cycling my way to get fit

izzyl75
izzyl75 Posts: 10
in Introduce Yourself
I am 37 and need to lose about 60lbs and i am hoping to do this by cycling. :yawn:

they say that you never forget how to ride a bike but instead of the 3 gears I had as a child I now have 18! that alone is taking a bit of time to get used to. i read some of these posts about people cycling long distances and wonder how on earth i will get that fit - but i know that if i persevere i will get there too.

I want to buy a really expensive designer dress and shoes and thought this would be a good motivation to lose the weight as some designers only do smaller sizes. if i manage to lose this weight then i need a serious treat at the end of it and i think this should do the trick.

if anyone would like to add me as their friend it would make my day!
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Replies

  • debbie389
    debbie389 Posts: 291 Member
    Hi, I've just sent you a friend's request.

    I cycle, the furthest I've been is 60 miles. Usually do a 15 mile loop in around an hour. When I first started riding I would do the ride at about 8mph and it would take forever, but now it's usually around 14/15mph. All you have to do is start slowly and as you get fitter you'll get faster, and will be able to go further.

    Deb :smile:
  • tlfoulk
    tlfoulk Posts: 5 Member
    I'm a novice cyclist, and love to ride. I usually never go more than a couple hours, but you will be surprised how well your body responds and how much your endurance increases. I'm a runner too, but biking is so much easier on the knees and ankles. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Happy Trails!
  • umer76
    umer76 Posts: 1,272 Member
    I use cross trainer for 40 minutes and sometime take my bike out and cycle for 40 minutes and the difference is clear. The heart rate, the sweating and tiredness between the two is really different. So I agree cycling is the effective way reduce weight. I wish I can do more regularly
  • izzyl75
    izzyl75 Posts: 10
    debbie request accepted!

    that's impressive! i don't think i've gone more than 7 miles and that was tiring and took about an hour. i did recover quicker and felt better for doing it than the previous time but it just seems to be taking forever.

    i am looking forward to getting further and fitter though.

    izzy
  • RiotMTB
    RiotMTB Posts: 91 Member
    I took up cycling 4 years ago at the request of a hockey buddy. I am now doing marathon/endurance mountain bike and road races!
    I am in a three day stage race this weekend! It is an awesome way to get and stay fit...but be warned...it is addicting!! You will shed the pounds, you will get fitter; and in no time you will be looking to upgrade your bike! Mostly it is just huge fun!!

    Feel free to add me as a friend...the more cycling friends the better!
  • mirthfuldragon
    mirthfuldragon Posts: 124 Member
    Careful with cycling - it is a gateway drug. I've logged close to 800 miles this year (since May, with a wrist injury leaving me out of the saddle for about five weeks), purchased three bikes, and actually watched parts of the Tour de France without falling asleep.

    My longest is 47 miles this year, on trail. Enjoy yourself, keep pedaling, and welcome.
  • maro_p
    maro_p Posts: 57 Member
    I am cycling to work on a daily basis and do an 11mile round trip. Apart from it being great fun, it makes me exercise daily and avoid the tube. It is a great money saver too!
  • Brengild
    Brengild Posts: 127
    I started cycling about 5 years ago. I remember the first time I rode 10 mi and it was so hard. Now I ride 30-40 most rides. I have even participated in a ride that crossed our state(approx 500 mi) in a week! Just ride as often as you can and your endurance will build! I am not one for speed, (my daughter and I call ourselves the Turtlegirz) but I am pretty good for distance. I just feel relaxed and happy when I ride, its great for my mental health too!
  • smrtcar
    smrtcar Posts: 104 Member
    My wife and I rode our first 100km ride this year. Rewarding ourselves with a Chilean wine country bike tour. Set the goal and mash the pedals.
  • BlisterLamb
    BlisterLamb Posts: 396 Member
    Moved to fix quote.
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    I would love to get back into cycling. I don't know if I will though. Some recent events regarding it have put a bad taste in my mouth.
  • BlisterLamb
    BlisterLamb Posts: 396 Member
    I started cycling about 5 years ago. I remember the first time I rode 10 mi and it was so hard. Now I ride 30-40 most rides. I have even participated in a ride that crossed our state(approx 500 mi) in a week! Just ride as often as you can and your endurance will build! I am not one for speed, (my daughter and I call ourselves the Turtlegirz) but I am pretty good for distance. I just feel relaxed and happy when I ride, its great for my mental health too!

    ^^^^^This. I remember riding 8 and thinking I was really something. Last August I rode 400+ in just August alone. I'm planning on doing a 100 mile ride on the first Saturday in October. And if you want to know how it affects your weight, check out my pictures in my profile. There's a before and several afters. Have fun and enjoy.
  • Pedalpush
    Pedalpush Posts: 246 Member
    I've been riding off and on for better than 24 years. While I prefer to ride in the dirt, I have spent my share of time on the road. I hope to get back in to it now that my sons are a little older. The more people I see out on their bikes, the more likely I am to get on mine! I think we can certainly motivate each other!
  • tdcibilly
    tdcibilly Posts: 78
    i am a road and off road rider
  • rocketass99
    rocketass99 Posts: 537 Member
    I love spinning and cycling. On my spinner I log about 20 miles a day. On my bike Im only doing 15-20 miles a week. I have lost most of the weight to day with spinning and crosstraining. Any body interested in putting a page together where we could set weekly goals for cycling?
  • Gapwedge01
    Gapwedge01 Posts: 494
    Good luck and get properly fitted to your bike for injury avoidance and efficiency. A local bike shop is a good place to get fitted or search on you tube and do it yourself.
  • XXXMinnieXXX
    XXXMinnieXXX Posts: 3,459 Member
    I bought small clothes for motivation. They were not the right shape when I got to that weight. Maybe save up in a separate account for that dress instead x
  • fit4lifeUcan2
    fit4lifeUcan2 Posts: 1,458 Member
    I'm a novice biker. I just got my bike a couple weeks ago and am building up my distance. I hadn't been on a bike in over 15 years because the MS blew out my balance. Now that I got my balance back I'm loving biking. I go out almost every day and ride around town on our bike path. Its just a 2 mile round trip but for now thats fine. I'm not a high energy person due to the MS but the fact that I can do it at all is fantastic to me. I ride a mountain bike because I ride on trails and rough roads, grass etc. I rarely ever go in the street. I'm still worried that I might lose my balance and fall into an oncoming car so I stick to the trails and then the side walk to my house. Its not how much you do its the fact that you do it at all that matters. Enjoy!!! There is nothing like the freedom you feel and the wind in your hair. :flowerforyou:
  • Rocbola
    Rocbola Posts: 1,998 Member
    Cycling is a fantastic way to get fit and lose weight!!! Welcome to the un-official club!

    It gets easier each time you ride. I used to think 10-20 miles was a lot, but now, i ride at least 12 miles a day, just for commuting to work. I used to ride 8-10 MPH, and now i regularly do over 15 MPH, with stretches over 20 MPH. Enjoy your new hobby!
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Outdoor biking is great exercise, because if you have any form of hills, or stop lights where you then take off - it's like mini-intervals all the time.

    Compared to a Spin class you may not burn as many calories in steady state for same amount of time, you can find you'll spend more time easier outdoors, and since easier to recover the next day again, and since mini-intervals even better at fat burning - you'll find the overall effect is better.

    Just be aware on trails, if you just coast along with little peddling for large amounts of trail, all that bouncing can be hard sitting there as bump on a saddle log. Best to keep pedaling.
    Turn most hills into hard interval and recover on top or other side going down, and you'll really make progress and see results.
  • MsVeeFletcher
    MsVeeFletcher Posts: 2 Member
    Do you notice if your run is slowed down the first couple of lapses when transitioning between cycling and running?
  • Spokez70
    Spokez70 Posts: 548 Member
    Awesome- I just started biking earlier this year and was pretty winded just rolling around my neighborhood and now I am doing 20 mile runs regularly and have gone as far as 50 miles. I'm planning to do a 100 mile ride next April for Diabetes.
  • JenSpinnaChick
    JenSpinnaChick Posts: 104 Member
    I'm sending out as many request as I can, so if you want to add me feel free...I finally found a post that feels like home!!! I've been a spinning instructor for 4 years now and just recently (the last 4 months) have taken to the road and I love it!!! The longest ride I've done to date is a 100K, I also completed my first triathalon last month
  • 321poppi
    321poppi Posts: 24
    I'm right there with you - I've added cycling to my life and and trying to work up to biking to and from work daily - (15miles each way) right now, I'm parking the car about 5 miles away from work, and its been great. next week I'm going to do 10 miles /each direction. I have about 75 pounds to lose. mfp really helped me before. being "public" with what I eat and how much I exercise keeps me accountable. Tracking calories in and calories burned also helps with keeping that doughnut out of my hands. I am looking for people to keep me on track & motivated, so, feel free to friend me.
  • TDSeest
    TDSeest Posts: 1,089 Member
    I started riding last April (2011), with a three mile ride and about died. I've ridden 9800 miles since then, and dropped over 100 pounds. Still have lots to lose.

    Feel free to add me if you need more friends. Best of luck with your riding.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Do you notice if your run is slowed down the first couple of lapses when transitioning between cycling and running?

    Sure, gotta get some of the slightly different muscles engaged at the same time you are engaging some pretty tired muscles. That's why useful to run slowly at first, otherwise you can have a problem.
  • izzyl75
    izzyl75 Posts: 10
    oh i don't run. my knees can be bad so doing the cycling as less impact on them.

    i can't believe the support out here - it's amazing :smile:
  • Rodap9631
    Rodap9631 Posts: 38 Member
    been cyccling since i got my new avanti carbon bike 6 months ago. though not hardcore yet I have lost 15 kgs. I am sure my short once or twiice a week ride has contributed. Ive got down to a 21% BMI and cycling definitely helped. And yes it is a bit addictive particulalry when you go in a group as I try to do on a Saturday morning for a ride that takes about 2 hours the fast riders do it much quicker though add me as a friend if your interested in cycling cheers Rod
  • cottoncloud
    cottoncloud Posts: 25
    this site is wonderful i just joined today and I've made so many friends, I also think cycling is a better idea than running, but don't neglect your diet as well. Eating healthier and exercising is the optimal combination.
  • s_bell2012
    s_bell2012 Posts: 27 Member
    I am 37 and need to lose about 60lbs and i am hoping to do this by cycling. :yawn:

    they say that you never forget how to ride a bike but instead of the 3 gears I had as a child I now have 18! that alone is taking a bit of time to get used to. i read some of these posts about people cycling long distances and wonder how on earth i will get that fit - but i know that if i persevere i will get there too.

    I want to buy a really expensive designer dress and shoes and thought this would be a good motivation to lose the weight as some designers only do smaller sizes. if i manage to lose this weight then i need a serious treat at the end of it and i think this should do the trick.

    if anyone would like to add me as their friend it would make my day!

    You can do it by cycling. Ive lost 64lbs so far and it's all down to healthy eating and lots of cycling. At first i struggled to even get on my bike and go for a 5 min cycle. Now after 5 months I am regularly doing 70-90 minute cycles up some very big hills. I have also just signed up for a 58 mile charity bike ride at my work. Persevere it does get easier trust me

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