KittiPaws
04-28-2013, 12:14 PM
I'm 53 and overweight. The idea of cycling began to excite me a few weeks ago as a fun way to work more activity into my lifestyle. I haven't done any bike riding since I was a kid, so between the fear and the uncooperative cold, rainy spring we've been having, the bike I bought over a month ago has just been waiting in my spare room. (I did practice getting on and off the bike, which I'm glad I did.)
Today I finally gathered up my courage and did it. I put on my new helmet and gloves and wheeled the bike out to the parking lot of my apartment complex. We have a multi-vehicle carport, which was handy to use for support while I struggled along for the first few tries. When I made my first serious attempt at pushing off and pedaling, I didn't have enough momentum and ended up crashing into one of the wooden carport posts (better than the pavement!). If it weren't for my helmet, I'd have a big lump on my forehead.
I wanted to give up after that, but I made myself try again. After a few more tries, I was riding my bike around the apartment complex, executing simple turns, and using the brakes - another thing that terrified me at first. They're coaster brakes, not hand-operated brakes. It was such an awesome feeling and so much fun! I wanted to leave the "nest" of the parking lot and do some exploring in the neighborhood, but I was shocked at how quickly I became tired. I rode the length of a few of the buildings in my complex and I was so winded, I had to go back. :confused: Oh, well. Hopefully my fitness level will build up fairly quickly if I go a little further every day.
For now, I've got an inexpensive ladies' cruiser - a Schwinn Legacy - to tide me over until I have a chance to get to know what kind of bikes are out there and what will fit my needs. At this point a cruiser seems fine for what I plan to do - exercise, save on gas by riding to work (10 miles round trip) and to the store, etc. I'm thinking about an Electra Townie.
I'm excited to see where this will take me, and excited to be here!
I do have a question. There are speed bumps in the parking lot here at the apartment complex. I see young kids fly over them with their bikes, but I'm not so keen on trying it myself. I went around the speed bump that was in my path. Is it safe to try to go over them at my weight and inexperience? Do you need a faster momentum? Or should I just avoid it altogether? I don't want to go flying over the handlebars.
Today I finally gathered up my courage and did it. I put on my new helmet and gloves and wheeled the bike out to the parking lot of my apartment complex. We have a multi-vehicle carport, which was handy to use for support while I struggled along for the first few tries. When I made my first serious attempt at pushing off and pedaling, I didn't have enough momentum and ended up crashing into one of the wooden carport posts (better than the pavement!). If it weren't for my helmet, I'd have a big lump on my forehead.
I wanted to give up after that, but I made myself try again. After a few more tries, I was riding my bike around the apartment complex, executing simple turns, and using the brakes - another thing that terrified me at first. They're coaster brakes, not hand-operated brakes. It was such an awesome feeling and so much fun! I wanted to leave the "nest" of the parking lot and do some exploring in the neighborhood, but I was shocked at how quickly I became tired. I rode the length of a few of the buildings in my complex and I was so winded, I had to go back. :confused: Oh, well. Hopefully my fitness level will build up fairly quickly if I go a little further every day.
For now, I've got an inexpensive ladies' cruiser - a Schwinn Legacy - to tide me over until I have a chance to get to know what kind of bikes are out there and what will fit my needs. At this point a cruiser seems fine for what I plan to do - exercise, save on gas by riding to work (10 miles round trip) and to the store, etc. I'm thinking about an Electra Townie.
I'm excited to see where this will take me, and excited to be here!
I do have a question. There are speed bumps in the parking lot here at the apartment complex. I see young kids fly over them with their bikes, but I'm not so keen on trying it myself. I went around the speed bump that was in my path. Is it safe to try to go over them at my weight and inexperience? Do you need a faster momentum? Or should I just avoid it altogether? I don't want to go flying over the handlebars.