Sad, feeling stupid, need encouragement

I never rode a bike much in my life, but about 23 years ago (for about 6 years) I rode on paved bike trails with my family. I could ride 15-30 miles of easy pavement riding on weekends without any real problem. Then I didn't ride for the last 10-15 years and now I just got a new bike that's awesome, light, zippy, smooth and with great components and for the last 3 days a 3.5 mile bike ride on easy smooth paved trails is killing me. Good grief! I'm shocked I can't ride at least 10-15 on easy paved paths. How long is this gonna take???

Probably less time than you would think. Don't concentrate on the distance or the speed. Just enjoy. You'll be surprised at how quickly your body gets used to increasing amounts of cycling.

Happy trails!

Deb

Deb is right. It doesn't take long to get bike fit. And being a beginner again is really fun, so look forward to each ride for how great it makes you feel and enjoy the experience. Getting more fit and adding the miles is a great process, and one you don't get to experience too often, so enjoy yourself.

You are not the worse. You think 3 1/2 miles is really bad; you are wrong. Well once, years ago, I witnessed two couples, age 50s-60s, park at the state park, get out their bikes, tinkered with their bikes, finally got on the bikes, pedaled at most 1/4 mile and one of the females collapsed.

Can you be more specific about what the problem is? I can't tell if you have a specific, solvable issue, or if you just need more time to build strength. If the latter, focus on having fun and don't worry about speed or distance.

Perhaps reading past threads in this forum will help.

At the end of the 3.5 mile ride going up a very very very slight incline through a neighborhood and up the last 2 blocks to my house I feel like I am just exhausted. This "hill" isn't even a hill, meaning you can detect the incline on a bike, but you probably wouldn't notice in a car. My bike was fit, I just have no cardiovascular conditioning whatsoever but I am not having any actual pain. I'm sure it will get better but I'm still surprised that for the last half mile I find myself going 6-9 mph and I feel like I'm going up a steep mountain :-( I have good components and know how to shift, I'm just physically not there. It's embarrasing. My DH was with me and he must be bored out of his mind. This past summer he rode up most of the challening mountain stages on the Tour de France routes.

I remember that feeling! I remember my legs feeling like Jello after a really short ride. The good news, you'll be back in no time! Every ride will get a little easier. Just keep riding.

ETA: This feeling is no cause for embarrassment! You're doing it. Give yourself a break.

Ride, ride, ride. Set little, manageable goals each day. Maybe it is not every day, but 2-3 times a week. Increase that by 1 weekly. Then maybe one day you can do 2 short rides. Do not compare yourself to DH. Think positively.. you will improve your fitness and it may be just baby steps at first. Celebrate each small milestone. Think positively. I think you should change your name - you are not a "deskrider", you are a "bike rider." Think positively!:D:D:D

+1 to what Spindizzy said. And have fun!

I agree with everyone else, you'll get there and it will be quicker for you since you've done this all before. I was in your exact place as you a month or so ago!
I was scared as heck to go on a easy 16 mile ride and when I did go (with lots of encouragement from TE) I didn't make it the whole way and had to be picked up. Well, I've ridden that same route now again with no problems. Just give your body a little time :)

Really, don't be depressed, you're doing something great for yourself! :D

and your tires aren't rubbing are they?
I used to run out of steam too. Drove me crazy... but after about 45 minutes of light riding, my legs were gone.. Took a few years but it went away with a lot of riding..

This is not the first time you will feel sad and stupid. I just started riding not too long ago and I've had that feeling plenty of times for different reasons.Luckily the only thing that makes me feel better is going for a ride on my bike!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by spindizzy

Do not compare yourself to DH. Think positively.. you will improve your fitness and it may be just baby steps at first. Celebrate each small milestone. Think positively.

---

This is the truth. It may help you to do some solo rides where you can focus on yourself without feeling guilty about slowing him down or that he might be bored.

Speaking as the spouse to a husband closer to your situation, I am not bored even though he's often riding slower than the speed it takes me to go uphill. I enjoy riding with my husband because I love being with him and I find time to satisfy my own need to go out and hammer separately. If your husband is like me, he is happy to see you out riding, happy to be doing it with you.

That said, when I was first starting, I did need to just ride by myself sometimes and sort out why it was so hard for me and what the learning curve was. 6 miles felt like forever the first time we did it, we had to stop and take multiple breaks. There were days I was in tears because it was so frustrating, I stopped to let my husband continue so I could ride, tears streaming down my face, by myself. Like you, I felt stupid. Why was it so hard? It's just a bike.

You just have to stick with it and every day do a little more. Some days you leave the bike in the garage and take a break, some days you ride around the block and that's good enough. Some days you feel great and you ride farther than you have before. As you learn, you learn how things like tire pressure, the weather, and your daily routine affect your cycling, and you look back and think "no WONDER this was so hard for me, why I was being so hard on myself!"

I have been where you are, and trust me, you CAN overcome it to go on and ride longer rides, enjoy the scenery, and figure out what kind of rider you are. You may never ride the Tourmalet, and that's okay! You ride what makes YOU happy.

Thank you for this post. You don't know how many other people out there might be in the same place you are who need to know that there are others like them - not to feel guilty about having feelings or questioning themselves.

Just remember that it took 15 years to get out of shape. It will take time to get fit again. It does not happen overnight; it happens with consistency and time and effort. You have taken the first step, the hardest step.

when I first started riding 5 years ago, it killed me to do a mile. I was gasping for breath, my legs felt like jello and I was seeing spots. I kept at it 3 x a week and when I could do a mile I added a mile, and when I could do the requisite mileage I would add another mile and another mile and then a mile and a half and so on.

flash forward 4 years and a lot of solo riding and a few group rides and I rode across the southern tier from California to Florida with the longest day being 110 miles and the shortes being 40. If I can do it in my 60's I have complete faith that you too can do it. And I don't even want to talk about the number of times I have felt helpless, hopeless , embarrassed and stupid. But man have I learned a lot and each ride is a new adventure.

hang in there and before you know it you will be clocking off the miles.

I found today that although I went on the exact same route for the exact same pathetic 3.5 miles I was not tired and sweaty and exhausted and miserable. It was because the temp was about 8-10 degrees less. I have always been adversely affected by heat. Now that doesn't mean I could have ridden further than 3.5 miles today, but at least it was more comfortable. I'll keep plugging away, and I really do appreciate the tips and encouragement. Somehow I don't think I'll ever be that successful in temps > 82 degrees :mad:

I wish I had a compatible riding partner. The DH is being nice but deep down inside he is impatient and very stressful to ride with.

Definitely find someone that you enjoy riding with! I know I wouldn't have ever started riding on my own. The traffic scares me to death... my heart monitor goes bonkers everytime I enter an intersection. And the heat... well, I'm starting to adjust, but I've noticed that I do soooo much better when it's cooler... it's hot as hell here in Arizona and I can't believe I started riding in July! Can't wait til it cools off so I can really crank it up. :)

Hang in there! :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by deskrider

At the end of the 3.5 mile ride going up a very very very slight incline through a neighborhood and up the last 2 blocks to my house I feel like I am just exhausted. This "hill" isn't even a hill, meaning you can detect the incline on a bike, but you probably wouldn't notice in a car. My bike was fit, I just have no cardiovascular conditioning whatsoever but I am not having any actual pain. I'm sure it will get better but I'm still surprised that for the last half mile I find myself going 6-9 mph and I feel like I'm going up a steep mountain :-( I have good components and know how to shift, I'm just physically not there. It's embarrasing. My DH was with me and he must be bored out of his mind. This past summer he rode up most of the challening mountain stages on the Tour de France routes.

---

I am anticipating the same...My hubby is an avid cyclist, races, and rode professionally back in the day. I am waiting for my bike to come in (hopefully Friday!), and know how clear the line will be between he and I.

He said he'd ride with me once I'm more comfy on the bike. He's a smart man...he knows my misery becomes his torture! :)

I have found the posts here to be inspiring and encouraging! I could so easily cancel my bike order, and settle into a fat, middle-age existence. But I vowed not to let that happen. No matter what.

I expect to be embarrased, frustrated, and miserable. I expect to cry at the side of the road when I can't make it up the hill.

When I feel that way, I will picture in my mind the catalyst for my return to the road. I was at the wrap up of a charity ride, and a woman in her 50's rode by on her bike. She was missing her left leg from the knee down.

We live at the top of a nasty hill. I thought I'd never actually be able to ride up it. I just noticed the other day that I don't even shift all the way down anymore. :) The change in my fitness level has been gradual and steady. I hate exercise for exercise's sake. Biking is somehow much more fun. Scenery, sun, the feeling of freedom... try to enjoy the journey even when it entails what my hubby likes to call "hike-a-bike." You'll be glad you did.

Deb