MattMM
Senior Member
- Location
- Southern suburbs of Glasgow
Was swithering about whether to post this just in the progress thread, but though some newbies may get some inspiration, so apologies for cluttering up with a new thread
Have now been on the forum for over 6 months now, joining back in December, when I bought my first bike, a Ridgeback hybrid, from my LBS on advice of my physio as rehab for a bad back injury I’d suffered. Used to do a couple of runs a week, but was paranoic about setting my back injury back, so seemed like a good option.
At the same time as the back injury, was going through a particularly bad situation at work, which led to me deciding to leave with no other job to go to. Big decision since I have a young family, and was looking potentially at long term disability if back inury didn’t heal. My physio suspected I also suffered a minor stroke at the time, most likely driven by work situation and injury, plus also carrying some excess weight due to lack of exercise.
So, got the bike, some low-end gear from Amazon, Aldi and Lidl, joined up here as it seemed like a friendly place. My aspiration when I started was to be able to cycle over Eaglesham Moor, our largest climb locally and also very exposed. Hooked up to Strava to monitor my progress, and set out on my newbie career.
At first, struggled a bit and did 5-6 miles along my running route, gradually building up over a few weeks to double figures. Discovered that, at 6’ 3” and about 18 stone, I was a very effective wind block, which can be an issue where I live – most of my cycle routes cover Moors and we have one of the largest wind farms in Europe nearby. Horizontal rain and sleet combined with this can be fun – my Buffs ability to convert from neckwarmer to balaclava saved my life on a few occasions. Did my level best to try and make at least 3 rides per week, which was a challenge motivationally in Scottish winter conditons.
So after a few weeks, and gradually creeping up mileage-wise, one calm beautiful day at the end of January, I did Eaglesham Moor:
Over the next few weeks, managed to break the 30 mile barrier for a single ride, with a great run through Ayrshire, and approached nearly 100 miles per week riding. Without any major adjustment to diet, managed to drop about a stone in weight, went down a trouser size, and my quads went a strange shape…not complaining. Around about April, got a new app for the phone to check HR, this was my resting pulse from a near-stroke situation a few months previously:
Took advantage of a few Strava communites, and managed to achieve the coveted Club Pie and Bovril no.1 spot a few times for distance and climbing, decided I’d never even make a dent in others, so didn’t get too discouraged.
So anyway, in the past week or so, had a great new job confirmed, which’ll mean my relocating further north in Scotland to the Aberdeen area, it’ll be flatter but a lot colder, which’ll bring its own challenges no doubt. Having decided this cycling larks a goer, to celebrate the new job, and to motivate me to keep it going, this should be arriving tomorrow:
Specilaized Roubaix Sport Compact 2013. Looking forward to seeing how the old favourite routes on Strava do with this…
If there’s anyone out there who’s in a similar crappy work situation, who’s overweight, got health issues, this is hopefully an indication what cycling, and more importantly a supportive community like this can do in only 6 months.
I’d like to personally thank the Newbie progress thread regulars (too many to list) for all their support and also for those of you on Strava – all the likes and kudos are noted, and do make a huge difference. I’d also like to thank my LBS who have been absolutely brilliant, not just in selling me the bike, but answering myriad daft questions, sorting out mechanicals at short notice and at a good price. If you’re ever in the south of Glasgow, check these guys out – a visit is worth it for banter with the owner alone:
http://www.clarkstoncycles.co.uk/
Thanks all and cheers.
Have now been on the forum for over 6 months now, joining back in December, when I bought my first bike, a Ridgeback hybrid, from my LBS on advice of my physio as rehab for a bad back injury I’d suffered. Used to do a couple of runs a week, but was paranoic about setting my back injury back, so seemed like a good option.
At the same time as the back injury, was going through a particularly bad situation at work, which led to me deciding to leave with no other job to go to. Big decision since I have a young family, and was looking potentially at long term disability if back inury didn’t heal. My physio suspected I also suffered a minor stroke at the time, most likely driven by work situation and injury, plus also carrying some excess weight due to lack of exercise.
So, got the bike, some low-end gear from Amazon, Aldi and Lidl, joined up here as it seemed like a friendly place. My aspiration when I started was to be able to cycle over Eaglesham Moor, our largest climb locally and also very exposed. Hooked up to Strava to monitor my progress, and set out on my newbie career.
At first, struggled a bit and did 5-6 miles along my running route, gradually building up over a few weeks to double figures. Discovered that, at 6’ 3” and about 18 stone, I was a very effective wind block, which can be an issue where I live – most of my cycle routes cover Moors and we have one of the largest wind farms in Europe nearby. Horizontal rain and sleet combined with this can be fun – my Buffs ability to convert from neckwarmer to balaclava saved my life on a few occasions. Did my level best to try and make at least 3 rides per week, which was a challenge motivationally in Scottish winter conditons.
So after a few weeks, and gradually creeping up mileage-wise, one calm beautiful day at the end of January, I did Eaglesham Moor:
Over the next few weeks, managed to break the 30 mile barrier for a single ride, with a great run through Ayrshire, and approached nearly 100 miles per week riding. Without any major adjustment to diet, managed to drop about a stone in weight, went down a trouser size, and my quads went a strange shape…not complaining. Around about April, got a new app for the phone to check HR, this was my resting pulse from a near-stroke situation a few months previously:
Took advantage of a few Strava communites, and managed to achieve the coveted Club Pie and Bovril no.1 spot a few times for distance and climbing, decided I’d never even make a dent in others, so didn’t get too discouraged.
So anyway, in the past week or so, had a great new job confirmed, which’ll mean my relocating further north in Scotland to the Aberdeen area, it’ll be flatter but a lot colder, which’ll bring its own challenges no doubt. Having decided this cycling larks a goer, to celebrate the new job, and to motivate me to keep it going, this should be arriving tomorrow:
Specilaized Roubaix Sport Compact 2013. Looking forward to seeing how the old favourite routes on Strava do with this…
If there’s anyone out there who’s in a similar crappy work situation, who’s overweight, got health issues, this is hopefully an indication what cycling, and more importantly a supportive community like this can do in only 6 months.
I’d like to personally thank the Newbie progress thread regulars (too many to list) for all their support and also for those of you on Strava – all the likes and kudos are noted, and do make a huge difference. I’d also like to thank my LBS who have been absolutely brilliant, not just in selling me the bike, but answering myriad daft questions, sorting out mechanicals at short notice and at a good price. If you’re ever in the south of Glasgow, check these guys out – a visit is worth it for banter with the owner alone:
http://www.clarkstoncycles.co.uk/
Thanks all and cheers.
