cycling my way to get fit
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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!
I'm 49 now, started back into cycling around 13 months ago - weighing 397lb - first ride was 7 miles, took me nearly 50 minutes to complete and 2 hours to stop looking like an extra from sesame street afterwards (i.e. - all purple and hairy and with big sticky-out eyes!)
This month, I've ridden 325 miles already, longest ride 68 miles in 4h16m, I weighed in last friday at 250.3lb, and earlier this month I passed the 5,000 miles distance on my bike - that's nearly double the mileage I've done in my car in the same period!
It's not an exaggeration to say it - cycling has probably saved my life. I've still got a way to go - at least another 40lb's but I know that one things for sure, cycling is going to feature heavily on the journey
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Hey ,
Im exactly the same, 3 months ago I bought a mountain bike and recently a road bike. Ive just completed 500 miles and lost 15 lbs (I lost 5 lbs before discovering MFP), my friends and I are out almost every night and I have a short circuit I do in 20 minutes including a 150 ft hill climb if Im pushed for time. I also found an amazing app that I use to track my efforts: www.runtastic.com check it out and add me on there (username Phil Hunton).
The best bit about thee cycling is the people you will meet, I go out and end off chatting to older cyclists that really know their stuff and on the mountains younger braver riders (Im 35!) either way there's beautiful scenery, fresh air and a fun way to burn those calories!
Enjoy your bike, cya on runtastic and MPF!0 -
Like most people I cycled in my youth, I took it a stage further and competed in some time trials in my early 20's and really enjoyed it. 100 miles was an average training ride in them days, and I was in West Cornwall at the time and if you know that place it's just one long hill.
Now 53 and decided to lose some flab, I have started by using an exercise cycle in the hope that I will build up the strength and stamina to cycle to work. It's only 5 miles but it is all up hill there, easy ride home mind. My main problem is that the only bike I can afford is the mountain bike style but I find it difficult to ride, I would love the drop handle bar style I used to ride.0 -
I'm 49 now, started back into cycling around 13 months ago - weighing 397lb - first ride was 7 miles, took me nearly 50 minutes to complete and 2 hours to stop looking like an extra from sesame street afterwards (i.e. - all purple and hairy and with big sticky-out eyes!)
This month, I've ridden 325 miles already, longest ride 68 miles in 4h16m, I weighed in last friday at 250.3lb, and earlier this month I passed the 5,000 miles distance on my bike - that's nearly double the mileage I've done in my car in the same period!
It's not an exaggeration to say it - cycling has probably saved my life. I've still got a way to go - at least another 40lb's but I know that one things for sure, cycling is going to feature heavily on the journey
Another interesting website/blog to read is here: http://theamazing39stonecyclist.wordpress.com/
I started to cycle again in April '11 after buying a bike through the Cycle to Work Scheme. I hadn't cycled since I was a teenager & I was then 38.
My first journey into work was 13 miles & it took me 1h7m17s. I did the same route this morning and I did it in 38m23s. It can be done!
I have lost 45lbs so far and still a fair bit to go.0 -
<<--- cycles.
I own more bikes, frames, parts than is legal allowed in many places. Cycling is my freedom and drug although my lifestyle (work travel) makes that I can go 2 weeks without any kms.
It's a great sport but you'll need to add something else to balance things out - cycling by itself will get you 70% of the way there. It has its limitations (flexibility, injury and limited impact on upper body strength - even with mountain biking)...
Feel free to add me (and anyone else) - I do all this for my own fitness and because I ENJOY it!0 -
I cycle 6 miles to work, and close on to 9 miles on the way back home as I take a more scenic route on the uphill route back home. Its helping me slowly to get slimmer and fitter. (I just need to lay off the snacking.) The only problem I find is that because I do it every day to and from work its having less of an effect now. I need to go out in to the woods on my bike for a couple of hours once or twice a week to have some variety and hide the calorie burning hard
But with a 4 year old autistic child and mother in law with cancer at home, its hard to find the time
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You can do it. My first ride three years ago was about 6 city blocks. When I realized it was all up hill to get back home I had to walk it. Today I am 60 pounds lighter and have done 3 100 mile trips and last year I rode a total of 4200 miles. Just ride0
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Cycling crushes calories. Just make sure you're taking in plenty of water, gatorade, and bananas so you don't deplete your body. The fact that you're giving yourself a 'nice breeze' tricks your body into thinking that you're not sweating as much as you think...
Granted, I'm on a road bike, but I started doing rides around 30-40 miles and then progressed up to 100-120 mile rides-- usually setting aside a Saturday or a Sunday to do the centuries. I started out averaging about 15-16 miles / hour. Now, I do around 18 miles an hour on rides. Slightly faster if people want to ride as a group and push the pace.0 -
I recently started riding regularly, in the last month and I love it. So much faster than running, easier on my knees, the scenery changes and my only complaint is the bumps! My rear is finally starting to toughen up after riding 3-4 times a week for the last few weeks. I need a new seat or a pad.
Any tips on buying a seat? I see the thick cushioned seats but they are wide, should I stick with the narrow seat for easier leg movement and pedaling? i always thought those wide seats were more for the grandma riding to the store.0 -
I recently started riding regularly, in the last month and I love it. So much faster than running, easier on my knees, the scenery changes and my only complaint is the bumps! My rear is finally starting to toughen up after riding 3-4 times a week for the last few weeks. I need a new seat or a pad.
Any tips on buying a seat? I see the thick cushioned seats but they are wide, should I stick with the narrow seat for easier leg movement and pedaling? i always thought those wide seats were more for the grandma riding to the store.
Seat should fit. Look at some of the seat fitting companies lik sqlab. Then you'll need less padding.0 -
I recently started riding regularly, in the last month and I love it. So much faster than running, easier on my knees, the scenery changes and my only complaint is the bumps! My rear is finally starting to toughen up after riding 3-4 times a week for the last few weeks. I need a new seat or a pad.
Any tips on buying a seat? I see the thick cushioned seats but they are wide, should I stick with the narrow seat for easier leg movement and pedaling? i always thought those wide seats were more for the grandma riding to the store.
I'd suggest the padded shorts, and a seat proper for your sit bones.
If you can still find carbon paper, on a hard flat chair with paper underneath the carbon, probably some on top too. Sit on that thing and when you feel your sit-bones hitting the chair (may have to raise legs slightly), really try to get that feeling you are helping to make an impression, pushing them into the chair.
Now you have the general width of your sit-bones, measure from strongest contact point to the other. You want a seat that allows them to rest in the side-middle of the seat (middle if you look at just half the seat), near the back.
Cut-out seats work for many, slight dip in the middle if yours needs to be really wide.
Squishy saddle padding is commented by many that whatever padding is not exactly where it needs to be - will eventually squish up into areas you definitely don't want it to be. It can make some areas much worse.
Whereas short's padding usually is built that way, cut-outs where not needed.
The bumps are also better if you are NOT sitting straight up-right with more weight over the rear, stretched forward balancing is better for that. Sometimes instance adjustment like that helps if you see it coming.
Bumps are better if pedaling hard enough, because even though idea is to spin fast to engage more muscle at lighter level more frequently, fact is you are still in general pushing up/back, which lightens the load on rear too.
If bumps are on trail, need to gear down so pedaling harder and absorbing shock in the legs, even on the road over expansion joints - you'll get good at it. Slight lift onto the legs at precisely the right moment, not even lifting out of the saddle, just un-weighting it.0 -
Thanks for the tips heybales, I have tried taking the weight off my rear like you describe, didn't know I had actually stumbled upon the secret. THough I admit it is a bit tough to do, guess I need to build some more leg strength.0
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I just signed up to do the Long Beach bike tour (marathon) 26.2 miles on Oct. 7 it will be my first.
Karen0 -
good on you izzy the cycling will definitely help. I found i did a bit too much at first and tired myself of it a little early so now i just ride occasionally. Until I feel like I need it on a regular basis again.0
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get some good nix or bib nix like advised generally the more expensive the better. If your new to riding and dont like having the exposure lycra gives you wear a pair of shorts over them. Your backside will toughen up, also you can do more riding out of the saddle, ie standing while pedalling. It uses more energy but hey it becomes a bettter workout and you burn a heap more calories.0
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I recently started riding regularly, in the last month and I love it. So much faster than running, easier on my knees, the scenery changes and my only complaint is the bumps! My rear is finally starting to toughen up after riding 3-4 times a week for the last few weeks. I need a new seat or a pad.
Any tips on buying a seat? I see the thick cushioned seats but they are wide, should I stick with the narrow seat for easier leg movement and pedaling? i always thought those wide seats were more for the grandma riding to the store.
I have gel seats for my bike as well as my stationary bike. Bought them here
http://www.bicycleseats.org/bicycle-seat-pads.htm They have fast shipping and stand by their products. It sticks to your current seat and has a draw string to tighten it and hold it in place.0 -
I love cycling! I can give advice if you need tips on maintenance and repair of your bike so feel free to add me.
They still make bikes with three gears, my Raleigh has a Sturmey Archer hub, which means it has three gears. More reliable to use than a rear derailleur and you can change gears whilst stationary at the lights lol. Little bit harder to get up the hills though!0 -
Im a novice cyclist.
My partner has been riding 4 odd years and has tried to get me to go but I was always a runner however I took it up 46 days ago after my Doctor told me not to run anymore because of my back. I had a very cheap bike at the start which I fought all the way but now have a beautiful Giant Anthem thanks to my partner who is a seasoned mountain biker. It has made a difference to my riding, and I feel more confident, even though I came off last week on single track.
I do mainly single track/mountain biking and in the past 46 days I have done 35 hours of cycling. I have to say I love it,
even the horrid hills I climb on my bike every week, but it hasnt taken long for my fitness to improve.
Feel free to add me.0 -
I love cycling... Its a zero impact cardio that burns up shovel loads of calories and is great fun too.
I mountain bike rather than use a road bike (even on the road as owning two quality bikes is a rather large expense) I definitely prefer going off the beaten trail as I find watching the miles tick away on tarmac a bit boring. I used to cycle to work and now I'm here on MFP I'm starting again (first time today in ages)
Get yourself a Garmin Edge 500 cycle computer with Heart Rate Monitor, it will tell you exactly how many calories you burn each ride and you can upload all your rides to Garmin Connect and Track your progress and see with graphs and reports how your fitness is improving. I have a little 9 mile off road cycle trail near my house and using the Garmin you can race yourself against one of your previous times... Its fantastic.
You can see my Garmin profile here http://connect.garmin.com/profile/roycruse73
When buying a mountain bike here's a tip - unless you have a larger budget stay away from full suspension bikes. The cheap shocks (springs) that they fit are useless for clocking up some miles. They just spring up and down with little or no dampening and absorb all your effort as you pedal and add a ton of needless weight to the bike. Unless you can afford a quality air shock with a lockout and / or pedalling setting that stiffens it up your better off sticking to a hard tail bike with only front fork suspension.
On a mountain bike 12-14 miles per hour is a fairly fast pace to average - but dont get too hung up on how fast your going - get the heart rate monitor and keep your heart rate in your aerobic zone and youll be getting a great workout.0 -
Love cycling and lost 25 lbs by eating better choices and riding. Usually ride 20 to 30 miles in an evening. Longest ride so far this year is 73.6. Any cycling friends feel free to add me.
Steve0 -
HI, I think you have made a good choice to take up cycling. I became a mature student last year and took to cycling twenty five miles a day. I have found it to be a convenient form of exercise as it slots easily into my busy schedule; it's good for the planet; and
I have definitely seen results in inches and weight loss!
Yesterday I cycled through one of London's parks, alongside a canal, which was both stress relieving and quicker than london transport.
I hope you have fun whilst doing it - good luck!0 -
i have just got a bike through the 'cycle to work' system, and I do cycle to work approx 12 mile round trip, hate the south westerly wind, when it gets to 16/17 mph it a killer. as they say no pain no gain(loss)0
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today i did just over 8 miles in under an hour! :blushing: this is a vast improvement from a couple of weeks ago and i can feel how much fitter i am becoming but it is embarassing when you are being overtaken by others on bikes!
but i will persevere and one of these days i will be the one who overtakes someone else who is just starting out - i cannot wait for that day cos i know that inside i will be smiling to myself!
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i really would like to cycle..but finding a bike that would support me is inprobable and then paying for it is impossible..lol.. tried sitting a bike a couple of times though ..think i still got to much below to do it... cant see how they do it on the shows with other large people.0
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i really would like to cycle..but finding a bike that would support me is inprobable and then paying for it is impossible..lol.. tried sitting a bike a couple of times though ..think i still got to much below to do it... cant see how they do it on the shows with other large people.
well - I started off at 397lb, and didn't break too many frames :laugh: Seriously - a good quality make MTB with a well built set of wheels can cope with most bigger lads and lasses - now the £50 bike-shaped-objects that the supermarkets and car accessories stores sell, well - I reckon I could pretty much trash one in a ride, even now!0 -
well the bike i bought wasn't very expensive. I didn't see the point on spending a lot of money on something i didn't know if i would continue with. try a second hand one. bikes are sturdier than you think, it's just getting used to the seat that was my main problem.(and you can get gel seats) don't give up on the idea of getting a bike. if the weather is beginning to turn with you plan for the spring 0
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I was very happy I was able to get out and ride today 16 miles.
Karen0 -
Gateway drug...love it!
I ride about 120 a week. Sent you a request.0 -
i really would like to cycle..but finding a bike that would support me is inprobable and then paying for it is impossible..lol.. tried sitting a bike a couple of times though ..think i still got to much below to do it... cant see how they do it on the shows with other large people.
I am hoping this link works for you....Please read. It is an inspiring story and you can get a bike built for a larger person.
http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/nutrition-weight-loss/i-lost-320-pounds-riding-bike?page=0,40 -
i really would like to cycle..but finding a bike that would support me is inprobable and then paying for it is impossible..lol.. tried sitting a bike a couple of times though ..think i still got to much below to do it... cant see how they do it on the shows with other large people.
I am hoping this link works for you....Please read. It is an inspiring story and you can get a bike built for a larger person.
http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/nutrition-weight-loss/i-lost-320-pounds-riding-bike?page=0,4
Sadly, getting a bike built is so far removed from the comment "and then paying for it is impossible".
Custom built is expensive.0
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