I'm slowly dying with this cycling lark.

[SoonToBeSkinny]

Evening all. Need a bit of advice.

I started the commute to work last week. It's not a long commute, only 7.2 miles round trip per day. Now I had done zero exercise in the last two years and expected it to be tough but it is really killing me. First three days were okay. Yesterday however I knew about a mile into the journey home that I was in trouble. My legs felt like lead. Its a gradual incline most of the way and there was a brutal headwind. I seriously considered giving up half way home but stayed the course. Better today but the legs are still like lead.

I have two things going against me. Firstly, I don't have a decent bike yet. I will be getting a bike to work voucher soon that will change that but I am currently using an 18 kg mountain bike with front and rear suspension.

Secondly, I am not convinced I am getting the most out of the gears. For the hill climb parts what gears should I be using?

Any other tips to help improve things. I am starting to get a bit miserable but am determined to keep it going.

 

[gbb]

It is hard at first, gawld knows, we've all been there.
As far as gears go, whatchawannado is maintain cadence, changing gear as soon as it becomes neccessary to maintain the same pedalling rate. What that'll do is slow you down on hills, against the wind, but you wont be struggling so much, you'll simply be going slower for the same cadence, using less effort. You cant beat the wind, so accept it and pedal at a rate that works...its a marvel when you work it out.
Edited to say...first you have to find a cadence that works for you so you can cycle all day (figuratively speaking) without tiring yourself out.
Secondly. i'd say if you have an alternative method of getting to work, use it when you get overly tired. Better to relax and recover and still enjoy cycling, rather than letting the effort kill any enjoyment.

It'll come, its hard for everyone at first. Well done for getting this far.

 

[Terry Kay]

Sounds like you need a break! Going from nothing to 7.2 miles is bound to be a killer! Is there anyway you could get in 2 days a week without cycling for a few weeks? I've been cycling in since November and I still take rest days when I walk the 2 miles to spare my thighs!

As for gears, smallest front and largest rear and you should be able to spin! If its too easy, move to the next smallest rear..

 

[redcard]

My commute is about the same as yours, and I've been cycling about 6 weeks. The first few times I was stopping 2-3 times each journey (this was on a road bike), now I wouldn't even contemplate stopping.
Keep it up with the mountain bike - it's excellent training for when you get your new one.

 

[fossala]

Just grind it out. I do 10 miles each way in Cornwall. It was hell for the first couple of weeks, but then you body adjusts.

 

[amasidlover]

I've been commuting by bike for quite a while now and have had various periods when I've been off the bike for a while; and the first couple of weeks back are always the hardest.

I think a lot of the problem (assuming you don't have any underlying medical issues) is psychological; what it sounds like to me is that your legs are tired rather than actually painful and then its simply a case of plodding along slowly... But plodding along slowly is so demoralising - I still have days like that occasionally, particularly in the last few days with some fierce headwinds and you have to put in masses of effort just to maintain walking pace! But if you can work through the first couple of difficult weeks then you'll find it gets better, particularly after rest days (e.g. the weekend) and then when you know it does get better it gets easier on the difficult days because you know that there will be better days to come!

As for gears the classic advice is that you should be aiming to always be in a gear in which its comfortable to 'spin' the pedals - about 90rpm is a good target to start with, but you can experiment with that and find what feels comfortable - having said that there are fixie/single speed riders who go along pedaling at all sorts of cadences depending on the terrain...

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Don't get miserable, give yourself a break! After no exercise for 2 years you should have started your commute gradually, one day on, one day off. You are probably over the worst bit, next week it will be much easier. Practice changing gears in a park or a quiet road? I did several months commute on an old bike with no working gears, had to walk a couple of hills at the beginning, soon stayed on the saddle all the way. But if you learn your gears you're flying ... also you WILL get skinny cycling to work!

 

[Gary E]

Can't speak from personal experience but watching my son on his full suspension mountain bike, most of the pedalling effort seems to move the bike up and down rather than forward!
Got him a hybrid for his birthday and he recons it's half the effort now (little *&^* can keep up with me now )
But I agree with the above posters, just keep at it and you'll soon wonder what this post was about.
The more you do it, the easier it becomes honest!
If it's any consolation, my first ride was a slow 12 miles on a calm sunny day. When I got off the bike I couldn't walk without pain for days!

 

[Dave 123]

Listen to Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush.......
If you stuck a car in the garage for a few years and did nothing to it, would you expect it to start and run 100% on the first turn of the key?

 

[The Brewer]

It'll pay off soon, honest.
I was exactly the same this time last year, but now I am a cycling god
Give yourself time and time to rest and it will come good

 

[Fab Foodie]

Read this about bike set-up.
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm
Buy a track pump like a Joe Blow sport and make sure tyres are at full pressure.
If possible, swap knobblies for slicks.
If possible, lock front suspension.
Commute by bike only every other day at first - rest is training.
Relax and enjoy the view.

Well done so far!

 

[biggs682]

ditch the suspension and just try and maintain a gentle pace rather than speed , there is no reason why you cant stop for a breather along the way

 

[Sittingduck]

Try 4 days a week, instead of 5 (take Weds off). Get slick tyres and pump them up to the max.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Can you tighten the suspension? It has the horrid tenancy to absorb all that effort you're trying to push into moving forward!

Cycling to work killed me for the first month, now I am quite in love with it!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Try 4 days a week, instead of 5 (take Weds off). Get slick tyres and pump them up to the max.

Wise words, I can't afford a proper road bike so I put slicks on my shoot old Raleigh Mo-Hassles and whooosh, I can't believe how much difference it has made