Training & Nutrition - need advice/tips on best way to get back into cycling...

Hey guys....

I have been out of cycling for about 8 years. I use to race mountain bikes quite a bit and also did quite a bit of road riding during that time.

Well time has passed and I have managed to put on around 30 lbs(hey I've lost about 40 already but still got another 30 to go) and am starting to get back to feeling like I am ready to get on the bike.

A couple of years ago I purchased a trek 5200 road bike and a specialized fsr pro comp mountain bike. Well long story short is I got consumed with work and didn't commit the time needed to get back into shape. Another factor I think was the high degree of tenderness I had from saddle soreness that kept me from wanting to return to the bike.

I am wanting to start riding again and enjoying it. I am an avid hunter and need to get into shape for a couple of trips that I have planned where I will have to hike through mountains so I need to get both my lungs and legs in to shape.

Can someone give me an idea of how I should start without "over doing it". I need to avoid injury and burnout so I'll stick with it this time. Also any good advice for saddlesoreness? I already have a gel saddle and get lycra shorts.

Sorry for all the questions......any help/advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.


-lee-

Okie how to get started swing your leg over the bike and start pedaling :)

Second get rid of that gel thing, in reality it will cause you more sore, since it will bunch up and push against soft tissue. what you want is your bones to sit right on the saddle they handle the pressure alot better the soft tissue. Saddles are very personal option, give the current one atleast a few weeks, you're butt will most likely be sore at first just to get used to it since you have nto been riding in quite a while.


Everyone is different take it a day at a time, take it easy at first.

Like Kev said it is probably just going to hurt for a week or two. However to learn more about saddles and saddle soreness do a search in the adv.search section at the top of the screen for saddles and bike shorts and you will find a lot of good information in the threads that come up.

Steve

Start slow...

Maybe 3 times a week for an hour in the saddle. Don't worry about distance in the beginning, just get your cycling legs and butt back.

After a couple of weeks, you can start looking at distance- get a bike computer and pick a route you like to do and start seeing if you can do that route in less time. I bet within a month, that route will feel like nothing.

Once you get that route locked in, start working on distance- you can increase your time in the saddle and start building up to 5- 6 days a week, and as you start breaking into some more serious mileage, consider making at least one day a week a longer ride.

Don't worry about the gel seat. You could just get the padded shorts, but if you want the gel seat, get the gel seat. I have the gel seat, and it's comfortable for me. Sometimes I use it, sometimes I don't.

Welcome back to the cycling world! This is certainly a place to get your juices revved up for the sport. :D


Koff

I pretty much guessed that everyone would say to start off with a few short rides to get everything going. Guess I just wanted to make sure. I'm going to go ride tomorrow night after work. Thanks again.


-lee-

Lee,
Welcome!
I just started cycling also. I spent about a month just riding through the neighborhood, with my son. I just explored, and got in no hurry. I climbed steep hills and pedaled around. After that, I started riding on the local bike trail. My first ride was just over 5 miles, and it killed me. I have since, in only a month, worked up to a 14 mile daily ride. In a short time, I am only getting warmed up in 5 miles.

I am 39, 5-6, and 220 lbs. If I can do it, anyone can. I have also found some advice here that I could not have done without. This is a pretty good forum to hang out with. I have enjoyed it so for.

Take your time. Like Koffee Brown said 3 x per week for an hour will be a good start. If it hurts too much just shorten the times for the first couple weeks until you can stay on the bike longer. It will take time so be patient. I started back up in December after almost six years off the bike. I've lost 30 +lbs since then, but still realize I am not up to my college racing days. Keep a log and even graph your Mileage, times, avg speed, resting HR, weight, etc. I find it makes it more fun and motivating when I can see the improvements over time. Remember to have fun. I take about five straight days off every two months to keep from burning out. Just remember to have fun and feel good.

The important thing: have fun. Explore the roads you would never drive in your car because they don't go anywhere you want to drive. If you pedal past a road and wonder where it goes, ride down it and find out. Don't worry in the beginning about distance, speed or time. If you combine cycling and hunting and find yourself riding down the road with your rifle slung over your shoulder, don't expect too much trouble from drivers, either.

The link below will hook you up to an article about safe riding on streets. A lot of it is good, common sense advice.
How to Not Get Hit by Cars (http://bicyclesafe.com/)

The first thing you should do is take your television and throw it out the window.

If you are like most people, this will give you an extra 3 hours a day for cycling and increase your IQ by about 10-20 points!

Ride the bike, that's the only way I know, ride it to work, on errands and for play.

Lee,

By now you are hopefully out taking some good rides in. I'm also in Memphis and have decided that the best way to get rides in frequently and for long distances --- without dodging traffic is to start early.

I typically like to get out about 5:30AM and ride for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours before things get too hectic. With the heat and humidity about to hit us, this is by far the most pleasant and time to ride and you can ride throughout the week.

Jim

1.) Get on bike.
2.) Ride bike.
3.) Enjoy.

If #3 doesn't happen, find something else.

This is my experience with saddle soreness. If your you-know-whats get numb, then that is never going to be helped by riding more. however, if you are experienceing soreness, like you have just done a million butt clenches, then that will go away with time.