Dirigible
Diamond Member
- Apr 26, 2006
- 5,961
- 32
- 91
Good work getting on your bike. Lots of good advice above me.
Just keep riding. At least a couple times a week. Don't overdo it, just go a little further and/or faster each time. You'll soon build up to riding. Hopefully, you'll then be having lots of fun and not wanting to stop. It helps to get in good enough shape to join with group rides, so you can combine your exercise with your hanging out with friends time. Plus, saying you'll meet folks for a ride is a good way to prevent yourself from backing out of a planned ride.
If you're not careful, you'll start hanging out with other cyclists all the time, your wife will roll her eyes at all the cycling talk you do, you'll be spending huge amounts of cash on bikes and bike parts, you'll give up smoking so you can ride better (more than one friend has done this after getting fed up with always being the slowest - it makes a huge difference), you'll meet 60-year-old guys who are faster and better than you that inspire you to stay fit for life, etc., etc.
Definitely stay hydrated. Drink before you're thirsty. And bring a snack. If you bonk and you've got nothing to eat, it's really unpleasant to try to get home.
Just keep riding. At least a couple times a week. Don't overdo it, just go a little further and/or faster each time. You'll soon build up to riding. Hopefully, you'll then be having lots of fun and not wanting to stop. It helps to get in good enough shape to join with group rides, so you can combine your exercise with your hanging out with friends time. Plus, saying you'll meet folks for a ride is a good way to prevent yourself from backing out of a planned ride.
If you're not careful, you'll start hanging out with other cyclists all the time, your wife will roll her eyes at all the cycling talk you do, you'll be spending huge amounts of cash on bikes and bike parts, you'll give up smoking so you can ride better (more than one friend has done this after getting fed up with always being the slowest - it makes a huge difference), you'll meet 60-year-old guys who are faster and better than you that inspire you to stay fit for life, etc., etc.
Definitely stay hydrated. Drink before you're thirsty. And bring a snack. If you bonk and you've got nothing to eat, it's really unpleasant to try to get home.
Good for you and don't let the keyboard jocks get to you. A few suggestions:
Get you bike fit properly - if you did not get it at a top-end bike shop it probably isn't. I'm sure you can find a good guide at bicycling.com or similar site.
Good rule of thumb with any exercise is to start with about 30min 3x a week, and add time each week as you feel able.
Another thing with bikes is, out of shape people tend to use too high a gear, because your muscles are probably in better shape than your cardio system. Use a nice low gear, it will train your heart and lungs, and you are less likely to strain/injure yourself. You should be aiming for around 70 RPM as a beginner cyclist.
Get you bike fit properly - if you did not get it at a top-end bike shop it probably isn't. I'm sure you can find a good guide at bicycling.com or similar site.
Good rule of thumb with any exercise is to start with about 30min 3x a week, and add time each week as you feel able.
Another thing with bikes is, out of shape people tend to use too high a gear, because your muscles are probably in better shape than your cardio system. Use a nice low gear, it will train your heart and lungs, and you are less likely to strain/injure yourself. You should be aiming for around 70 RPM as a beginner cyclist.
Congrats to all of the riders. My drive home takes me through horse farms and two lane roads. Its a popular bike route. I am very conscious of bike riders. I hang back while waiting to pass and give them a whole lane when I do. Its troubling to see how other motorist behave around bikes.
You can smoke and bike, it's not that bad. Funny story back when I was in college I'd go to the collegiate mountain bike races with the college bike team. We had one guy who was a good biker, but also a chain smoker. One season during the regional event, he was racing in the C class when he really should have been with the B riders, but anyways, he is so far out in front of the rest of the field that before the finish line, he stops and bums a cigarette off a spectator. So there he is, smoking a cigarette while riding across the finish line winning the regional race.
A lot of people in cars completely freak out when I'm biking through town. It's like they've never seen someone on a bicycle in their life! Like I might be waiting at a stop sign, and a car trying to turn onto the street I'm on, they'll slam on the brakes & stop still in the middle of the intersection not knowing what to do! And I just sit there behind the stop sign trying my best to waive them through like I see them, I'm not going to dart out or anything.
Kelemvor
Lifer
- May 23, 2002
- 16,928
- 8
- 81
I've at least been walking lately. We're fostering a dog through a Rescue near us and he's overweight so we go on a 45minute walk every afternoon after work. Not much in the line of exercise but at least it's something. I'll drive it today to see just how far it is. Probably only a mile or 2 at most.
As for biking, you have to just see what you can do to start. If the 20 you tried was too much, scale back and to 15. Just stop a couple miles from the end of the trail. Do that every day or two for a week or so and then go another mile further on the trail (2 miles further round trip). Then when you feel ready, increase it again.
Everyone gets into shape at a different rate but just don't push it too hard that you end up injuring yourself or psyching yourself out and not wanting to bike any more.
As for biking, you have to just see what you can do to start. If the 20 you tried was too much, scale back and to 15. Just stop a couple miles from the end of the trail. Do that every day or two for a week or so and then go another mile further on the trail (2 miles further round trip). Then when you feel ready, increase it again.
Everyone gets into shape at a different rate but just don't push it too hard that you end up injuring yourself or psyching yourself out and not wanting to bike any more.
Vic
Elite Member
- Jun 12, 2001
- 50,422
- 14,337
- 136
I have a Hardrock and love it. Yeah yeah the tires (and the bike itself) are a bit heavy for serious road biking, but the bike itself is a tank, nearly indestructible.
To the OP: quit smoking. Doing so will make an almost immediate world of difference in your ability to exercise like this.
To the OP: quit smoking. Doing so will make an almost immediate world of difference in your ability to exercise like this.
7 miles on a trail is difficult. I can bike 7 miles on roads anyday around my town. The only biking I used to do was biking to high school and around with my friends. Even then, hitting the trails would be difficult.
You should definitely plan better next time. If you get stranded, you need a backup plan. Bring a buddy or something or at least have your phone on you.
You should definitely plan better next time. If you get stranded, you need a backup plan. Bring a buddy or something or at least have your phone on you.
Originally posted by: SuperSix
LOL @ ~20yo asshats that WILL get heavy as they get older but don't have a clue.
I was 135lbs when I was your age sonny.
so then you were under weight and now your over weight. oh the irony
LOL@ fat ppl indeed.
Kanalua
Diamond Member
- Jun 14, 2001
- 4,860
- 2
- 81
First day after my last final of my first Law School year, I decide to go on a hike. I'm really overweight and haven't really exercised before the hike in years. (29 years old at the time). I decide I'll attack a ridge line that is right behind the school I got to. I take the bus (no car) and my 1.5 liter bottle of water for this hike.
If any of you know, it's a Ko`olau Summit/ungraded ridge hike (Wa`ahila to Mt. Olympus).
I ran out of water half-way. My legs and back cramped up. I thought I wasn't going to make it. I literally went all I could go, and had NO energy left when I decided to turn around.
I had way under-estimated my water needs and way over-estimated my physical abilities. It took me almost as long to go down the ridge as to go up it. The worst part is that the last 1/4 mile is a steep rock 300 foot hill/cliff...I sat at the bottom of that thing for about 1/2 an hour working up the strength to attack it. I got back to the park you start at and downed about 4.5 liters of water from a tap at the park. I was covered in mud and drenched in sweat. Made for a fun bus ride home (took two transfers to make it home).
Attacked the same ridge line a month later, after building up to it, and summited (which I failed to do on that first try).
First attempt
Second attempt
If any of you know, it's a Ko`olau Summit/ungraded ridge hike (Wa`ahila to Mt. Olympus).
I ran out of water half-way. My legs and back cramped up. I thought I wasn't going to make it. I literally went all I could go, and had NO energy left when I decided to turn around.
I had way under-estimated my water needs and way over-estimated my physical abilities. It took me almost as long to go down the ridge as to go up it. The worst part is that the last 1/4 mile is a steep rock 300 foot hill/cliff...I sat at the bottom of that thing for about 1/2 an hour working up the strength to attack it. I got back to the park you start at and downed about 4.5 liters of water from a tap at the park. I was covered in mud and drenched in sweat. Made for a fun bus ride home (took two transfers to make it home).
Attacked the same ridge line a month later, after building up to it, and summited (which I failed to do on that first try).
First attempt
Second attempt
HeroOfPellinor
Lifer
- Dec 27, 2001
- 11,272
- 1
- 0
My bike is a Specialized Stumpjumper. Classic from the early 90's before they were putting front and rear shocks on $80 bikes.
I suggest you go RUN one mile. Coasting along on a bike for 20 after that will feel like play time.
I suggest you go RUN one mile. Coasting along on a bike for 20 after that will feel like play time.
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