First Cycle Ride - Near Collapse

[ian turner]

I was 16 stone when I started a couple of years ago and started with just 4 mile trips.
At one point strong winds and minor hills stopped me on the edge of town.
How tall are you btw ?
Not got any health problems beyond the weights issues ?

 

[shippers]

My only addition to the advice on here is NOT to think you have to load up on Carbs before you go out.

In the next couple of months you'll be building up to maybe 12 or 15 miles- washing your kilo of pasta down with 3 pints of lucozade is just going to pile weight on you. Eat healthily generally, drink plenty of water. Maybe have a banana an hour or so before you go.

Also, cycliing is fantastic for getting fitter- progression is far quicker than running- less stress on the joints. And this website is cracking- you've got 17 replies.

Finally- 16 stone? That's about what I weigh. Depends how tall you are and how much it wobbles. I'll leave that one to you though.

 

[PhunkPilot]

BTW. !'m currently just over 21 stone I was over 23 when I started out!

 

[rusky]

Welcome to the forum.

I suggest you speak to your GP before you go much further.

Also, have a read of Gaz's blog here http://theamazing39stonecyclist.wordpress.com/ He's an inspiration to us all!

 

[PaulSecteur]

Just another voice here to echo whats already been said.

Last spring I got a bike and planned a nice easy 10 miler. I got 2 miles in then had to turn back, and that was a slow ride!

In my experience the best way to build up is to keep chipping away at it, but without going overboard.
I found that after a week of tootling round for short errands on the bike I did the 2 miles easily, and the week after I did my 10 miler at a slow pace, its all about getting the saddle time in at the beginning. Then I would do the 10 miler taking it easy but try for a bit more speed on the last mile, then when that was easy on the last 2 mileas and so on.

It seems hardest right at the start, but keep at it and the rewards and improvements will come, and if you once you are confident with a route start to push for a little more speed or do a little more distance added on.

Let us know how you get on!


Paul.

 

[Codboy]

I would like to add that it is great to hear that you are joining the world of cycling. The more you participate, the more addictive it becomes.

Anyway, I would also suggest that you perform a warm-up before your sessions.

Begin with a steady ride around your street to get the blood flowing to your muscles. Nothing too strenuous, but enough for you to feel the light beat of your heart in your neck or chest. Then stretch out your body. It will take some time to find your full range, but light stretching will encourage the oxygen carrying blood to the muscles.
Then undertake your ride, nice and easy. You sound like someone who could design some form of computer programme or spread sheet to record your performance, so use your tech skills to improve your cycling skills.

I personally use music to help me train when I am off road. An example would be - Start off with two slow tracks (6 mins approx.) and then one fast one (3 mins approx.) then back to another two slow tracks for your body to recover. Match your cycling style to the music.
When you have become accustomed to that sequence of music, mix up a new batch and enjoy your music.

Cheers
Codboy

 

[WeCloseOurEyes]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the replies this forum seems like a great place.

I went for another cycle today and achieved 3 miles I did plan to go further and reach a pub but had to stop and return due to my legs feeling like they had weights attached, when I got home I could hardly lift them to go up the steps to my house they felt so heavy. I also found a cycling partner so hopefully he will make sure I stick to a routine. I just want to be able to wear t-shirts again I have such a large belly and wear around 38-39 width jeans so hopefully this will solve it, I never want to be out of shape like I was 2 days ago close to calling an ambulance!

I've converted to drinking only water and tea and I'm cutting back on extras like chocolate biscuits I want to lose this weight before the summer and keep up a good plan of oversize to ensure I stay fit!

 

[slowmotion]

Greetings WCOE

My advice would be to take it really, really easily to start with. Aim to associate cycling with fun, rather than some kind of athletic duty. Just bimble about. Explore strange roads and alleys and lanes that you would not otherwise visit. Enjoy the breeze in your face. Push the bike up the hill if you don't want to ride it, nobody is there to mark you. As others have said, do a little bit at a time. If you want to become a super-athlete, you can feel all kinds of pain later, but right now, just have fun. You will be amazed at how things get better if you bimble about regularly.

Good luck

 

[buggi]

i agree with Rusky.

I think you should see your GP. yes, you're unfit, but you did have some pretty strong symptoms for a 5-10 min ride. It totally could just be because your not used to exercise so I'm not saying anything is wrong with you and you definitely should not give up, but it wouldn't hurt to just have a check with the doctor to make sure there are no underlying medical conditions, particularly because of the metallic taste (which could be anything from simple stuff to other conditions). For instance, you could have high blood pressure, and if it's high before you start, then it's REALLY high while your exercising (and being unfit can mean high blood pressure). This might explain your extreme dizziness and why it took so long to recover. If this is the case, the doc will give you some medication to bring the blood pressure down and you can carry on exercising (and if you have got this, that is a very good reason why you should be exercising so don't give up). But like i said, that's just an example and everything could be fine. If everything is fine, carry on as you were and you will be amazed at how quickly you will build up the mileage. If everything is not fine, take the doctors advice on how much you should do and how quickly you should build it up.

As said, measure your improvement by your distance and fitness levels, not by how much weight you lose. you will find it more motivating this way and more unlikely to be focussed on losing weight, and all the negative thoughts it can bring.

 

[summerdays]

I haven't got much to add really - but it sounds as if you have already made some progress in your second ride. I remember a small hill I found really hard when I first started, and I barely notice it now ... still notice the bigger ones though! But I used to note how far I could get before I had to get off and walk - aiming to just beat the previous maximum. I had a real sense of achievement the first time I made it to the top.

And keep us informed about your progress

 

[brokenbetty]

Hi - well done on getting on the bike - it won't be long before you can't imagine how you managed without it!

If you are actively trying to lose weight (as opposed to focussing on getting fitter and taking any weight changes as they come) I recommend www.myfitnesspal.com. It's an online diet and execerise tracker with iphone and android clients that can be used offline (albeit with a cutdown database) if the connection fails.

I tried a few trackers and stuck with MFP because they seem to have the most UK users, and therefore the most UK foods in their database.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Well done WCOE you have done really well. I have a job that involves either sitting infront of a DCS process computer system or a PC. I took up cycling a few months ago to build up my leg muscles following a knee op. I was not that overweight but I am 41, used to drink a little too much and also smoked. I just had a feeling that I was going to die soon unless I changed, and having to build my wasted thigh muscles was a much needed kick up the arse. I started on a turbo trainer a couple of days after xmas doing a few miles at a time and slowly built it up to 12 miles. The turbo is far easier to me than out on the road, even though I did try and push myself. I packed in the fags a month ago as I thought that I was dying on the turbo trainer, struggling for breath. The last couple of days last week I started commuting to work, about a 21 mile round trip. I thought that I would never be able to do this and was amazed at people at work whom did it in the past. I found it hard work and on one of the hills, I was down to 3 miles an hour at one point. But I actually enjoyed it and I am looking forward to getting on the bike again on Tuesday (off work tomorrow) as I know that it will get easier, just like turbo training did. I would definitely persevere with it if I was you, as believe me it gets easier. You also are much younger than me, I wish I had got into cycling at your age. I was only interested in bikes with engines in Best of luck and keep at it mate

 

[WeCloseOurEyes]

Hi Guys,

Just thought id update to those who are intrested,

Yesterday I managed to cycle 2.5 miles to a pub and 2.5 miles back and I didn't have any blurry vision or heart attacks I just got out of breath but no more heart pains just lung pains now.

Best of all I can now do up my jeans button before I could only do up the zip so I have lost some weight although according to the scales I've not.

 

[chris-s]

Excellent, keep it up, little and often.

Chris

 

[tyred]

Definitely little and often. I experienced symptoms similar to the OP when being coaxed into doing a cross country run as an overweight 15 year old and had to sit down and rest, etc. I thought I was going to die at the time. 17 years later, I'm still here and fitter than I ever was as a youngster.