Fifty Plus (50+) - How long did it take you to really ride?

I mean ride longer distances without pain? I've only been riding again this time since last Sunday & I don't know if I'll ever be able actually go anywhere and enjoy it again. By the time I've gone a mile, my thighs are burning and feel so tight it's hard to get off the bike. I don't know how I got so out of shape in just two years of doing nothing when I was fairly active before.

Also, besides the bike & helmet, what was the next piece of equipment or clothing you needed? And is there any great benefit to wearing bicycle shorts over other knit shorts for distances under 10 miles?

In the begining, just ride what you can. In just a few weeks those 1 and 2 mile rides will become 4 to 5 mile rides. Have fun, don't expect big milage too early. You should be able to look forward to a ride like a kid, not learn to dread it like a treadmill session.

Gloves will keep you from getting blisters and pad the hands a little. You will be adjusting to the bike and you will be adjusting the bike to fit you the way it should. For that there will be a ton of advice here............

I mean ride longer distances without pain? I've only been riding again this time since last Sunday & I don't know if I'll ever be able actually go anywhere and enjoy it again. By the time I've gone a mile, my thighs are burning and feel so tight it's hard to get off the bike. I don't know how I got so out of shape in just two years of doing nothing when I was fairly active before.

Also, besides the bike & helmet, what was the next piece of equipment or clothing you needed? And is there any great benefit to wearing bicycle shorts over other knit shorts for distances under 10 miles?

+1 on gloves. Under 5 miles cycling clothing is nice but not crucial.

When I did not commute year round the first 3-5 mile ride would tear me up. It'd take 2 - 3 weeks of consistent riding to get up to 10 miles. Take it easy and have a day or two rest between rides.
If you are riding a geared bike you may want to use / shift to the lower gears - new riders often "mash" or push high gears at low RPMs. That's very hard on your body. If you have gear cogs on the back of the bike the lower gears are the largest ones closer to the spokes. For the front cogs, the lowest gear range is the cog/chainring closest to the frame (also the smallest). For hybrid and moutain bikes the lowest front and rear gears are labeled "1" or "I".

Thank you robtown, I was wondering about that too. I usually keep the chain on the smaller front cog & move it in back so that I can pedal easily without the feeling of pushing, except on inclines. I would say hills, but I haven't really tackled a real hill yet.

AuntieM, madmaxx & Robtown pretty much covered it. Nothing I can add, except to say just keep riding and you'll get there.

The first few rides of 5 miles I thought would kill me. I started riding in June, 2005. By October I had ridden my age, on knobby tires, on a mountain bike on paved streets. I was not then, am not now, and never really was "athletic." I was also WAY overweight.

It comes, almost effortlessly, if you simply ride. No need to push it. Just ride, and you'll soon by amazed (and can amaze your friends) by what you can do.

Gloves are a very good idea - not just for on bike comfort but if you happen to fall off, at any speed, you are more likely to put your hands out than anything else and they stop you messing up the palms of your hands.

Just ride what you can and keep it easy and stress free. Looking back in my log, my first ride back in the game was July last year - I went 3.2 km and my comment was that I was 'totally stuffed' and if I remember rightly, I only barely made it home. I've come a long way since then (covered over 3,500 km since then). The distances just build as your muscles get used to the effort and your cardio system learns to cope again.

And remember, if you're too tired to ride, don't. Recovery is as important as the ride.

Richard

Ah, something I can relate to. I just started riding one year ago, last September. My first ride was about 3 miles and I really suffered. My legs, hands and butt were killing me. I kept at it a bit on that bike and was able to get up to about 8-10 miles over a few weeks, only possible because I put one of those Bell Gel Pads on my saddle. Still wasn't comfortable but it was endurable.

This Spring I started out at 6 miles, with a different bike that fit me better, and a new saddle (was able to get away from the gel pad). I kept my rides modest for a few weeks, maximum ride was 10 miles. And I kept tweaking the bike, for example replacing my handlebars which had a 1.5" rise with ones with a 3" rise, for a more upright riding position. Also started using padded cycling gloves, which really helped my hands.

In the first week of May, I did 18 miles. My legs were getting in better shape, my butt was getting in better shape. The bike and saddle were now pretty good and it was a matter of me riding more to get in better condition.

Last week of May I bumped this to 26 miles, and was in reasonably good comfort across the ride.

I then had the chance to try another saddle, that seemed like it had some promise for me. It was wonderful. That alone enabled me to stay on the bike longer.

With bike now in the right configuration for me, it became a matter of conditioning. I was able to complete a 33 mile ride in early June, a 40 mile ride in late June, and on one magical day in early July, I did 64 miles. Haven't duplicated that since but have done three more 40-45 mile rides. A 25 mile ride is now an enjoyable, lightly-taxing experience.

All of these rides have been rather slow. I'm not too concerned about performance, just exercise, better fitness, enjoying the outdoors, and losing some weight.

As to equipment, I'm riding a hybrid bike using platform pedals and hiking shoes. No cycling clothing, just some athletic gear from Target, except for cycling underliners with padding, which again help with saddle comfort a bit.

Don't worry about having all the right stuff immediately. We all have different ideas about what is necessary. As you progress, the problem that needs to be answered most is probably right in front of you. One answer will lead to another. Don't be afraid to ask any question. But also use the search feature to see what has been said previously. People like DG have asked almost all the questions that can be asked. The answers you need, may already be there.

I'm not sure about the "really riding" thing. Endurance isn't too hard. Train for strength (jumping - pylometrics?). Intervals. Then longer is easier. A couple of years and metric centuries will be a fun Sat AM ride and a 100 mile Century will challenging. 35 miles - that should be a fun stroll in 6 months. Three years and a 100 mile Century won't be any trouble when the time exists. Bike handling, road sense, skills in tight group riding. Well, that depends on how you work at training.

As an example, my wife rode a bit casually off and on for about 10 years with me. Three years ago we really started "training" more. This year she rode a Century and found she had lots of reserve - she just hadn't tried before. She can captain a tandem, climb mountains, thinks of 50 miles as fun. More important: she can corner. She is safe to draft and have drafting. She's completely predictable. I can ride along side her a foot away and chat. She takes crisp, professional, polite, efficient cycling for granted. She figured out that this isn't typical when she started doing various sponsored rides - noticed how sloppy most riding was!

At the beginning, just putting in miles and developing road skills. When 25 miles is fun, you might start structured training. The bicycling mag site and many others have suggestions. Lots comes down to what you want to do with cycling.

it's not supposed to get easier, you just get faster and go farther as your fitness levels go higher than you ever thought possible

It's about time you got a new bike. :D

I had to stop and rest halfway home on the 0.67 mile journey from the LBS when I bought my first bike 18 months ago.

It was a couple of weeks before I could ride all the way to work (3.5 miles) without stopping to rest.

I pushed myself real hard for the first two months and can't remember being pain-free during that period. By the third month I was satisfied enough with my riding that I began to dial it back a bit and enjoy the ride and be relatively pain-free afterwards.

I rode my first 50-miler five months after buying the bike and my first metric century two months after that.

When I started semi-serious riding 2 years ago (I have ALWAYS owned a working bike) 6 miles was a good ride. I was doing that on a second-hand-store clunker mtb. Pretty soon I was doing 20 milers on that junker. Then I bought a Trek mtb, then a Raleigh hybrid. Now I do 14 miles per day - half road, half gravel - and 30 to 50 mile rides on the weekends. I never imagined I would be doing this kind of riding.

And is there any great benefit to wearing bicycle shorts over other knit shorts for distances under 10 miles?
None that I can see.

Matter of fact - bicycle shorts with sewn in padding are meant to worn with nothing under them.

Regular shorts, including underwear, have seams in places that can cause discomfort after only a few miles. It's best to keep these items of clothing away from any part of you that touches the saddle.

There are a few folks who ride with underwear under bike shorts but they are in the minority, and I have a feeling we'll be hearing from a few of them before this is over. :p YMMV

I mean ride longer distances without pain? I've only been riding again this time since last Sunday & I don't know if I'll ever be able actually go anywhere and enjoy it again. By the time I've gone a mile, my thighs are burning and feel so tight it's hard to get off the bike. I don't know how I got so out of shape in just two years of doing nothing when I was fairly active before.

Also, besides the bike & helmet, what was the next piece of equipment or clothing you needed? And is there any great benefit to wearing bicycle shorts over other knit shorts for distances under 10 miles?

I am curious why you get so worn out so quickly. Perhaps I am in the minority, but, after 20 years of not riding, I just got onto my bike and started going places. Mentally, I thought 10 miles was a great distance. Even in my youth, I never really used the bike to go any great distance. Now, a casual ride for me is 50 - 60 miles.

You may respond to the following questions or not - I'm not trying to be nosy, just curious why riding should prove so stressful for you, even if you are just getting back into it:

Would you consider yourself frail?
Overweight?
Smoker?
Other illness that might impede you during exercise?
Are you just over 50 or really over 50 (you know what I mean!!)?
Is your bike in good shape?
Does it fit you?
Is the terrain where you ride super hilly?

I'm thinking that, unless one or more of the above are true, cycling should not be so painful or stressful. I'm no expert on how to increase your distance so that you can actually go some place on the bike since I have never experienced the problem. But, I would imagine that riding in easy gears on flat terrain on a bike that has been properly adjusted for fit and road-worthiness should do it for you.

I think, also, if you can find someone with whom to ride, the company might help to take your mind off the riding and focus your attention elsewhere, like concentrating on where it is that you want to go. Obviously, this companion needs to be someone you trust who won't be pressuring you or making fun of any difficulties you might encounter.

You are already aware that riding should be fun, and, while you can use the bike to push yourself physically, riding should not really stress you out so soon or so thoroughly as you describe.

I read an article in the biking mag to which I subscribe that went something like "a good part of fatigue experienced while riding on a bike is mentally caused." They weren't trying to make the point that a shrink could help you (or that you needed one). The article actually discussed that, as certain parameters, measured involuntarily by the brain, start to reach levels considered critical by our system, the brain starts to impose limits on our performance so that an effort that would otherwise feel normal to us begins to feel like hard work.

That's why I suggest you look for someone with whom to ride who has a little more experience to you. From experience, that companion already "knows," for example, that ten miles is not great challenge to the body, nor is it a great distance on the bike.

If a true friend, that companion will, just by being with you, change your brain's focus away from the process to the more enjoyable aspects of riding.

I may be getting a little long-winded here, but I am sincere in my thoughts and wish you only the best as you delve into cycling once again.

There is just so much to discover, so many beautiful scenes, so much pleasure for you to derive. It would be a shame to have all of that good stuff muted by getting yourself worked up over your perceived riding ability/endurance or lack of same.

Participating in this forum is an excellent initial move. Keep in touch and let us know how things develop for you. I believe I can safely speak for many here that we wish you only the best as you discover (or re-discover) the joy of riding that we all share.

Good luck!

Caruso

Take it easy, you won't have bike legs for one/two months. Ride regularily and increase your mileage gradually. My introduction was first, don't do hill work for awhile. Slowly increased your speed / cadence as you legs grow stronger, then when they gain muscle mass start out with hill work. Eat/sleep right. maybe do some light weight work with your legs like a couple leg lifts. In a couple months you will be fine. And , to get stronger, of course you must experience some pain. Just don't over do it until they are stronger.

I'm wondering whether you have a bike fit issue or are riding in much to high a gear. Riding a bike for a mile should be easier than walking a mile -- that's the whole point of bikes. It's not supposed to hurt at all, unless you are pushing really hard.

Paul

When starting out, set yourself up a goal - around the block - and then you gradually work towards that goal. Once the goal is met, it is then increased (then 2 times around or add another block). Keep your goals realistic.

The hardest thing about starting out is not knowing what your body can do. After experience riding, you will know your body can push through pain or when to slow down and speed up, or when to take little breaks etc. Be patient, don't be hard on yourself. The fact you are trying is awesome. Eventually you will work up to 10 miles.

I used to think 10 miles was a long way and now I won't even get on the bike for less than 20. Once you routinely start doing 20's, 30, 40 amd 50 will seem like nothing and then you'll start working towards a century. After you do a century you realize it's all a big to do about nothing and you become fearless on the bike. Everything is relative.

For equipment, even short rides I would always wear a helmet. Gloves are optional but the purpose is really to protect your hands in a fall. I know many people who ride without gloves even long distances. And always carry water. Always. Just get in the habit even if you are going to be out only 10 minutes.

Ansd bike shorts - yes - get shorts with a chamois (ps don't wear underwear - shorts go on by themselves). It will make sitting on the saddle much more comfortable. Cycling shorts also don't have seams that can rub sensitive areas. I would also recommend that you also carry a spare tube for your tire. Even if you don't know how to fix a flat maybe someone else will.

If your thighs are burning, learn how to "spin" using lower gearing. Remember cycling is an aerobic not anaerobic sport. You should not have to push hard on the pedals to make the bike go (unless you are climbing). The gearing should be low enough you aren't bouncing around on the saddle and you feel like you can ride that way all day.

Lastly if you can, take your bike someplace very pretty to ride. Beautiful scenary is always a motivator to ride.

I agree that biking for a given distance should be easier than walking. If not, something is not right. (Bike does not fit, wrong gear, hilly terrain, bad road, etc.)
I alternate a 3 hour bike ride with a 3 hour hike. The bike ride is easier.

OTOH it is a problem if the bike doesn't fit. I will give you a short story as a reference.
My wife and I started biking again after not biking for 20 years. We will never forget that day.
We see a bike path in South Central WI. There is a bike rental place. It is noon. We go and rent 2 bikes. We hear the bike path is 46 miles round trip. Somehow we thought we could do 15 MPH.:rolleyes:
The path is not paved. The bikes do not move unless you pedal it. We did not get back to the bike shop until 9:00 PM. We had to walk the bike at times. Everything was a pain.

Yesterday we did the same trip in under 3 hours on our Tandem and we congratulated each other for our well being at age 66.
Tomorrow we will do 100 miles and return 100 miles the next day.

AuntieM

Don't let us scare you off with our enthusiasm. Riding 30,40, 50+ miles is not a requirement. Even riding around the block is riding. With that said, I won't be surprised if I read accounts of your first century (100 mile) ride sometime next year.
I don't often have the hours to ride long mileage so I commute to get a chance to ride. The nine miles one way is enough to get my fix most days - and some days (in winter) it seems plenty long.

Robert

Hi AuntieM,
I'm with the others who have mentioned that something might be wrong somewhere between you and your bike. What kind of bike do you have? My husband and I bought hybrids a couple of months ago, and just had some minor aches and pains that were solved with a bit of tweaking. I am so out of shape that riding up a short hill makes me huff and puff something fierce, but we could pretty much ride for hours on the flat right out of the gate. Are you perhaps in a gear that is making you work harder than you need to be? You're in the right place for questions. Best of luck and keep letting us know how it goes.

I don't know if my bike fits or not. It's an '88 Schwinn Sprint, 10 spd. The seat is now at a height that is comfortable for my legs, but I think the handle bars need to be raised. It feels like I'm climbing down a ladder hands first to use the brakes.

The saddle is definitely a problem but I will look for a gel cover and see if that helps.

Another problem I have is that I have limited mobility with one hip and I'm trying to let that leg ride the pedal until it gets to the point I can put pressure on it, and then I let the other leg ride the pedal so I don't wear the good leg out. I'm hoping that riding will loosen up the hip enough that I can put pressure on it during the complete pedal rotation. Does that make sense?

Oh & I tried riding my dd's Specialized Hardrock, but it is definitely not a fit for me.

Hi AuntieM,

If I were you, I'd first get an OK from my doc to ride a bike with the hip mobility issue. Next, I'd go to my LBS and make sure I had a bike that fits my body and the type of riding I do. Good luck with this; the pain you describe might be related to your hip rather than simply being out of shape.

Accessories? Soon after I bought the requisite helmet and locks, I bought some nice baggy and heavily padded bike shorts (from the Shebeast line). They really improved my comfort with the saddle. Next, I bought some gloves with gel padding. Those improved my comfort with my hands. For longer rides, I find that some sort of chamois butter helps a lot down there. I got a little sample from the LBS the other day for $.99 and really like it. Once I started riding for hours at a time in the heat, I found I needed clothing that breathed. Bought myself a sports bra and a couple of jerseys.

Let us know how it goes.

Trudie

Oh, I forgot about equipment. One of those small multi-tool sets, spare tubes, those tire wedger-offer thingies. And bike computer to see how far and fast I'm going. Blinky strobe lights and flourescent green cycling jacket (on sale) for riding in traffic. It really works! I'm always surprised to see how much clearance drivers give me when I'm wearing it. One great thing about being 50+ is that I'm too old to care that I look like a dweeb.

The other thing I highly recommend is taking a Bicycle Street Smarts class. It helped so much to know how to ride with cars. +++ my level of confidence.

Give it time! you took two years to get out of the habit of riding You are tearing the quads down and rebuilding them its going to take a bit for that to stop hurting. It will get better, particularly if you take your bike to a LBS that does know how to fit it for you.

I don't know if my bike fits or not. It's an '88 Schwinn Sprint, 10 spd. The seat is now at a height that is comfortable for my legs, but I think the handle bars need to be raised. It feels like I'm climbing down a ladder hands first to use the brakes.

The saddle is definitely a problem but I will look for a gel cover and see if that helps.

Another problem I have is that I have limited mobility with one hip and I'm trying to let that leg ride the pedal until it gets to the point I can put pressure on it, and then I let the other leg ride the pedal so I don't wear the good leg out. I'm hoping that riding will loosen up the hip enough that I can put pressure on it during the complete pedal rotation. Does that make sense?

When you said your thighs were burning I first wondered if your seat is too low. You entire leg usually gets sore if the seat is the right height. With low handlebars, you might have had the seat lower to compensate. Take your bike to the shop with you, and let them know your problems. At an easy pace on a properly set up bike, you should get sore where you sit on the saddle, and maybe your wrists/arms, but you should be able to go several miles at a pace that seems like little effort, when you're new to riding.

See if this link is any help AM. http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/sport/a/bikefit.htm

You have had lots of good information tossed at you...I am 52 and started riding in April of this year. I just clocked 1000 miles on my Cannodale this past weekend. The best thing I did was get my bike fitted to me. It was the best 35 bucks I could have spent. My seat was way out of adjustment as were my handlebars. A good bike shop can help alot. The next best thing I did was join a local bike club. I went riding at least twice a week sometimes three times. I actually felt better for the long Saturday rides if I only rode Tuesday and Saturday. I just recently changed my seat to a wider one. It seemed to have helped some of my continuing butt pain. I would encourage you to get your bike fitted, join a club, and buy at least some good biking shorts. They should cost around $70 or so bucks. Do not buy cheap!


Good Luck

I mean ride longer distances without pain? I've only been riding again this time since last Sunday & I don't know if I'll ever be able actually go anywhere and enjoy it again. By the time I've gone a mile, my thighs are burning and feel so tight it's hard to get off the bike. I don't know how I got so out of shape in just two years of doing nothing when I was fairly active before.

Also, besides the bike & helmet, what was the next piece of equipment or clothing you needed? And is there any great benefit to wearing bicycle shorts over other knit shorts for distances under 10 miles?

My first year I only rode a little 8-mile loop around our house, and DIED on the hills. I had no concept of training, except that in high school it felt a lot better??!!!

Mrs. Road Fan joined Curves and learned about heart rate monitors, and I got one and started reading about formalized training. Not that Lance will have anythign to worry about, but just should my heart rate get so high so fast? I identified a starting point for training zones, and commenced to try to stay safe until my doctor could get me tested. I noticed endurance and hill strength improving toward the end of the first season, and I could stand on one leg again. No significant weight loss (still!).

EKG was clean, doctor said go have fun, so last year we started taking longer rides, working up to regular 20 milers by the end of last year. New hills were hard, but getting easier. Because her time at Curves amounted to supplemental strength training, my wife started kicking my butt on the 20 milers. I started to explore anaerobic riding, essentially pushing myself to keep up with her. It results in thigh muscle pain, but I recover faster and faster.

This year we've taken on a number of organized rides in the 35 mile range, and I got a formal fitting for my racing bike (it IS a racing bike, but Lance can still be ignorant of my growing power). One one of these we took our friends on their recumbent tandem, they routinely go 30 mph on the downhills on this thing. I got into a good conversation as we were riding, and strove to keep up, and ended up averaging around 25 mph for perhaps 30 minutes with them (still not TdF material!). So here is a sign of real growth.

Auntie, read some serious material on cycling training, and learn about avoiding injury. It is REALLY easy to overcook it and hurt yourself. I don't know how old you are, but in my 50s I do not want to sacrifice several months recovering from injuries that might have taken only a week when I was 18! This 50+ body is different from the younger one, and we have to learn them all over again.

For a short list of kit you need soon, I would recommend a training book (I like "The Lance Armstrong Performance Program" for a basic thing that is easy to follow), a heart rate monitor, a speedometer/cyclocomputer for your bike, and gloves. This assumes you have good shorts. Also a source of information on aches and pains for cyclists: I like Andy Pruitt's Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists. Knowledge helps with preparation, prevention, and healing!

BTW, I do not recommend wearing much if anything under the shorts, due to comfort reasons. Several forthcoming ladies have concurred to me that this works well for them, as well. Mrs. Road Fan, however, does not always buy it.

Glad you've stayed to talk!

AuntieM, madmaxx & Robtown pretty much covered it. Nothing I can add, except to say just keep riding and you'll get there.

Be mindful of your knees! Knee pain in front is often a sign of a seat that is too low, and knee pain in back is a sign of a seat that is too high. Knee injuries are bad news, don't get one.

Getting the seat height right also gets the most power out of your legs, whatever they are capable of delivering at this time.

Road Fan

Some of these guys are forgetting what it's like to start back!

Bicycling uses muscles that just aren't used regularly! Even on an upright cruiser, there's a lot of repetitive action going on your body has to adjust to. And you don't know whether it's your body getting used to things or a poorly fitting bike. In the beginning, there's a lot of soreness. Your neck hurts from looking up and not tilting your neck, your sit bones are sensitive, your shoulders, elbows and wrists are suddenly being used as shock absorbers! Then, later, there's burning feet and lower back pain and saddle sores....

It's good to take it slow and notice every little pain. Some of it, like your leg and butt muscles will be a good kind of pain, but make sure you're never pedaling so hard your knees hurt. One nano-second of knee pain means CHANGE SOMETHING. Other pain, like neck, wrists, and arms mean that you need to develop a new technique or adjust your bike. It can take a couple months to get your form and the bike's fit to mesh.

Everyone* starts out with thinking 3 miles is far. The big milestones that keep getting mentioned are 8 miles, 12 miles, 17 miles, 25 miles, and then it's a free-for-all!

Anyway, yes. Bike riding hurts. But it goes away! OK, I guess it still hurts, but only at longer distances! Seems it only hurts when you're pushing yourself to greater heights unless something is wrong.

Give it 3 weeks of riding 5 days a week and you'll notice improvement. Give it 2 months and you'll amaze yourself.

it's not supposed to get easier, you just get faster and go farther as your fitness levels go higher than you ever thought possible

Actually Lance Armstrong once said (something like) "It never stops hurting, you just start going faster."

Hi AuntieM,

If I were you, I'd first get an OK from my doc to ride a bike with the hip mobility issue. Next, I'd go to my LBS and make sure I had a bike that fits my body and the type of riding I do. Good luck with this; the pain you describe might be related to your hip rather than simply being out of shape.

Accessories? Soon after I bought the requisite helmet and locks, I bought some nice baggy and heavily padded bike shorts (from the Shebeast line). They really improved my comfort with the saddle. Next, I bought some gloves with gel padding. Those improved my comfort with my hands. For longer rides, I find that some sort of chamois butter helps a lot down there. I got a little sample from the LBS the other day for $.99 and really like it. Once I started riding for hours at a time in the heat, I found I needed clothing that breathed. Bought myself a sports bra and a couple of jerseys.

Let us know how it goes.

Trudie

Yes, clothing designed for women! Mrs Road Fan has nearly tossed out all her non-Georgina Terry shorts, now that she sees how good they can be.

+1 on the sports bra. I wrap one around my head to keep my ears warm in Dec/Jan.

AuntieM....as I'm sure someone above has said: better in the beginning to ride short but frequently. Know your threshold and then gently push against it--but not every day. Soon enough that fitness threshold will be like a road mirage--always disappearing before you as you come on. Think of percentage incremental gains. Doubling 5 miles becomes "merely" 10, but doubling 10 becomes the monumental 20 miles, and so on.

Be proud of every ride, and ride for pleasure. Later, when you become obsessive/compulsive and have bought that new, slick bike and are giving advice to newbies, then you can find pleasure in pain (sometimes). I envy you all the pleasure and achievement you have in front of you.

Actually Lance Armstrong once said (something like) "It never stops hurting, you just start going faster."


Almost. It was Greg Lemond who said, "It never gets easier, you just get faster." Greg stole and altered that line from CrossChain, quoted below. But we all mean the same. Cycling is one sport where you can adjust the pain from zero up to puke your brains out while popping both lungs and ripping your knees.

It sure got easier for me!

Earlier this year a 10 mile ride was difficult and painful. Now a 20 mile ride is a relaxing, enjoyable activity.

Sure I could push myself to where I'm trying to knock off a 40-50 miler in record time for me and it would be as difficult and painful as my earlier 8-10 mile rides, but frankly, I'm not inclined to do this. My rides are getting longer and, sometimes, faster, but that's not a big goal for me. It is more of a consequence of being in better shape & sometimes I ride further when the day is right for it.

My favorite ride is something around 25 miles and I LOVE being able to do it in comfort. I'm planning an upcoming 4-day trip where I plan to ride everyday and I'm not sure I'll go over 25-30 on any of those days - but who knows?

Spin to win! Try and keep your cadence high while learning. You can estimate, it doesn't have to be exact, and it's different for everyone, but if you can pedal 80-90 rpm, at least at times, this may help. Work on being smooth, pedal smooth circles, at least as much as you can.
I started with flat 5 mile rides around a local park and did these loops for a whole year, sometimes doing 2 loops and when feeling like King Kong, I would do 3 for 15 miles.
Of course it gets easier, 3 loops of that park now would be an easy warm-up.
I agree that you should have someone help you with the fit of your bike. If you're riding an old road bike and feel the bars are too low, you can buy an extended stem to raise them. Stems also come in different lengths, so you can bring the bars closer to you.
Normally, you should have the seat height so your legs are almost fully extended at the bottom of the stroke, but not so high that your hips rock from side to side. In fact, your upper body should be calm when riding. You will see some riders flail and thrash around with their upper body.

When you said your thighs were burning I first wondered if your seat is too low. You entire leg usually gets sore if the seat is the right height. .

Thinking about your problem I realized this is exactly your problem.

I help out with "newbie" rides for my road club all the time. Biggest issue, the newbies all feel more comfortable with their saddle slammed way down too low so they can stop wiith both feet touching the ground while still sitting on the saddle. This will cause your thighs to burn. I tell the newbies how hard it is to ride that way, with their knees jammed up into their chest, but it's hard to make them change. It is a "fear" thing.

This is something you are going to have to try as you get more comfortable on your bike but you have to raise the saddle. If you can stop, sit on the saddle and have both feet down at the same time, it's way too low. In order for me to stop, I have to slide off my saddle and put one foot down (the other foot remains connected to my pedal cleat); I can not stay sitting on the saddle when stop or I would fall over. Whn stopped, the saddle hits the back of my booty, just below my spine. In order to get back on the saddle I have to life myself up to it while taking off. Go were you can watch other riders and see what I mean - they stop by coming forward off the saddle and start by pushing up and sliding back onto the saddle.

Just keep riding but know eventually you will have to make some adjustments to your bike. It will be amazing how much easier it is to ride once that saddle comes up!

Another thing you mentioned is the bars being too low. Right now I know it feels much more comfrotable - fear wise - to ride bolt upright, that is your body has no lean forward. If this is how you are comfortable stay with it but just know that position puts a ton of pressure on your booty, no saddle will feel that comfortable with all your weight on it. Generally cyclist lean forward, stretch to the handlebars and this eleviates pressure to the sitz bones and girly places. Try not to get a saddle that's too wide. Wider means more pressure to the inner thighs and crevices and will cause chaffing.

My suggestion is to get a fit if you think you can stay with the sport. You will initially be uncomfortable with the fit but in a month or so, it will be better for you. But bottom line just do what makes your feel good and comfortable and keeps you riding. In no time, fit and equipment will start to be more important than comfort.

If you can find some more experienced riders to ride with you, even a few times, they can offer you more and better advice by seeing you and your bike in person than we could ever hope to do across the internet.

I started riding on June 23 of this year, after being off a bike for 15 years. By July 22, I did my first century. I think what helped me was doing 30+ miles every other day, instead of every day, giving my quads time to recover.

Even though I ride a 'bent and don't really need them for my butt, I bought bike shorts just to keep the bees out. I found some with a minimal amount of padding.

About a week before my first century, I bought clips and shoes. The main reason was that I was getting pain in my arches, and my tennis shoes just didn't provide enough support.

Sunglasses with interchangeable lenses are very helpful, too.

I bought stainless steel water bottles, which have eliminated the plastic tasted from water that's been in the sun for a while.

Your legs will gradually get used to it. Just be sure to give them some recovery time.

In order for me to stop, I have to slide off my saddle and put one foot down (the other foot remains connected to my pedal cleat); I can not stay sitting on the saddle when stop or I would fall over. Whn stopped, the saddle hits the back of my booty, just below my spine. In order to get back on the saddle I have to life myself up to it while taking off.

Yes, that's about where I have it now.

I did get my dr's ok before starting. He suggested cycling or swimming & since I don't swim... I'm supposed to walk every day & that is hard on my joints and the low-impact sport is supposed to build muscle strength to make the walking easier. I'm 52 btw.

I do have some progress to report, not about cycling, but I'm sure it's related. Yesterday, while standing, I was able to lift my knee high enough to put on my shorts without hip pain. I don't remember the last time I was even able to put on shorts while standing. I usually have to sit because I couldn't lift my knee high enough. Next I'll have to see if I can put on my sock the normal way.

I'll try to find a way to get the bike to a bike shop for a fitting. That sounds like a good idea.

Do bees really get into your shorts? And I thought spider webs were bad.

Chaco, where did you find a stainless water bottle? I don't like the plastic taste either.

Oh & not that I'm there yet, but how do you find a bike club?

I tend to agree with BCIpam on most things, but not on this. The advice on saddle height is spot-on, but the relationship to the bars (being low) probably isn't a good one for you at this time. Bars set lower than the saddle peak are oriented towards performance riding. I know - there are lots of exceptions, and the rules for fit are somewhat arbitrary, but you are a new, middle-aged rider with some physical challenges.

If you have the saddle set like BCIpam says, that's good. Your legs should be nearly straight at the bottom of the crank cycle, with the balls of your feet on the pedal axis. If you feel like you are doing an isometric pushup off your hands/wrists during your ride, the bars are too low for you. I posit that stretching for the bars or leaning forward to the point of actually noticing is not for beginning riders who may not be as flexible as they used to be.

The bars:
I would rotate them upwards/backwards so the ramps are dead level with the ground. The ramps are the part that makes the bend and transitions into the brake hoods. Never mind what the angle of the drop portion is. You will likely not use that area much (for now).

Loosen the stem nut and actually raise the stem/bars so the tops are as high as the saddle. Do not expose the stem quill further than the SAFE line. You should experience good results right away, but be aware that this transfers weight to the sitbones, so a different saddle may be in order. There's lots of choices there, and many opinions as well. For females, the Terry ladies models seem well represented everywhere I go.

The distance and improvement will come, comensurate with how comfortable you are on the bike.

EDIT: For that bike, I recommend getting a pair of bike shorts. No underwear.

Oh & not that I'm there yet, but how do you find a bike club?

A good start would be to ask someone at the bike shop if there are any clubs or groups in your area that cater to beginning riders. You may not need to wait until you are "there'. You could also go to Google and search for "bicycle club" and the name of your town.

A good start would be to ask someone at the bike shop if there are any clubs or groups in your area that cater to beginning riders. You may not need to wait until you are "there'. You could also go to Google and search for "bicycle club" and the name of your town.

Right. And, don't be afraid to e-mail the club officers, letting them know what your riding level is. In our club, we have alot of people who are there because they became dissatisfied at the lack of information from some club. They showed up and were promptly dropped somewhere "out there" with no one sweeping for stragglers. Look for a recreational club that has a stated No Drop policy. Many clubs maintain a website with lots of pics from their past rides. Take a look at the folks and you can pretty much tell if it might be a good fit. Know what I mean?

Example: this is one of the clubs I spend alot of time with. We have most levels and the more advanced riders can go ahead or sweep, taking turns at making sure everyone is ok.

http://seattlebiketours.org/

Aunti M -welcome to the forum - other than liking white bikes, Gary said it best - quote - "It comes, almost effortlessly, if you simply ride. No need to push it. Just ride, and you'll soon by amazed (and can amaze your friends) by what you can do."
Good luck. Someone else said something about building distance is a bit like eating an elephant - you do it a little bit at a time!
And its addicting, too!

[i]

I do have some progress to report, not about cycling, but I'm sure it's related. Yesterday, while standing, I was able to lift my knee high enough to put on my shorts without hip pain. I don't remember the last time I was even able to put on shorts while standing. I usually have to sit because I couldn't lift my knee high enough. Next I'll have to see if I can put on my sock the normal way.

I'll try to find a way to get the bike to a bike shop for a fitting. That sounds like a good idea.

Do bees really get into your shorts? And I thought spider webs were bad.

Chaco, where did you find a stainless water bottle? I don't like the plastic taste either.

Oh & not that I'm there yet, but how do you find a bike club?

Those kinds of gains are a big part of what I love about biking these days, balance and mobility!

I just googled "dfw cycling," and got http://www.bikedfw.org/. This looks like a great starting place.

Use the club to find a good suitable fitter. Some local shops just look at your saddle and say "oh well that looks ok," and others will do a technical job of it, measureing your limbs and seeing how you move on the bike. If they have some knowledge of handling body assymmetries, even better!

Road Fan

[QUOTE=AuntieM;5322683

I do have some progress to report, not about cycling, but I'm sure it's related. Yesterday, while standing, I was able to lift my knee high enough to put on my shorts without hip pain. I don't remember the last time I was even able to put on shorts while standing. I usually have to sit because I couldn't lift my knee high enough. Next I'll have to see if I can put on my sock the normal way.

I'll try to find a way to get the bike to a bike shop for a fitting. That sounds like a good idea.

Do bees really get into your shorts? And I thought spider webs were bad.

Chaco, where did you find a stainless water bottle? I don't like the plastic taste either.

Oh & not that I'm there yet, but how do you find a bike club?[/QUOTE]

The "non-weight bearing" motion of cycling at an easy pace is something Physical Therapists have people do. This "might" be what is helping you move your joints a little better.

Chaco has a recomfortable, errr, recumbent bike, and when we ride our legs stick forward instead of down. Wearing shorts that are loose at the bottom of the leg can allow insects to be caught in the "net".



Google "Bicycle Clubs" in your town and see what turns up. The local bike shops should be able to tell you.

http://www.greaterdallasbicyclists.com/links/index.html