cardio fitness

[terry_gardener]

which is best for cardio fitness going for ride every day or 3-4 times a week.

went for a ride today and my fitness is extremely bad. i was knackered after just about 2.5 miles and had to stop for about 5 mins to catch my breath because my heart felt as though is trying to escape from my chest and i was breathing very heavily.

 

[Recycler]

A little and often. If you are in poor health talk to your doctor.

I speak as someone who spent New Year last year in hospital following a heart attack. Cycling is a fantastic way to regain your health.

 

[Zoiders]

The best training is to keep cycling, a little further each week.

As ever if starting a new lifestyle involving excercise see your doctor first.

 

[Banjo]

Are you still recovering from flu or just generally unfit? Your fitness should imoprove quite quickly with regular exercise .I think a couple of rest days each week are important though. Continual training just leads to tiredeness and injuries,recovery time is just as important as training.

Good Luck

 

[vickster]

If you smoke, quit

I would agree on the little and often and if you really get knackered very quickly get checked

 

[terry_gardener]

i did a total of 5.13 miles on the ride with the rest in the middle.

i am generally unfit but i also do have 2 ongoing medical problems that are long-term (ulcerative colitis and pernicious anaemia) i have been cycling on/off for the past two years and have recently purchased a cube road bike see photo gallery for pics/details.

i have spoken to a IBT specialist nurse and doctor and they both OK'ed cycling as good exercise with the conditions i have. i have also researched it on the internet.

my general unfitness is properly down to basically i didn't exercise at all for about 6 yrs and went from walking everywhere to driving places when i passed my driving test. about 2 yrs ago bought a hybrid and in 2010 did 216 miles and last year bought a road bike which had to go back due to frame fault and then purchased the cube road bike. in 2011 did 211 miles.

since i left my job in April i sold the car and walk places again. just disheartening that take a few months off and you are back to this when you start up again. i would also like to start going to a martial art class (karate) for fitness and self confidence but abit concerned about my lack of fitness.

ps thank you for the advice

 

[terry_gardener]

If you smoke

i have never smoked.

 

[Holy Warrior]

Probably not the best advice but i'll tell you what worked for me when I first started.

Last early summer I was your typical student, drinking, takeaways, occasional joint etc. A group of us were sat in a pub getting merry when one suggested we do the coast to coast next (this) year. The next day I dusted down my bike and just set off riding. I did around 12 miles in just over an hour and I was knackered, really knackered - aching, sweating, probably bonked etc etc.

I rested for a couple of days and went out again, 20 miles on a flatter route nice and slow. felt good, rested, ate properly etc. next ride was 20 miles but hilly, again nice and slow. A couple of weeks of 2 rides a week and I was off, I got a ride buddy too then the winter just came too quick!

Alongside this I watched what I ate, limited my drinking, knocked the grass on the head. Joined this site for ride tips and motivation. When you see people riding 100m + it spurrs you on to ride further. Now next year me and one friend (an absentee from the pub that night) will be doing the coast to coast and some one day rides/ UK tours this year. We both have the cycling bug and I will warn you, you are constantly looking at routes, new parts and thinig about training plans! And constantly trying to get your mates who don't ride onto a bike too!

Good luck and bon voyage!

 

[Blue]

Anaemia is a serious handicap with regard to athletic performance. You realy should be guided by your medical team in this matter.