complete and utter novice

[mjr]

Welcome to the new cyclist!

Profpointy speaka-da-truth.

Actually, I disagree about the saddle padding (get the right saddle - don't pad your pants) and front/back brake comments (depends on bike and situation) but most of it's correct.

 

[Profpointy]

Welcome to the new cyclist!

Actually, I disagree about the saddle padding (get the right saddle - don't pad your pants) and front/back brake comments (depends on bike and situation) but most of it's correct.

just checking but are you really saying that "mainly front brake" is wrong ? You really can't stop effecively with just the back brake , and if you're using the front brake with any vigour the back will not be able to give you much stoppage at all. "you cannae break the laws of physics" as a certain Scottish engineer might say

(leaving aside ice and other special cases)

 

[mjr]

just checking but are you really saying that "mainly front brake" is wrong ?

Not necessarily, but it's not necessarily correct either. One of my bikes has a more reliable back brake than the front (they're different types: hub back, V front) and it's also better to use the back on steep descents or when the front may skate, but maybe that's what you were trying to exclude as "special cases").

 

[deejay74uk]

Wow guys thank you so much for your support its much appreciated as is the advice and tips. Tonight I did 15 minutes without stopping !!! Thighs are burning though but I enjoyed it.

 

[grumpyoldwoman]

I've recently retired my old,much loved Raleigh mountain bike (I gave it to my daughter after buying my current one,as she's got bitten by the bug too!) nothing wrong with a older trusty bike,what matters is that you've got on it and are enjoying (hopefully) the exercise.

I was (and still am) overwieght and not as fit as I could be when I first hopped onto my bike,but a year on and I've lost quite a bit of weight and also made a couple of friends (also cyclists so conversations sprung up naturally and easily as we discussed/admired each others bikes) due to getting the train part of the way to work and cycling the 3 miles from the station to my workplace.

In this past year I've gone from struggling to cycle the 3 miles to work,to happily doing a 30mile round trip as the longest ride I've done in my life (at the grand old age of 51). My legs are now firm as is my bum! I have tons more energy and tend to get quite ''twitchy'' if I can't get out for a ''proper ride'' on my day off!

If this older,slightly (ok more than slightly!) overwieght ''old'' lady can do it,a youngster like you can do it!

 

[Sim2003]

Over weight rider here too. Sooo much to take in when starting out. Read the forums pick out bits and pieces you feel relevant to you.

Most importantly though just enjoy it. Over time you will gain confidence and the rest will follow suit.

 

[deejay74uk]

I have set myself a goal of being able to ride to work .it's great to know other people have felt the same as me it's even better knowing that you all continued and ride some serious distances ..Well done all of you !!

 

[annedonnelly]

Wow guys thank you so much for your support its much appreciated as is the advice and tips. Tonight I did 15 minutes without stopping !!! Thighs are burning though but I enjoyed it.

Well done!

And I meant to say earlier - if you've got a friend to ride with it could be more fun. Though I like riding on my own

 

[MikeW-71]

Well done on getting out there I also have an old (1993) Raleigh MTB in my collection, which now gets used to pop into town on.

I started off on a Trek hybrid, to ride to work in 2012. My first ride was the 5 miles to my parents. I had to stop each mile, and when I got back home I felt like dying. Then I tried riding to work. Seemed fine until I got there and wobbled through the door on legs of jelly

You make rapid improvements and I soon got bitten and bought a road bike... then another one... then an MTB.... errr.

Last year I did my longest ever ride at 111 miles. It's not going to be a regular thing, but I can say that I've done it

Others have covered the basics, but the most important is getting that saddle height correct

 

[MichaelW2]

Many newbies pedal with too much force at a rate which is too slow. This burns up your thighs with lactic acid.
Most experienced riders select an easier, lower gear and spin pedals at a faster rate. You go the same speed, burn the same calories, but spread the effort between legs and lungs better.
To find a lower gear, put the front gears in the middle ring (usually marked 2 on controls) If you only have 2 rings up front, use the smaller one.
At the back start with the chain on 2nd or 3rd from biggest (marked 2 or 3 on your control)
If pedalling becomes too easy, change the rear to a bigger number (smaller cog). If it gets too hard, change down to a smaller number.
When you shift gears keep pedalling but ease up on the force you apply.

Ride at an easy pace for 10-20 mins. The first few weeks are all about getting used to being on the saddle. You can't do any 'fitness training" until you are comfortable riding, so don't push yourself hard yet.

 

[RichardB]

Nowt wrong with old Raleigh MTBs
BTW

I've recently retired my old,much loved Raleigh mountain bike

Well done on getting out there I also have an old (1993) Raleigh MTB in my collection, which now gets used to pop into town on.

We should start a club - mine's a 1992 Raleigh Amazon, still in fine fettle apart from a slightly wonky back wheel. It's simple and basic as a rock, and that's why I like it.

 

[ufkacbln]

I noted the Wigan Warriors ... DO you live in Wigan, as there is a local group that does Women's events for beginners

MAy be worth contacting them, as they will be able to give a practical level of support that we cannot give on a web forum

 

[KneesUp]

Forget all the comments about the age of the bike. They're pretty robust and simple things, an all the parts are replaceable. The design hasn't changed much for 100 years or more. My bike is 27 this year (and ok so the only original bits are the frame, forks, seat post and front deraileur) but functionally it's no different to a new £1000 bike.

Well done for getting out there. I'm a similar age, and getting fit now is harder than it was!

 

[rugby bloke]

Welcome aboard, loads of great advice here. As has been said, start gradually and build up. You will be amazed how you can increase the time you are out on the bike. Enjoy your riding, don't hide away in the dark, there is nothing better than cycling with the sun on your back.

 

[Racing roadkill]

. I'm not a reborn cyclist, I'm one of those who appears to have been born with wheels and gears, instead of legs. However, I am an official British Cycling / GoSkyride ride leader, and you would be amazed just how many riders there are out there, who are in a very similar situation to yours. We see a whole range of riders / and bikes, on our events and rides. If you look at the GoSkyride or British cycling websites, and search for "Breeze rides", together with your postcode, you will find a properly planned, and risk assessed, women only group ride, which could be anything from a couple of miles around a park, right up to longer distance rides. If you don't particularly require a women only ride, there are plenty of "Skyride social" and in a couple of months, led Skyrides, and big organised mass, closed road events, all over the country. You could get some benefit from joining your local cycle touring club chapter, if you find you like social riding. Good luck, and keep at it. The fitness will come quicker than you imagine, as will weight loss.