Woke up and decided to start cycling...
Discussion
First post in this area.
So, trying to start some form of fitness regime. Haven't exercised in a long time, and thinking of getting into cycling for leisure in the evenings, maybe 2-3 times a week to start with.
I have an old bike from when I was a kid...something like this...
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzY4WDEwMjQ=/$T2eC16VHJH...
Am I going to look like a complete idiot cycling around in the evenings on something like this!?
Also, what sort of advice would you give me in terms of finding a decent cycle route and how far to cycle to start with? Was thinking maybe 5-6 miles to start with. Which I am guessing would take me 30-40 minutes. (But my fitness may be shocking so could take me even longer than that!)And, also would this actually make any difference to my fitness!?
Thanks in advance and look forward to continuing to post as I progress (hopefully).
So, trying to start some form of fitness regime. Haven't exercised in a long time, and thinking of getting into cycling for leisure in the evenings, maybe 2-3 times a week to start with.
I have an old bike from when I was a kid...something like this...
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzY4WDEwMjQ=/$T2eC16VHJH...
Am I going to look like a complete idiot cycling around in the evenings on something like this!?
Also, what sort of advice would you give me in terms of finding a decent cycle route and how far to cycle to start with? Was thinking maybe 5-6 miles to start with. Which I am guessing would take me 30-40 minutes. (But my fitness may be shocking so could take me even longer than that!)And, also would this actually make any difference to my fitness!?
Thanks in advance and look forward to continuing to post as I progress (hopefully).
1st, well done on deciding to do something, now just to do it!
2nd - if the bike is kids size and you errr, aren't, then yes you will look ridiculous but either way that bike is likely to be fairly horrible to ride. That said, no point making barriers for yourself straight away so give it a try but if it annoys you, thinks break or you just aren't enjoying it as much as you should, see if you can try a better bike and see if that makes a difference.
5-6 miles is a good initial distance, try and keep it flat too until you find your feet - a big hill will expend as much energy as a couple of miles of flat, so it is not just about distance.
It is bound to help your fitness if you can do it 2 - 3 times a week and increase the distance. But keep a record of how far you went and how long it took. Reason being, it rarely feels any easier, which surprises people, but then you realise you are quite a lot quicker! We tend to ride to our perceived level of effort, so as you get fitter and stronger, it will still feel just as hard, but because you are going faster.
Oh and given that the frosts haven gone away yet, watch out for slippy patches, any chance of ice and no point being out on a bike.
Enjoy yourself!
2nd - if the bike is kids size and you errr, aren't, then yes you will look ridiculous but either way that bike is likely to be fairly horrible to ride. That said, no point making barriers for yourself straight away so give it a try but if it annoys you, thinks break or you just aren't enjoying it as much as you should, see if you can try a better bike and see if that makes a difference.
5-6 miles is a good initial distance, try and keep it flat too until you find your feet - a big hill will expend as much energy as a couple of miles of flat, so it is not just about distance.
It is bound to help your fitness if you can do it 2 - 3 times a week and increase the distance. But keep a record of how far you went and how long it took. Reason being, it rarely feels any easier, which surprises people, but then you realise you are quite a lot quicker! We tend to ride to our perceived level of effort, so as you get fitter and stronger, it will still feel just as hard, but because you are going faster.
Oh and given that the frosts haven gone away yet, watch out for slippy patches, any chance of ice and no point being out on a bike.
Enjoy yourself!
Thanks. very good advice!
Just what I needed!
No, it isn't a kids bike. When I say I was a kid when I bought it, I was more like 14ish, but bought an adult size. I will start out on it, and see how I go. It was quite a decent bike at the time, Raleigh Max, Y-frame. Full suspension, etc. Just that I haven't seen many of the type these days on the road. If I manage to get into the cycling, I will get myself something more suitable.
Just what I needed!
No, it isn't a kids bike. When I say I was a kid when I bought it, I was more like 14ish, but bought an adult size. I will start out on it, and see how I go. It was quite a decent bike at the time, Raleigh Max, Y-frame. Full suspension, etc. Just that I haven't seen many of the type these days on the road. If I manage to get into the cycling, I will get myself something more suitable.
Spend a few minutes checking the bike over, there is nothing worse than a mechanical failure whilst out on a ride which could have been prevented with some quick checks beforehand. Fit a bottle cage, talk some fluid with you, dont set any targets and just enjoy it.
Before you know it, your mileage will increase and your fitness will improve, then you will want a better (and by that I mean lighter, more appropriate) bike and we are very experienced at spending other peoples money here!
Before you know it, your mileage will increase and your fitness will improve, then you will want a better (and by that I mean lighter, more appropriate) bike and we are very experienced at spending other peoples money here!
Porkupine said:
Thanks. very good advice!
Just what I needed!
No, it isn't a kids bike. When I say I was a kid when I bought it, I was more like 14ish, but bought an adult size. I will start out on it, and see how I go. It was quite a decent bike at the time, Raleigh Max, Y-frame. Full suspension, etc. Just that I haven't seen many of the type these days on the road. If I manage to get into the cycling, I will get myself something more suitable.
It probably wasn't a decent bike at the time in all honesty. Full sus tends to be a liability rather than a benefit unless you are spending an awful lot of money, otherwise all you are doing is making your ride much heavier and less responsive. Most of the type have been thrown away or were never used (but they keep selling kids bikes looking exactly the same!)Just what I needed!
No, it isn't a kids bike. When I say I was a kid when I bought it, I was more like 14ish, but bought an adult size. I will start out on it, and see how I go. It was quite a decent bike at the time, Raleigh Max, Y-frame. Full suspension, etc. Just that I haven't seen many of the type these days on the road. If I manage to get into the cycling, I will get myself something more suitable.
As I said, you already have it though so don't make barriers and it will get you out and about and if you like it, then you'll love it on something more lively and functional.
pablo said:
we are very experienced at spending other peoples money here!
never a truer word spoken - I reckon we need a PH competition as to which subforum can encourage the most expenditure. We'd fix the economy in weeks 
Lots of good advice so far - my 2p: if you've got a smartphone, consider a ride-logging app like endomondo or strava so you can see and record improvements over time. In a couple of month's time, once the novelty's worn off, you'll need a reason to head out - if you live near some sweet mtb trails, great, if not setting a personal best may be a good source of motivation.
It may also help to consult the sticky thread on this forum called 'velominati - the rules'. Most are tongue in cheek, but rules #10, #9, and #5 are absolutes
(Oh, and make sure your saddle is set to the right height - nobody likes watching someone pedal along with their legs contorted like they're riding a circus bike. Unless you're at the circus I guess. Sites like sheldonbrown.com provide better advice than I could. I'm done now
)zebedee said:
It probably wasn't a decent bike at the time in all honesty. Full sus tends to be a liability rather than a benefit unless you are spending an awful lot of money, otherwise all you are doing is making your ride much heavier and less responsive. Most of the type have been thrown away or were never used (but they keep selling kids bikes looking exactly the same!)
As I said, you already have it though so don't make barriers and it will get you out and about and if you like it, then you'll love it on something more lively and functional.
HA shows what I know! As a teenager I thought it was the dogs!As I said, you already have it though so don't make barriers and it will get you out and about and if you like it, then you'll love it on something more lively and functional.
I will try it on this bike for a while. If after a 2-4 week period, I am continuing to ride, I will be asking all of your advice as to best bike to buy.
I'm kind of excited about the whole thing now!
I did download an app - BikeBrain. Anyone used it? don't have a mount on the bike, so not sure how useful it will be. Although the bike does have a computer, but pretty sure, after I dig it out and dust the cobwebs off, it won't be working!
and apparently if you can be seen to be riding regularly enough and fast enough you can then be targetted by thieves who know exactly where you live! Careful folks, it doesn't take a genius to work out that someone who rides 30-odd miles every Sunday in just over an hour is going to have a couple of decent bikes... And if you start/finish the GPS at your house you are making it rather easy! An LBS told me this is actually happening and not just a scare story.
There is a privacy setting in Strava to deal with that risk.. and yeah it works in your pocket but you can get handle bar mounts for the popular phones.
Enter a location below to have it hidden on your activity maps. If your activity starts or ends within a 500m-1km radius of the address, the start and/or end of the activity will be hidden from other users.
Please note that if a segment begins or ends within your privacy zone, you will no longer appear on that segment leaderboard and any achievements you held for that segment will be removed. Learn More
- ***********
Enter a location below to have it hidden on your activity maps. If your activity starts or ends within a 500m-1km radius of the address, the start and/or end of the activity will be hidden from other users.
Please note that if a segment begins or ends within your privacy zone, you will no longer appear on that segment leaderboard and any achievements you held for that segment will be removed. Learn More
in Strava you can 'hide' a radius around your house, place or work, (or the house of your mistress) etc by up to 1km.
So unless you live in a secluded rural house or have a very long driveway, then it should effectivley mask your location for just this reason. Look in My Account, privacy. You of course have the option of making your rides 'private' also which stops others from seeing them
So unless you live in a secluded rural house or have a very long driveway, then it should effectivley mask your location for just this reason. Look in My Account, privacy. You of course have the option of making your rides 'private' also which stops others from seeing them
BliarOut said:
Don't overdo it at first, your ass will hurt and it'll put you off going out on the bike again.
This is my one big worry about buying a 'proper' bike. The seats I have heard are most uncomfortable. Whereas the one I currently have I don't think is too bad from what I can remember. Porkupine said:
BliarOut said:
Don't overdo it at first, your ass will hurt and it'll put you off going out on the bike again.
This is my one big worry about buying a 'proper' bike. The seats I have heard are most uncomfortable. Whereas the one I currently have I don't think is too bad from what I can remember. As for saddles, that's a whole other debate
If in doubt, rule 5 applies
Porkupine said:
BliarOut said:
Don't overdo it at first, your ass will hurt and it'll put you off going out on the bike again.
This is my one big worry about buying a 'proper' bike. The seats I have heard are most uncomfortable. Whereas the one I currently have I don't think is too bad from what I can remember. Be warned , if you get the bug it can become expensive
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