Fat Bloke On A Bike Pt 1

[Chaddie]

Hello pip.
I also new to this forum and am also a fat bloke on a bike. I glad to know I'm not alone.

 

[RiflemanSmith]

 

[BrianEvesham]

Welcome from Evesham.

 

[SWSteve]

Hi Pip and

With respect to technical stuff, I cannot recommend youtube enough. The guys with the high watch count have earned it, simple easy to see explanations so you know what you need to do.

 

[Pip Edgecombe]

Hi Pip and .

It will get easier as you get back into riding but beware of pushing that knee too hard too soon - you don't want to do damage.

Is this something that you already had or has it come on with cycling? If the latter you might want to check your saddle height. Many people set the saddle too low to start with which puts strain on the knees.

Apart from that good luck and enjoy the rides.

Thanks Phil. I did my knee 6 weeks ago when nothing to do with the bike. Ligament damage so has to be careful yes. Cheers

 

[Pip Edgecombe]

Pip, where are you located? If you are near to me, I can help you with the mechanical bits.

Thanks but I am some way from you as I live in Berkshire. Cheers

 

[Pip Edgecombe]

Thanks to everyone for the response and support. It's the first time I have used a forum so I am quite amazed.
If there are any other older newbies ( i am 45) around Wokingham area it would be good to have someone to train with.
Cheers guys and happy cycling!

 

[Pale Rider]

If you want to go down the traditional book route, Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance is regarded as something of a bible on the topic.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1934030597/?tag=hydra0b-21&hvadid=9550944309&ref=asc_df_1934030597

 

[Ladytrucker]

Welcome Pip, don't worry about the hills, just get into a low gear and keep going.
You will be amazed at how quick your fitness improves. Good luck

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Thanks to everyone for the response and support. It's the first time I have used a forum so I am quite amazed.
If there are any other older newbies ( i am 45) around Wokingham area it would be good to have someone to train with.
Cheers guys and happy cycling!

45 - you're a Young Newbie!

Re hills: in November when I got my bike I went up a 300m long hill (steep-ish) in my 36/28 (34.7 gear inches) and thought that was very hard and it would never get easier. I was jiggered at the top! With a modicum of effort I can now go up in my 36/19 (51.2 gear inches) with only a slight bit of puffing at the top.

It will get easier still I'm sure.

Get stuck in!

 

[Sara_H]

Fat Bloke? Yes, that's me; Hello!
I'm Pip and I have signed up to Cycle Chat so I can get back into cycling, learn from you guys, get fit and not be such a fat bloke any more.
I haven't ridden competitvely since I was 15 - that was cyclocross in the late 70's on my Raleigh Transit, long before we'd even heard of mountain biking, and I was an OK rider. So 30 years have passed and I have had a bike (a Specialized Rock Hopper) for the past few years but aside from a few months of cycling to work on it (102 miles per week) it sits in the garage and I haven't been on it for about a year. Until today... I have decided that it is now or never and the only way I am going to get fit is to get out their and do it so I have written my training plan, got my bike serviced, and jumped in the saddle.
I downloaded an app called MapMyFitness and set off.
My route was a mixture of tarmac road right through to boggy mud (including getting stuck). I did 9.45 miles in 54 minutes which seems very slow at 10.5mph however I am strugglling with a damaged knee and I did have a couple of rests; once when my legs were really hurting on a big hill and once when I felt sick on the level after going for it for a few minutes. A rest day tomorrow then 45 minutes of hill work on Monday - I am dreading it but know it will get easier.
My target is to lose two or three stone and be fit enough to compete in Muddy Hell in October.
I need to learn the mechanics of modern bikes rather than rely on my local shop - does anyone have any ideas of the best way start? - I'll be joining a local CC in a month or so which should help. In the mean time I have a squeak from my front wheel (I think) so will take a look and start there.
Cheers Guys - Happy Cycling!

Welcome Pip, we're used to welcoming fat blokes on bikes round here. Funny, they don't usually stay fat for long!
Don't over do it, mind - listen to your body or you could pull something vital!

 

[wisdom]

Fat Bloke? Yes, that's me; Hello!
I'm Pip and I have signed up to Cycle Chat so I can get back into cycling, learn from you guys, get fit and not be such a fat bloke any more.
I haven't ridden competitvely since I was 15 - that was cyclocross in the late 70's on my Raleigh Transit, long before we'd even heard of mountain biking, and I was an OK rider. So 30 years have passed and I have had a bike (a Specialized Rock Hopper) for the past few years but aside from a few months of cycling to work on it (102 miles per week) it sits in the garage and I haven't been on it for about a year. Until today... I have decided that it is now or never and the only way I am going to get fit is to get out their and do it so I have written my training plan, got my bike serviced, and jumped in the saddle.
I downloaded an app called MapMyFitness and set off.
My route was a mixture of tarmac road right through to boggy mud (including getting stuck). I did 9.45 miles in 54 minutes which seems very slow at 10.5mph however I am strugglling with a damaged knee and I did have a couple of rests; once when my legs were really hurting on a big hill and once when I felt sick on the level after going for it for a few minutes. A rest day tomorrow then 45 minutes of hill work on Monday - I am dreading it but know it will get easier.
My target is to lose two or three stone and be fit enough to compete in Muddy Hell in October.
I need to learn the mechanics of modern bikes rather than rely on my local shop - does anyone have any ideas of the best way start? - I'll be joining a local CC in a month or so which should help. In the mean time I have a squeak from my front wheel (I think) so will take a look and start there.
Cheers Guys - Happy Cycling!

Well done Pip.
It will get easier,i have lost 2.5 stone in 12 months(that was how i wanted to do it).No fancy diets,just eating sensibly,occasional treats oh and not using the car to travel to work for the same period of time.
I must admit i havent felt this good in a long time.
I want to lose another half stone but my weight hasnt gone down for the last month.
Keep up the good work and welcome to the best cycling chat site out there.

 

[Easytigers]

If you want to go down the traditional book route, Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance is regarded as something of a bible on the topic.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1934030597/?tag=hydra0b-21&hvadid=9550944309&ref=asc_df_1934030597

I also have this and can't recommend it enough! Good luck and have fun!!!

 

[Gravity Aided]

dont go mad and overdo it.

Can you really overdo YouTube? (I mean, so long as it doesn't take away from CC) ((Oh, and Cycling itself))