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[Lighterbytheday]

Good Morning All,

Found the site by accident whilst trawling for purchase advice.

After 6 months in the gym i am finally taking the plunge and am preparing to ride in the great outdoors!!!!

I am from Birtley. Co Durham and havent ridden, aside from the static gym bikes, for almost 25 years hence the need for 6 months in the gym. Anyway i am 5 stone lighter, although still almost 19 stone, and spending the next few days researching before taking the plunge.

Any recommendations for local cycle routes which may offer a more gentle introduction would be most welcome.

Cheers everyone.

 

[biggstevo]

Hi everyone,


I`m a newbie.

I just purchased a new hybrid bike. My 17 year old son has commandeered my mountain bike.

Want to get fit again and lose a couple of stone.

Not bothered with calorie counting and all that stuff, just want to get fitter, so weight loss comes in as a secondary bonus !

Thanks for reading

Biggstevo

 

[Norm]

Greetings, new people, welcome to CC.

Biggstevo, that sounds very similar to my reasoning. I've only lost 6-ish kg in 2 years of cycling but the important thing for me is fitness not fatness, and racing "normal" people up stairs is a giggle at my age, size and shape.

 

[al-fresco]

I don't seem to have lost any actual weight - but my beer gut has vanished, I've gone down a trouser size and I feel fitter than at any time since 1976 - so something must be working.

 

[Quagga]

BTW I can read the forum but not post on an ipad, is this me ?

Cheers,

Baker

It's not just you. However i found that if i went into My Settings, and unticked the Visual RTE editor box, everything started to work.

Anyway, this is close enough to my first post so I'll say 'hello'
I've ended up via the roundabout route of doing the Marletts fnrttc last year, signing up for the Southend ride last month, and then coming across te forums in my search for supporting info. It seems a nice enough place as forums go, so i thought I'd register and stick around.

About me: i live in London, have 3 bikes (2 hybrids and a Brompton) and apparently have to sell at least one according to my wife before i can buy the new racer I clearly need. My bikes are mainly just used for commuting and the odd fnrttc - a fact that doesn't help the 'need' argument but it's a long game

 

[Keith Cornwall]

Hi,

I'm Keith from Callington in Cornwall. but don't hold that against me. Came across this forum whilst looking for info on the Surrey Cycle Challenge. Heard it is on in July and hoping to get some practice in, want to do the JogLE next year if I can. Presently cycle for fun/fitness and just because I can, 50 years young and hoping to keep feeling that way.

 

[rabbrogan]

HI there

I'm a newbie, my names Rab from Glasgow, pleased to meet you all!

 

[smoggy]

Good Morning All,

Found the site by accident whilst trawling for purchase advice.

After 6 months in the gym i am finally taking the plunge and am preparing to ride in the great outdoors!!!!

I am from Birtley. Co Durham and havent ridden, aside from the static gym bikes, for almost 25 years hence the need for 6 months in the gym. Anyway i am 5 stone lighter, although still almost 19 stone, and spending the next few days researching before taking the plunge.

Any recommendations for local cycle routes which may offer a more gentle introduction would be most welcome.

Cheers everyone.

Hi Lighterbytheday big well done for the 5stone lots of easy rides up and down the Tyne and the Wear. Check out Sustrans and T&W council for maps

 

[Lighterbytheday]

Hi Lighterbytheday big well done for the 5stone lots of easy rides up and down the Tyne and the Wear. Check out Sustrans and T&W council for maps

Cheers Smoggy,

Those sites were really helpfull. My kids have selected the route from Birtley to Roker as my initial target.

So off to purchase some wheels then onwards and upwards, or off to A&E!!

 

[Magikarp]

Hello Im new to this forum, and about to buy a new bike for the first time... Thats why I'm here to read guides

 

[Andy_R]

Hi all, I'm Andy from Durham. In my dayjob I'm a National Standards Cycle Instructor, trying my best to stop small people getting squashed on the roads. Out of school, I'm a leisure cyclist and enjoy pedalling the local disused railway lines and am currently doing chunks of the coasts and castles route at the weekends and when time permits during the week. (A group of us from work did the c2c last summer, had a blast, and decided to do the coasts&castles at the end of may this year). I am by no means a road monster, instead a leisurely pedal is more my bag, but I do like a long ride (60+ miles).

 

[Andy_R]

Cheers Smoggy,

Those sites were really helpfull. My kids have selected the route from Birtley to Roker as my initial target.

So off to purchase some wheels then onwards and upwards, or off to A&E!!

You could try Birtley to Consett and the Waskerley Way, you climb a gentle gradient and turn around when you're tired. That way you really only have to free wheel back to Birtley. You get on the old lines down at the Wheatsheaf at Pelaw Grange.

Cheers

 

[steveinnorthants]

Hi everyone,

have been scanning this forum for the past few days, ahead of buying a new bike. Haven't ridden for several years and had an old Raleigh MTB in the garage but decided a new model was a better option than renovating the old one. Did some research and although I was still abit unsure whether I would be better off with a hybrid or another MTB, as I expect most of my rides will be on local towpaths, gravel tracks and relatively flat tracks as well as a bit on roads, have opted for a Trek 7200 after having a chat with the helpful guys at Pitsford Cycles.

Tried a hardtail, the Trek and a MTB but think the Trek gives me more flexibility....lighter and quite efficient on the road, but capable of dealing with some off road...the lock out feature swung it really, as having suspension does seem to make it more comfortable.

Brought it home earlier, and just got back from my first ride...a nice gentle 10 miles on a combination of the local towpath, bridleways and a bit of road. Enabled me to give it a good test.......with/without suspension and am really pleased. Given it was my first ride for a good few years felt very comfortable and easier on the roads than my old bike....quite quick downhill!!

Looking forward to getting out more regularly now, time permitting!

This is part of a keep (get?) fit regime...always played sport and still play five a side football competitively as well as squash and golf, but have been trying to lose weight since Xmas (2 stone lost so far!!) and began to do a bit of running (first 5k event completed last month) but always liked cycling and its easier on the knees!

So....hello everyone!

 

[jjr]

HI

Just signed up, any advice out there apreciated please. Im 50 (just) unfit 2 stone overweight and I am just about to sign up 26 miles bike ride in Cotswolds for breast cancer care in August. Is this achievable in just over 3 months? A stone lighter and fitter I did climb Ben Nevis is October 2010
would 26 miles on a bike be easier? Thanks

 

[bongofury66]

Having done the Ben a few times and if you fairly recently did that I don't think you would have a major problem with 26 miles. just take it easy and get carried along with the atmosphere of the day. You will love it....usually there are all abilities on charity runs and it is fun. Just try and do some regular littlle runs beforehand to see how you feel and maybe increase the mileage each week.

Enjoy

HI

Just signed up, any advice out there apreciated please. Im 50 (just) unfit 2 stone overweight and I am just about to sign up 26 miles bike ride in Cotswolds for breast cancer care in August. Is this achievable in just over 3 months? A stone lighter and fitter I did climb Ben Nevis is October 2010
would 26 miles on a bike be easier? Thanks