Looking for Newbies with a large amt of weight to lose..

[Kano]

hi everyone. Wow, reading this thread is very inspirational.

I won a Trek, now I want to start riding it. Problem is, I've only ever been on a 1-speed, and that was a LONG time ago.

I am trying to get my health act together. I am diabetic and got thisclose to needing insulin. I have been eating right the past few weeks and have lost a few pounds (yay). At my heaviest, I was 252 (that was 2 years ago); I am 5'8'. I am now about 222. I'd like to be 199 by the Jan 2008. I'm trying to look at it in 24 pound segments, lol.

You CAN do this, Poetcomic!

Congratulations on winning the bike, and also on your weight loss so far! AND on getting your health act together! I decided I needed to do that a couple of years ago -- for the second half, you know! -- and I feel like the project is finally starting to come together for me, like I'm finally making progress since I started biking. The weight loss is slow -- my goal is "overweight by ski season," which doesn't sound all that good, except that when you're obese.... (which is a recent achievement too -- just crossed from the "morbidly obese" range! HOORAY!)

But back to riding your new bike...

Shifting's not real difficult. You won your bike, but I bet that there's a person at your nearby LBS (local bike shop) who will help you understand how the shifting works, which direction to push levers, and how far -- unless you've got the "turny kind" like are on my first bike. Well, the bike-guy will show you how to work those too, but they've got numbers, and it's kind of more obvious than the lever ones. You'll want to develop a relationship with a shop, for service and extras that you will inevitably want to buy as time passes anyway, and a wise bike shop guy knows that and will be interested in cultivating you as a loyal customer.

Ride somewhere easy, no real hills or anything, and practice a bit with the back gears first, then start adding in the front. Keep to the easier gearing until you're fairly comfortable with shifting around and speed. You'll find that some gears are just too easy to ride in when you're on the flats. (pedaling these gears just feels kind of crazy -- you kind of bounce around, well, you'll feel it!) These too-easy ones are really handy if you start heading up a hill, though!

You'll also find that some gears are really hard to pedal -- for now, stay away from those, cuz while they'll make you stronger, they're also harder on your body! Find some gears that are comfortable, and stick to those most of the time as you gain confidence on your new bike.

Many people get bike computers that have a "cadence" feature, so they can tell how many pedal strokes they're doing per minute, and try to stay in a certain range, with easy pedaling (not pushing hard, but also not the "crazy pedaling") I haven't felt the need to buy that kind of computer yet, since I have been doing something similar by feel -- there's a speed for my legs that feels good, and there's always a gear that works well with that.

Since you mention that you're working on getting healthy again, let me mention something else too, Poetcomic. When hubby and I started riding, probably too far at a time those first several rides, I enjoyed each ride, but afterward, I was WHIPPED! Muscles ached, and I was tired. Each day, I made myself ride anyway, not too terribly far, just to move the achy muscles and loosen them up. The first day, it was danged near impossible to make myself go out. After that, it was easier to force myself: I'd found a herd of rock-chucks to go spook -- one gets startled, and they all run and hide. Watching them run in from the fields was so pretty that they made a great carrot to get me out again. I always started to feel pretty good by the time I quit. I ate well and took naps. It would have been pretty easy to just curl up and never touch the bike again, but I persisted, and after a couple of weeks, I was better.

If/when you run into things about riding that cause discomfort, or confusion, find someone to ask -- here or at your bike shop. There are a remarkable amount of things that can be adjusted or changed to help make your ride more pleasant. Don't figure it's just the way it's gotta be if things hurt! (though we also find out that there are body parts we need to work on to help this too -- strength issues are big, I think for us who are returning to fitness after a too-long hiatus!)

Karen in Boise

[robinmary]

I was away this last week visiting my dad in NJ. I didn't bring my bike but borrowed my sisters hybrid for trail riding, I took my 10 year old daughter, who I hope to have as a regular riding parter in a couple of years.

My goal has been to put in at least 30 miles a week with no ride less than 5 miles long. The road I live on is a gradual up-hill so some days I just go up and down the road ( I use to do this when I was a kid). I have been looking at bikes, but I can't justify the cost until I have a couple hundred miles on me. I'm riding my 13 year old Schwinn Cross Cut (a hybrid I bought when my son was a baby because I wanted stability). It's actually a comfortable bike but I would really like to get back on a road bike. What are the rest of you riding? What is your routine right now?

PoetComic
Just get out there and ride, you'll be so glad you did it and you will feel successful from the beginning. Take small steps and work from there, we're all rooting for you!

Happy Riding!
Robin

[LadyInMotion]

Greetings, I am a new member - as of today!- and wanted to post. I have been a lurker for several weeks and have been following this thread with interest.

In December I turn 40 and that is the catalyst behind me finally taking charge of my weight and lack of physical fitness. I will be Forty, Fit, and Fabulous! I plan on celebrating 40 by participating in a half-century ride 2 days after my birthday. In January I weighed 265 pounds, completely changed my diet and added daily excerise (cardio and weight training). I decided that my reward for halfway-to-goal weight loss (65 pounds) would be a bike - have not been on one in years and love the look of strong bodies of cyclists and swimmers. However, I just could not hold out on my bike any longer and I bought it yesterday. Officially I am 15 pounds short, I have lost 50 so far; but I just couldn't stand it any longer. I want to ride. Have been taking spin classes to help prepare my body and for the great cardio workout it provides. Brought my new baby (Specialized Dolce) home yesterday and took my first ride and my first tumble today. Many of your stories have been inspirational to me and helped curb my self-consciousness walking into LBS's with all those fit riders.

Take care ladies and I look forward to following your successes and victories.

[Kano]

Good for you Lady in Motion!

It took me until I was 45 to decide I'd better do something for the second half -- and it's been a long project! Coming mighty close to 50, and I'm still working on being fit. I've made progress, I'm in a lot better shape than I was then, but there's still a ways to go, y'know?

The biking has been a definite PLUS for me!

Karen in Boise

[robinmary]

Lady in Motion
Happy riding and welcome to the boards, isn't it great to have other woman to talk to about biking. I was thrilled when I found this place. Enjoy your new bike, you deserve it!

Happy Riding!
Robin

[LoriO]

Join the party Lady in Motion. This thread really is awesome, it is nice to know tha you are not alone in the battle of the bulge. I am coming up on 40 next year and like you want to 40, fit and fabulous!

let's pedal away those pounds girls!!!

[sundial]

Yay, today I finally got under 180. 'Bout time too because I've been riding like a mad woman in this crazy heat wave. I'm losing about 1% of body fat each week and I'm still trying to tweek my diet so that I'm not taking in too many carbs after the rides.

I've got cellulite of steel and a bit of a menopot tummy, but it's hopefully going to shrink more.

Anyone else steadily losing?

Keep up the good work, everyone. We'll get to our goals eventually.