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

[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

[Tonya]

I could easily stand to lose 90 lbs. Recently purchased a road bike, winter is coming, and there isn't much time left for riding -- I've done 26.7 miles, but "lady bit" problems. . .saddle, bike fit? adjusments . . .I haven't cut back on calories, trying to find the willpower. Thank you for your post. I'm with you!

[cyclokitty]

I could easily stand to lose 90 lbs. Recently purchased a road bike, winter is coming, and there isn't much time left for riding -- I've done 26.7 miles, but "lady bit" problems. . .saddle, bike fit? adjusments . . .I haven't cut back on calories, trying to find the willpower. Thank you for your post. I'm with you!

Wow! 26.7 miles is great! I could measure my first ride in metres... it took me awhile to build up the strenght, stamina and confidence to venture onto the streets. But I have! I have ridden since may almost 1000 km. Not to shabby!

I also have 100 lbs to lose. It's been slow going, but I already gone down nearly 2 dress sizes, and I have gained a lot of strength cycling.

I use sparkpeople.com to help me cut calories and helps me when my nutrition needs some tlc (I am addicted to sugar. Looooove the stuff. Very bad.), and when I need some motivation. And it's free!

My biggest problem with cycling is the almost non-stop bike accessories purchasing. I'm not a big shopper. I really don't like wandering thru malls, I live in my jeans and tshirts, I hate department stores, and I prefer to shop by the internet. I need jeans, I order from Lands End, and a week later the jeans show up in the mail. Irritating shopping avoided, and I don't have to go naked anywhere.

But, I can't stop browsing for bike stuff. Here are some recent purchases:

* rear light. It's necessary since I ride a lot in the dark coming home from work. But I went for the strobe like rear light. Triple the cost of a basic rear light

* waterproof pannier. ok, it rains. I don't want my stuff wet. But I could have lined my pannier with a plastic bag.

* new skorts. Two pairs on sale. So comfy...

* cold weather tights. On sale. So comfy....

* ski goggles. As it is getting colder, the goggles are more comfortable. Stop laughing. Yes, I look like an uber-geek. Yeah, it's pretty funny. Laugh away... done? Good. Next purchase

* neoprene face mask. See above. My husband suggested I request small unmarked bills next time I go into the band and forget to take the thing off. Ha ha.

* zip strips. Added to my repair kit in case something breaks and I need to quickly repair it on the road.

* pretty tire lights. You screw 'em onto the tire valve, and they light up when the bike is in motion. I say it's for safety, so I'm visible. But let's face it, they are cool

* cycling gloves. Because they were red.

* cycling gloves. Because I wore out the red ones. These are blue.

* cycling computer. I'd love to have ponied up for the GPS model, but I just couldn't do it. I'll write to Santa so he can leave on in my stocking?

* cute cycling socks. At least 10 pairs. So cute.

And I could go on.

[fastdogs]

I also have a lot of weight to lose- I started out with 80 to lose and still have 50 to go. It's very slow. I try to ride a little every day, and when I can't I do an elliptical.
a couple of months ago (has it been that long?) i ordered myself a folding bike to exercise my dogs. My dogs have had some lameness issues and I haven't been able to roadwork them, but I started carrying the bike in my car and now ride every day during lunch break. At first, it was 15-20 minutes, now it's at least 30 and more often 45 minutes to an hour (if nobody saw me leave- if a tree falls in the forest, etc). I'm supposed to only have 30 minutes but it's so much fun that it's hard to come back, our weather this fall has been so gorgeous. I ride on the weekends, 10 miles sounded like a lot to me, but I recently rode in a charity ride that was 13 miles so now I'm feeling like trying more.
I don't like to attract attention, but my bike is different looking, and very, very pink. I focus so much on riding, and climbing hills, though, that I don't notice so much if people are staring at this big person on the little bike (I'll have to get a photo- it's a 2007 downtube FS with 20" wheels). But the hills, this board, and trying to keep up with the tall bike on the charity ride has me looking at other bikes.
vickie