New cyclist

[darren9]

Oh no. A newbie thread. Sorry.

I'm 34 years old a bit flabby, dont eat well and I've just bought myself a bike. The last time I rode was for my paper round so some 28 or so years ago.

I've bought a cube nature hybrid. Chose a hybrid because I want to do some light trails with the kids. I'll also be using the bike to ride to work but I want to work on my fitness and hopefully drop some weight.

However. I have no idea where to start. Do I just hop on and ride? Plan a route? Is there something I should be aiming for?

Send any tips and advice my way. It's gratefully received.

[scrwright]

Start easy & build up, its disheartening blowing out on a ride that was too much for you. I started on 5km loops locally and built up, up to about 80km now but free time is stopping going further at the mo

[toastyhamster]

Find a local club with a regular "no drop" ride, loads of help, friendly atmosphere, should be a few on hybrids if you find the right club.

[pbarlow0032]

Try to stick to flat, shortish loops to get used to actually spending time on the bike.
Get some decent cycling shorts (decathlon are good vfm).
Sign up to strava so you can see how quickly you progress, and marvel at how much you're doing compared to before 👍
Make an event of a ride: get out with the kids, plan a nice route somewhere that you want to see, so it's not just cycling for cyclings sake. There's no better way to see places than on a bike.

Oh and enjoy yourself, it's a great time of year to be starting!

[mnh]

Another vote for strava. It's a great motivator.

[darren9]

Thanks.

I've had my first ride just a 20min/half hour loop close to the house but I thought it was best to just get out. It felt ok.

I've signed up to Strava and will look to log stuff on there. I'll be going to work on the bike in the morning but that's only a very short ride.

I picked some shorts up. But they're muddy fox 2 for twenty quid sports direct ones and they make me feel a bit like I've messed my pants.

[battered]

Carry on. The cheap shorts will be fine, just get on with it. Little and often for now, take the kkids out. Trails are fine, so are trips to the park, going to see their mates, and so on. Nothing wrong with getting them used to using bikes as transport, supervised of course as appropriate for age. It's a nice way to spend a weekend afternoon, and it will ease you in gently. It's also handy to put baggy shorts over Lycra to look less ridiculous. You can live without the mamil gags, esp if you have more 6 packs in the fridge than in your t shirt.

[gazza285]

Get your seat height right...

[neil-935ql]

Same as above really start small and build up , I could not even ride 1 mile when I started my fitness was so poor , for me the biggest stepping stone was moving to padded cycling shorts , best move ever so much more comfortable . I have 3 bikes now and loads of gear that I don't really need , but I guess that's all part of the fun .

[JustinF]

paper round at 6! you were keen

[Black can man]

Welcome along OP ,


Just enjoy it .

[HoHoHo]

Due to ankle damage and at the age of 54 I moved to cycling 3 months ago.

Splashed out on a mountain and road bike (both Cube as it happens) and now find 30,40,40 or 60 miles pretty easy and very satisfying.

My average speed is now nearly 18mph and I find even on the longest cycles I can just keep going and going!

I've spent money on decent clothing which really helps and also got a computer and I'm on Strava. Time to cycle depends on work/family but I also go out at 5am for a few hours if possible when roads are totally mine

Personally I'm disappointed I didn't start cycling when I was younger!

Enjoy it and ignore those who say we look like tts in Lycra. it's comfortable and we probably do, but who gives a toss

Edited by HoHoHo on Friday 23 June 08:04

[lauda]

darren9 said:

I picked some shorts up. But they're muddy fox 2 for twenty quid sports direct ones and they make me feel a bit like I've messed my pants.

I made that mistake when I started cycling. They really are terrible.

I ended up buying the cheapest Decathlon ones (something like £6 a pair) and they were night and day better. I still wear them for my work commute and they're going strong 18 months later.

If you start really getting into your riding and are going on longer rides, bib shorts are the way to go though.

[Vipers]

Get a mirror, bell, puncture repair kit, or as I do, carry two spare tubes, and a pump of course, and tyre pressure gauge, fit the pump on one of the down tubes and a small saddle bag for the rest. I also carry a pair of disposable gloves to save getting crap on my hands when I have to change a tyre.

Oh and don't forget a set of tyre levers.

When I took up cycling out of the blue, I lost nearly a stone, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[HoHoHo]

lauda said:

If you start really getting into your riding and are going on longer rides, bib shorts are the way to go though.

Absolutely without doubt, good kit (and that includes a Bib is the way to go

Just been out for 47 miles and it was really windy which I find a right PITA to be honest. it seems no matter which direction I cycle I'm always heading into the bloody wind!

Active time 2:48
Total distance 47.06
Average HR 134 (I'm 54!)
35.2mph max
16.8mph average
1925ft decent
1929ft ascent
Average temp 23 (max was 32!)

I find stats really help me understand what's going on



What I try to do is make a long journey of a loop. The top left for the image for example shows a meeting point of just over 500m however I divert left and go on a separate route extending my ride by some miles. My ride is also at least 2/3rds on quite B roads which I quite like.

I've lost just over a stone since 16th April when I started cycling and feel much, much better than I have for a long time - that said I also still enjoy my food and beverage so could without doubt have probably lost a lot more weight!

If I can do it, anyone can

[darren9]

Thanks for the support everyone. Not sure I'm going to be able to get on the bike this weekend as I'm half nights into nights and the wife's on lates which means juggling childcare, work and sleep, although I am considering taking a ride straight after work at either 3am Sunday when I finish or the end of the next shift which is 11 pm Sunday. But I'll see how I feel after work for that.

I guess wanting to get out there is a good sign and I'm keen to map a ride using Strava too.

[lauda]

darren9 said:

I guess wanting to get out there is a good sign and I'm keen to map a ride using Strava too.

It definitely is. I started just like you - tentatively and not really sure what I was doing. I now consider myself a fully-fledged MAMIL, am two stone lighter and look forward to the 5am weekend rides. In fact, I feel like I've cheated myself if I don't do it.

Strava is also a blessing and a curse. It's a great way of charting your progress but also means I'm in a race with myself every time I'm out on the bike!

[DukeDickson]

darren9 said:

Oh no. A newbie thread. Sorry.

I'm 34 years old a bit flabby, dont eat well and I've just bought myself a bike. The last time I rode was for my paper round so some 28 or so years ago.

I've bought a cube nature hybrid. Chose a hybrid because I want to do some light trails with the kids. I'll also be using the bike to ride to work but I want to work on my fitness and hopefully drop some weight.

However. I have no idea where to start. Do I just hop on and ride? Plan a route? Is there something I should be aiming for?

Send any tips and advice my way. It's gratefully received.

Do what you enjoy now, then you'll build up from there, as long as you don't hate it, or can't, for whatever reasons.

Learn to eat well, rather than not eat well. You need to do a fair amount of miles to burn off a dirty takeaway, for example, plus is harder to move those few weeks of beer/curry/kebabs for the same distance (without the muscle mass to do so).

One you won't get here, I guess - If you can, weights on the days you don't want to dig the bike out, or need a rest. Just as good for you, in slightly different respects.


Finally, listen to your body, mostly. Generally speaking, some days you really want to, but the machine says no. Other days, you'll think that, but a short while later, you'll be glad you didn't bother.

Edited by DukeDickson on Saturday 24th June 02:30