Question about exercising on a bike

[boydj]

Fat burning takes about 30 minutes or so to kick in when you are exercising, and you need to be exercising at fairly moderate levels. Working any harder just burns off stored glycogen, which will be just as easily replaced. If you are a beginner, you'll need to build up slowly until you can go out for an hour or more at a time, when you can seriously start burning fat.

It's a slow process and you may even put on a little weight as you get into cycling and you build your cycling muscles, so be prepared to be patient and stick with it. Try to get out for a minimum three times a week.

As for the bike, I'd recommend a mtb-based hybrid. That would be robust enough to take off road as long as the terrain is not too rough, but give you a reasonable ride on the road. It's a myth that having a bike that makes you work harder on the road will burn fat off more quickly. It will just push you out of the fat-burning effort level and, in the longer run, may even discourage you from cycling all together.

Cycling should be fun, so getting out and enjoying the ride without working too hard is the way to make a difference.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Fat burning takes about 30 minutes or so to kick in when you are exercising, and you need to be exercising at fairly moderate levels. Working any harder just burns off stored glycogen, which will be just as easily replaced. If you are a beginner, you'll need to build up slowly until you can go out for an hour or more at a time, when you can seriously start burning fat.

It's a slow process and you may even put on a little weight as you get into cycling and you build your cycling muscles, so be prepared to be patient and stick with it. Try to get out for a minimum three times a week.

As for the bike, I'd recommend a mtb-based hybrid. That would be robust enough to take off road as long as the terrain is not too rough, but give you a reasonable ride on the road. It's a myth that having a bike that makes you work harder on the road will burn fat off more quickly. It will just push you out of the fat-burning effort level and, in the longer run, may even discourage you from cycling all together.

Cycling should be fun, so getting out and enjoying the ride without working too hard is the way to make a difference.

Just have to ask.

1) Where did you get this figure from?
2) What do you burn for the 30mins before "fat kicks in"?
3) What do you burn when the level of intensity can't metabolize fat quick enough, and higher intensity at which stored glycogen is metabolized?

 

[Davidc]

I use an mtb for round town and along a canal, but wouldn't want to use it for much more (I don't do rough off road). A hybrid will do most off road work and if you're going outside your town will be more comfortable for longer on-road rides than a mtb.

Am I allowed to suggest that if you haven't been doing much road riding for a long time (or ever) a little training wouldn't go amiss? Contact the local authority for some details of what's around where you are.

 

[MaxInc]

Fat burning takes about 30 minutes or so to kick in when you are exercising, and you need to be exercising at fairly moderate levels. Working any harder just burns off stored glycogen, which will be just as easily replaced. If you are a beginner, you'll need to build up slowly until you can go out for an hour or more at a time, when you can seriously start burning fat.

You don't really need to be burning fat during cycling to loose body fat overall. As long as you are burning more energy consistently through the week and controlling the intake of energy and nutrients, it really doesn't matter what type of fuel you burn during your training. A a side note, during a Ketonic diet you are burning fat all the time even if you are walking, running, cycling or watching TV.

As for hybrids, my personal opinion as a beginner is that they make little sense especially since you can get a 95% hybrid by just adding some road tyres to a MTB. If you like to do both types of riding, then you need two bikes, one for fun off street and one for long trips, speed and performance.

An MTB will have excellent off road and very decent on road (with road tyres) for a beginner just starting out. In a few months when biking is your new focus in life, adding a road bike to your already long list of cycling related possessions will seem like a natural step. Or sell the MTB if you decide to give up

On a positive note, I'm on the same boat as you. Lost 3 stones by walking, running, weight training and dieting. I wanted something a bit more exciting now. Only 10 days in my training and I really can't get enough of it, having to wait for recovery really sucks but I love every second on the bike. I moved from killer 2 mile journey (round trip) to the grocery store to 8 miles a day in just one week. To answer your other question, yes it will improve your endurance as long as you keep pushing your comfort zone a little every time you get out.

Good luck!

 

[Sittingduck]

Mate - take anything you read here with a pinch of salt. If you fancy a Mountain bike then fair play. Sounds like it will suit your needs, at least to begin with. Riding knobbly tyres on the road provides additional resistance and if your goal if to burn calories, this cannot be bad. As long as you can keep it up and don't get pee'd off, then it's a good start. RE the weight loss, I would suggest counting calories because with all the will in the world, you can add or increase regular exercise to your routine and of course it will help but try to to over-compensate by consuming loads more intake, that you may not have earned. Tracking calorie intake and figuring out a realistic estimate of any additional cals burned from exercise will be pivitol in success (IMHO).

All the best and keep us updated on progress

 

[boydj]

Just have to ask.

1) Where did you get this figure from?
Don't remember where from, but I've been running and cycling since the 80's and have read up on diet, exercise and metabolism extensively - not just for my own training, but also because there is diabetes in the family.
2) What do you burn for the 30mins before "fat kicks in"?
Glycogen stored in the muscles and liver. Hitting the'wall' in marathons is when your glycogen stores run out. Well trained athletes can eke these out longer because their fat-burning processes are more efficient
3) What do you burn when the level of intensity can't metabolize fat quick enough, and higher intensity at which stored glycogen is metabolized?
Only what's immediately available in the muscle. Think 100m/200m sprinters

Look at the difference in the build of sprinters and marathon runners. Long, slow distance is the training base of marathon runners and cycling is easily the best way of achieving long, slow distance in an enjoyable way - not that you have to go that slow, just well within yourself.

 

[jowwy]

seems like a lot of assumptions being made here

1. why wont he enjoy riding an mtb

2. you wont cycle far enough to lose weight. why??

3. only start burning fat after 30mins of excercise. what nugget dreamt up that line??

the OP wants an mtb, let him buy one and just answer the OP's original question......dont dictate to him what to buy, cause thats not what hes asking

 

[DooDah]

the OP wants an mtb, let him buy one and just answer the OP's original question......dont dictate to him what to buy, cause thats not what hes asking

Agreed, I bet he wished he had never asked any questions

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Look at the difference in the build of sprinters and marathon runners. Long, slow distance is the training base of marathon runners and cycling is easily the best way of achieving long, slow distance in an enjoyable way - not that you have to go that slow, just well within yourself.

What?

1) Where did you get this figure from?
Don't remember where from, but I've been running and cycling since the 80's and have read up on diet, exercise and metabolism extensively - not just for my own training, but also because there is diabetes in the family.

If you've read up on it, you would better understand it than you appear to.

2) What do you burn for the 30mins before "fat kicks in"?
Glycogen stored in the muscles and liver. Hitting the'wall' in marathons is when your glycogen stores run out. Well trained athletes can eke these out longer because their fat-burning processes are more efficient

We metabolize fat and glycogen in varying proportions from the onset of just existing. Therefore during exercise(to a certain point) this does not change whether the glycogen used as the second fuel substrate is from muscle/liver storage or blood stream.

Obviously there is a big difference if the sport/discipline undertaken relies on explosiveness.

3) What do you burn when the level of intensity can't metabolize fat quick enough, and higher intensity at which stored glycogen is metabolized?
Only what's immediately available in the muscle. Think 100m/200m sprinters

What would that be in particular?

 

[jowwy]

What?

If you've read up on it, you would better understand it than you appear to.


We metabolize fat and glycogen in varying proportions from the onset of just existing. Therefore during exercise(to a certain point) this does not change whether the glycogen used as the second fuel substrate is from muscle/liver storage or blood stream.


What would that be?

rather than question someone elses reply, why dont we just concentrate on the OP before another thread gets destroyed and the new member gets frustrated and swans off to bikeradar

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

rather than question someone elses reply, why dont we just concentrate on the OP before another thread gets destroyed and the new member gets frustrated and swans off to bikeradar

Rather than just post to have a go at me, perhaps you could add something? Or explain why you think it's acceptable that anyone (nevermind a newbie) should receive conflicting or incorrect advice.

You mention destroying threads, the irony must be completely lost.

 

[DooDah]

Rather than just post to have a go at me, perhaps you could add something? Or explain why you think it's acceptable that anyone (nevermind a newbie) should receive conflicting or incorrect advice.

You mention destroying threads, the irony must be completely lost.

OK, I actually agree with Jowwy, arguing between ourselves on this thread is not helping the OP. Conflicting advice is always going to happen because everyone has different opinions. From my point of view, I started with a MTB, and that got me hooked on cycling, so I bought a road bike, and now I would like n+1. But sometimes people buy bikes and realise it is not for them. I think a MTB is a good starting point.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

OK, I actually agree with Jowwy, arguing between ourselves on this thread is not helping the OP. Conflicting advice is always going to happen because everyone has different opinions. From my point of view, I started with a MTB, and that got me hooked on cycling, so I bought a road bike, and now I would like n+1. But sometimes people buy bikes and realise it is not for them. I think a MTB is a good starting point.

Has nothing to do with opinions, but completely re-writing all text on human physiology and being wrong is a bit hardcore for Beginners.

 

[boydj]

What?

If you've read up on it, you would better understand it than you appear to.


We metabolize fat and glycogen in varying proportions from the onset of just existing. Therefore during exercise(to a certain point) this does not change whether the glycogen used as the second fuel substrate is from muscle/liver storage or blood stream.

Obviously there is a big difference if the sport/discipline undertaken relies on explosiveness.


What would that be in particular?

30 seconds on google produced this - http://www.brianmac.co.uk/fatburn.htm

You sound like a chemist - you should be able to add something positive, rather than questioning what I've written without providing an explanation.

Would you advise the OP to go out and work really hard from day 1, or build up with easy runs until he can stay out there for an hour or more?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

30 seconds on google produced this - http://www.brianmac.co.uk/fatburn.htm

http://www.brianmac.co.uk/fatburn.htm
Where does the link clarify anything you have posted? In particular: fat burn kicking in after 30minutes.

You sound like a chemist - you should be able to add something positive, rather than questioning what I've written without providing an explanation.

I'm not a chemist. What would you like explained?

Would you advise the OP to go out and work really hard from day 1, or build up with easy runs until he can stay out there for an hour or more?

Evidently the latter. I didn't mention this though, strange that you did.