Celebrating our little improvements.

[Learnincurve]

I've just been thinking (dangerous I know) the internet is a strange place where it seems we can do no right. Overweight people and thin people are both demonized alike by whoever for whatever agenda and it ain't right. As a thin person I can tell you that weight has absolutely no bearing on fitness levels, if the muscle and cardio ain't there then it ain't there.

So I would like to know, how has your fitness improved since you started cycling, if you are new to cycling what are you hoping for, have you hit a milestone recently, and everyone's goals in general?

 

[Turbo Rider]

I have a cough, I'm more tired, my legs hurt Monday to Friday and I'm more grumpy thanks to having to listen to drivers constantly asking me about cycling with a negative emphasis.

On the other hand, I feel more sprightly, I eat healthier, have stopped smoking for good (might explain the cough), have more money in my wallet (used to drive), I read more (my mind feels more alert), I have more self justification when I ignore people I wouldn't want to talk to anyway and my smug levels are through the roof. I'm also slightly more mechanically capable, which I like

 

[Steady]

I think whether people are overweight, underweight, or at a good weight unless they have a history of exercise in a lot of ways when they first start they're in exactly the same boat.

Exercise is a large portion mental, and the best part of cycling, or running, walking that I've gained from being consistently active is mental fitness and strength.

 

[Saluki]

I've been cycling (this time round) since '09, getting a decent bike at the end of 2011 and my fitness has come on leaps and bounds. Not necessarily my weight though. I am currently the lightest I have been since September '09 and very happy about that. This year, I am the fittest I have been for a good few years at the beginning of April as I've managed to get some winter miles in.

For me, my weight has been an indicator of fitness. I was not skinny, more athletic looking up until I was around 36 or so. I was also fit as I have loved sport since I was a child and my parents didn't want me to do any and "become muscular" . I ran 1500m, Cross Country & hurdles at school, as well as tennis & hockey. I cycled to school and everywhere else and I rode horses daily. Sadly, in summer 2000, an injury stopped me in my tracks and I couldn't cycle or run. Swimming didn't cut the fitness mustard for me.
My husband is the lightest he has been since college and is pretty unfit. He dislikes riding any further than about 10 miles at the moment because his legs ache and is unwilling to ride 12 miles to improve his fitness. Still, if I can get him out regularly for 10 miles, it will keep him fitter than if he wasn't riding.

I see a lass out jogging, most evenings, she is twice my size and she can run a lot further and faster that I can. She says that every 100 miles that she completes, she buys herself a new CD.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I'm happier, a bit lighter and a lot more mechanically adept as far as bicycles go. I think cycling has also improved my photography and observation of local history. You see a lot more from a bicycle than any other means of transport.

 

[Kevoffthetee]

I start cycling properly this time last year and struggled to do 20 mile and took days to recover which nearly put me off. By the end of the year I lost 1.5stone, went from a 34 loose fit jean to a 32 skinny fit and had a considerably smaller beer keg out front.

Winter hit and a few family gatherings and I've put half a stone back on, but still in smaller jeans and definately still fitter than ever, as I'm mixing cycling with running.

I've also made a lot of friends by joining a cycle club that caters for all levels, from beginners, to development, to club ride and to a now official race team (little league).

 

[Longroad]

Well I've just started But I'm hoping to lose weight, get some level of fitness back and spend time out and about like I used to many years ago that's enjoyable and not just a slog of hard work to do anything.

 

[nobbyp]

I got into road cycling properly in August last year after hiring a bike whilst on holiday in Majorca

I can only guess what I weighed then - I think it was in the region of 14 stones (I am 5'8" and a bit - therefore "safely" in the overweight camp).

In addition to getting out on the road I also embarked on the 5/2 diet - which is now a part of my everyday life and will probably remain so permanently

I now weigh 12 stones and have 1 stone to get to NHS ideal weight level

I could not have lost the weight I have without the cycling - I could not have done it just by cycling.

Strava tells me I generally sit about 250th out of every 1000 cyclists on segments - I am pushing 43 so figure this isn't bad given I've only been riding since August. I have halved some of my segment times since August - all of the above matters not in the scheme of things - what really matters is that I bloody love being on a bike - everything else is a bonus

 

[Sandra6]

I am a good deal heavier than I was 20 years ago, but I'm also a lot fitter. I could still do with being thinner and fitter, but there you go.
I don't cycle for fitness. I started off thinking that's what it was all about, going further, getting faster, but then I realised I'm much happier pootling along and stopping for cake.

 

[Jayaly]

I've been commuting for about nine months on a mountain bike (just two miles each way, but with 14 kg of toddler on the back for the uphill journey home). When I started, I would collapse on the sofa for an hour after getting in while the kids ate crisps. Now I don't need to rest at all, just keep going as soon as we get in, and I still have a bit of breath on the uphill to discuss birdies, doggies and anything else we pass. I've built my weekend social ride distance up to 20 miles, again with not-so-tiny sidekick on the back. Oh, and I've lost 6 kg.

 

[gbb]

Mojo...where's it go ?
We've all been there (i'd think), the drive and desire to get out there can see us up and out with a grin, after work, before work, anytime, people think you're nuts
Equally, when that drive disappears, your mojo just isn't there...its HARD getting out there, its hard because you WANT to or at least know you should, but equally you think...sod it.
2 years off for the most part for me, previously VERY fit, very commited to cycling but getting back into it is hard, but, its on the up. Spring is well and truly here, a couple of hard rides and my recovery time is increasing, I CAN still attain some speed albeit for a shorter time..it just goes to show, you think your fitness is gone, but it still lingers, it just needs bringing out.

 

[BrynCP]

My very first ride was 4 miles and it exhausted me; I was doing no exercise at the time and I weighed 18.5 stone. This was back in Nov 2013.

Today I weigh around 13st 2lb through the combination of cycling and better eating and feel much better and fitter for it. I have cycled almost 70 miles in one go. I cycled 30 miles on Monday after a hard day at work! 30 miles for many months was a "long" weekend ride.

 

[AlexRoy]

I started cycling in July last year at 16.5st. My first ride was around 10 miles and took me almost an hour. At first I didn't lose any weight, but started living cleaner in September, and by Christmas was down to 14st (normal BMI). I now cycle to work every day, despite the fact that I work in the same office as my partner & she drives.

I've broken into a few top 10's in Strava - I just want to go faster every time I'm out, anyone else have this problem? I'm hoping to start triathlon this year, aiming to compete in my first in August.

One of the best things about cycling is that I feel like I can eat what I want and never put any weight on. I struggled with my weight in the past and would always pile anything I'd lost back on afterwards. I burn so many calories now that it's just impossible, and I enjoy it! Changed my life for sure.