Starting out

[Catrin]

8 mph! I hit 3.5 mph sometimes.

You probably have steeper/longer hills than I have yet to ride - I think the slowest I've ridden on a hill is something like 5.5-6 - which just means I have only been on a couple of actual hills, and they probably weren't very long...or very steep.

[Lesley_x]

8mph on a hill?!

I have a long way to go

Is there any particular reason why I would be gaining weight when my weight has been steady for months? I don't think I'm compensating with my diet.

[momsquared]

My first ride was 2.3 miles...I wasn't used to the bike and the stock saddle tried to kill me, I swear.
I have a love-hate relationship with hills. I love the feeling of getting to the top of one, but the climb up is a different story.

I just took my bike for a new saddle. I had been riding with the stock saddle and it was okay, but I knew I could be more comfortable. HOLY COW! What a difference! I also finally found a local bike shop that I really like and they are super about advice - everything from what things to buy to which local roads to avoid. What a help!

[momsquared]

8mph on a hill?!

I have a long way to go

Is there any particular reason why I would be gaining weight when my weight has been steady for months? I don't think I'm compensating with my diet.

This is a good question and I would like to know as well. I have been watching my diet and also gained a little weight since I started riding - about 2 lbs, but still....

[redrhodie]

This is a good question and I would like to know as well. I have been watching my diet and also gained a little weight since I started riding - about 2 lbs, but still....

It could be temporary water weight gain as your muscles repair themselves.

[navybeetle]

Hi guys! Today was my first day on my Giant Roam 2 W. I am not brave enough for a road bike yet!

I have found that I am very unfit and covered only five miles (with breaks!!) at a modest mph. However, I have taken the first step!

What's a good starting regime, and any beginners tips/things I should know? And is there any particular aspects of diet that would help?

Thanks

I haven't biked consistently for nearly 20 years. I used my tax rebate for a used but tuned up bike. Rode maybe 4 miles the other day and felt alright. Not hurting to bad today and it was a very hilly route. Hang in there and I will too!

[marni]

When I first started riding 4 years ago, I died after riding a mile. Last year I did a cross country from San Diego to St. Augustine. Our longest day was 110 miles, followed by 4 dys of 75-80 miles a day. The average day wass 65 miles but there were a few under 60 miles days as well.

both of yoou hang in there and keep increasing your mileage as it feels good.

As for hills, hills make your butt smaller.

marni

[Catrin]

As for hills, hills make your butt smaller.

marni

Really? COOL!

[navybeetle]

Thanks for your encouragement Marni. I took some pretty good hills yesterday, just being patient with myself, my body and my chain which popped off twice (it went right over the innermost sprocket on the back while I was shifting down). I have to figure out how to stop it from doing that What kept me going on the hills was a comment I read about how hills are good for your legs, now you say they are good for the butt. That is encouraging because i really need to drop the lbs I put on after a back injury this past winter I live in Omaha and this part of Nebraska is not flat!!!! When I rode allot 22 years ago I was in Dallas, what a difference!

[e.e.cummings]

Lots of great advice above. I just got back into cycling last March, since then lost 40 lbs total - lost 10 lbs cycling, the remaining 30 lbs after I joined a gym with a focus on weights and spinning. Over the cold months the spinning definitely made my riding stronger once I went back outside. And it gave me the confidence to finally use cycling shoes, which I was pretty wary of for a long time. It was risk-free getting on and off that spinning bike with the shows throughout the winter - by the time I took those shoes outdoors, I was fine.

Just get out there and ride. And have fun! Find out about the different routes in your area. Talk to people about cycling - maybe find a local club or association.

Some tips from my nutritionist: after a hard work out, eat within the first 20-30 minutes of finishing. Chocolate milk is a good idea after a work out. They actually got me drinking gatorade because I found I was losing my energy for a spinning class after work - it did help me. I had never tasted Gatorade before last year - I don't normally like sugary drinks. Have a balanced diet - eat whole foods, veg, fruit, meats, whole grains. You will need to fuel your cycling.

Bon vélo!

[marni]

Let's hear it for chocolate soy and or almond milk as an after ride beverage.

I can also recommend and swear by FRS (free radical scavenger) powders dissolved as a drink in water as a possible substitute for Gatorade. FRS is not nearly as sweet and arificial tasting as gatorade. You can get it in a box of tubes (each good for one water bottle) or as a liquid concentrate and or a chew which are really great and handy for riding as they are slightly tart and come individually wrapped so I can carry a couple in my pocket. I can sometimes find the boxes of powder FRS in my LBS but I prefer to order them online from the website.

marni

[HipGnosis6]

I rode my bike for the first time in... probably close to four years, just yesterday. I only made it 3 miles. Even with that, I expected to be sore all over today, and where I do have a few spots that are a little achey it's not nearly as bad as I expected.

I did realize I hate my pedals. I am getting new ones on payday. A better saddle will follow shortly.

If I was a truly "new" rider, I'd be proud of myself if I had ridden a quarter mile. You should be proud of yourself, too, just for going out there and turning those pedals. The first step is a big one!

[navybeetle]

I have been using it for about 1.5 years I was a heavy duty gardener/landscaper these past two years. very very physical, heavy hard work for a 46 year old! The second year I was drinking FRS (concentrate) in the morning and then at lunch. I found that in the second year I was not as sore after work. I order off the website because if you schedule it you can get it cheaper. I do not sell it or anything so this is heartfelt

[navybeetle]

I have been using it for about 1.5 years I was a heavy duty gardener/landscaper these past two years. very very physical, heavy hard work for a 46 year old! The second year I was drinking FRS (concentrate) in the morning and then at lunch. I found that in the second year I was not as sore after work. I order off the website because if you schedule it you can get it cheaper. I do not sell it or anything so this is heartfelt

[Melalvai]

I live in Omaha and this part of Nebraska is not flat!!!!

Omaha has a nice group called "Activate Omaha", I know a couple of the ladies who run it. Get involved with them and you will learn a lot about cycling, especially about cycling in traffic but also about the local bike paths and rides and so on.