Newbie cyclist....

When I first got back on the bike a year ago, I could barely do ten miles. I remember panting and heaving and collapsing onto the living room floor after every ride. Now I can comfortably ride fifty miles or more.
This spring I'll be upping my weekly mileage to 100+. And I'll bet I'm not even close to some of the training levels most of the riders on this forum are at.

The important thing is that you've started.
Good luck and KEEP RIDING!

Trisha14 said:

Hi all

I'm very new to the cycling thing. At the moment I'm doing it purely for fitness and to lose weight. In reading all the posts and seeing the distances that a lot of the forum members ride and the constant speeds they're able to keep - it's very intimidating.

I guess I'm just wondering how hard everyone found it when they began, because right now I feel pretty hopeless.

Cheers
Trish

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Some noobs are riding a mile a day and finding it hard. If they stick at it, first it gets easier, then they want to ride further. There are some amazingly heartening threads here from people who started cycling to get fit and lose weight, and kept us informed as to their progress. Pounds fall off and miles go up, so stick with it!

Trisha14 said:

Hi all

I'm very new to the cycling thing. At the moment I'm doing it purely for fitness and to lose weight. In reading all the posts and seeing the distances that a lot of the forum members ride and the constant speeds they're able to keep - it's very intimidating.

I guess I'm just wondering how hard everyone found it when they began, because right now I feel pretty hopeless.

Cheers
Trish

Click to expand...

Find yourself a buddy to ride with Trisha - you'll be suprised how quickly the miles go by when you're chatting. (or following a nice **** )

Keep on riding!

Trisha14 said:

Hi all

I'm very new to the cycling thing. At the moment I'm doing it purely for fitness and to lose weight. In reading all the posts and seeing the distances that a lot of the forum members ride and the constant speeds they're able to keep - it's very intimidating.

I guess I'm just wondering how hard everyone found it when they began, because right now I feel pretty hopeless.

Cheers
Trish

Click to expand...

Hello Trisha.

First off...welcome to the forums. You will like it very much in here. I (like you) was a newbie last year, returning to cycling after a long 20+ year absence from it. Last February I went out and bought a new road bike for myself, to get some exercise and lose some weight as well. At first I could barely ride the 4 mile commute to my job....it hurt and it was tiring. Now that ride is a snap and I feel some days that I can go on for over 50 miles at a time. I have set a goal this year to get my first century (100 mile ride) under my belt. I will get it too. The key is to set your goals to a modest level at first, then gradually build them up. Do not worry about, or excess on avg speed and so forth (I am still slow) when you are just starting out. This can often lead to discouragement. Always remember to "enjoy the ride" (God I hate cliches). You have entered into an activity which may very welll turn into a lifestyle, and a wonderful one at that. You have taken the first step, the journey from here is a great one. please keep us all posted on your progress...or just keep on posting about the things you find fun (or not so fun) about all of this. We like stories like that.

Cheers,

Brian

My love for cycling was rekindled after a 15 year hiatus. My brother gave me the bike you see in my avatar. I rode solo for a few months and then went to a local club ride. in 4 miles I got dropped like a wet towel. Not any more, belive me. Do not get discouraged or intimidated and stop riding for the wrong reasons. Sure you'll loose weight and get fit but you can do that on a treadmill. Go out and have fun, be safe, do not try to impress anyone, read and learn. And yes one day you'll look in the mirror and REALLY like what you see.

Trisha14 said:

Hi all

I'm very new to the cycling thing. At the moment I'm doing it purely for fitness and to lose weight. In reading all the posts and seeing the distances that a lot of the forum members ride and the constant speeds they're able to keep - it's very intimidating.

I guess I'm just wondering how hard everyone found it when they began, because right now I feel pretty hopeless.

Cheers
Trish

Click to expand...

Don't feel hopeless; just ride!

I know how it feels, though. I got my first real road bike this summer at age 39. I ride when I can and practice going up a local mt.(very big hill) but I'm still slow. I got a cateye with cadence a few months later and was a bit surprised at my speed; I thought I was going slower.

I ride my road bike alone and rarely seen anyone but so far there's only been one person to pass me. So even though I'm slow, there's still plenty of people slower than me.

I just checked the computer, after 490 miles, my avg. speed is 14.9mph. That includes plenty of flat riding and some mountain climbs where I'm lucky to be doing 6 mph. And then the fun part of going back down at 40mph.

I have read somewhere that it takes a while for your muscles to get used to riding a bike a long distance and the blood capillaries to grow and expand to make your muscles more efficient at burning fuel/removing waste. The main thing is to stay at it and keep riding and sooner than you think; you'll be riding with the big dogs.

Hi there, i too have recently bought myself a road bike in order to lose some weight and get myself fit, only bought the bike a week ago and i am loving every minute of it.

I made a trip to my local bike shop who were very helpful indeed. They listened to my needs and sorted me out accordingly. I got a nice Specialized Allez 06 and it is perfect for me. A good quality bike at a decent price.

What ive done is set myself a number of short term goals in order to achieve a long term aim. Ultimately, i want to get down to 13 stone and i know it wont happen over night. Also, i know i cant go out and cycle 50 miles at a fast pace, everyone knows there own limits, youve just got to find yours and push yourself slightly.

My targets for this year are to get down to 15 and a half stone, cycle the manchester to blackpool bike ride in less than 3 hours 30 mins and complete the Manchester 100 mile ride. Currently i can only do 5 miles before im worn out, this weekend though im going to push it to 6, as youll only acieve what you set out to do if you work outside your comfort zone.

But most of all youve got to enjoy it.

Just go for it. Don't think about making gains and in a few months you'll say: "Crikey, i'm much better at this. Where's the next hill?"
Have fun

Trisha14 said:

Hi all

I'm very new to the cycling thing. At the moment I'm doing it purely for fitness and to lose weight. In reading all the posts and seeing the distances that a lot of the forum members ride and the constant speeds they're able to keep - it's very intimidating.

I guess I'm just wondering how hard everyone found it when they began, because right now I feel pretty hopeless.

Cheers
Trish

Click to expand...

It depends on fitness level and body type. 4 months back I was VERY unfit but had correct body weight. I went out for a ride with my buddies on the local hills and after 4 miles I COMPLETELY bonked. Couldn't pedal one more stroke. I came back to work, blacked out almost passed out and threw up!

Now, I have some past cycling experience. The first rides I did were 5-10 mile rides on easy flat roads. You do these rides on the weekend so you can recover after the big ride. On weekdays you do smaller 4-5 mile rides maybe 3-4 week days.

After 4 months now I can average 15-16mph on 65 mile rides. This will give you some ballpark of what you can do. DO NOT get demotivated.
One of the most important advice I like to give ANY beginner(I dont claim to be a coach but have my share of white hair) is to take it easy on yourself and be consistent.

This here is another beginner. Ride on!!
http://www.cyclingforums.com/t310192-.html

Trisha14 said:

Hi all

I'm very new to the cycling thing. At the moment I'm doing it purely for fitness and to lose weight. In reading all the posts and seeing the distances that a lot of the forum members ride and the constant speeds they're able to keep - it's very intimidating.

I guess I'm just wondering how hard everyone found it when they began, because right now I feel pretty hopeless.

Cheers
Trish

Click to expand...

Just keep riding... don't stop. Try and cycle everyday even if it's a short one... if I feel unmotivated I just say "I'll ride for 20 mins" which usually turns into an hour or two... I ALWAYS feel great after a ride. If you don't loose heaps of weight straight away don't worry... your fitness will increase dramatically... you'll get phenomenal legs and the weight will go.

I'll add to the pile on of "just stick with it" messages.

First of all, there is no reason to be intimidated by what other people do. You aren't riding with them, and if you were, they would probably want to pull you rather than let you fall back.

Secondly, the ability to ride further really does come quickly. When you first start riding, the bike is really uncomfortable. The first step is to relax on the thing, and then you can start stretching the legs. Then you will start accomplishing things and impressing yourself. Have fun! Ride on your own and just feel like a kid. Ride with friends and carry a picnic for a nice break and social time in between a good morning ride and a nice afternoon ride.

Lastly, big mileages days are not all that hard if you take all day to do them! That's how I did my first century! 9.5 mph avg! My second one was a more respectable 16.5. But I did both in my FIRST year on a bike. So, set goals and have fun busting them all to pieces. (If that's what you want to do)

Padraic

Trisha14 said:

Hi all

I'm very new to the cycling thing. At the moment I'm doing it purely for fitness and to lose weight. In reading all the posts and seeing the distances that a lot of the forum members ride and the constant speeds they're able to keep - it's very intimidating.

I guess I'm just wondering how hard everyone found it when they began, because right now I feel pretty hopeless.

Cheers
Trish

Click to expand...

I think people sometimes overexaggerate their claims, so don't be intimidated.

When I started last May, a 20 mile ride was very difficult for me, now it's an easy ride. I never drempt of riding 50+ miles at a single time, but you just build up to it. If you want to lose weight and increase cardiovascular fitness, a bike is the perfect instrument. Don't be discouraged by people that might be going faster on the bike, just stick with it and you'll be the one passing others soon.

Trisha14 said:

Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone for their words of encouragement.... I really appreciate it. I am cycling nearly everyday - working towards my main goal of commuting to work each day. I really do love cycling and can't believe how great I feel afterwards. I'm hooked

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Good. Let me show my pessimist side(I prefer being called a realist ).
Everytime I go out to ride, I have atleast one incident where I almost missed a car or some idiot who didn't see me.
Last Saturday on my weekly ride a woman suddenly swinged her door ALL THE WAY open right in front of me. Since I always watch drivers inside of cars I was able to get out of the situation.

BE CAREFUL AND ALWAYs WEAR A PROPER HELMET>
Cannot stress this ehings enough to anyone.