martintanz

Look, I don't know how long you have been doing MFP, but a lot of us are doing it for months or even years. If there were some quick fix diet or exercise that any of us could do to shrink, tighten or define our midsections, or butts in two weeks, we would all be doing it. You can only do so much in a very short period of…

Completed the shorter loop. I was prepared to do the longer one, but my wife and child didn't want to go that far. But, we took a wrong turn and wound up doing an extra 8 miles, so 33 miles total today.

I am going to guess not many.

Thats fine, but if money is tight, $50 for tires is a lot less than $800 tp $1,000 you will need to spend for an entry level new road bike.

Not a bad idea to learn how to maintain your own bike, but probably should take it to a bike shop for a tuneup if it is in rough shape, as it may be more than just the gears that need adjustment and lubrication. As for the tire issue, fair enough, but you asked about lactic acid buildup after just 25 minutes. Riding on the…

Back to back riding days. 7/10 - 22 mile ride to the lakefront with a cycling group from my health club. Oddly, I was the strongest and fastest rider in the group. 7/11 - Fast solo ride of 17 miles in just over an hour. Fastest ride of the year. Off today because I plan on riding the Bay View Cycling Club Lake Country…

Maybe take the bike to a bike shop to make sure a mechanical problem isn't slowing you down. Also, if you have not already done so, put street tires on your mountain bike rather than knobbies. Street tires have a smooth tread pattern and are optimized for riding on pavement or paved trails. They are lighter, faster, more…

As others have said, spin, don't hammer up hills. And on flats, keep your cadence at around 80 rpms. This way, your heart, lungs and legs propel you forward instead of just your legs. Unless you are climbing really steep and long hills, your legs shouldn't be burning after just a few minutes.

If it gets your heart rate into the aerobic zone for 30 to 45 minutes, than it isn't useless. If it doesn't, then it is useless.

Do indoor miles count? I usually don't as it isn't the same.

Pretty much nails it, as far as I am concerned. There was a time when I did group cardio classes, but it seems like the gyms gave up on guys and feminized aerobics until it morphed into Zumba. Oh well, at least they still offer spinning.

If you hate it, you won't do it. BTW, 5'8" and 135 doesn't sound fat to me. Just find some exercise you like, or at least don't mind doing.

Big mistake. IMO, a department store "mountain bike" is a terrible choice for endurance road rides. :ohwell: If you are committed to keeping it for a season or two, you will need to make the best of it, probably need to make your bike more road worthy. In addition to fit, have the bike shop check the wheels, brakes,…

Actually the type of bike you ride matters a lot more to a beginner than to an experience cyclist. A strong rider can handle steep hills on a single speed, whereas the newbie needs low gears.

You are much too young to be a granny. ;)

Spinning is harder, or at least that was my experience. Before I did spinning, I had trouble climbing hills. After doing some hill routines in spinning class for a few months, I barely noticed the hills I had previously dreaded. Is it possible OP wasn't challenging herself in spinning class? Is your bike set up properly?…

Being self conscious about your weight is kind of against the spirit of Yoga. Maybe just what I have taken away from it, but in general, Yoga isn' t the sort of thing you do to get a great body. It is more about the inside than the outside.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/05/14/millionaire-yoga-guru-bikram-choudhury-accused-of-rape-and-human-trafficking/

Actually, his antics bother me quite a bit. I would try hot yoga, but I don't want to put money into the pockets of a rapist.

Except that the injury happened months ago. I had something like this happen some years ago. I limped along (or whatever you do with an injured shoulder) from November until May, when I finally went in for an MRI. Diagnosis was partially torn rotator cuff. This year, I suffered a similar type injury to the other shoulder,…

True, though the Gel Saddle I bought was a Planet Bike ARS Saddle, with a cutout in the middle and gel pads where you sit. It still didn't really work for me. I am loving my Brooks, though.

Not necessarily. If OP's saddle is comfortable, I say stick with it. Saddles are a personal thing. Fit is more important than how soft and squishy it is. And fit is really a personal thing. I used to use a saddle with springs to dampen the vibrations. It was very comfortable. Then I tried a gel saddle, didn't love it,…

Once you get into things more, you might want to consider getting some cycling shorts, which will increase your comfort on long rides, because of the compression, and because the tight fabric won't bunch up and chafe, and cycling shorts are designed so the seams don't irritate you as you ride.

Oh, and you need to mount at least one, maybe two water bottle cages on your bike if you are planning on riding any kind of distance. These are pretty cheap. Something like this would work fine. http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_157230_-1___202543 As for distances, once you get comfortable with the bike,…

Giant makes a quality product, so good choice. As far as racks go, maybe your bike shop has a few, but something like this is what I have in mind. I have these kind of racks on several of my bikes.…

I have been doing at least one longish ride (28 to 35 miles) and 1 to 2 shorter rides (12 to 20 miles) per week since the end of May. Now that the weather has improved, no reason not to step it up. Maybe bump it up to 2 longer rides per week and one shorter one, or about 80 to 90 miles a week, or 320 to 360 miles total by…

What bike did you get? If you plan to use as a commuter, you need a good U lock. Don't leave it outside overnight ever, regardless of whether it is locked. Thieves can break the best locks if they have enough time. I am kind of paranoid about bike theft, so maybe not the best person to ask about the issue, but be wary of…

Not sure I actually set a June cycling goal, but I have been combining one longish ride (28 to 35 miles) with 1 to 2 shorter rides (12 to 18 miles) per week. All in all, a pretty decent June, given the unseasonably cold weather. Now that things are starting to improve, no reason not to step it up. Maybe bump up mileage in…

I have been doing at least one longish ride (28 to 35 miles) and 1 to 2 shorter rides (12 to 20 miles) per week since the end of May. Now that the weather has improved, no reason not to step it up. Maybe bump it up to 2 longer rides per week and one shorter one, or about 80 to 90 miles a week, or 320 to 360 miles total by…

Agree, could be a torn rotator cuff. You need to see an orthopedic surgeon to know for sure. Or might just be a strain. If just a strain, perhaps physical therapy could help. Or a shot of cortisone.