Getting back in to cycling.......

[FlyingCyclist]

The last time I went cycling was last year I cycled 2x in August, 2x in July, 6x in June, 22x in May and 2x in April. Three of those rides were 13, 15 and 21 miles. I do enjoy cycling very much. It gets me out of the house. Most of the rides in May, was in Scotland and I rode every day for a few miles or so, with a long ride on one day. I gave up cycling over winter and I never got back into it again last year. I went for a short ride early this week, but haven't got back in the saddle again. Since I was made redundant at the end of 2013, I have plenty of time on my hands. But I don't know how to motivate myself in going cycling again. I need to get fit again. I need to lose some weight since I've been eating junk since the end of 2013. I even had to buy some new formal pants last year for a job interview, a size 43 waist !!!!!! I sit down every day, all day at my PC. Ok, so I do go out fishing or walking. I used to be quite slim but now I'm not. The last time I weighed myself I was 11.5st. God knows what I weight now! I eat too much and I don't know how to stop!!!!!!!!! I have tried though, but I keep going back to it. I don't want to go to the gym because I know I can lose weight by just cycling.
I do need to eat more healthily than I am doing. I began drinking more water each day and had a 1 litre bottle, or my cycling bottle by my side but gave it up.

To be honest, I think the only thing that is holding me back and the reason I don't go cycling often is because I live on a hill and everything is downhill where I want to go and I just can't be bothered cycling up hill after the bike ride.

How the hell can I get motivated again?

 

[vickster]

Man up and just do it or drive to the bottom of the hill, cycle, drive back up the hill!

 

[Hugh Manatee]

Is your avatar not a brown trout? Why not combine the two hobbies? Fly fishing goes not require the huge amount of kit that maggot drowning seems to these days. A hard rod tube, folding landing net and reel/spare midge tip and a box of flies in a small bag.

Select a water close by and off you go.

 

[FlyingCyclist]

Is your avatar not a brown trout? Why not combine the two hobbies? Fly fishing goes not require the huge amount of kit that maggot drowning seems to these days. A hard rod tube, folding landing net and reel/spare midge tip and a box of flies in a small bag.

Select a water close by and off you go.

No I'm not doing that.

 

[midlife]

I live on a hill so generally come back up the gentler route . Cycling can make you fitter but the best way to lose weight is by calorie reduction.

Have you got a car you can throw the bike into and get to a cycle route like a disused railway?

Shaun

 

[KneesUp]

I know what you mean. When you're not fit and live somewhere with hills all over the place, it's hard. It's much easier to get fit and feel like you are making progress somewhere flat, although it's a shock when you get to hills.

However, you have time on your side. I'm sure you'd rather not, but you might as well use it to your advantage. I find that when I get tired legs it doesn't take long for them to recover - sometimes just having to stop at traffic lights is enough to go from 'god I can't get up this today' to 'actually I feel fine' If you live somewhere pretty, take a camera with you, and stop to take pictures Another thought - buy a decent lock and leave your bike at the bottom of the hill, if it's a nice area?

And remember that there is nothing wrong with walking - it's all exercise, and it's all good. Getting fit isn't easy. Losing weight is not easy. But it's do-able. Even if you just roll down the hill and come back up that's better than not doing. And each time you do it you could try and do it faster, or go to the first/second etc corner before you turn around.

 

[ayceejay]

There is no rule that says you have to start/finish your ride outside your house.

 

[KneesUp]

There is no rule that says you have to start/finish your ride outside your house.

I'd damned convenient, though, especially if you have no car

 

[vickster]

No I'm not doing that.

Why not? Easier to motivate self if have a purpose. How do you go fishing now? By car? Put the bike in the boot, spend some of the day cycling and some fishing. It tends to be flat I think around rivers and reservoirs

 

[surfdude]

I know how you feel. I live at the top of a mile long hill and it's been getting me down as well. In the end it's mind over stomach and it's man up time and get fit again. I have put on 2 stone since October due to a bad back . Now doing longer and longer rides and it's getting easier again. Start short and slow and build up again. It's worth the effort.

 

[FlyingCyclist]

I do have a car, but since I'm not working I'm not spending any money at the moment, and I'm trying to limit the use of the car. Last year I carried the bike on the rack and drove somewhere twice, but I just can't do it all the time.

There is no 'gentle' route I can ride back home, it's all rather hilly around where I live.

I will not go cycling and fishing at the same time. It's either one or the other.
I once carried my fishing bag with a rod in it and cycled to a hill loch in Scotland, but wouldn't do it in Yorkshire.

Hopefully I'll be taking my bike with me to Scotland next year...The area where I stay is flat. And I might park the car at Ardrishiag and cycle along the Crinan Canal all the way to Crinan. I nearly did it last year, but stopped and turned around about 1.5 miles away from the village. I cycled 62 miles overall that week., with short rides and a long one. Maybe I can break it this year.

 

[coco69]

If you are happy with your weight and life then the thread ends now...if your not get a bike with a 30_12 cassette, a helmet and just get out there.

 

[FlyingCyclist]

If you are happy with your weight and life then the thread ends now...if your not get a bike with a 30_12 cassette, a helmet and just get out there.

Eh? I started a new thread because I'm not happy with my weight. I have no idea what a 30-12 cassette is. I'm not doing anything to my bike.

Actually my life is f*cked at the moment.

 

[Mrs M]

Don't give up.
One step at a time. Try going for a good walk every day, try to eat less junk and keep up with the water intake.
Hills are tough to get up on the bike, at first, the more you do it though, the easier they get.
I was once extremely fit but myself and Mr M have "let ourselves go" over the last couple of years.
Had a serious wake up call yesterday.
Lost a funny, witty, caring friend and colleague years before his time. He was a big lad.
Didn't intend to mention this in any post but if it helps, then that's ok.
Make the most of life and grab it when you can.
Best wishes.

 

[KneesUp]

...just do it or drive to the bottom of the hill, cycle, drive back up the hill!

Is your avatar not a brown trout? Why not combine the two hobbies?

...you have time on your side ... If you live somewhere pretty, take a camera with you, and stop to take pictures

buy a decent lock and leave your bike at the bottom of the hill, if it's a nice area?

... remember that there is nothing wrong with walking

There is no rule that says you have to start/finish your ride outside your house.

Put the bike in the boot, spend some of the day cycling and some fishing. It tends to be flat I think around rivers and reservoirs

I live at the top of a mile long hill and it's been getting me down as well. In the end it's mind over stomach and it's man up time and get fit again. I have put on 2 stone since October due to a bad back . Now doing longer and longer rides and it's getting easier again. Start short and slow and build up again. It's worth the effort.

There has been a lot of well-meant suggestions on this thread - we all want you to go out and ride, get fitter and get happier. You're treating this hill like a prison though!

If there is only one road you can take you're going to have to take it, hill or no hill. You can do it in the car (perhaps combine it with another journey you'd make anyway to save money?) or you can do it riding/pushing your bike. Or you can wait for geology to erode it.

You can beat that dam hill, @DavidS It will put up a fight, and at times you will think the hill is winning, but you will beat it.

I like the quote (about training) "It's like wrestling a gorilla. You don't stop when you're tired, you stop when the gorilla is tired" - mainly because it's silly, but also because there is a bit of truth in it

It's a lovely still morning here is (South) Yorkshire - go and tackle that hill! You *can* do it.