Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - It's starting to work, partially...

I didn't have much time to ride yesterday, so I chose to ride my short baseline course. Ended up 2.1 mph faster than the last time I rode it. Heart rate was actually a bit lower. I've also been able to push up the distances each week. I'm only about 6 weeks into riding again and am definitely remembering why I like it so much. No injuries so far, knock on wood. I've begun focusing more on form, trying to pedal through the entire circle rather than just pushing down, and am beginning to reach the point where my old bike just ain't going to cut it any longer. On yesterday's ride I hit several places where one gear was a bit too big, my cadence was lower than I wanted, and the next lower gear too small, spinning like crazy. Seven cogs on the back just isn't enough. I really need to make a decision on a replacement bike. I found a Jamis Quest on craigs list that I need to checkout, but it's about an hour's drive from home. Also still considering one of the BD bikes.

Now that I'm making progress on the speed and distance fronts, it's time to get serious about shedding pounds. In the 6 weeks time, I've only lost 3 or 4. Part of the problem is I've been eating more to compensate for burning more energy. Time for this to stop...

Eat right for energy compensation is the key.....;)

250 cals/hr if you are going to ride for 50 miles or more and keep a small snack for the shorter rides like a banana or peanut butter crackers......all you'll need ;)

Yup, compensation, not over-compensation. ;) I haven't actually got my distances, or times, long enough where I even need to bring food. Perhaps in a couple weeks I'll need to start packing a banana.

"On yesterday's ride I hit several places where one gear was a bit too big, my cadence was lower than I wanted, and the next lower gear too small, spinning like crazy. Seven cogs on the back just isn't enough. I really need to make a decision on a replacement bike."
Maybe a different cassette would do the job? What do you have now for gearing?
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/k7.html#7

Also, part of your weight loss is negated by muscle gain. You are much more than 3-4 lbs. healthier!
As long as you keep adding miles, don't be too hard on yourself.

Maybe a different cassette would do the job? What do you have now for gearing?
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/k7.html#7

Also, part of your weight loss is negated by muscle gain. You are much more than 3-4 lbs. healthier!
As long as you keep adding miles, don't be too hard on yourself.
I've been too soft on myself for the last ten years and look where it's got me. :eek: Time for tough (self) love. :love:

Thanks for reminding me that while I haven't lost much weight, some of it probably has been converted to muscle. It does help to keep that in perspective. I know I definitely feel better than before I started.

A new bike would do the job better than a new cassette. :) I've been thinking about it for a while. I'm currently riding a mid-90s (or earlier, I can't remember exactly) Trek 1200. The rear cassette is only 7 speeds, it's got down tube shifters, and a somewhat harsh ride on rough surfaces. I'd really like to upgrade to STI and from much of the reading a decent steel frame would give me a better ride than aluminum. Someone suggested using Sora shifters, and that would get me STI, but if I do that I'd still be stuck with an aging bike and only 7 speeds.

The cassette I'm using now is an 11-28 and the front rings are 53/42. I have a cassette with tighter gearing, somewhere, but since the largest cog is smaller, it was only good for me when I was way lighter, ten years younger, and much stronger. Unless I shed a significant amount of weight, and improve my climbing, I need that 28 tooth cog and with only 7 to work with, I'm a bit stuck. Actually, even the 28 is too small for me right now, there are hills around here that I'm stuck mashing the pedals at around 4 mph.

On nearly every ride I use the full range of gears, so going with smaller rings on the front won't help much either. If I went with something like a 40, I'd end up shifting between rings with an annoying frequency. I've been researching 52/42/30 triples combined with a 12-25 cassette because I think that would give me the best choice of gearing for the hills around here. I used Sheldon's calculator to compare the gearing between what I've got now with a compact or triple. With a triple, the small ring would work for the steepest hills. It would let me spin at a reasonable cadence instead of a knee busting mashing of pedals. I'm seriously considering training for some of the NC mountain rides and the third ring sure would come in handy. The range on the middle ring would work for the rolling hills, of which there are many, and most flats. And then the big ring would be for smoother flats, perhaps with the wind at my back, and descents. I've pretty much ruled out the compact because from the calculations, I'd be constantly switching between rings.

Does this sound like a reasonable approach?