Introductions - Lady Clydesdale needs help to start mountain biking

Hi everyone,
Came across a link to the Clydesdale section of this forum on Yahoo Answers and thought someone out there might be able to help me. To be honest I'm more of an overweight Shetland Pony than a Clydesdale! I'm approaching 50 years old, 5'2", over 220lb and haven't ridden a bike since I was in my teens. Sounds really bad when you write it down - it's time to do something! Fancy a mountain bike for off-road biking. Obviously first stop is a good local bike store, but I'd appreciate any other advice.
Many thanks!
ps local bike shop does Marin bikes - are they any good?

Hello timetostart--you are an Athena! And Marins are pretty good. Definitely check out the C/A Forum--there's a sticky there for good bikes for the Clydes and Athenas.

Where are you in the UK? Are you related to me :D ?

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

Welcome aboard...... cycling is a great way to shed the pounds. Yes Marin's are great bikes and the MTB's are solid machines with good components. Had a few in the past, was never disapointed with the product.

I can share with you how I got into bike riding after 15 years. First off I am 52 and 195 lbs. I have been riding a mountain bike for six months. (landrider auto shift, around $400 on ebay) I love this bike for the beginner, I always found shifting awkward. I don't go off road with it. For the beginner I don't think off road is a good idea, more chances of crashing, at least around here in Az with rocks and dirt and hills.
I also suggest you start walking first. I walked for 8 months before getting on a bike, not sure you would have to do that long first. Others may give you different advice. I am no expert, just sharing what worked for me.
I have lost 32# without dieting. But seems to have slowed down, so I have to change something. Ride longer or add weight lifting or add some walking back in.
Hope this helps. You can do it, it is never too late, and you are never too old to start. At first balance will be hard, but you quickly pick it up.

To be honest I'm more of an overweight Shetland Pony than a Clydesdale! I'm approaching 50 years old, 5'2", over 220lb and haven't ridden a bike since I was in my teens. Sounds really bad when you write it down - it's time to do something!

You have the right attitude for sure. Here's the rub, you are going to start cycling to lose weight and be more healthy. You'll keep riding becasue it's soooooooo much fun!

Good luck, TTT. Be sure to come back and post more questions. We are now part of your support group. :)

BTW, welcome to BikeForums!

... Brad

Welcome, timetostart. Sounds like the perfect username. :)

As East Hill said, come on over to the clydesdale/athena sub-forum and check out some of the 'sticky' threads on bikes. If you don't find your answer, that is probably the best place for you to post questions.

Also, parroting East Hill, you are an "Athena". That is what the "female version of a clydesdale" is called. :)

Thanks to all for friendly and enthusiastic answers. Thanks too for telling me about the Athena/Clydesdale terminology!! (woops!). Since posting first message have taken a trip to a bike shop and it wasn't so scary...
I'm sure I'll use the clydesdale/athena sub forum when the questions start popping in my head.

Thanks again.

Time to start!!

Thanks to all for friendly and enthusiastic answers. Thanks too for telling me about the Athena/Clydesdale terminology!! (woops!). Since posting first message have taken a trip to a bike shop and it wasn't so scary...
I'm sure I'll use the clydesdale/athena sub forum when the questions start popping in my head.

Thanks again.

Time to start!!

We actually have a fun thread in the C/A forum about the namesake Clydesdales...

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=347763

How was your trip to the LBS? Did you get a bike?

East Hill

Why are you thinking of MTB/off-road? As a novice, you might find road riding, perhaps on a hybrid, an easier place to start. Less rolling resistance, no?

"TIMETOSTART HAS BEEN-AND-GONE-AND-DONE-IT"
Taken the plunge (and a heap of advice from our very helpful local bike shop) and bought a Marin Juniper Trail. My husband has got himself a Marin Rocky Ridge. Decided if we are going to do it we should do it as right as we can afford. Plan to do exactly as you guys are suggesting to start with. "Mountain" biking is a long way off. Pathway riding will be more the thing to start with! We've lots of flat forest trails and quiet country roads where we live. My bike arrives next week, hubby's in November. So we are (almost) on our way!!
Thanks again for all the advice.

Brilliant!

We'll need reports when you've gotten going :) .

East Hill

Oh, I envy you! I would long to take a ride through a beautiful country road. I live in the desert, so that says it all. My neighborhood is a nice ride though. I want to take a trip to our mountains about 1/2 hour away, even if I just get to ride around the campgrounds. Gotta get a bike rack.
By the way, are those your two kitties? They look like my two, Sassi and Songa, one a Bengal, the other part Savannah.

Yes we are very lucky with our scenery in these parts. Can't wait to get started...
The cats are Woody and one of his sisters, Betsy, 2 of our 12 moggies, all waifs and strays we have rescued over the years! Guess you could say we are cat lovers!:)

No doubt!

Mr. East Hill restricts me to only three cats...but we also have three snakes :) .

And 12 bikes.

East Hill