First time back on the bike...this is gonna be a long road

[JediGoat]

Well, after deciding in March that I would like to fix up my bike and start using it to commute to work, I then had a prolonged bout of procrastination (a specialty of mine ), and basically fannied about instead of getting the thing working again.

Tonight, I finished it, or rather, got it rideable. I had a fair bit of trouble with the front derailleur, and could only access two of the three chainrings. However, after much fiddling, I managed to adjust it so that it would only work on the middle one

So, with the rear gears working fine, I dug out my old hi-vis jacket and thermal longs...and out I went.

It's been 5 years since I last rode it, and other than some erratic steering (something I wasn't expecting as I ride a motorbike every day) I set off down the street.

I decided on a circuit of just over 2 miles, which is fairly flat....and after 1 mile I thought it was going to kill me!

I didn't really need my lights as I think my red face was lighting up the streets ahead of me. I didn't need a bell either as my wheezing was immense. Got home, staggered in, plonked the bike in the hallway, pulled my coat off, slurped down half a glass of squash, decorated my t-shirt my the other half, lay down, and slept for 2 hours

Now, I was expecting the wheezing - I'm a smoker and hoping cycling is going to help me quit - but I wasn't expecting to feel so utterly awful. I know I'm overweight and unfit, but even so...

I had left the house thinking if the bike works ok on one chainring, I may cycle to work tomorrow, but that's not an option as that is 8 miles and hilly (and I can't really have a kip when I get to work).

So I suppose it's a case of keep doing that route 4 or 5 times a week (or more if possible) until my lungs stop trying to escape.

Meh!

 

[Fab Foodie]

Keep it up, it gets easier, trust me!

 

[slowmotion]

Snap (in spades). I felt exactly the same a few months ago, except my lay-off was (ahem) a bit more than five years. It gets better if you just take it gently, bit by bit, and do not let it become some kind of chore.

Just enjoy the rides you feel comfortable with, and they all say that the rest will follow.

 

[Alan Whicker]

Snap here, too.

I was a cyclist, then a scooterist. Then a scooterist and motorcyclist. Then, ten years later I realised I was a tub of lard, so now I'm a cyclist and a scooterist. The first couple of weeks back pedalling to work was a beetroot-faced struggle, but your fitness levels will shoot up. It's quite incredible. As a bonus, When I get home of an evening I'm in a much better mood if I've cycled home thru the park, rather than jousting with the knuckleheads on the Mile End Road while on the scooter (though I do love my scooters ).

 

[threefingerjoe]

Phump,

You're not alone. Some of us have been there. Stick with it. Do it a little at a time. Don't attempt the commute to work, yet. Get some miles in, on your own time. When you feel that you're ready to do the commute, make your first trip to work on a day off. You'll get a feel for how much time you need, and it won't matter if you can't do it in the time you've alloted, because you don't have to be there that day, anyway! ;-) In the meantime, as you drive to work, start experimenting with different routes. The best route in a car is not necessarily the best route for a bike. Consider hills, traffic, number of right turns, etc. On that first dry-run commute, load the bike as if you were going to work...lunch bucket, change of clothes, etc. This will let you work out some of the kinks, such has how best to bungee the load onto your rack, or load the backpack, if you decide to use a backpack. Commuting in rush-hour traffic presents some challenges that you may not be ready to face if you're still struggling with the bike. Oh, and don't forget to get some good lights!

GOOD LUCK! Be patient, and soon you'll find that your commutes will be the high points of your day!

 

[Banjo]

8 months ago as an obese 51 year old I nearly collapsed after a mile or two.I recently did my first 100 mile ride and have lost 3.5 stones.

Stick with it and you will be surprised how quickly your fitness builds up, Little and often is best .If you can only manage one mile at first then just do that until you feel ready to up it a bit at a time. Try to ride nearly every day.Once or twice/week isnt enough.

You need to make sure your bike is correctly adjusted for you ,seat height is critical,it really hurts the thighs if its too low.Do a search as theres lots of posts on the subject.

Good Luck

 

[belairman]

I'm with Banjo ... I didn't lose quite as much weight (maybe I didn't have quite as much to lose?), but cutting out obviously "bad" foods, and cycling 3 or 4 times a week, I lost 22 pounds in four months, and it has stayed off.

When I started out in March, my basic circuit was five miles, and I would be exhausted. Before the summer ran out, I managed over 60 miles in one day, and could have done more.

I was amazed at how quickly my "range" went up, and you will be too.

Unfortunately you haven't chosen the best time of year to start, but if you can enjoy cycling in our British autumn, you will love it in the spring.

Keep it up, it can be done, and enjoy it! Oh and get your gears fixed...

 

[2Loose]

Don't worry, if you do that route 2-3 times a week, it will feel trivial within 2 weeks :-)
I was a cyclist, then a motorcyclist and then 15 years later, back on the cycle and trying to shake the fags also. Small journeys hurt like hell at first, but within 3 weeks I was comfy doing that distance, only the hills made me wheeze. I gave up fags for 3 weeks and found that I got my breath back within seconds at the top of a hill, rather than minutes and generally found more strength and stamina everywhere. Then I stopped giving up...but remember the extra energy I had while not smoking so I am currently looking at a big pack of NicAssist lozenges as I type.

Persevere with the bike route, it will get easier very quickly - also good luck beating the fags

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Keep it up it does get easier and good luck with quitting the fags.

I got back on a bike 3 years ago when I bought myself an MTB, for the first year I didnt use it much and the best I could do was a couple of miles.

On Jan 2008 I gave up smoking and gradually my range improved until I was doing 45 mile rides on a weekends.

At the begining of this year I bought a second hand Dawes Ultra Galaxy touring bike and since March I have done almost 2500 miles and I can now ride for hours at a time and I did two 100 mile rides this year.

I am now tackling the weight I put on when I stopped smoking I got up to 13 stone 3, so far in the last month and a half I have lost about 8 pounds and gone down a trouser size just by watching what I eat and going out on regular rides when I get the chance during the course of the day. I am hoping to get down to 11 stone by april next year, but it has been worth it as I now feel fit and dont get run down and tired like I used to.

 

[tyred]

Just keep trying and it will soon become a lot easier and when you do your two mile loop, someday soon, you will decide to go a little further. Then you'll decide you need another bike. And another....

The single most important thing is to make sure your saddle is at the correct height. It will make it more difficult than it needs to be otherwise. As a rough guide, prop yourself and bicycle up against a wall so you don't fall over and adjust saddle height until your leg is just about (but not quite) straight with your heel on the pedal at the bottom of the stroke.

 

[swee'pea99]

Remember the born-again bicyclist's mantra:

Little & often, little & often, little & often...

You'll be enjoying yourself before you know.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Love the post, phump - it rang some bells with me and I'm sure with lots of others as well.

Getting back on the bike as an overweight 40 year old, after a gap of 20 years, it took me about 6 weeks to build up to the point where I could do my 7 miles or so to work and back. That was a couple of years ago ..

I need to go up a hill first thing after I leave home: about 200 feet height gain in a bit less than a mile. Not huge, but it's steep in places .. the first time I tried it I bailed out halfway up. It took me a week's worth of trying every night until I could conquer it ... in the lowest gear on my MTB at an average speed of about 2mph. Now, I barely notice it and go up much quicker in a much higher gear.

Little and often to start with is definitely the way to go: it also gives your bum time to get acquainted with the seat. And also a dry run is good. And really do think about alternate routes .. the way I ride to work is VERY different to the route I'd use to drive it. I get much more woods, bluebells, bunnies and foxes on the bike.

Banjo does an excellent job of summing up ..

8 months ago as an obese 51 year old I nearly collapsed after a mile or two.I recently did my first 100 mile ride and have lost 3.5 stones.

Stick with it and you will be surprised how quickly your fitness builds up, Little and often is best .If you can only manage one mile at first then just do that until you feel ready to up it a bit at a time. Try to ride nearly every day.Once or twice/week isnt enough.

You need to make sure your bike is correctly adjusted for you ,seat height is critical,it really hurts the thighs if its too low.Do a search as theres lots of posts on the subject.

Good Luck

.. and shows what can be done. And check out the Amazing Shrinking Gaz who also posts on here (as gbb155 I think) - his blog really does show what is possible.

 

[JediGoat]

Thanks for the replies folks.

I think my body had some sort of panic attack as I feel fine this morning

I've spent some time finding a route to cycle to work as the route I use by car/motorbike is not an option (for those that know it, anyone fancy cycling over Staples Corner flyover on the A406 in rush hour? ).

I'm a pretty confident rider in traffic, my old commute was 10 (flat) miles each way across central London - although the confidence is reduced when you are concerned your body will not obey your brain.

As for bike set-up, it's pretty much how it was when i used in a few years ago (it's an MTB on slicks with rack, etc.). I've fitted new SPDs as I thought relying on rusty old ones to always release was playing with fire The brakes are working perfectly after some new cables, the rear gears are fine, but the front derailleur is beating me atm (I'll have another crack at it tonight, either before or after I go and do my circuit again).

 

[StuartG]

My advice would be different. DON'T BIKE - yet!

You have two issues to overcome. Your cardio-vascular/lung function (breathing) and building up your cycling muscles. Trying to do both at the same time hurts and your greatest threat is just getting fed up with the pain and lack of performance and quitting.

Now it is easy to quickly build up your capacity to do work. so much you will be surprised. In a month you should be in a completely new league and that will feel good as will the journey there.

I suggest jogging. As its winter a free 30 day trial at a Gym might be great if you can find one. Start by doing no more than 5 mins at a comfortable moderate pace. Gyms are good because treadmills will readback time, speed & distance. Gradually increase the time to, say, 10 mins. Then increase the speed for a bit, then stretch the distance again. Once you reach 1.5 miles in 12 mins you know you are fit. Its all good positive feedback

Now switch back to the bike. You know you won't have a problem with puff. You will knock off that 8 miles no problem. But I'm betting a bit of pain in the thighs on day 2. So miss that out for a while till those muscles build and then you can go daily. after a little while you will be wanting to do longer runs at the weekend.

An audax next year? Not impossible! The trick is a getting fit bit by bit in a rewarding way. Most people try to do too much too soon and give up.

Good luck.

 

[JediGoat]

My advice would be different. DON'T BIKE - yet!

You have two issues to overcome. Your cardio-vascular/lung function (breathing) and building up your cycling muscles. Trying to do both at the same time hurts and your greatest threat is just getting fed up with the pain and lack of performance and quitting.

I suggest jogging.

Hmmm, sorry, but I can't see what benefit that would be. Whatever exercise I do is going to make me wheeze at the moment. I can't see why jogging would be easier than cycling, in fact, I'm pretty sure it would be much harder.

I've tried gyms, I hate them, *that* would be a risk of getting fed-up and quitting. Running (even gently) just makes my knees hurt a lot, whereas cycling does not.

I'm not looking for performance, just to be able to get to work by bike - that is my goal right now. I realise that it'll take a few weeks of cycling a bit each night, increasing my range before I can do that. I don't mind walking up the hills if I have to.

One step (or perhaps pedal revolution) at a time