I also thought I could eat a crap ton of food since I was biking so much..........it wasn't until I joined MFP last summer and started tracking my calories that the weight came off. I feel so much faster, especially on the climbs. I don't know the exact number but I read an article in a bike magazine about gaining so many seconds of climb time for every pound you lose.
  • patrickblo13
    patrickblo13 Posts: 831 Member
    I mountain bike. I dropped 13lbs before last season and was much faster. The 1 race that I did in 2011 I finished 47minutes faster in 2012. I am hoping with even more weight off and a new bike this year I can drop that even more....
  • MikeA2479
    MikeA2479 Posts: 1 Member
    Started back on the bike this year...trying hard to loose the pounds and just get back to being fit. Must admit this site has helped. Turbo training alot at present but will be back out on the roads lighter and fitter soon. Heres to more weight loss, and faster sessions!!
  • lpherman01
    lpherman01 Posts: 212 Member
    Started back on the bike this year...trying hard to loose the pounds and just get back to being fit. Must admit this site has helped. Turbo training alot at present but will be back out on the roads lighter and fitter soon. Heres to more weight loss, and faster sessions!!

    To me, the positive affect of improved cycling is 100 times more rewarding than are the compliments on my new look. Nothing like dropping the guys who used to drop you. :-)
  • jhalsey205
    jhalsey205 Posts: 91 Member
    ...I've had that problem too: think that I'm training a lot so I can eat whatever I want. If I don't track what I'm eating, it's really easy to eat too much and gain weight.

    Cyclist here, and the above hits close to home for me!
  • FatDadSlim
    FatDadSlim Posts: 497 Member
    Road & Mountain yma
  • rides4sanity
    rides4sanity Posts: 1,269 Member
    Fun group of riders around here. Enjoy!
  • TravisBikes
    TravisBikes Posts: 674 Member
    If everyone else is doing it...
  • KitTheRoadie
    KitTheRoadie Posts: 641 Member
    Checking in!

    Head over to the groups "Bicycling Road and Mountain" and "Century Plus Cycling", lots of good ol cycle talk going on over there and lots of nice challenges to keep you on your toes! :wink:

    Enjoy!
  • panicintheattic
    panicintheattic Posts: 102 Member
    I'm a commuter, but I love it all the same.
  • m76b
    m76b Posts: 1,498 Member
    mountain bike here!! yayyyyyyy!!!
  • glassxxballerina
    glassxxballerina Posts: 48
    Yes! I'm a competitive triathlete so I'm a speedster. I average between 22-25mph during races.
  • olDave
    olDave Posts: 557 Member
    I've been a cyclist all of my life. Now I'm almost 60 years old and it's my main form of exercise. I LOVE IT!
  • mikeyrs
    mikeyrs Posts: 176 Member
    Started back on the bike this year...trying hard to loose the pounds and just get back to being fit. Must admit this site has helped. Turbo training alot at present but will be back out on the roads lighter and fitter soon. Heres to more weight loss, and faster sessions!!

    This! Bought a new Trek FX 7.4 this past September. Winter interrupted the riding, but now I'm ready to roll.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    I'm training for my first century ride this summer - hoping my weight loss helps with speed and hills too.

    A lot cheaper than spending £4000 on a carbon fibre bike too. :smile:
  • karlajotj
    karlajotj Posts: 46 Member
    "road bike" here! I love it! Keeps me in shape and feels great after I ride!
  • CentralCaliCycling
    CentralCaliCycling Posts: 453 Member
    I have been riding most of my adult life (and a good deal before then).
  • dutchman24
    dutchman24 Posts: 108 Member
    Used to bike...then got busy...put on weight.... Last fall, I started biking a bit...but just too heavy, hit 280 on a "frame" that's built for 178. Now, I'm down to 210 and hope to get back in the 178 range for Spring...and biking. Plan on hitting the roads heavy this year, now that I've got less wind resistance...and I can get back into my old jerseys....
  • ForbiddenFruit
    ForbiddenFruit Posts: 62 Member
    Just started cycling semi-seriously here. It's a bit difficult to fit much in until the nights get lighter here (South Coast of the UK). We also have to try to work it around earning a living and making sure the dog gets decent long walks.

    Anyway, I know compared with some of you it's nothing, but we've done 12 miles the last couple of Sundays and I'm doing 10 miles tomorrow followed by about the same on Saturday.

    We've signed up to do a 50 mile charity ride in September so we need to start ramping it up.
  • cargilb
    cargilb Posts: 116
    I love riding. I've been riding around nyc since the early 90's. Bike riding has twice helped me lose copious amounts of weight. It is an invaluable calorie burner. After not riding much in the last 6 yrs i began to ride again and once i gained some leg strength, started counting my calories and I went on a tear and lost about 60 pounds in about 7 or months.

    Bike riding is awesome.
  • zummerzet_lou
    zummerzet_lou Posts: 159 Member
    I love cycing too .... until recently I was into road and mountain biking.

    Now, thanks to my kids I'm racing BMXs too .... I'm not very fast, but it's soo much fun - plus it's having a great effect on my road cycling!
  • ForbiddenFruit
    ForbiddenFruit Posts: 62 Member
    8.5 miles done on tracks round a local park this morning. Not a huge amount but every little helps :-)

    I could never do BMX. I'm not even any good at mountain biking. I was saying to one of the ride leaders this morning that I think it's because I didn't learn to ride a bike until I was in my 20s. I didn't learn all the balance stuff and chucking myself around on it as a kid, when you have less fear and it hurts less when you fall off lol. I was born in London and my mum never let me ride a bike as she thought the roads were too dangerous :-s

    I'm just about safe on cinder/gravel tracks, anything more challenging and I just don't feel safe.
  • lpherman01
    lpherman01 Posts: 212 Member
    Thanks everyone for responding. Looks like there is a good sized contingent here and am getting a number of friend requests. I also see someone who is local, Cyclink, who I need to ride with sometime.
  • jagi410
    jagi410 Posts: 97 Member
    Car-lite lifestyist, Mountain,long distance road, commuting, utility cycling, winter cycling, etc. I love it!
  • KickyLegs
    KickyLegs Posts: 53
    Cool.

    Do you ride all year long?

    I hate riding in the cold (all the extra gear). I wish I could though because I use my bicycle for transportation in the summer months (it's the most effective way for me to loose weight). Other wise I take transit but I hate it.

    In my view, if you have to get somewhere why not ride? It's usually faster, plus you're exercising which means less time at the gym.
  • olDave
    olDave Posts: 557 Member
    Cyclist here. I used to think that cyclists could get away with eating large amounts of cake and drink copious amounts of coffee but I since found that isn't the case!

    Nothing wrong with coffee....at least for me. Cake is ok too as long as I account for it in my calorie budget.

    I've been cycling all my life and don't plan on stopping any time soon. For me there's nothing like riding all day on one of this country's amazing Rails-to-Trails and then relaxing with an ice cold IPA!!!

    Ride on!!!:smile:

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