Being 5'9 and over 16st at 30 years of age, I thought I should really do something about it. Just changed jobs working closer to home and don't have a company car any more, we have just had a baby so using my wife's car whilst she is off on maternity..
I decided that with only working 5 miles away with a mixture of flat roads and some inclines, it should be easy enought to bike it to work there are no excuses now.
I have not ridden my mountain bike for at least 15 years and dusted it down, after being stored at my parents house in the cellar, got the cobwebs off and took it out for a trial run. After putting new inner tubes in and new tyres on, I gave up after 3 miles after a practice run. Turns out the wheel was rubbing against the frame, I thought it was hard work at the time! On top of that the rear brake stuck on the wheel making it even more difficult!! Didn't realise until I nearly gave myself a heart attack!!!
I am ashamed to say I gave up and got the wife to pick me up, baby in toe and put the bike in the boot. That was the first time i had ridden a bike in 15 years! I stood at the road side, could hardly walk, found it difficult to get my breath back too and felt like fainting...
Tonight I thought I would give it another go, get some practice in, and rode to my parents which is 3 miles away. I felt OK for the first 2 miles rode 1/4 up a very steep hill walked for a bit panting away, and rode for the last 1/4 of the hill. It was down hill after that. It felt like the bike was a bit wobbly and took some getting use to (i fixed the wheel and the brakes before hand btw).. Thought maybe because of my weight the back brakes didn't work as didn't slow down without the help of the front...
I just about made it although nearly collapsed at the other end... Thank god I was able to crash out! I got a lift back leaving my bike at my parents (my dad said he would take a look at it for me while I am at work)... Either way I couldn't manage the return trip...
I know... i'm ****...
I am determined to get back on even though it is killing me(!) My head hurts, sore neck legs ache... I feel like a fool to get back on drooling over the cars that passed me by... Why am I putting myself through this pain!
It is my goal to ride to work there and back, I am going to try and ride one way to my folks 3 miles away trying to get up that hill in one go... I figure when I make that I must be making progress and then will do a round trip...
It just seems there is no light at the moment, it seems so far away and just goes to show how out of shape and overweight I am... It's quite sad really that I have let myself get like this...
Just wondering how others started out, any words of encouragement, tips etc How long do you think it will take to notice a difference, should I do it every night, every other?
I hope one day I can manage the trip to work everyday and back in all weathers, but just seems so far away! I have read lots of post on this forum - I feel their pain! I see kids riding their bikes, bombing away, ultra fit cyclists in their lycra shorts on racers whizzing by. As I drove home I rode past a chap on a bike with no gears - I nearly pipped him to ask him how he does it!
HELP!!
Knackard aka Steve
I decided that with only working 5 miles away with a mixture of flat roads and some inclines, it should be easy enought to bike it to work there are no excuses now.
I have not ridden my mountain bike for at least 15 years and dusted it down, after being stored at my parents house in the cellar, got the cobwebs off and took it out for a trial run. After putting new inner tubes in and new tyres on, I gave up after 3 miles after a practice run. Turns out the wheel was rubbing against the frame, I thought it was hard work at the time! On top of that the rear brake stuck on the wheel making it even more difficult!! Didn't realise until I nearly gave myself a heart attack!!!
I am ashamed to say I gave up and got the wife to pick me up, baby in toe and put the bike in the boot. That was the first time i had ridden a bike in 15 years! I stood at the road side, could hardly walk, found it difficult to get my breath back too and felt like fainting...
Tonight I thought I would give it another go, get some practice in, and rode to my parents which is 3 miles away. I felt OK for the first 2 miles rode 1/4 up a very steep hill walked for a bit panting away, and rode for the last 1/4 of the hill. It was down hill after that. It felt like the bike was a bit wobbly and took some getting use to (i fixed the wheel and the brakes before hand btw).. Thought maybe because of my weight the back brakes didn't work as didn't slow down without the help of the front...
I just about made it although nearly collapsed at the other end... Thank god I was able to crash out! I got a lift back leaving my bike at my parents (my dad said he would take a look at it for me while I am at work)... Either way I couldn't manage the return trip...
I know... i'm ****...
I am determined to get back on even though it is killing me(!) My head hurts, sore neck legs ache... I feel like a fool to get back on drooling over the cars that passed me by... Why am I putting myself through this pain!
It is my goal to ride to work there and back, I am going to try and ride one way to my folks 3 miles away trying to get up that hill in one go... I figure when I make that I must be making progress and then will do a round trip...
It just seems there is no light at the moment, it seems so far away and just goes to show how out of shape and overweight I am... It's quite sad really that I have let myself get like this...
Just wondering how others started out, any words of encouragement, tips etc How long do you think it will take to notice a difference, should I do it every night, every other?
I hope one day I can manage the trip to work everyday and back in all weathers, but just seems so far away! I have read lots of post on this forum - I feel their pain! I see kids riding their bikes, bombing away, ultra fit cyclists in their lycra shorts on racers whizzing by. As I drove home I rode past a chap on a bike with no gears - I nearly pipped him to ask him how he does it!
HELP!!
Knackard aka Steve