Fifty Plus (50+) - Advice on starting AND keeping going

I have been a lurker on the forums for a while now. Got interested in biking as a form of realistic exercise for me after a business visit out of state. The person I met with began spontaneously to talk excitedly about biking as great exercise. He had been biking during his lunch hours and had lost a good amount of weight and was in great shape. Well, he planted a seed.
Then, here in Florida, you see people out on their bikes all the time. And they all seem pretty lean.
Well, all of this was I guess an attention step to me to get going on something physical. I am not a runner, and walking is just plain boring. I have never been a great athelete. Did some baseball and hockey, but nothing major or extensive. Best shape I ever was was in the military. That was some time ago. I did compete in rifle and pistol competion both in and out of the military, but that was also some time back also, and not particularly physical.
The long and short of it is, I need desperately to get into shape. My main question is not how to start but how to keep going. At my age, the "inner wimp" seems to be talking louder than ever. And, having never been an atheletic type, I have nothing to fall back on by way of experience.
At the risk of sounding foolish, what mental gymnastics, goal planning, or whatever have you folks used to keep the process going?
I have been blessed to have stayed healthy for these many years, but I know I cannot rely on that grace much longer. I am in my mid fifties, and definitely a clydesdale. I am looking at biking as a form of exercise and weight loss.
My biggest issue is discipline and consistency. Any thoughts, ideas, or things that worked for you would be greatly appreciated.
By the way, I appreciate and admire the camaraderie on this particular forum. Some of the other forums can get quite contentious, but you folks are always willing to help and encourage. It is appreciated.

At the risk of sounding overblown, here's a bit of advice I've found helpful when in a situation like yours:

"What you can do, or dream you can do, begin it;
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."

Just start and see how it goes. If cycling really is for you, my guess is that you won't need that much discipline. The riding is its own reward and a great escape from chores around the house, job pressures, etc. If I may offer one more tip, don't compare you self with anyone else. Go at a pace and a distance you feel good about.

>>> what mental gymnastics, goal planning . . . discipline and consistency . . . thoughts, ideas, or things that worked

Hey Bigrider! Welcome!

Wow. You've pretty much defined the 'Problem Space' as one of my bosses once said. Hmmmm, let’s see here. . .

Reading your post, seems you have everything you need. I’ll add:

1. TAKE THAT 'INNER WIMP' OUT BEHIND THE CORN CRIB AND STRANGLE HIM. If you're going outside under God's-Own-Sky, you're gonna' look foolish, fall off stuff, make someone angry, get scuffed up.

2. Now, here’s the tough part. Every day GET UP AND GET STARTED. Can’t personally chuck you out the door, but I can tell you that on a given day [no matter the cold, wet, humidity, heat] if you can once get yourself moving, the battle with yourself is won. If you’re of European origin, then the Pleistocene Ice Ages are your birthright, rejoice in the cold. You’re already wet on the inside, get wet on the outside, too. Heat? Humidity? Strip down!! [Think Jacques Cousteau. . .now there was a stripped down old man.]

3. I’m not a ‘Goal Guy’. For me, the charm is knowing that I’m going OUTSIDE WHERE WE BELONG. The sky, the critters n’ birds, the seasons, all that. Same thing with discipline. . .don’t have that prticlr’ gene.

4. IMHO, you need more than goals. You NEED AN EMOTIONAL REASON TO BE OUT THERE!

5. But if you need a goal how’s this? Get into the kind of shape where a person half your age takes a second look and thinks, ‘DAMN, MAYBE WHEN I’M 60, I CAN GET ME ONE OF THOSE!’

6. Get hold of the BEST BIKE YOU CAN AFFORD. The pure joy of motion of a good rig is a big part of staying with it. A good fit is essential. If you’re in pain, you won’t stay with it.

7. MIX IT UP WITH OTHER ACTIVITIES. Important. Run [or like me, lumber], hike, etc.

8. CHECK IN HERE AT THE 50+ FORUM for support.

At the risk of sounding overblown, here's a bit of advice I've found helpful when in a situation like yours:

"What you can do, or dream you can do, begin it;
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."

Just start and see how it goes. If cycling really is for you, my guess is that you won't need that much discipline. The riding is its own reward and a great escape from chores around the house, job pressures, etc. If I may offer one more tip, don't compare you self with anyone else. Go at a pace and a distance you feel good about.

+1

For most people, long-term, any "exercise" that someone does must be MORE than exercise, or they will simply not continue it.

The action of doing exercise must become secondary to the qualities inherent in the "gestalt" of what is being done.

For me, that is inner peace as I ride, the exhiliration of accomplishment and improvement, the absolute freedom of controlling where and how I ride, the solitude when I want it.

For others, it might be the conviviality of riding with a group of fellow bicyclers, or working towards, training and winning a race.

Whatever it is that is inherent in the activity that one does it MUST be "more" than "exercise." For most of us, "exercise," in and of itself is eventually deadly.

The exercise needs to grab hold of you. Bicycling has that characteristic rather prominently.

You may want to see if there is a touring club in your area. Most middle to large areas have them, and generally the members are a great bunch of people. In many cases these clubs have beginner rides, bicycle riding technique classes, wrenching classes, etc. It helps to not be out there, all alone, especially at the beginning, and a club can be a great resource. If you don't have a touring club, many bike shops schedule group rides, etc. You may want to check with them.

You'll be amazed how fast you gain strength, lose weight, and start racking up the miles (if you stick with it). Soon, you'll be looking forward to that next ride, dreaming about a new bicycle and posting photos of your new love on this site! Good luck, cycling is great fun, life is short, enjoy! OHB

Some suggest to buy as much bike as you can afford, but I wouldn't do that straight away. There are many types of riding and different types of bikes for each. If I were you I'd get a servicable used bike and just start riding keeping it short and slow at first. It doesn't matter if it is a road bike or an MTB or a hybrid, just get out and spin the cranks. Depending on where you live you might be able to buy find a used bike store. They can help you with fit which is very important. Slowly increase you mileage (no more than a 10% increase per week) and don't worry about speed for a couple of months. Now you will have some time on a bike and have a feel for what you want. If you are still enjoying it and know what you want, then go get that expensive bike. You can always keep the "beater" for running errands and foul weather riding.

The motivation for me is my health, and that's what I try and think of when I'm pedaling because there sure isn't any joy in it for me. I'm a Chiropractor, and regularly see people suffering from conditions that could have been prevented by eating right and exercising. I've followed a healthy diet for years, but have recently suffered from adding a few extra pounds in my mid forties (I'm "only 46, but can relate to the midset of this group better than most of the others). Exercise was the next step, and a mountain bike was the answer for me now as karate was when I was younger. Thinking of what would happen to me if I didn't exercise allows me to keep pedaling, along with remembering how good I do feel when I stop!

The motivation for me is my health, and that's what I try and think of when I'm pedaling because there sure isn't any joy in it for me

Could you tell us a bit more about why you find no joy in bicycling?

My son once told me of a dream that he had. He was in this huge space that was all white and he was able to fly and move about with ease. Sounds mystical but riding a nice bike especially one way beyond your capabilities is like soaring way above your customary existence. At times it can take your breath away like going downhill at 40 mph. I imagine that's what the snow boarders and skiers feel. Then at times your feel your zone where you go fast but almost effortlessly. Only the helmet vents will gently whisper to you how fast your are really going. Then there's the uphill battle. I call it the battle between good and evil. But you're the author of this ride and the Lord of your chain rings.

bigrider

I started cycling about 4 years ago for strictly health reasons, had just turned 50 and had lost 30 lbs. by stationary biking and changing some eating habits. hit a major plateau and took to the local bike paths with a Raleigh SC 40 comfort bike. I absolutely fell in love with it and have progressed far beyond anything I thought I'd accomplish! Being in Florida gives the opportunity to ride almost every day and as has been stated by others, the stress relief and peace of mind is as much a motivation as the physical. Keep at it and as you see improvement, you'll hopefully look forward to your daily rides as a personal and necessary part of your life. Good luck!

madli (now ride a Gunnar Sport & Zanotti Cyclocross 150-200 miles a week)

I got motivated by joining in something - in my case, a charity ride from London to Paris in July 06.

I haven't cycled since I was a schoolkid. It's scary... weather here is poor and London drivers are not known for either patience or courtesy. Got a bike off e-bay for next to nothing (Peugeot road bike 1980's), feels all wrong - narrow slick tires, unnatural drop bars, hard ride - but the enthusiasm is buidling.

I WILL be riding down the Champs Elysees in July.

Good luck.

At the risk of sounding foolish, what mental gymnastics, goal planning, or whatever have you folks used to keep the process going?


Also non athlete. Running hurts knees too much and swimming is too hard on joints, walking is toooo boring.

What I did to get started:
1. reviewed risk tables of sedentary life style and then asked if I really wanted to spend years of life disabled
2. reviewed health with doctor and got his opinion of what my life would be like in 5, 10, 20 years with no changes.
3. got blood work with HDL numbers.

Reviewed exercise options in a table:
A- activity, B-time necessary for "work out", C- my emotional reaction to this activity type, D- list plusses of this activity, E- list of negatives of this activity, F- realistic estimate of how long I could continue activity based on my past history.

For me it was a no brainer, the only activity I did not mind was bicycling.


What I did to keep going:
1. had to invest some money into bike. I couldn't keep riding with a $20 or $30 garage sale bike. I did that twice and never road because I invested little in bikes and $20 is no big deal. Pick your level of investment where because you put money into this bike thingy, you now have to recoup your investment. For me it was a $1k bike. Neither top of the line nor a bottom dweller.

2. my second biggest problem was the time needed to ride. Beside hating exercising, I hate taking out the time for fun stuff to do horrible painful stuff like exercising. I finally figured out if I commuted by bike [cyclocommute] I would save a bunch of time vs driving and going to a gym and riding the stationary bikes.

3. Besides getting out in the air, I get a charge out of both improving my physical conditon and going faster. So I keep track of each day's ride and chart the speeds and number of days riding this year vs last year. Naturally some quarters I am faster and some are slower, but there is a slow climb in the speed line. This is a huge motivator for me.

4. Get the right riding gear so I can comfortably ride in temps from 20F to 110F.

5. Jump on the forum daily for a year to keep my enthusiasm up.

Hope this helps and some of this is useful to you.

There's lots of good reasons and motivations to ride a bike out there. Mine is simply to connect with my 'inner kid.' Someday I'll grow up and quit having so much fun, but in the meantime, don't bother me until after recess. :)

There's little to add to the excellent responses already given, but I will say that the OP reminds me of me less than a year ago.

I took the plunge with an inexpensive mountain bike (thinking I could/would do both trails and roads), and my first ride of 5 miles was TOUGH. But, as several people pointed out, what absolutely floored me was the FUN. I'd completely forgotten how much fun riding a bike can be.

After that, it was ride for the fun, and set some goals, and see what could happen. I'm no athlete and never was. I've quit more exercise programs than Carter has liver pills, after the initial enthusiasm wore off. I maintain a $99 a year gym membership simply because it's cheaper than starting all over again somewhere, but i hardly ever go to the gym.

But that inexpensive bike (I didn't want to spend too much in case I quit this too) has been a blast. In the beginning, I'll admit there were days when I had to talk myself into getting out there. But they are few and far between now -- in fact, it's the opposite. I'm cranky when I don't get to ride.

I've pleasantly surprised myself at what I've been able to do, like "ride my age in miles for my birthday," and I'm far healthier now than I've been in a long time -- BUT -- for me, it's still all about the FUN factor, for the most part. Swooping, gliding, riding no hands, exploring new neighborhoods, wearing myself out on a long weekend ride, all of it is fun. I'm a kid again, on my faithful steed.

So...I guess I did have something to add afterall! :D Anyway -- just get started, hang out in this forum, and have FUN!

Bike commute.

Use some form of daily training plan.


Bike commuting is a lot easier to do than you might think. There is plenty of how-to help available on this forum. In terms of using a training plan, there are lots of different ways to do that, from how-to books and guides, to personal or online coaching, or via training programs that you can develop online. (I got started in cycling training using the suggested training schedules from a book - Lance Armstrong's Seven Weeks To The Perfect Ride.) There are also online training and coaching applications that allow you to interactively set your own goals, come up with a weekly training plan and upload and track your results. For example, you can get a Polar heart rate monitor/cycling computer that integrates with their Personal Trainer web service.

If you are a geek, the latter approach is actually pretty fun because it integrates your PC, software applications, and online mileage and fitness data into your routine. More than anything else a weekly training plan has helped me to stay commited and motivated.

Good luck with whatever you do. Keep us posted. ;)

Could you tell us a bit more about why you find no joy in bicycling?
Because of the strenuous effort it takes to pedal off road tires on the street in the cold while I'm building my endurance. I feel great when I get done pedaling, but not during, and have lost the 10 pounds I wanted to (and over 1% body fat) in the 2 months I've been doing this. I'd love to feel the shear joy and connectedness I feel when riding my motorcycle that so many of you have written about when writing about your bicycles and figure that any of that would be an added benefit. I'm hoping that by the time the warmer weather arrives in Chicago I'll have more endurance and loose less efficiency to the cold and experience some of that joy, but will continue to pedal for the health benefits regardless of the fun.

Because of the strenuous effort it takes to pedal off road tires on the street in the cold while I'm building my endurance. I feel great when I get done pedaling, but not during, and have lost the 10 pounds I wanted to (and over 1% body fat) in the 2 months I've been doing this. I'd love to feel the shear joy and connectedness I feel when riding my motorcycle that so many of you have written about when writing about your bicycles and figure that any of that would be an added benefit. I'm hoping that by the time the warmer weather arrives in Chicago I'll have more endurance and loose less efficiency to the cold and experience some of that joy, but will continue to pedal for the health benefits regardless of the fun.

I can relate to that! I rode my mtb with knobbies for 800 miles, including a metric century. Finally I switched out to slicks, and the difference was amazing. Have you already done this? If not, get thee some slicks and your fun factor may kick in sooner than you think!

I can relate to that! I rode my mtb with knobbies for 800 miles, including a metric century. Finally I switched out to slicks, and the difference was amazing. Have you already done this? If not, get thee some slicks and your fun factor may kick in sooner than you think!
I haven't done it yet because I've been getting healthy without them. I've explored a lot of the areas around my new condo I haven't walked to yet, and am having to venture farther each ride to find new places. I wanted to try some of the crushed gravel trails around here with the knobbies before I took them off too, and haven't felt secure enough to venture quite that far away from home yet. But I think some smoother tires are in my future, it's just a matter of when.
And thanks for the advice - I've gotten a lot of great advice from this group that have made my efforts easier. It wouldn't be the same without you.

Bigrider

What a response you have got, all with different reasons on why people ride. I know in my case- I used to be one of the Ultra-fit people that do turn up occasionally, but a 10 year lay off and a 100yd chase of my 10 year old daughter up the road made me realise that I had lost it. A chance meeting with a friend that rode and out came the old Apollo 10 speed mountain type bike, and I started on the trail to retaining what fitness I had.

That was 15 years ago. I was not overweight then, although I have put on a few lbs in the years, but I did get my fitness back. Those first 3 or 4 years were hard though. I was trying to stay with people fitter than me- had a bit more youth on their side, and had better bikes than me. I perservered though, and if a ride got hard- I would slow down. If a hill got steep- I would walk. I also found out by starting with a cheap old bike what sort of riding I liked(Mountain Biking) so when finances permitted I upgraded the bike to a better one. Many bikes later, a couple of major health scares and I am still riding.

If you can find a few other people to ride with, it will motivate you to keep riding. If you can't then start riding- Anywhere. Take it easy for a month or so and do it on a regular circuit of 5 or so miles. When it gets easier (NOT EASY) increase the milage. Try to set a regular day and time to ride and if possible do it 2 or 3 times a week. You will have to force yourself to get on the bike and ride but after a couple of months you will start feeling the benefits. Then is the time you can say the body is getting toned, the weight has come down a bit and that hill you found on the first ride is just a gentle slope.

I do not envy you for trying to start riding- the pain you will go through will hurt, but the benefits are there for all of us to see in our own riding. By the way- we are not all 200mile a week at 25mph riders. Some of us just do it because we enjoy it, but we also enjoy the side benefits that riding has bought to us.

One of the reasons I like this forum is exactly as you have noted. There is a camaraderie with this group, so hopefully we can get you on the road to getting fit for your birthday ride which is?????

I second all the responses.

I used to run (begrudgingly). I was never a good runner, and felt a little like "no motor" - it felt great when I stopped, but other than one period when I was doing high mileage (many moons ago), it was "exercise". I played weekend soccer for about 15 years which was fun, but it always took me a few days to recover (i.e., walk normally without pain). My wife has always been a runner (she is more gifted than I at this), and started having stress fractures and got into cross training. From cross training, it was sprint triathalons, but she wasn't knowledgable about bikes, so encouraged me to join her. I bought a road bike. That was a few years ago now. It really took hold, and my only regret is that I didn't (re)discover this sport 20 years earlier.

For me, it is just plain fun. And after a few months, I couldn't believe what better shape I was in. Throw in stories about people from Lance Armstrong to John Sinibaldi and I realized what a rich subculture this is. Also learned some basics about wrenching and currently building up a bike from a bare frame. Unlike running, I regret when the ride ends. And unlike soccer, I can not only walk the next day - I want to go for another ride! (And not to dis my soccer chums, but cyclists are overall a more interesting lot of folks). AND my spouse shares it with me.

But just because it floats my boat doesn't mean it will float yours. Part of it may be remembering my youth when I rode every day because my bike was my trusty steed and the way to the rest of the world. But I have to say that modern road bikes are quite an inspiration, too. For me, riding a mountain bike on the roads doesn't come close; road bikes these days just fly!

Just ride for fun and the benefits will follow.

You don't need to motivate yourself to ride. You ride because it's really fun. Ride with friends, share your common interests. Join a club and ride with prople your speed and then later, as you gain confidence, ride with people who are a bit faster.

Al

Because of the strenuous effort it takes to pedal off road tires on the street in the cold while I'm building my endurance. I feel great when I get done pedaling, but not during, and have lost the 10 pounds I wanted to (and over 1% body fat) in the 2 months I've been doing this. I'd love to feel the shear joy and connectedness I feel when riding my motorcycle that so many of you have written about when writing about your bicycles and figure that any of that would be an added benefit. I'm hoping that by the time the warmer weather arrives in Chicago I'll have more endurance and loose less efficiency to the cold and experience some of that joy, but will continue to pedal for the health benefits regardless of the fun.

You can do gravel trails on slicks (mtn bike road tires) of 1.5x26 or larger with no problem. I do them all the time. (even today!)

I am glad you have made progress in losing weight and building endurance - but now ease up a bit and enjoy the sheer pleasure for a bit! Or you can combine.

Today I found the absolute steepest hills I could find, and went up and down them in the mtn bike in low-low range. What a blast! I got my heart rate up to over 150 (I am 66yo). Then, I went another 15 miles on an easy ride on the trail.

One of the best ways I know is to ask around and join a club. You can find others with the same skill levels and you can keep each other going. It's a great way to meet people and share ideas as well.

Wow, excellent comments on this thread. I forgot the eye opener for me was when our little dog was being chased and I took off trying to "save the dog" and had to stop panting about 6 houses down the street. Not a fun experience.

In terms of keeping going, set your expectations right. It won't be fairly easy to ride until you have put somewhere between 500 and 1,000 miles on your bike. If getting into a little shape is discouraging, drop the speed, increase the ease of pedaling. Remind your self you are still flying past the 4-5 mph speed walkers.

After a few rides on a bike that rings your bell (regardless of price) you won't have to motivate yourself......the serenity/exhileration of riding will become your motivation.
The fact that you posted this thread is an excellent beginning....you are on your way to being hooked :>)
Good Luck and happy bike shopping.
BCNU
Gary

Bigrider-you might give some thought to finding some organized rides in your area just to observe what it is all about-or even do one of the "fun rides" of relatively short distance. If that peeks your interest it might create some inspiration for addtional riding beyond just the health benefits.

I can recall my attitude being similar to yours but now I just can't wait to get out on the roads. When the weather improves up your way you'll find the riding much more enjoyable as well.

I started 4-5 years ago and just plain can't completely satisfy the thirst for more and more. My first observations of this cycling stuff were of folks riding 100 miles and finishing nearly exhausted on top of a mountain. I thought they were nuts. They very well might be nuts but I can better appreciate the satisfaction they get from feeling exhausted.

Bigrider,

Allow me to share today's ride with you. 15.1 miles in pouring rain, and I had a blast the entire way. First of all, we don't get much rain in San Diego, so this was special. Second, it was only a drizzle when I started, but it was really coming down at the end. I felt just like I did when I was a kid in the midwest and it would be raining and/or snowing, and my brother and I would put on three layers of clothing and go outside to play football. That has to be the most fun thing in the world -- playing in the mud and rain and snow.

Today was like that. I could barely see -- the rain got my sunglasses completely coated. I couldn't go too fast for fear the brakes would fail or the tires would lose their grip. My heart skipped a few beats when large trucks and busses made their way past me. And, when I *could* see, I laughed at all the people who were giving me strange looks. I'm no Stepfam (the king of riding in inclimate weather, IMHO), but I had a blast. I had fun, I felt more alive than in a long while, and I got some great exercise too.

It wasn't pretty -- see the pics below of my handsome visage -- but it was the most fun I've had on my bike since...um, my last ride!

:beer:

I have been blessed to have stayed healthy for these many years, but I know I cannot rely on that grace much longer. I am in my mid fifties, and definitely a clydesdale. I am looking at biking as a form of exercise and weight loss.
My biggest issue is discipline and consistency. Any thoughts, ideas, or things that worked for you would be greatly appreciated.


I haven't read every word of every reply so this may have been stated already. I think you should start out relatively easy, don't set goals too early or push too hard before you've gotten in a lot of "comfortable" rides. If you've not been athletic in the past, the body takes a while to adapt to your new fitness desires. For example, on weekends I enjoy two shorter rides per day over one long one. Try to ride at least 4 times per week, even if only 30 minutes each. Have fun.

Gary-I really enjoyed the analogy to the outdoors activities in the mud and snow. Some treasured experiences never fade away do they!!

How would you have liked to have ridden 117 miles in stuff like that while climbing 12,000 ft? We had a ride like that last year. I suspect there was a lot of "road stuff" I ingested from the rooster tails from the wheels in front of me. Brings a whole different perspective to "road kill". Yuk!!

Maybe you should wear your hair like that all the time and I'll let you know how long the trend stakes to get over to the east coast.....You guys in CA start all the fads don't you??

Buy decent equipment that fits you. Make the necessary changes to fine tune the fit. Learn how to maintain your bike and do it regularly. Ease into distance riding and pay attention to pain. It will tell you what adjustments are needed. Find a place to ride that inspires you. That is what keeps you going.

I have no discipline. I just love to bike. Since you are starting, give yourself permission to not push hard. You will push hard, of course, but some times it's fine to just amble along the road watching the road roll by the birds fly and the wind go through the leaves.

Importantly, don't push too hard. We are older, its best to take it gently. Build up at a comfortable rate.

Avoid riding during tornados or hurricanes, but all good old Florida rain can do is soak you instantly. Put your spare clothes in a plastic bag and enjoy the rain. Take care to keep your bike dry at other times. Seems like when I lived in Florida, my bikes rusted nearly instantly. Good thing is you may not need a whole handful of gears. I found 3 were enough. Into the wind, across the wind and with the wind.

Take a patch kit, tire irons and a pump. Wear your sunblock. I keep a tube with me at all times. Pedal and enjoy.

Agreed that this thread has some absolutely great ideas. I'll put in what does it for me.

First and foremost, I'm a lazy sort. Some days, I have to drag myself onto the bike. I tell myself that, if I don't feel up to it, I'll only ride a few miles. Invariably, my mood changes after a few minutes. I end up riding and riding and looking forward to the next ride.

This year, I'm also keeping track of miles with an online mileage log. That's a great motivator because I get to see how other riders are doing.

I also like challenging myself in certain ways. I want to do a metric century at least once a month each month this year. Now, I'm not sure if I'll keep to that, but it gets me at least trying.

I also like trying new places to ride and break my rides up quite a bit. I might go out on a 20-30 miler, come back, pick up the family for another slower ride, whatever I feel like doing at the time. Sometimes, I push myself on the bike and others just cruise at whatever speed. I stop more and more frequenty so that things don't get monotonous. That might be for a treat, to watch birds, talking to people... Lately, as my youngest daughter is getting ready for track season, we'll ride somewhere and my wife will sit and relax, while watching the bikes, and I'll do some running with my little girl. I guess what I'm saying is that my riding isn't very scripted once I get out there.

Others things that keep me going are forums like this and various types of media involving fitness and cycling. I love watching cycling DVD's, reading books about cycling, and reading what posters here have to say.

One last thing. Someone has probably said it already, but, if so, I want to be the echo. Make your riding experience as comfortable as possible. This means having a bike that fits you reasonably well and, most of all for me in particular, protect your behind. I have changed seats a few times and it was well worth it. On longer rides, a good pair of cycling shorts is better than even Irma's pie.

Award winning Halloween mask, 2006?

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox/digitalgee.jpg

Naw, that is a GREAT picture. It really captures your love of bicycling!

OK, I guess I'll put my 2 cents worth into this great discussion. Eight years ago, when I was 60, I weighed 240 and, while not specificly sick, just didn't feel good. I had a nice boat, which I loved, but when I went fishing in the ocean, it took me two days to recover. I was working all the time and not having much fun.
My wife and I went on a vacation to Key West with our son and his family. They were experienced cyclist, although not riding much at the time. They rented bikes to explore the island. I was afraid to try to ride a bike, so we rented a motor scooter. That was my wake-up call. I came home and started shopping for a bike.
I was very lucky that we have one of the best LBS's anywhere here on the Outer Banks. (I think finding the right LBS is essential for the beginning cyclist.) They didn't try to sell me something I'd be uncomfortable on and not give myself a chance to suceed. They sold me a good solid little hybred that didn't break the bank, but was nice enough to work well. They also supported me with coaching and encouragement and service.
My first ride was three miles, and I could hardly walk at the end, my legs were so trembly, BUT IT WAS FUN. After the first three or four rides, I went back to the shop for a pair of bike shorts. That was it, there was no turning back then, I was hooked.
The first year I rode that hybred a thousand miles. The next year it was a mid-level (105) road bike, the next year....well you know. Sometime in the second year I heard about touring. For me touring has been the key. All during the year, I get up and out on rides so that when I go somewhere on tour I will be comfortable and have fun, not pain.
I tend to be a solitary rider, not much for group rides, racing, etc. But that's my style, in cycling there's something for everyone. Joiners can be as organized as they want, and us loners can be as solitary as we like, and we can all get together for a weekend event or a tour and have fun together.
Now, I'm riding all I can (in Jan and Feb, that's a challenge in itself) to be ready for the cross-country ride I'm signed up for this summer. I feel like a kid looking forward to Christmas. The anticipation is hard to take, but sweet at the same time.
Buy the bike, ride it, you'll never regret it.

DnvrFox,

Man you gotta' warn us when you do that! Scrolled down and it scared the be-JESUS outta' me!! [Note to self. . .get more be-Jesus.]

Seriously, this is a great thread!

For me, it's charts and graphs. I love keeping track of what I do. Seeing bar graphs get longer, empty spaces filled in logs, etc. And, (this has been said before) something to look forward to. I ride in the AIDS/lifecycle SF to LA ride in June. It gives me something on which to focus. Gotta Go, the sun just came out.

DnvrFox,

Man you gotta' warn us when you do that! Scrolled down and it scared the be-JESUS outta' me!! [Note to self. . .get more be-Jesus.]

Seriously, this is a great thread!

Sorry, but to help things out, I made the picture a bit bigger.

Happy nightmares.

I feel so... so... so... used. :D

All good stuff. I agree with Mollusk about getting a serviceable used bike. You can get a very good one that way (your local Craigslist) and still have cash left for the saddle changes you will go thru. The endorphines will keep you out there. They work better if your butt doesn't hurt. :)

Minus 43lbs in seven months.

I feel so... so... so... used. :D

Don't worry about it- By the way- What helmet do you use? I'll make a note not to buy one like that if the Hair can get pulled into that shape without gel.

Let's see now, everyone has really laid down some good advice and yet there is always more to say. So my shared experience will be this, motivation is only good when it comes from within. Sure you can have all kind of feedback saying you can do it and the why and how, but what it really boils down to is self-motivation, how do you find it. I wasn't an athletic type at one time and breathing hard and perspiring was not my idea of fun. But I got inspired one day by an old martial art instructor, no he didn't ride a bike, but he was definitely in excellent shape for his age; 68 at the time. So being a little on the logical side I at the time thought who the old person here; well it was me 24 and totally out of shape. So your thinking and how did this inspire me to ride a bike. Well it's attitude, my kung fu instructor changed my behavior about fitness. His idea of fitness is that it would be good if it was fun rather than something we try to do. So after a couple of years under his teaching I came to a realization that whatever fitness endeavor I was going to get into as my life evolved; it was going to be done for the fun of it whatever it was I would partake in. And well I am 52 now and am in the best shape of my life still. I have become the master of myself in the path of health and wellness. So I have been riding for quite a long time as you would imagine and yeah it is still fun for me every time I'm out there rolling along; by myself and or with others. Cycling to me is a very unlimited way of experiencing yourself in a very strenguous way. It's always up to you to make it different, fun, and challenging. For this reason I have a road bike, a mountain bike, a touring bike, and a hybrid. And I do ride everyone of them, I ride fire trails I ride bike lanes on the river beds, I ride to far places for the adventure of it, I ride from my place of living to the mountains and then up the dirt trails, I rode to college up till i graduated, I ride to the store, I ride with family members, friends and alot by myself. My friends always tell me why I don't get satelite tv, and my reply to them is this, if I have time to watch tv then I have time to ride also, and they know I'll choose to ride everytime. So there you have it my inspiration.

Don't worry about it- By the way- What helmet do you use? I'll make a note not to buy one like that if the Hair can get pulled into that shape without gel.

It's a Trek. What did I know? I was buying the bike, I was a complete newbie, and the guy said here's the helmet you need, and it's on sale with this coupon. I liked how the color matched my bike. He never told me about the added bonus of a completely new hairdo every time I wear it! :D

I don't think I have anything to add that hasn't already been said... but it's such a good topic that I'll chime in anyway. :)

Things that keep me riding, in no particular order:

1) It's fun. I'm a reasonably disciplined person, but unless I enjoyed riding I wouldn't do it with fervor or consistency. For me, the key to appearing "disciplined" about the things you do is to concentrate your efforts on things you simply enjoy doing anyway. (I find that this applies to career choices as well as it applies to exercise.)

2) The health benefits. I've never had a weight problem, but after a decade of physical inactivity I was getting woefully out of shape, and my blood pressure was getting disturbingly high. After six months of riding, I feel better than I did when I was ten years younger, and the BP is back under control. I will confess that it was fear of an early grave that got me started on the health benefits of exercise, but cycling leads to tangible, observable results fairly quickly, and once I saw real improvement, going for more was easy.

3) The tech side of it. This is another aspect of the fun for me. I enjoy tinkering with hardware, so selecting, buying, adjusting and maintaining bikes is fun. And I'm quite a geek, which means I enjoy tracking my mileage, training using watts, planning workouts, and the like. My wife thinks all the charts and graphs are a crackup... she just rides. But it works for me. The point is, do what makes it fun for you.

4) The equipment. A good bike is simply an elegant thing to experience, and you can only experience it by riding it. After convincing myself that I was going to keep riding for a long time, and after doing lots of shopping and test rides, I recently got myself as nice a bike as I could afford. I ride now more than ever before partly because it's such a cool experience to get a bike like that out on the road.

So if there's one theme that runs through all of this for me, and for most of the other responses you've gotten, it's enjoyment. Get a bike you like, ride it, and have fun.

Oh yeah, and share your fun with others on this forum!

A big thank you to all of you who responded to my original post!!

Your thoughts and encouragement are exactly what I needed to hear. I greatly appreciate your taking the time to respond. You folks are a tremendous blessing.

A big thank you to all of you who responded to my original post!!

Your thoughts and encouragement are exactly what I needed to hear. I greatly appreciate your taking the time to respond. You folks are a tremendous blessing.

Wait till you get our bill. :lol:

Just to show that I do have four bikes.

I have found that the only thing that works is to use my bike for primary transportation. If I didn't commute, I would probably just ride a few times a year. On the other hand, this may not work if you live and work in a place where driving is more convenient than cycling.

Paul

Bigrider,

Good luck on your cycling.

I got into cycling about 20 years ago and I have ridden quite a bit since then.

I ride for a variety of reasons and in no real order

1) To stay fit
2) To not get fat
3) To burn off anxiety
4) To enjoy the scenery
5) To enjoy company on easy rides
6) To beat up some of the other riders on competitive rides
7) To get humbled by other riders on competitive rides
8) For the sense of accomplishment that I get even if the ride was not anything much. It is better than sitting on my posterior.
9) Sometimes to go out on a challenging ride or tour - for example a century or a week long tour.
10) To keep my HDL up and my ticker in good shape.
11) To see wildlife.
12) To explore the backroads.
13) To get out in the sunshine and enjoy the day

The more motivations you have to do something, the more likely you are to do it. If you focus on one thing like performance or weight loss, it is pretty easy to get discouraged and quit.

Good luck to you

Pat

The motivation for me is my health, and that's what I try and think of when I'm pedaling because there sure isn't any joy in it for me.


OK, I admit it. I hate the first 30 to 40 minutes of every ride. I keep asking myself what the heck I'm doing out here. I mean I really, really hate it. My, rear end is jacked up higher than it should be on a tiny perch that wants to insert itself. My leg muscles are telling me to let them alone - they were just fine walking, thank you. My head is thinking of 20 other things I want to be doing. And since I have a hard time with a gradual warm up, my heart is racing and lungs working overtime. Just what, I wonder, is there to like about this. I keep remembering the Greg Lemond quote when asked if training gets any easier. He thought for a moment and then said, "No, it doesn't get any easier, but you go faster." That's just the reality of riding for me. That first 30 or so minutes really tests my resolve. BUT... in almost every ride a I reach a point where I'm fully in the present tense. I'm simply loving the sound of my tires on the road, the rhythm of the pedal strokes and my breathing, and the feeling of moving forward - the faster the better. And, on the rare day I can actually feel myself (as Phil Liggett would say) "dancing on the pedals."
So, I try to remember that there is a place I can get to that is pretty cool IF I go through the hard part to get there.

One other thing I learned a long time ago (while teaching martial arts) is that building new physical habits (discipline) takes about two weeks of consistent, deliberate effort. Once you get past the two weeks without breaking the routine, it seems to get easier.