Where from here..?

[Kizibu]

I last rode a bike over 40 years ago. It had rod brakes and was so heavy I could not actually lift it. So I was favourably impressed by my new hybrid on a test ride. Bike brilliant - shame about the legs. But I need to lose weight and up my activity levels in retirement after a pretty sedentary life. I picked up the new bike today. Cycle lanes were a bit of an initiation. I rode about 4 miles on my way home - mostly uphill and all into a nasty headwind. I felt a bit wobbly when I got off but ready for more... tomorrow.

Any ideas on a sensible (and motivating) programme to build some stamina on the bike? Do I just do a bit everyday and hope for the best?

 

[gavintc]

Just cycling every day or so. You don't need every day, just frequent, regular exercise.

 

[DJ]

Think of places you need/want to go and go for them. Do a bit of planning, take short breaks to start with and do short rides as well. Then just keep adding more distance/ time. You will feel the benefits.

Good Luck.

 

[leedslad]

The most important thing is, enjoy it. If you don't feel like riding, then wait a wee while. It's very easy to lose interest when you force yourself.

 

[Kizibu]

Day 2: many thanks for the helpful suggestions. On my second day of bike ownership I went out meaning to cycle five miles but ending up doing about 8 with an unplanned visit and stop for cup of tea in Stanmer village. So I must have been enjoying it (or some of it). Everything fine except for (in descending order of seriousness):

1. Sixty-year old legs that turn to jelly cycling on slightest incline (The South Downs are lovely but don't understand why they are not called The South Ups).

2. Lungs fit to burst on hilly stretches.

3. Anxiety in traffic

4. Bottom little bit sore.

I used the lowest gear in the lowest range several times on really steep climbs but only had to stop once.

It was all worth the fabulous winter sunset over the sea from the summit of my ride (from where it was all downhill). Put my lights on in the twilight and remembered that in my much more protective car the lights are on all the time the engine is running (yes, its a Volvo) and wondered whether I should always ride with lights on even in daylight?

Feel quite positive ( positively wobbly in legs) and hopeful that I will build a bit of strenght and endurance. About a mile from my house I have a nice flat cycle track (one third of a mile racing oval). I put in a few laps on my way home from picking up the bike yesterday. It might be easier than flogging up and down hills to start with and maybe I should put some time in there. But its tedious - like riding an exercise bike.

 

[Sittingduck]

Hi Kizibu and well done

Wonderful post there and I will enjoy reading updates. The track does sound a bit boring but might be a handy way of getting some distance into the legs if you can't stray too far one day.

Good luck and keep it up!
SD

 

[Auntie Helen]

Hi Kizibu, well done so far.

I went out for a ride today, 25 mile round trip, several hills. I've had my trike almost exactly 6 months now and I remember at the beginning that hills were a real issue. I REALLY didn't like them, I felt hot and sweaty at the top when I finally got there, I wished I lived somewhere totally flat.

However various people told me not to worry about going really slowly, just to keep turning those pedals at as low a gear as you need, and you'll get to the top of the hill in due course. Which you do.

Anyway, today my 25 mile ride was a real trailblazer route (well I was familiar with the 5 miles at the beginning and the end, the rest was unknown). As one would imagine cycling along a coastline, there were some ups and downs. In fact, as I was returning I realised that some of the ups and downs would have been the sort of hills that I really feared 6 months ago. But clearly my legs have got better at them, my general fitness has improved loads, I've lost 2 stone in weight and it just didn't seem like too much of an issue. If I can avoid hills on a route I will but they don't stop me or spoil my journey, they just mean a bit harder work for a bit.

Keep at it and you'll find it all gets easier as long as you don't overdo it. Good luck!

 

[ufkacbln]

You are doing well...

Do you have a hobby?

I found that having targets helped, and I don't mean speed or distance.

I love old churches, historic sites and country pubs.

I would (and still do) have pleasant trips to one of the above, lunch and back - no agenda apart for getting there and back, and enjoying the day.

As you gain confidence and ability dimply choose further one further afield...

 

[Iainj837]

Well done Kizibu keep up the good work as others have said take it easy and don't over do it

 

[Andy in Sig]

Find a loop which you can build up to: say ten miles. Once you can do that no problem try to do it at least twice a week. At weekend do a bigger loop about three times the length of your weekday loop. Once you can manage 3 x 10 weekday rides and 1 x 30 at the weekend, start gradually expanding the loops, say 13 and 40 until you're doing 30 and 100 or whatever it is you feel comfortable with. Also don't get puritanical about it: I've always found it a good idea to build in a cafe stop at around three quarters of the way round. Remember that the main thing is enjoyment.

A book which goes way beyond what you want but which has all the theory which applies to you is Long Distance Cycling by Edmund R. Burke and Ed Pavelka.

 

[yello]

meaning to cycle five miles but ending up doing about 8 with an unplanned visit and stop for cup of tea in Stanmer village

Ah, the delights of cycling! You're well and truly bitten!!

Sounds to me like you're doing well and have got the right attitude and motivation. Keep going out on regular rides. The strength builds, the backside becomes used to it and the anxiety should diminish.

And welcome to the forum. There's lots of good advice to be had on here.

Blimey, rod brakes! That's going back a bit! You must have some stories!!

 

[Kizibu]

Blimey, rod brakes! That's going back a bit! You must have some stories!!

I was given that bike (an adult sized bike built like a tank) when I was 11. The sturdy light bracket must have been made for acetylene lamps. Not that I had any lights. My friend Pete and I set off touring the South Coast for a week in the late fifties on bikes like this with an old tent and primus in panniers that my mum made out of some old deck chair material - They were brightly striped not because that made them high viz but because such material was cheap in a seaside town. Loaded I could hardly balance the bike let alone lift it. But we cycled to Kent, camping at Hastings and Rye and Romney Marsh ... swimming in the sea early in the morning. Let your 11 year olds do that now and they'd wind up on the child protection register.

Atrocious weather today so no mileage at all and slight case of cabin fever. Many thanks to everyone for the encouragement and sensible advice. I appreciate such a warm welcome to an old wreck struggling to get back in the saddle. But I can't be the only old fogey at it, judging by the incontinence pads many cycling shorts have in them these days.

Kizibu

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Hello welcome and congratulations. Let me voice what everyone else has said and above all else enjoy what you are doing. Push yourself but don't hurt yourself. When I used to go to the gym regularly I remember a slogan - No pain, no gain. OK as long as no strain. Set realistic goals - You did 8 miles and were OK - Do that same route a few times and then try tagging on say anther 4 (two each way). You will soon find that those jelly legs get stronger and don't be ashamed to use the bikes lowest gears, that is what they are there for.

The person who mentioned hobbies also raised an excellent point. I have found motivation can worth both ways if you can integrate cycling with another hobby or passion. (For me it is photography).

Please keep us updated with your triumphs and successes.

Best Wishes, Dave S.

 

[tyred]

Definitely don't be embarrassed to use the very low gears. It's better than half killing yourself trying to push a high gear (a mistake I made to begin with earlier this year when I started cyclcling after a 10 year break). And I found my legs quickly gained strength and I never need to use the small front chainwheel now at all.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Sounds like it's going great, kizibu. My top tip for sore backside is to do little and often: it worked for me last year when I first got back on a bike after 25 years .. I'd just go out for half an hour or so each evening after work. Not far enough for it to hurt, but far enough so I actually spent a bit of time on the bike. After a couple of weeks, no more problem.

Cycling shorts (complete with incontinence pad, nice one!! ) are a definite help. I was a bit shy about walking in to work wearing them (I'm not exactly slim) but soon got over it.

Like you, I was in the lowest gear to start with on hills in the beginning and my hill on the way to work won't be competing with the South Downs. But I'm now several gears up on where I started and can even talk to people when I get to the top rather than collapsing in a heap like I used to. Give it time ..

As to motivation, for me it's going to work. Some motivation!! For you, hobbies are good as others have said; or, could you use the bike to pop to the shop? Or pub lunches are an excellent idea.

But most of all ...