Back in the saddle

[KJB]

Hi everyone. Can I first say how friendly and informative you all are!

I've just bought by first bike yesterday after being unable to ride for 3 yrs due to serious life changing injuries from a non cycling accident. I settled on a hybrid as I will mainly be riding on country roads and bridle/cycle paths. It's been specifically adapted for me by my LBS who have been incredibly helpful and patient. The owner came out on a short ride b4 I bought the bike to make sure it was set up safely for me!

Ive had a stupid grin on my face since last night when my son took me out for my first ride. Only 3 miles but what a feeling!!!

Can I ask if anyone uses the mapmyride app and is it any use? Don't need GPS or Satnav at the moment as I'm only doing short rides and will be accompanied however I would like to know distance, time and some health info is heart rate, calories used etc.

Sorry for the long post but any info would be useful

 

[mjr]

Welcome! I use Runner up or osmand for tracking. It might help if you say what phone type you have. You need a monitor to record heart rate and I don't think osmand would record that.

Sports tracker estimates calories even if you don't have a heart rate monitor but I doubt its accuracy.

 

[si_c]

Welcome glad to hear you're enjoying the new bike!

A lot of people use Strava, which will record your rides for distance etc. You can also pair it with a Bluetooth HRM to track your pulse and it will record that too. I'm not sure of other apps whether they are capable of recording that detail or not.

Others here will have their own suggestions.

Either way hope you keep enjoying the rides!

 

[vickster]

Enjoy riding.

A reasonable guesstimate on calories if putting some effort in over mixed terrain would be around 30 per mile

A heart rate monitor would be most accurate if wanting to know that. Personally unless training for sport cycling, I don't see much point unless you have a heart condition you need to monitor. Getting a bit breathless and sweaty and feeling like you are working your cv system and legs is enough for me as a recreational road cyclist

 

[KJB]

I have an iPhone 5 if thats any help. Thanks for the info, I had looked at strava but mapmyride was free! However I don't mind paying for a bit more feedback in health terms

 

[raleighnut]

 

[sight-pin]

And it's a from me.

 

[KJB]

Thanks everyone for your welcomes, I do indeed feel welcome......much appreciated

 

[13 rider]

Strava is free aswell you don't need to sign up for premium .
Well to the world of cycling

 

[EnPassant]

Strava here, its free, you don't have to get the premium. None of these things are desperately accurate with the cals though and @vickster's 30 cals a mile is as good as a ready reckoner. I also use MyFitnessPal for the other side of the equation as a few here recommend it, the only annoyance for me being a large number of foods entered with the quantity as 'cups' which is American in origin but that can be worked around if like me you find them confusing.

 

[KJB]

I've now had my bike 3 days and LOVE IT!! Done an average of 6-7 miles each day at ( embarrassed to say lol) about 7 km/he. Starting very very slowly to ensure I don't cause any damage to old injuries and of course I'm horrendously unfit lol. However as they say slowly slowly catchee monkey! Been using mapmyride on my iPhone which seems fairly accurate except calories burned which sadly I'm sure are vastly out, wish it wasn't lol Thanks for all your help and encouragement.

 

[vickster]

Naturally if you're looking to lose weight, you'll need to eat less too, the cycling will help tone up and make you feel fitter but it's unlikely the weight will drop off. Guys seem to have a bit more luck with this than we females!

 

[KJB]

I know diet plays a huge part........on that too. Men do seem to be able to loose weight more quickly, very unfair lol. I tend to go on how I feel and whether I can get back in my size 12 jeans rather than getting too hung up on actual weight lost, don't own a pair of scales

 

[Bazzer]

Welcome.
Your speed doesn't matter, neither does your mileage. You will see on here, if you haven't already done so already, what may seem some insane mileages compared to what you what you are currently achieving. Don't let them put you off. The key is to enjoy your bike and enjoy your ride.