I SOOOO need a jumpstart!

[FatChickBikes]

I have been lurking on here for quite some time, but am new to the board. It seems like I have so many questions but have not had much luck running down the answers. So, as you gals always seem to have multiple answers, I decided to de-lurk and see what I could come up with.

My main problem is just how to get started. I started cycling about 3 years ago with my husband. Got myself a new Cannondale Road Warrior 2 (which I adore, by the way). I basically just followed him and tried to keep up and my endurance built to the point that we were doing about 28 miles. Steady pace. Then, it got cold. I got lazy and fatter. And I just haven't been able to get my mojo back.

I decided to start riding in earnest recently and hopped on the trusty Road Warrior last Friday for about a 2.5 mile jaunt. I thought I was having a heart attack when I got home and was pretty sure I was going to have permanent damage to my crotch where my husband had adjusted my seat when he was riding my bike. I am entirely out of shape and am SICK of it.

Finally, the whole point of this post-how do I start? I know that probably sounds like a really stupid question. I've got to do some riding by myself and can't just follow my husband around. (Besides, he is into mountian biking now anyway). Do I set a goal for an amount of time? Distance? Do I ride til I'm coughing up blood and seeing double? I need some guidance here, girls.

Thanks....Dana

P.S.....I did look up some training programs on the internet, but I don't really see myself doing a triathlon in the next 3 months. Ideally, I would like to be able to do a fairly easy ride (30 miles) that I found in North Carolina. It's about 5 months from now, so I thought that didn't seem too unreasonable.

[kcmpls]

I'm pretty overweight, like 85 pounds overweight, and I've been where you are. The main thing I'd say is SLOW DOWN. You probably rode those 2.5 miles at your old pace. You can't ride at your old pace anymore. You will need to work up to that. As you ride, you can build up to that old pace.

When I started riding, I started at about 8mph. That's really slow. Now I can average about 12mph over 35 miles. You just need to work up to it. Start with a slow pace and go out for 30 minutes. Keep your heart rate where it is elevated, but not racing. Do 30 minutes 3x for a week, then increase to 35 minutes for a week. Start throwing in longer rides on weekends. After awhile you will be going much faster and much longer. It just takes time.

[Catrin]

What Kcmpls said.

Do you have an LBS where you can take your bike and have them give a quick eye to how it fits you today? Of course you need the saddle adjusted unless you are comfy doing that, or if your husband can get it back to where you need it. A few other tweaks might help as well.

Just take it easy, a few miles at a pace that is comfortable to you TODAY is a great start. As your body starts to adjust, you will find that you will naturally want to ride further and a little harder/faster. Don't compare your riding today with what you did before - this is a fresh start and it will be an awesome one!

Congratulations for getting back on the bike! I would say, for now, to not worry so much about an actual training plan but just to ride your bike

[Glory]

I'm really new and out of shape as well. My first ride wasn't even a mile and I thought for sure these South Carolina hills were gonna do me in! I would recommend Every Woman's Guide to Cycling by Selene Yeager for great information as well as do-able training plans.

I've been back on a bike for nearly 2 months after being off one for nearly 2 decades. Yikes! What has worked for me so far is riding often for short distances. I usually plan my rides based on time, right now its still something I hafta cram into my schedule, so normally 45 minutes on the bike is all I got.

Keep at it! It will get better =)

[jlnc]

The 30 miler in NC that you mention...is that le Tour De femme in Oct? I am thinking about doing that also. Our LBS (i am in NC) is hosting a weekly training ride for it and they have a beginner group. Does your LBS do group rides? If they do, ask if they will do a beginner ride. I've found it a great way to build my endurance after sitting all winter I also found an article in my Weight Watcher's magazine, which unfortunately i can't find on line, that gives a schedule for training for a 35 mile ride. Basically ride 4 times a week, starting around 30 minutes, and build up a little every week. if i can find the link i will post. Good luck!

[jlnc]

Also, check meetup.com to see if you can find a group to ride with at your level...I find riding with a group is so much better than riding alone!

[FatChickBikes]

Thanks for all the fast replies! You guys were absolutely right-I jumped on and went about 12.5 mph for the majority of the ride. Oddly, my husband also told me I was probably going too fast, but what does he know?

Glory - I do have that book. I bought it when I first started riding. Sounds like I need to dig it up again.

jlnc - Tour de Femme is indeed the ride I was considering. Girl, I live in rural Mississippi - the closest bike shop is about an hour away. Luckily, we have quite a few cyclists in our little town, but they are vastly male and into adventure races and such. Heck, a professional road cyclist lives just up the street from me. But, I can certainly get my hubby to help with the adjustments on my seat. I guess I need to just take it slow and easy for a while and then maybe encourage a few of my friends to try cycling.

Also, I am a nurse practitioner and only live about 2 miles (or less) from the hospital where I work. I think riding to work would be another great way to get some miles in. If I can figure out how to get all the sweat from the MS heat off me when I get there.

Thanks again for all the suggestions!

[rubysoho]

1. Get your bike re-fitted.

Do I ride til I'm coughing up blood and seeing double?

2. No. Go out and have FUN! Got a friend who moderately likes biking? Have FUN together. The most important part is that you are out and happy. If you can only do two miles, that is okay. If it is 5, that is okay too! Like you said, you don't feel like doing a tri in three months. So do what you feel like doing! If you want to be serious about losing weight, stay active and eat right.

[Bike Writer]

As others have pointed out you have already started a riding program. It does not have to have structure at this point, it only needs regularity and that can be whatever you can spare. It's like putting one foot after another and before you know it you got somewhere.

Your first ride was longer than my first ride. I agree with your assessment that you can't just follow someone around on a bike. Once your bike fits you comfortably sit back and enjoy the ride and notice things around you and your neighboorhood that you never noticed driving by in a car. Sounds corny but smell the flowers and immerse yourself in the joy of outdoors and before you know it you will eagerly look forward to getting out for a little bit as often as you can.

Many happy miles to you and congratulations for taking that very hard first step by getting off the couch and getting outdoors and active!

[Velocivixen]

Hi Dana, I'm new here too. Several things come to mind. You obviously have the desire so that's a good start. First have your bike seat adjusted and make sure you "fit" your bike so you will be as comfortable as possible. I think that having fun is crucial to motivation (motivation is a fickle friend; it come and it goes, so don't rely on that to keep you going). I am a "destination" rider, so for example, I'll ride a couple of miles to a coffee shop then stop and enjoy a drink; or maybe to the library that's 2 miles away and check out a good book, etc. So I know that I get a "reward" when I get there. Eventually I ride to places that are farther away. I take my time and ride however I feel. If I feel like going fast I go fast. If I feel like going slowly and looking at the flowers in everyone's yards, I'll do that. The point is, in the beginning to make it fun. As you said you're not training for some big event. That's not to say that you won't eventually train for something, but right now you're trying to get back into the saddle (literally). Be loving and gentle to yourself and give yourself positive affirmations for a job well done (I doubt you'd be so hard on a friend who is in your same shoes). You are building yourself back up and Rome wasn't built in a day. Build on your strength/endurance day after day, week after week and you will get there.
Happy Riding.

[marni]

when I started riding 5 years and 125 pounds ago, it killed me to do a mile. I did a mile a day for a week and then 2, and then 4,6,8 and when I hit 10 miles, I spent a week trying to ride faster and cut my time. When my time was down a bit I continued to increase my distance on one ride, then on the next I would try to ride the previous distance at a faster speed. Little did I know that I was actually doing a very baby interval program.

However you do it, keep at it, even if it just to ride around the block on a frequent schedule.

Good luck and welcome to the adventure.

marni

[FatChickBikes]

Thanks for all the encouragement! Marni, I am VERY encouraged by your story. I hope that I am able to help someone in the same way before long.

I have noticed a common thread in the majority of the advice - just ride. And that is exactly what i am going to have to do. I do enjoy riding, but I also thought about the fact that I typically do it with my head down, popping up occasionally to make sure i am not going to slam into something.

My husband and I are headed down to a concert in New Orleans tomorrow. Since it is Jazz Fest, we weren't able to get a last minute room, so we are going to stay outside of New Orleans in Covington. It just so happens they have a great rails-to-trails trail there and I am going to give that a shot. And just have fun.

[AppleTree]

Yes, just ride for the joy of it and making small discoveries everywhere you go! That is what I did when I first got back into cycling about four years ago...back when twelve miles was A LONG RIDE.

I have found so much inspiration on this forum, I can't even begin to tell you, what a lucky chance to have come across it. I can't remember how I even found it now, but I'm so glad I did!

I also have another book recommendation. Bicycling Bliss by Portia Masterson. She has such common sense advice, not only about cycling, but incorporating it into your lifestyle and other things (nutrition, etc) to go along with it. I go back to it over and over again!