Ok, so I have a bike, now what?

[sabian92]

I vowed to resist the lure of the lycra, and was embarrassed at first - but wouldn't be without it now, and don't care. Padding is a must once you get going and start putting some miles in - if you are looking for a cheap pair, Karrimor from sports direct are £10.

Re: the exercise: I regularly bike 150+ miles a week now and I have only 'lost' about 10 lbs - but EVERYONE who bumped into me since 6 months of cycling is 'wow! - you look great' - in so many words. Only gone from nigh on 14 to just over 13 stone, but trimmed up, lost the love handles and have mint legs - if I do say so me sen! Keep it up - it's a fantastic hobby. One thing: consider investing in some slicks, or less nobbly tyres, if you find yourself on roads/tracks a fair bit?

Enjoy it mate!

Cheers, I'll take a look into them. I need something that I won't sweat in too much so that's great.

Having researched it, I think my bike is more of a hybrid than a mountain bike. It's not got huge fat tyres on it but they are quite knobbly. Any decent tyre brands to look at/prices? I know nothing at all about bikes barring how to ride one.

When you're starting out I wouldn't worry too much about distances. Just use your bike as much as you can - if you're popping to see a mate two streets away or going to the corner shop use the bike. Gradually it'll get easier and you'll find you're doing 5 or 10 miles without thinking about it.

Might be worth seeing if you can find someone to ride with too - it's more fun with a friend!

Good luck with preparing for your charity ride.

Anne

I wish I had somebody to ride with - I had my brother until his bike was stolen (it was through his own stupidity of not locking it before going into a shop) so I'm going at it alone.

Thanks a lot for the good luck. 185 miles seems a very long way at the moment!

185mi - wow! Can I ask if that's an organised charity ride, or something your just doing yourself for a charity?

My advice would be to set yourself goals. I don't know - "20mi by chistmas", or plot out a route 30-50mi and say "I want to do that by Easter - what do I have to do between now and then to get there?". This gives your riding a purpose and makes it easier through the cold, wind, rain and up the hills.

You say you have a mountian bike, suspension? I'd also recommend popping into your local bike shop and asking about locking off any suspension and ask about semi-slick tires. Seriously I had a full-sus mtb with thick knobbly tires when I started out. The change to a rigid frame hybrid with semi-slicks made a huge difference to the distance I was able to complete without collapsing.

Most of all keep up the cycling, small baby steps, and enjoy it.

Good luck with the charity ride.

It's something I'm doing for Meningitis UK - it's not an organised ride. It's just something I felt a need to do after visiting a charity event for a guy I know who died of testicular cancer.

I'll start to plot targets for distance - is a 30 mile round trip undoable by christmas if I ride 4-5 times a week?

I think it's more of a hybrid but I'll have a check. How much would locking it off and getting semi-slicks cost?

Can I just say please ditch the hoodie

Wear a jumper by all means (look out for cycling gear in Aldi/Lidl....I have a toasty warm cycling jacket that is way too warm for me to ride in at the moment) but anything hooded, whether the hood is up or down, can obstruct your rear view.

As regards your question about building up, ride to work, do 5 miles each way perhaps, then up it when you feel like it, try a longer detour now and again, surprise yourself by how easy (or at least not as hard as you thought) your detour was so do it again.

Main thing is to enjoy it then the distance will add itself as you go

Alright, will do. I don't own anything else right now so that's all I've been able to wear. I'm a student so I'm not exactly rolling in cash either but I'll do my best.


Thanks for the advice everybody. It's far more than what I expected to get.

 

[Sittingduck]

Hi

Is there any way you can build cycling into a commute? I found that by doing this it guaranteed me a base milage per week, even if I couldn't be arsed to go out evenings or weekends. Furthermore, it actually increased my desire to go out on jollies at the weekend.

Cheers
SD

 

[BenScoobert]

I got a bike about 6 weeks ago, my 1st ride was 4 miles and I felt like death. 10 days ago I did 36 miles, it was a little too much, but I managed.

You will easily be doing 30 by xmas.

Why not join the endomondo challenge CLICK I will be starting a new challenge every month and it spurs us on with a bit of competition for us fatties that need to lose a few lbs. Dont expect the weight to drop off right away either, you'll get muscle gain which will counter the fat loss.

Ive lost virtually nothing, but the pants aint so tight and the belly feels less.

 

[sabian92]

Hi

Is there any way you can build cycling into a commute? I found that by doing this it guaranteed me a base milage per week, even if I couldn't be arsed to go out evenings or weekends. Furthermore, it actually increased my desire to go out on jollies at the weekend.

Cheers
SD

Well, I start college in September again and it's about 2 miles round trip twice a week, and I'm at another campus 1 day a week that involves a 2 mile round trip to the bus stop, so I'm already at 6 miles a week. Not much but I can take a longer way home with hills and things in to make it closer to 15-18 miles a week, which doesn't sound a lot but I've only done half that since I got it this time last year! I actually prefer going out at night - no idiots in hatchbacks shouting abuse at me and the like but I did promise myself I would ride to college unless it was pissing with rain (I'm an IT student, laptops don't like the rain... )

 

[Spinney]

Mostly what others have said,i.e.

- just ride the bike...
- start easy and build up gradually
- if you don't feel up to a long (for your current state of training) ride one day, go out anyway and do a shorter one
- if you are aiming for a new, longer distance, plan a route that goes out from your home for a mile or so, and then cicles round, so you're never too far away if you get knackered
- until you are doing 50 miles + you don't really need to eat extra for energy - beware of 'stoking up' before a ride, you'll put on weight if you do that!
- if you get back ache/neck ache when your rides get longer, try asking your LBS (local bike shop) to help you to fit the bike for you (or ask on here how to do it).
- if you get a numb bum (or other bits - I'm female so probably ache in different places!) invest in a pair of padded shorts

Let us know how you get on! You might read posts on here where someone is talking about their latest 100 miler or whatever, but you'll also get plenty of encouragement and moral support when you do your first 10 miler!

And as for the yobs...



Good luck, and enjoy your bike!

 

[johnr]

I assume starting closer to 5 miles is a good point to start with to see how my body reacts, then building up more towards the 10 milers after 4 weeks or so is a good plan?

Another probably very stupid question - what do I wear? I sweat horribly in jeans and a t-shirt with a hoodie on, but freeze without a hoodie. I can't win!

Lidl cycle gear sale is on tomorrow - decentish gear, really cheap. But it's really for the colder weather. Evans and Wiggle (and others) are offloading their summer gear now so you can pick up some warm weather stuff cheap too! Just stay away from cotton. It absorbs sweat and then chills in the wind. I started out in a stunningly attractive acrylic Bridlington T-shirt.

Diet and weight loss/muscle bulk etc is a lifetime study. Last thing I read which might be useful, is that riding before breakfast burns fat faster. Keep an eye on your hydration though.

Don't apologise for the questions. We all did/do it. You'll be giving authoritative opinions yourself in a few months.

 

[Sittingduck]

Well, I start college in September again and it's about 2 miles round trip twice a week, and I'm at another campus 1 day a week that involves a 2 mile round trip to the bus stop, so I'm already at 6 miles a week. Not much but I can take a longer way home with hills and things in to make it closer to 15-18 miles a week, which doesn't sound a lot but I've only done half that since I got it this time last year! I actually prefer going out at night - no idiots in hatchbacks shouting abuse at me and the like but I did promise myself I would ride to college unless it was pissing with rain (I'm an IT student, laptops don't like the rain... )

Cool - some commute is good and plenty of scope to extend the short ride, if so inclined

 

[Arch]

Welcome!

I'm sure you'll build up distance in no time. I was told once that once you are happy at a distance, you can add about a third of that, and do that until you're happy, and add a third again. That way, the increases get bigger as you get fitter.

Extending your commute is a good idea. My basic commute would be 18 miles a week, but I've been adding loops in to bring it up to 50 (well, not this week, things got in the way). I started by only adding a couple of miles each day, but now I'm doing 5 miles each way, and finding it easy enough - although often it's the mental challenge at the end of the day that's hard, knowing home is only a mile that way, but I'm going to ride the other...

If you're looking for companions on rides, keep an eye on the Informal Rides section here, or let us know where you are and there might be a local forummer up for the odd jaunt.

 

[sabian92]

Welcome!

I'm sure you'll build up distance in no time. I was told once that once you are happy at a distance, you can add about a third of that, and do that until you're happy, and add a third again. That way, the increases get bigger as you get fitter.

Extending your commute is a good idea. My basic commute would be 18 miles a week, but I've been adding loops in to bring it up to 50 (well, not this week, things got in the way). I started by only adding a couple of miles each day, but now I'm doing 5 miles each way, and finding it easy enough - although often it's the mental challenge at the end of the day that's hard, knowing home is only a mile that way, but I'm going to ride the other...

If you're looking for companions on rides, keep an eye on the Informal Rides section here, or let us know where you are and there might be a local forummer up for the odd jaunt.

Ok, that sounds great.

I can add a fair few miles by riding around the world a bit, so that's great.

Also, I'll take a look in the informal rides section.

I'm off on holiday so that'll be it for me for a week, so thanks a lot for the advice. It's been great.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Sheet!! I have just drunk 6 bottles of beer (I'm a 9 stone lightweight) and was just vaguely thinking of going out for a training run.

Might have to leave that for a few hours methinks!!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Sod it, it's 4am, if I woble for a couple of hours, who will be out to see me??


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VLYpKGVBUg