Hi from Rebecca

[Bikingbec]

Hi everyone

I'm returning back to cycling after recently having a baby. Been 7 years since I rode my bike as a professional rider and done no cycling in between times, so got loads of cycling yet to do. I'm a complete novice all over again!

I come with a wealth of experience, but I feel I'm at rockbottom with my fitness, so I'm here to share my thoughts with you on getting back into shape.

I do have a cycling website http://easycycling.com if you want any free advice on any aspect of cycling. It's aimed at beginners, commuters and century riding or cyclosportives.

I'd love to interact with you on my site as well as on the forum here.

Just did my first 20 mile ride today after being at my fitness programme for 2 weeks - felt better but got a long way to go to complete 80miles in an event next year in May!!! ...

Rebecca

[bmccasland]

Welcome back! We like pictures - bikes, babies, pets, gardens, home improvement projects, .....

You'll do fine on getting back into shape. Do you have a baby sitter, or does daddy do duty so you can ride? A wee one is probalby to young or little to go on long training rides.

[jobob]

Nice site you have there. Welcome to TE!

[Kerry1976]

Neat website!

[chicagogal]

Good luck with getting back into shape. 7 years is a long time away, but your previous experience with training, and well as muscle memory, should help you a lot.

Have you been doing any exercise since hanging up the cleats? Running, swimming, anything to maintain some cardiovascular fitness? If not, I would definitely hold off on fitness testing until you have at least rebuilt a reasonable base and have some miles in your legs. Your current numbers won't tell you much, and to improve from rock bottom, you just need to ride, you don't need a crazy structured training plan involving analyzing every watt.

My advice (not that you asked for it, I realize) would be to just ride for a couple months and have fun. Wait until Jan and then test and start a winter training plan.

[Bikingbec]

Thanks for the encouragement.

Yes, I'm absolutely taking my time getting back into shape again - just getting out regularly on my bike 3 times a week is all it is and just enjoying it again as you so rightly say I must take it easy.

I did some walking and swimming whilst pregnant which helped to keep me 'moving', but no cycling since a long time.

Great to be on this forum - I've been hovering for such a long time because I've not been on my bike and if I'm not on my bike I don't feel part of 'the community' - but here I am back again and great to be in touch with all you great cyclists...look forward to helping you out too where I can.

Rebecca

[Bikingbec]

Yes, I have to wait until Dad home if I want to go on my bike. No I can't go for long rides, not that I can right now though anyway what with fitness at near 0!

He goes out on his bike too and that's when I stay in - yep, a reciprocal arrangement.

Seems to work quite well.

I'm lucky too he works from home twice a week so I can sometimes go out if weather good and I'm not feeling dog-tired from mummy duties!

[OakLeaf]

Welcome to TE Rebecca! Cool site you have.

I think you'll find it'll come back quickly. Around 14,000 miles ago, I returned to road biking after a 12-year hiatus. I wasn't racing at anything near pro level, but my burning-out was top shelf I think. I'm just a day rider now, too slow for the fast group and too fast for the slow group, but that's by choice. You should have no trouble being as tough as you want to be, given a little time.

Congrats on the baby and welcome back to cycling.

[Bike Writer]

Wow Rebecca, great site! I signed up for the newsletter too. Lots of good information. Welcome to the forum.

[warneral]

Hi Rebecca - welcome to TE!

I've honestly put my bike away for the winter! I'll keep sticking around though. I'll admit to some major jealousy of those people in warmer climates. Or with thick enough skin to withstand the cold/wind that winter brings in the northern climates

[Bikingbec]

Just wanted to say thanks for replying and helping me out -

Oakleaf - It's great to see you got back on your bike after 12 years !! That IS a long time gap, so really well done. I know how you feel about being too slow for fast group, yet too fast for slow group - I'm sort of similar, well I'm still in the slow group really:-).

Bike Writer - this is an excellent blog you have promoting health for women with joint stiffness - cycling is a wonderful sport for this I think. So few people I talk to who suffer arthritis realise that exercise can help their joints and relieve the pain....I also think swimming is wonderful exercise for this too.

Sorry to hear you fell off your bike - it's always a shock when it happens but glad to see you were brave enough to get back on it again....your confidence will return!!

Warneral: I believe where you come from it's incredibly cold for riding a bike, or? Much MUCH colder than here in Scotland - geez we Brits do complain about 'the cold' when actually the climate is relatively 'mild' overall as compared to places like Canada, Alaska and northern US. You should get your cross country skis out Warneral!!!

[warneral]

Yes it does get cold here! It is in the 30's now and it will start snowing soon. The snow probably won't melt until March. I would like to x-country ski but my husband isn't too keen on a new hobby that requires equipment I might have to wait til next winter!

[Jiffer]

I think it's safe to say you're not a "complete novice again"! You may feel weak, physically, but if you've ridden professionally, you're spades ahead of most people.

Good for you for getting back into it. I spent the last couple of months barely riding, because of sickness. Just started getting back into it and today rode my hardest and longest ride since I got sick, 31 miles with the club. I did pretty darn well under the circumstances and it felt so good to be out there and riding respectably. While I have a ways to go to be in the shape I was a few months ago, I was highly encouraged. It will come back for you (even though it's been a big longer than two months for you!). But I'm sure you'll be passing up the rest of us in no time.

Welcome to the board!

[Jiffer]

By the way, if you haven't already, I think you'll find bikes have changed considerably in the past seven years! Pretty sure you'll enjoy your new ride, if you're able to get one.