Newbie Alert

[Oldboldfullofmould]

Good evening all!

After spending a year debating it I bought myself a Road Bike 2 weeks ago. The day after I went for a ten mile ride "having not ridden a road bike since I can remember" had the wind behind me on the outward and the wind against in the inward, I live atop a steep hill, so decided to ride all the way up it, it nearly killed me, I arrived home got off my new pedal cycle went very dizzy and nearly threw up and felt quite ropey for the remainder of the day. Thus I realise now at 42 with a bit of a gut that I am not as fit as my mind thinks I am.

I went out today did a lot less miles but still took in some steepish hills, I think I am doing this all wrong.

At this stage should I be doing hills at all or should I just trundle along and try and enjoy myself? I was thinking about a cadence monitor or is this just a waste of money at this stage?

Thank you for any advice, cheers

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

A cadence meter will only tell you how fast you're pedalling. If you wear a watch and can count, you can work out your cadence. I remember when doctors would give your pulse a count for 15 seconds, multiply it by four, and that's how fast you pulse is. Cadence is the same. So personally I've never used one. (On the other hand, I've got a turbo trainer and from time to time I've given myself a sense of how fast I'm pedalling - usually over a minute, but there are no hazards or inclines to worry about on a turbo trainer.) But I'd have thought that the most important thing is to try and keep a sustainable pedalling tempo. And that means sustainable for you.

Welcome, by the way! And, yes, there are some severe climbs in Kent but mercifully they don't go on for long.

 

[MichaelW2]

For the first 3 weeks, avoid anything too strenuous. You need to condition your self to being on the bike, and generally get used to exercise, bike handling and roadcraft. You will have plenty of time for fitness training later on.
Avoid hard pedalling, use a gear lower than you think is right, and learn to pedal with an easy, fluid style, breathing at a rate that permits conversation. Youn don't need a speedometer, mileometer or cadence meter at this stage. A watch is useful to time rides, so start shortish and gradually get longer. 20 min rides are fine for beginners. Any saddle time is good.
Pick some easy circuits and always head out into the wind.

 

[steveindenmark]

There is a good thread on here about riding 10 miles as slow as possible and how much we all enjoyed trying it.

Take the hint. People get on a road bike and think they are Wiggins. Would you put a set of trainers on and think you are Bolt?

Take your time and enjoy it. Ride a few 5 milers first, slowly. Your fitness will soon pick up. If you ride a 5 miler you may get up that hill with a bit to spare. But your body was telling you that what you did was not a good idea.

It is not a race.

 

[steve50]

Ditto all of the above comments and tips, to add, make sure you eat before you go out on the bike. Reading your comment about your first ride, it sounds as though you "over trained" which I've seen people do that in the gym, they come into the gym full of energy train like mad for the first twenty minutes then spend the next ten minutes throwing up simply because they have not eaten prior to going to the gym.
The fact you went dizzy could be an underlying health issue, make an appointment to see your gp or practice nurse, ask them to do a general health check for your own peace of mind.
As above just enjoy riding your bike, the strength, speed and stamina will all come along naturally, doing too much too soon will have a negative effect and could put you off riding altogether.

 

[bikeman66]

Pretty much agree with all the comments above. Don't spoil your potential enjoyment of your new bike by thinking you need to be at a certain level of fitness by a certain stage. Take time to enjoy the scenery you are riding through and not be a slave to big mileages. You have identified that you needed to improve your fitness, and buying a bike is a great big step in the right direction, but...........Rome wasn't built in a day!!

As suggested, it may be worth getting a check over by your GP, but I'd be willing to bet that you probably just over did it on those first couple of rides, especially if you are a bit out of condition.

Do you have a mate or two you can go riding with? A bit of idle chat and banter while out on the road will help to divert your attention from how bad you "think" it is going.

Sound advice from the guys above....... Start small, work up to better fitness and more mileage...........but whatever happens, enjoy it!!!

 

[tommaguzzi]

All of the above. Think of it as baby steps. Cycling is hard but the benefits are so great that it is well worth the time and effort you put in to it.
Try to ride little and often and gradually your fitness will improve. Every cyclist can benefit by losing a few pounds too but beware you cannot outtrain a bad diet and just cycling alone will not get you any significant weight loss.
Also try to find out if there is a local CTC group in your area, they are a friendly bunch and will let you ride with them without joining the club, most of them organise graded group rides from novices to crusty veterans. They will take you to places you never knew existed and you will get enormous satisfaction from just getting there and back under your own power.
Most of all enjoy your new hobby.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Personally, in your situation, I'd be doing short(ish) mostly flat routes. I would vary my pace, not the elevation, until your body gets used to riding. It will start to work much sooner than you'd imagine. Once you're comfortable with riding, start varying elevation, and length / duration of your rides.

 

[Oldboldfullofmould]

Thank you very much for all of your replies it has been enlightening for me. I do need to get out of the mind set of get on your bike and go like the "clappers" I now think a gentle ride sounds more soothing!!
There is a lot of running before I can walk going on in my head which why I've asked for guidance, of which I will follow.
Yes the dizziness, yes it was lack of food before going out "Doh".

As far as wear is concerned, I've got the padded thermal leggings "I'm sure they're not called leggings" and top, helmet and clip in shoes, the latter transferred from my mountain bike.
Also I have been invited to join the local cycling club, but tbh I don't want to, I think I'll be a hindrance to them, I'm not unfit, I'm just not bike fit, I play squash 1-2 times a week and I'm out walking the dog after spending all day on me feet playing with wood "carpenter".
Cycling clearly is a different beast,
Thank you, when I go out tomorrow I'm going steady!!!!, thanks

 

[steve50]

Joining your local cycling club would not be such a bad thing,everyone started out as a "newby" at some point and cycling clubs generally have experience / age related categories or even a beginners group that would get out with like minded people and perhaps take you cycling around roads and places you might never have thought of going. Make some enquiries, ask another member of the club, an opportunity to make new friends and visit new places.

 

[tfg71]

I am a similar age and decided after a heart attack last year to get the bike out the garage , dust it off and start cycling. With one thing and another didn't get out much in 2015. My first short ride this year was supposed to be 10miles flat cycle path, did 11.5. Then at weekend did same route with my wife and did 10.5 on Saturday and again on Sunday. I found that trying to concentrate on speed was pointless for me, so found a gear that was comfortable and kept a steady pedal rotation. Felt so much better physically and mentally . I intend to keep at it like that until I feel it becomes too easy then pick up pace / gear. Easy steps to begin with for me just need to do same route on my road bike and see how that feels.

 

[sidevalve]

You are 42 not 22 and the brain is I'm afraid a liar [yep mine was too]. "Oh I can do that - I'm as fit as I was - just a bit of a push" nope it's all untrue. It sits there in its little bone home and lies, after all its not doing the pushing - the old legs are. Ignore the lies - build up slow, enjoy your riding. Sooner or later you'll find that those hills are just an exhilarating challenge not a recipe for a heart attack.

 

[Montydog]

......nice and steady does it....been there got the t-shirt.....as fitness improves so will everything else....go out and enjoy

i thought same as you about joining a club...but after looking at a couple near me picked one and went to a Saturday social ride which they said was best place to start......go out with them regular now and enjoy it.....

 

[Oldboldfullofmould]

Thank you very much for your advice "unusually I listened".
Went out this evening, nice and steady found a nice gear to "spin" and chilled out, took in the sights, etc, nice, I was a bit knackered when I got back but not dizzy and trying not to puke.
Joining a club is a good idea I know, and I will. Thanks again

 

[broady]

A couple of years since I started cycling on a regular basis and I wish I had brought a garmin/or used my mobile earlier (linked to strava) to see where I have improved.
But then I like data and like to see a map of where I have riden.