OK I'm ready to admit that I am WAY out of shape...

[Brutuskend]

up until close to 12 years ago I used to bike EVERYWHERE. My legs were like TREE TRUNKS! And I could ride all day with out breaking a sweat.

Then I got a dog and do to the fact that he went everywhere with me I stopped riding because he couldn't keep up commuting.

I've decided to try and start riding again for several reasons, money being a factor but mostly for my mental well being.

Anyone stopped riding for this long after being a cyclist for 15 - 20 years straight?

How long did it take to get back into good shape once you started again?

 

[notfred]

What do you mean by "good shape"? Riding centuries in 4 hours, or riding to work without collapsing?

Also, I sent you an email the other day about your bike shop's site.

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: notfred
What do you mean by "good shape"? Riding centuries in 4 hours, or riding to work without collapsing?

Also, I sent you an email the other day about your bike shop's site.

Yeah I got it. Did you not get the reply?

I'm not looking to race at my age, just be able to not bonk riding to work. (Maybe 10 12 miles) and I want to start Mountain biking again without blacking out. 😱

 

[notfred]

Well, I'm in a bit of a differnt situation than you, but when I first started riding a couple years ago, I started with a 7 mile ride that seemed long. A few weeks later, riding three or four times a week, 20 miles was pretty doable. Probably in less than a month. Also, I'm 25, so that mgiht make a difference.

And nope, never got a reply to that email. I wonder what happened to it. 😕

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: notfred
Well, I'm in a bit of a differnt situation than you, but when I first started riding a couple years ago, I started with a 7 mile ride that seemed long. A few weeks later, riding three or four times a week, 20 miles was pretty doable. Probably in less than a month. Also, I'm 25, so that mgiht make a difference.

And nope, never got a reply to that email. I wonder what happened to it. 😕

I'll re send it.

I should probably just start doing some short rides around town until I get a bit more built up and then try the commute.

 

[newbiepcuser]

You can do it....



I don't know how old you are but I see guys in their 50s and up kicking ass on my trail.


One word:

Specialized

 

[sygyzy]

But if you starting riding more, you might not be able to post as much...

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: newbiepcuser
You can do it....



I don't know how old you are but I see guys in their 50s and up kicking ass on my trail.


One word:

Specialized

I'm 52.

The gear isn't a problem. I have a hand made road bike (Old Lugged Bruce Gordon with pretty much full Dura Ace) for commuting on and my MTB was put together by me (did I mention I run a bike shop) based on a Haro Werks XCR frame. 😉


Pay no attention to the car on the right. It looks bad, but it runs GREAT!

You can tell a true biker if the bike on top of the car is WAY nicer than the car...
Like I said I used to be HARD CORE.

 

[Dirigible]

Depending on the climbs, getting in shape to ride 10-12 miles shouldn't take too long (assuming you don't want to ride fast). Riding a few times a week will get you there pretty quick. It'll probably take up to a year to get into something you'd consider good shape (being a former hard core cyclist and all).

This is based on seeing several people in their mid-thirties to early-forties start riding in the last couple of years. One example: non-rider about 40, started riding, within 6 months rode as part of a 5-person team in a 24 Hours of Adrenalin race. He wasn't fast in the race, but by no means did he embarras himself.