Late starter - too late ?

[Paulq]

For many years I was a keen cyclist but for the last few I have done virtually nothing to be honest and have sold the bikes I had save for an electric one which has been sat in the shed. I have 2 absolutely knackered knees and a 'life' problem with a disintegrated disc at the top of my spine which inherently has made cycling very uncomfortable.

Most of the bikes I have had I have found really uncomfortable.

However, having reached the ripe old age of 50 and now seen my weight balloon to 17.5 stone I have to do something but the discomfort I have always experienced is off-putting. I am not sure (as am out of touch with current bikes a little despite always lurking here) what kind of bike to get - hybrid, endurance roadie etc. I want to be another 50+ cyclist who gets the bug and benefits from the advantages of reduced weight and fitness.

Sorry for slightly hijacking this thread but the questions I have are largely relevant in:

1 - What's the best, most comfortable kind of bike I can buy?
2 - I have read a lot, and pondered, a fitting and am open to this but do you make the 'mistake' of buying the bike first using the generic sizings, then get the fitter to adjust? Or buy from a shop that has a professional fitting service as part of the purchase?
3 - If the latter can anyone recommend one in the NW that will cater for non-competitive riders?

Looking at the weather today the thought of riding is very appealing. I want to lose 2 stone by Christmas, at least.

Thanks for any comments and, again, apologies for the slight digression.

 

[wheresthetorch]

Don't worry about a digression - this thread hit the buffers 5 years ago!

I wonder if the @Moderators could start this as a new thread for you?

 

[Alan O]

Just a few thoughts...

As you seem to have medical issues with your bad knees and disc problem, I'd suggest getting medical advice too - if there's any medical side to an issue, you need more than the advice of "some bloke on the internet".

With that in mind, my guess is that a hybrid would probably suit you best - you would probably be better with a bike designed with comfort uppermost rather than speed or endurance.

My other suggestion is that you shouldn't think of cycling as a way of losing weight, but as a way of improving your fitness. Certainly, if you burn off more calories through exercise you'll lose weight - but only if you don't eat any more to compensate. When I started cycling again last year I hoped burning off a few hundred more kcals per ride would help with my weight, but it only made me a few hundred kcals hungrier - I can easily do a ride that takes my kcal burn for the day to over 4,000, but I have to eat a lot more too, so there's no net weight-loss benefit.

So, for me, it has to be: exercise for fitness, eat less for weight loss. I'm still as fat as I was when I resumed cycling, but I'm a lot fitter.

Alan

 

[Milzy]

No, I know 52 year old who runs 39 min 10k's.

 

[Paulq]

Just a few thoughts...

As you seem to have medical issues with your bad knees and disc problem, I'd suggest getting medical advice too - if there's any medical side to an issue, you need more than the advice of "some bloke on the internet".

With that in mind, my guess is that a hybrid would probably suit you best - you would probably be better with a bike designed with comfort uppermost rather than speed or endurance.

My other suggestion is that you shouldn't think of cycling as a way of losing weight, but as a way of improving your fitness. Certainly, if you burn off more calories through exercise you'll lose weight - but only if you don't eat any more to compensate. When I started cycling again last year I hoped burning off a few hundred more kcals per ride would help with my weight, but it only made me a few hundred kcals hungrier - I can easily do a ride that takes my kcal burn for the day to over 4,000, but I have to eat a lot more too, so there's no net weight-loss benefit.

So, for me, it has to be: exercise for fitness, eat less for weight loss. I'm still as fat as I was when I resumed cycling, but I'm a lot fitter.

Alan

Thanks.

Medically there's no issue with cycling, in fact I am being encouraged to do it as the optimal exercise as it's low impact. What I don't want to do is revisit the painful experiences I had previously and either cause an additional problem or simply not enjoy it.

I think you may be right regarding a hybrid. Again, without turning this into a 'what bike' thread - what's out there that's of a good enough standard and that would be upright enough?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

No, I know 52 year old who runs 39 min 10k's.

And I have a 55 year old friend who runs sub 3 hour marathons. Your 50's is no age at all.

 

[jefmcg]

disintegrated disc at the top of my spine

I've got a friend with degenerative disks in her lower spine, which will sadly never get better. She wants to keep using her bike as transport, and found an upright posture more comfortable. so she replaced the handlebars on her hybrid with swept back, dutch style ones, and it helps her a lot.

 

[BJS]

Just found a great website for the older cyclist http://www.over40cyclist.com/ lots of great info for us more mature(?) types
Bob

 

[Paulq]

I've got a friend with degenerative disks in her lower spine, which will sadly never get better. She wants to keep using her bike as transport, and found an upright posture more comfortable. so she replaced the handlebars on her hybrid with swept back, dutch style ones, and it helps her a lot.

Thanks. That looks very practical, if not really me. :-)

 

[Sharky]

There's also this one:-
http://www.fcot.org.uk/

Especially if you like Patterson Pen & Ink drawings.

 

[Debade]

I was not able to read all the responses. Some incredible encouragement. The one thing I did not see is to take the time to learn the safest way to share the roads with cars. There are techniques that will improve your safety. You should be able to go online and find a youtube about safe techniques of urban biking. Here is one I like and I think most if not all applies to the UK. But recognize it was made in the States so you may want to look for something locally. (Remeber, we drive on the other side of the road.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU4nKKq02BU

 

[Stonechat]

I started again on early retirement at 62 , now 65. I am doing club runs, 100 miles sportive.
Try to up the budget if you can though

 

[Roadhump]

I was not able to read all the responses. Some incredible encouragement. The one thing I did not see is to take the time to learn the safest way to share the roads with cars. There are techniques that will improve your safety. You should be able to go online and find a youtube about safe techniques of urban biking. Here is one I like and I think most if not all applies to the UK. But recognize it was made in the States so you may want to look for something locally. (Remeber, we drive on the other side of the road.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU4nKKq02BU

That is a very good video; if you can ignore the riding / driving on the right aspect (assuming you are in the UK) and concentrate on riding technique, it is the same advice you would get about riding to the National Standard in the UK. However, the rider in the video is at an advanced skill level and if you haven't ridden for several years, or are completely new, it may be worthwhile getting some professional advice that covers more elementary stuff and progresses to more advanced levels when you reach the required level of confidence, and which undoubtedly enhance your safety. If you Google "Bikeability" you will find quite a bit of information on this. A book called Cyclecraft by John Franklin is also worth a read, costs around £12 new but plenty on eBay, World of Books etc for a couple of quid.

 

[MikeG]

Some of the best cyclists I know are in their 50's.
Go for it. You wont regret it.. the cycling bug bites hard.

Andy Wilkinson was nearly 50 when he broke his own world 24 hour record.

 

[Roadhump]

Just a few thoughts...

As you seem to have medical issues with your bad knees and disc problem, I'd suggest getting medical advice too - if there's any medical side to an issue, you need more than the advice of "some bloke on the internet".

With that in mind, my guess is that a hybrid would probably suit you best - you would probably be better with a bike designed with comfort uppermost rather than speed or endurance.

My other suggestion is that you shouldn't think of cycling as a way of losing weight, but as a way of improving your fitness. Certainly, if you burn off more calories through exercise you'll lose weight - but only if you don't eat any more to compensate. When I started cycling again last year I hoped burning off a few hundred more kcals per ride would help with my weight, but it only made me a few hundred kcals hungrier - I can easily do a ride that takes my kcal burn for the day to over 4,000, but I have to eat a lot more too, so there's no net weight-loss benefit.

So, for me, it has to be: exercise for fitness, eat less for weight loss. I'm still as fat as I was when I resumed cycling, but I'm a lot fitter.

Alan

I would agree with this entirely. I am 5'9", and quite naturally stocky, my weight should be around 12 - 12.5 stone but in my late 30s I was 16 stone, then I adjusted my diet and that, combined with exercise, got me down to about 13 stone. I lost the enthusiasm / discipline for the diet side of things, but kept up the exercise and the weight came back; I am now late 50s and about 15 stone. My main problem is that I like a pint (or 4) a few times a week. I cycle a couple of hours at least times a week and it does not shift the weight. It maybe helps me not getting bigger still, but if you aren't careful about what you eat and drink, don't hold your breath waiting for your weight t fall.