Woke up and decided to start cycling...
Discussion
Black can man said:
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
ps Don't worry - I am good at wasting money! This would be an investment anyway!!
LOL - this looks like the kind of saddle I would need!!
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/vavert-men's-memory-fo...
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/vavert-men's-memory-fo...
Porkupine said:
LOL - this looks like the kind of saddle I would need!!
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/vavert-men's-memory-fo...
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/vavert-men's-memory-fo...
big saddles are bad, they chafe.Unless you really are a 65 year old Doris
best saddle I have ever bought:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/selle-italia/s...pcrid_17321847296_kword__matchplid_
doesn't matter what they look like, its whether they are the right size and shape for your specific arse plus the design and construction of them.
But the more you ride, the more you will be able to tolerate even less than ideal saddles from my experience.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/selle-italia/s...pcrid_17321847296_kword__matchplid_
doesn't matter what they look like, its whether they are the right size and shape for your specific arse plus the design and construction of them.
But the more you ride, the more you will be able to tolerate even less than ideal saddles from my experience.
Find yourself a couple of different circular routes from your house one that takes 30 mins one that takes 45 etc... then if your feeling good starting on the 30 min one you can add an extra little 1 mile route on towards the end, worst thing I find is to be doing 3 miles in one direction only to turn around and cycle the same route back.
BoRED S2upid said:
Find yourself a couple of different circular routes from your house one that takes 30 mins one that takes 45 etc... then if your feeling good starting on the 30 min one you can add an extra little 1 mile route on towards the end, worst thing I find is to be doing 3 miles in one direction only to turn around and cycle the same route back.
Will have to re-evaluate the route I planned then. Mine was literally 3 miles one way, then back. Dug out my old bike and it doesn't look fit for road! So am trying to arrange borrowing one this weekend. If I can get myself into a nice routine over the next 3-4 weeks then the hunt will be on to buy one!Update on this.
Got my bike out, dusted off the cob webs. But it was in a state. Not fit for riding I would think.
So have borrowed a bike from a relative, which is relatively new, but not being used.
It is a specialized hardrock sport. I really like it, compared to my old one. Waiting for the weather to calm down a bit and will give it a go. If all goes well next few weeks, I will be on the hunt for a new bike of my own.
Got my bike out, dusted off the cob webs. But it was in a state. Not fit for riding I would think.
So have borrowed a bike from a relative, which is relatively new, but not being used.
It is a specialized hardrock sport. I really like it, compared to my old one. Waiting for the weather to calm down a bit and will give it a go. If all goes well next few weeks, I will be on the hunt for a new bike of my own.
Well I did it!
Was a LOT more difficult than I imagined. I planned a route and thought should start small. So my route in total was 2.5 miles. I thought would be easy. It was ok up until half way. Didn't break a sweat. On the way back though, uphill, and I was destroyed! I was very very close to stopping for a rest, but managed to complete it.
Shows just how bad my fitness is, my legs were burning. Total ride time was 21 minutes, shocking I know, for only 2.5 miles!
Whilst I was riding the words kept echoing:
The bike felt quite hard on the bumps, I guess I have not ridden for a while, and the kids style bike I had before was a lot more BOUNCY! And my arse hurts slightly today!
On a positive note:
Had a good night's sleep too!
Will update when I get out again!
Was a LOT more difficult than I imagined. I planned a route and thought should start small. So my route in total was 2.5 miles. I thought would be easy. It was ok up until half way. Didn't break a sweat. On the way back though, uphill, and I was destroyed! I was very very close to stopping for a rest, but managed to complete it.
Shows just how bad my fitness is, my legs were burning. Total ride time was 21 minutes, shocking I know, for only 2.5 miles!
Whilst I was riding the words kept echoing:
zebedee said:
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
Oh, how I should have took more notice of this. The experience of yesterday almost makes me not want to do it again! But I will! The bike felt quite hard on the bumps, I guess I have not ridden for a while, and the kids style bike I had before was a lot more BOUNCY! And my arse hurts slightly today!
On a positive note:
pablo said:
have a go with an app called strava....
it records your routes so you can see how far/how fast etc but all over the country people have created sections of varying length so you can compete with other people who have ridden the same section...
Great advice. I used the app and love it. Shows all kind of detail. Told me my elevation difference was 82 feet. I am now in process of trying to find a less hilly route and will try again in a couple of days. it records your routes so you can see how far/how fast etc but all over the country people have created sections of varying length so you can compete with other people who have ridden the same section...
Had a good night's sleep too!
Will update when I get out again!
well done for getting out there, the distance and climb give plenty of room for easily visible improvement on the plus side (and it is easy to forget how hard it is starting out)!
With height gain, it is also of course the steepness that will determine how tired you get. If you had gained it over the whole 2.5 miles you would have barely noticed it, if it was a short steep ramp, then anyone with even a good level of stamina could have struggled.
I wouldn't seek out something flatter, like you said, it didn't make you stop and it worked you out, so I would keep doing it and keep a record of how long it takes each time. Don't expect it to feel easier, but expect it to start getting quicker after around a month or so. Your body will also get used to the fact that it is being regularly asked to do it, so it will feel more 'normal' and you will recover better.
With height gain, it is also of course the steepness that will determine how tired you get. If you had gained it over the whole 2.5 miles you would have barely noticed it, if it was a short steep ramp, then anyone with even a good level of stamina could have struggled.
I wouldn't seek out something flatter, like you said, it didn't make you stop and it worked you out, so I would keep doing it and keep a record of how long it takes each time. Don't expect it to feel easier, but expect it to start getting quicker after around a month or so. Your body will also get used to the fact that it is being regularly asked to do it, so it will feel more 'normal' and you will recover better.
Hopefully a few words of encouragement:
I did this coming on for 2 years ago. Wife and kids were out so I dug my old mountain bike out of the garage and set off around a local nature reserve. I did 10 miles that evening in around a hour and it nearly killed me ! I had to sit down for a good 15 minutes before I could walk properly.
I set myself a target of 30 miles per week and found within a month or so I was easily exceeding that so amended it to as much as I could do given other commitments and how long my body could hold out. Within a few months I was doing up to 30 miles in one hit and a year after starting did the London to Brighton night ride (60 miles).
I've brought a half decent road bike now and get out as much as practicable (given work / wife / kids) and thoroughly enjoy it. I've lost 2 stone in weight and my fitness has increased remarkably.
I try not to get too serious about it, although that can be tricky, and shiny things are often too tempting
There are some lovely rides around here (I live south of Bedford) and I often just pootle along taking in the view.
This year I've set myself a target of 2000 miles. Not much by the standard of a lot on here, but it's a decent whack for me (45 and still 16 stone). 5.5 mile a day average and I'm maintaining it so far (although I have bought myself a turbo trainer to do some garage miles, I'm not a sadist !).
Keep it up
I did this coming on for 2 years ago. Wife and kids were out so I dug my old mountain bike out of the garage and set off around a local nature reserve. I did 10 miles that evening in around a hour and it nearly killed me ! I had to sit down for a good 15 minutes before I could walk properly.
I set myself a target of 30 miles per week and found within a month or so I was easily exceeding that so amended it to as much as I could do given other commitments and how long my body could hold out. Within a few months I was doing up to 30 miles in one hit and a year after starting did the London to Brighton night ride (60 miles).
I've brought a half decent road bike now and get out as much as practicable (given work / wife / kids) and thoroughly enjoy it. I've lost 2 stone in weight and my fitness has increased remarkably.
I try not to get too serious about it, although that can be tricky, and shiny things are often too tempting
There are some lovely rides around here (I live south of Bedford) and I often just pootle along taking in the view.This year I've set myself a target of 2000 miles. Not much by the standard of a lot on here, but it's a decent whack for me (45 and still 16 stone). 5.5 mile a day average and I'm maintaining it so far (although I have bought myself a turbo trainer to do some garage miles, I'm not a sadist !).
Keep it up
Apologies if I'm stating the obvious here, but the "didn't break a sweat" and "legs were burning" comments make me wonder if you are using the gears enough.
It's a typical new rider mistake to push the biggest gear they can because this feels faster. I actual fact, the most efficient way to ride is to spin your legs at a higher speed; approximately 90rpm which is roughly the speed you'd move them while running. This will take load off your legs and move it to your heart and lungs. You'll go just as fast but be able to keep going longer.
It's a typical new rider mistake to push the biggest gear they can because this feels faster. I actual fact, the most efficient way to ride is to spin your legs at a higher speed; approximately 90rpm which is roughly the speed you'd move them while running. This will take load off your legs and move it to your heart and lungs. You'll go just as fast but be able to keep going longer.
Mr Will said:
Apologies if I'm stating the obvious here, but the "didn't break a sweat" and "legs were burning" comments make me wonder if you are using the gears enough.
I think the not breaking a sweat related the first 1.25 miles down a slope and the legs burning bit was on the way back.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff