Introductions - Researched Clydesdale's Forum, bike on the way.

After lurking in the Clydesdale's area I am inspired to give the cycling thing a try.

I haven't ridden since I was 20 and I am 44 now (and twice the weight). I hope I can pull it off without a young man's legs and resilience to injury. We'll see.

Anyway, I love the forum and I will post my progress.

Brilliant! What kind of bike did you decide on? And what kind of riding?

Don't forget those regional forums :) .

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

I have a Hardrock Sport on the way (eBay). Ordered a heavy duty seat, and fitted my skull for a helmet today.

As far as the kind of riding... not to be too glib, but any kind that involves the bike remaining upright with me remaining seated upon it.

Thank you for the kind and rapid welcome.

I have a Hardrock Sport on the way (eBay). Ordered a heavy duty seat, and fitted my skull for a helmet today.

As far as the kind of riding... not to be too glib, but any kind that involves the bike remaining upright with me remaining seated upon it.

The Hardrock should serve you well. As to the riding--it sounds as if you will not be too eager to get into the clipless pedal thing too fast :p .

East Hill

Rickster! Welcome aboard and great choice on a bike!

See ya in Clyde's!

Hey Rickster....glad to see your name again. What bike did you get? You know you gotta take pics and post them in the Clyde section for us to see. Clydes like bike pr0n as much as everyone else here. :)

Many thanks for the hearty welcome. I am certainly eager to become a Clyde "regular".

I started cycling regularly again almost a year ago. Since, I have lost 16 pounds. It has not been easy. I am trying to do my heavy eating earlier in the day with lighter and lighter eating as the day progresses. I top it off by doing my daily ride (currently 14.4 miles) an hour or two before bedtime. I am 5' 11" and weigh 208. Anyway, when someone says he or she started cycling and 50 pounds melted off, do not forget to ask where they started. Most of those people started around 300 or more pounds and lost weight quickly until they got to about 215. Then the weight dropped much more slowly.

But, cycling is still great fun and addictive. Last evening I watched a great sunset in its various stages over half-an-hour or so of riding. I went to bed and slept like a rock. The best is some of the physical changes during the last year. My interocular pressures were climbing toward glaucoma, but since beginning to cycle again my pressures are good without medication. The cash savings on my co-payment will pay for my new bicycle in about four more years. I am more mentally alert with far fewer "senior moments." My blood pressure is better than that of many teenagers. My cholesterol is 20+ points lower than 20 years ago.

Enjoy.

Most of those people started around 300 or more pounds and lost weight quickly until they got to about 215. Then the weight dropped much more slowly.
Enjoy.

I am starting out well over 300 and I am 6' tall.

If I got down to 250, I would be ecstatic -- so this really is encouraging.

I had been thinking about bicycling for YEARS as a weight loss / cardiovascular fitness device because I used to really enjoy cycling when I was younger.

Until I found the Clydesdale's forum, I assumed that it was a nutty notion and that no bike could support my titanic frame. Reading the experiences of others -- and seeing a picture of Tom cycling with an O2 cannula affixed under his nose when he was starting out -- has been an eye-opener as to what can be achieved.

Thanks for the welcome.

Tom has been an inspiration to many here at BF, and not just because of his weight loss.

Without being preachy, riding a bike can transform your life. It's a simple thing, but it has the ability to expand the pleasure in your life immensely.

East Hill

I am starting out well over 300 and I am 6' tall.

If I got down to 250, I would be ecstatic -- so this really is encouraging.
There is a podcast on cycling and weight loss you would enjoy. It is from radio station KBOO in Portland, Oregon. Click on this link and search or scroll down the page for "Cycling and Weight Loss (http://www.podcastdirectory.com/podcasts/6833)." If for any reason you cannot download it (slow connection, etc.), send me a private message.

The podcast is about two guys who gained a lot of weight, felt hopeless, slowly began biking, lost quite a bit of weight fairly quickly, and found they must work at it harder once they got down to about 215. It is very encouraging.

I anticipate good things ahead.