Livin the Dream
08-02-2006, 06:54 PM
I've been lurking on this board for a few weeks. Many of the posts have given me inspiration, so I thought I'd say a big thank you and introduce myself. DH and I bought Trek hybrid bikes last year and have enjoyed the bike trails close to home here in Ohio. Our longest ride has been about 30 miles and that was last summer when I was heavier. I love the freedom of being on the bike. Over the last 8 months, I've lost about 55 lbs and am working on getting that last 30 lbs off.
As much as I enjoy riding my bike, I've always felt self-conscious because I'm not thin and fit. So many of your words have given me confidence -- I appreciate each and every one of you! Some of those words gave me the confidence to accomplish several "firsts" over the weekend. I rode 8 miles in 95 degree, humid weather on Sunday, by myself, on country roads with a few decent hills and an average speed of 11 mph. Wearing bike shorts. Now, this may not seem like much to many of you, but almost all of the 500 miles I've rode my bike have been with DH by my side. A year ago I wouldn't have worn shorts in public, let alone tight fitting ones and I would have scoped out anyplace I planned to ride to avoid hills. Plus, hot weather would have been a darn good excuse to sit on my butt and read a book! And, I really need to have the confidence to ride by myself because DH is content to take a 30 minute bike ride a couple of times a week; I have to coax him to do much more. I'm determined to make bike rides a big part of my exercise program!
I felt very good about that ride and I'm looking forward to reaching more goals. My distance goal for this year is 40 miles. Another goal is riding to work at least once. That may be next year, though. My commute is 13 miles one way on busy, curvy country roads with crazy drivers. I'm not quite sure I've got the nerves to deal with the nuts on those roads! What I may try is driving to a parking area for a bike path that is about 4 miles from work and riding from there. The bike path goes right by where I work. That would be a start.
Thanks again for all the encouraging words you post on this board. Looking forward to getting to know some of you!
Livin the Dream
As much as I enjoy riding my bike, I've always felt self-conscious because I'm not thin and fit. So many of your words have given me confidence -- I appreciate each and every one of you! Some of those words gave me the confidence to accomplish several "firsts" over the weekend. I rode 8 miles in 95 degree, humid weather on Sunday, by myself, on country roads with a few decent hills and an average speed of 11 mph. Wearing bike shorts. Now, this may not seem like much to many of you, but almost all of the 500 miles I've rode my bike have been with DH by my side. A year ago I wouldn't have worn shorts in public, let alone tight fitting ones and I would have scoped out anyplace I planned to ride to avoid hills. Plus, hot weather would have been a darn good excuse to sit on my butt and read a book! And, I really need to have the confidence to ride by myself because DH is content to take a 30 minute bike ride a couple of times a week; I have to coax him to do much more. I'm determined to make bike rides a big part of my exercise program!
I felt very good about that ride and I'm looking forward to reaching more goals. My distance goal for this year is 40 miles. Another goal is riding to work at least once. That may be next year, though. My commute is 13 miles one way on busy, curvy country roads with crazy drivers. I'm not quite sure I've got the nerves to deal with the nuts on those roads! What I may try is driving to a parking area for a bike path that is about 4 miles from work and riding from there. The bike path goes right by where I work. That would be a start.
Thanks again for all the encouraging words you post on this board. Looking forward to getting to know some of you!
Livin the Dream