I'm a newbie!

[katzpawz]

Hi! I just started riding at the beginning of May '06. Today, I did my first organized ride (5 miles, lots of hills). OK, I live near Atlanta, and that means there will always be lots of hills!!

I have Type II Diabetes, and need to lose a significant amount of weight. I'm hoping that cycling will turn out to be more productive and less boring than just walking laps through the park!

Does anyone have any suggestions about how to know when to increase intensity, distance, duration? I read a post that said cycling is 5% physical and 95% mental. I think I'm starting to get that. Some of the hills around here are daunting, and could also use help with the mental part. Some days I get very frustrated with even some of the smaller hills.

Thanks for any suggestions!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hi Paws,
You'll know when to increase the intensity of your rides because they will start to seem easy and no challenge. You'll just know it's time to do more. But don't push yourself too hard- work up strength slowly.

Before I took up biking 2 months ago, I had walked 3 brisk miles a day for 11 months and was losing about 1.6 pounds a month with no dieting.
Since I started biking I have suddenly been losing about a pound a week. No special dieting. I have 8 more pounds I want to lose before I try to level off. (I'll probably level off naturally over the winter when I put my bike away during the snowy months) I have been biking about 30 miles during the weekend, and maybe 5 miles a day average on weekdays. Not that much. Some good hills though. It is getting me into shape much faster than I had expected.

I use the method of keeping my goals small and do-able, therefore less frustration and more sense of accomplishment. I increase my goals ONLY when I am finding them easy and I'm having too much fun to stop and go home. ;) Works for me.
Today I rode a hilly 22 miles and wasn't tired at all, as opposed to last month when such a ride would have whipped me! That's progress. :)

[kaybee]

Hey Kat! Welcome to the TE board. I'm about 90 miles north of you -- in the "Carpet Capital." You're right about the hills in this area, but if you keep riding, and as Lisa said, keep your goals small and doable, you'll find that the hills that are wearing you out now will be easy in a few months. Don't increase your mileage more than 10% per week, and pay attention to the signals your body gives you. If your body says it needs a slow, short day, then make it a slow, short day. When you have more energy and feel like going farther, go farther.

I'm positive you'll find that riding is much more fun than walking laps -- you actually go somewhere on that bike! I'll bet you also find that you start to lose the weight without much effort if you keep pedaling. Congratulations on finding this great sport and this wonderful group of women. Keep us posted on your progress.

KB

[Bikingmomof3]

Welcome to TE! Congratulations on your first organized ride. You are making steps in the right direction for your health. As for when to increase duration or intensity, others who have biked longer may have better advice. For me, I just increase both as my body feels ready for it.

Keep coming here. This forum is awesome and will keep you motivated. Again, welcome.

[Sheesh]

I started biking more regularly this summer, and at first, my bottom and my shoulders wouldn't let me bike very far because they would soon start screaming in pain. Once I got used to the positioning, I was able to ride further. I'm now able to do 40 miles one day, and then do 30 miles the next. You'll be able to feel the difference as your body starts to get used to being on a bike. As you become more comfortable, you can then start pushing yourself more. But, don't push until you know you can handle it otherwise you won't have much fun and won't want to get back on the bike.

Good luck!
Sheesh