Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - First Time On A Bike For Over 35 Years!

I did it! I stayed upright, not very far - just down the lane, u-turn and back again. But you've no idea how pleased I am with myself to even have got this far. With the support of my husband and this forum I've overcome my fear of being thought completely ridiculous and made a start!

I realise this is where the real work begins but for me to be thinking "Yes I will do it" rather than "No-way can I do that" is a pretty major achievement for me. I've had a pretty rough year and I've never been very good at trying things without being sure I could do them for fear of seeming foolish, so.... I'm chuffed to bits.

Thanks all for your support and encouragement. Now the hard work starts!!

I'll keep you posted - I find just "writing" this down helps, maybe I should start a blog too...

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff98/timetostart/bikeandmesmiling.jpg

Yes, start a blog! It's an excellent tool to keep yourself motivated. Don't write in it for anyone but yourself, though. Putting it out there on the net is fantastic as a motivator! :D

Congrats and it only gets better! :D

Congratulations! You do look quite pleased :D . Oh, and your bike looks good too! Keeping a blog would be brilliant...

East Hill

"...chuffed to bits?" :D What does that mean?

Great start and WELCOME!
http://bestsmileys.com/welcome/1.gif

Don't forget to drop into the "Athena's" thread up above and introduce yourself to the ladies.

Means she's extremely pleased! :D

Congrats and welcome! I've just started riding again myself after many moons and have found the folks in this forum to be very welcoming and encouraging!

And nice bike!

Definitely start a blog, it's great to have something to look back on as you progress.

That is a nice bike! I'm a big fan of the bomber!!!

Welcome to our community of cyclists!

Congrats! I too think that is a sweet looking ride. Always remember that as soon as you get on the bike and turn that first pedal revolution, you are way ahead of most people!

Very nice. Every mile or kilometer start with the first stroke of the pedal. Today the driveway, tomorrow the world. Keep it up and you will be doing the ride across Scotland one day.

Congrats to you! It all about the first peddle.....

Congrats!!!!! Three years ago.....I too mounted up for the first time in over 10 years....I can still remember the feelings.

Keep going!!!

Way to go. Don't try to do too much at first. Small steps DO add up QUICKLY! (you will amaze yourself)
Keep it FUN!

Congrats timetostart, well done!! I just started to ride myself after a 30+ year hiatus and that feeling of accomplishment is still fresh in my mind :)

Awesome. Blogging or just mileage journals with notes on the ride is definitely good to do. Someday sooner than you think you'll hit a mileage you didn't think possible and you'll look back to these first rides with some amusement.

Sharing your joy & excitement with us makes me feel cheery. Very snazzy looking bike. Just keep riding no matter what the distance.

:beer: Hip Hip Hooray!!!!

timetostart....did the bike shop check that bike's fit for you? I may be wrong, but the saddle looks awfully low compared to the handlebars. If it feels uncomfortable in any way, I'd take it back and have the shop fit it to you properly.

Congrats!

What part of Scotland are you from? I was stationed @ RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and visited Melrose & Edinburgh :)

Thanks for all your comments, I really appreciate your encouragement! :)

FireDawgStew - We live in Angus, it's known as "The Gateway to the Glens" - can't wait to get out there now I've conquered my fear! Next thing is to improve my ability!!

King Termite - thanks for your observations. You're right. The guys in the shop had it set higher but said to move it lower for just a wee while so my feet readily touch the ground while not confident - I am very short legged(!) and a scaredy cat :eek: - then raise it back ASAP to where he set it to have a more comfortable ride.:D

King Termite - thanks for your observations. You're right. The guys in the shop had it set higher but said to move it lower for just a wee while so my feet readily touch the ground while not confident - I am very short legged(!) and a scaredy cat :eek: - then raise it back ASAP to where he set it to have a more comfortable ride.:D
Sounds like a good plan. :) :beer:

That's a nice bike! My advice is to work into it gradually, and then stick with it. After the initial enthusiasm wears off you will probably experience days when it seems too much trouble to get on the bike, and you let yourself talk yourself out of going on a ride. I've done it many times. But, hopefully, you'll discover that if you force yourself to go, once you get out on the road you'll be loving it, and feel grateful that you didn't allow yourself to wimp out. Keep in touch via this forum!

I took my dad on his first bike ride in about 25 years this weekend. I feel guilty that we did 27 miles, but he did well, and besides his butt, he wasn't as sore as he expected. I wasn't trying to kill him (we took a lot of breaks) but he was very proud. I have pictures, but don't know how to post them...any help?

I took my dad on his first bike ride in about 25 years this weekend. I feel guilty that we did 27 miles, but he did well, and besides his butt, he wasn't as sore as he expected. I wasn't trying to kill him (we took a lot of breaks) but he was very proud. I have pictures, but don't know how to post them...any help?

Open a Photobucket account and paste in the Forum Code link by the pictures.

Bloody awesome keep up the good work
remember
"THe littlest things make the biggest difference"

Congrats! I remember how hard it was to start up again last year after a decade off. I notice you've lowered your seat down quite a bit on that contraption. I would strongly suggest you look into a cruiser or "comfort" style bike to get you started again. You seem to be naturally trying to adjust it along those lines--with the handlebars up higher than the seat. There's nothing wrong with this, but a rock hopper isn't really intended to be ridden that way. I started up on an Electra cruiser and moved gradually to a Marin Redwood, which I've slowly turned into more of a hybrid bike. Only now, after a year, am I shifting to a mountain bike again. Here's the redwood:

http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2007/html/bikes/bike_specs/specs_redwood.html

As you can see, the bars are up a few inches over the seat. This allows you to stay at a higher angle and was easier on my old bones. On the down side, it limits your ability to use your larger muscles for powering over obstacles and up slopes. It also means you're hitting more wind. But for starting out I found this was not a big deal.

If that one works for you, you're ahead of the game. But you should at least try a cruiser or a Redwood style bike. The cruisers are particularly nice because they're incredibly stable and the Electras allow you to always have a foot down on the ground if needed.

Hi Cosmoline - As I said to King Termite who spotted the same thing - The guys in the shop had it set higher but said to move it lower for just a wee while so my feet readily touch the ground while not confident - I am very short legged(!) and a scaredy cat :eek: - then raise it back ASAP to where he set it to have a more comfortable ride.:D

To everyone who has given me encouragement to start, here's the news! -Today, I had my first proper ride!!

I was tickled pink, but knackered - sore bum, wobbly legs, sweaty and beetroot-red faced, but everyone has to start somewhere. It was only a couple of miles of undulating country lane, but it's a couple of miles more than I ever imagined I could do!!

I've started a blog but not sure how to put a link to it here, must check that out.

PS Managed a link to BLOG when you click my "name"....

Hi Cosmoline - As I said to King Termite who spotted the same thing - The guys in the shop had it set higher but said to move it lower for just a wee while so my feet readily touch the ground while not confident - I am very short legged(!) and a scaredy cat :eek: - then raise it back ASAP to where he set it to have a more comfortable ride.:D

To everyone who has given me encouragement to start, here's the news! -Today, I had my first proper ride!!

I was tickled pink, but knackered - sore bum, wobbly legs, sweaty and beetroot-red faced, but everyone has to start somewhere. It was only a couple of miles of undulating country lane, but it's a couple of miles more than I ever imagined I could do!!

I've started a blog but not sure how to put a link to it here, must check that out.

PS Managed a link to BLOG when you click my "name"....

just typr in the URL, and the Forum will autoformat it as a link, http://theamazingshrinkingman.blogspot.com

Makt sure the http:// is in fromnt of the www, if applicable, like http://www.bikeforums.net

and your blog is: http://timetostarthasbegun.blogspot.com/

Congratulations! I too started riding this summer after not riding anything for 22 years or so. It was a bit hard at first (although I had some cardio base already from a lot of speed walking). On my first ride me bum hurt pretty good and I had to walk up a hill that I now just laugh at (did my hardest hill ever this last Friday which is twice as long and nearly twice as steep as that one). It's amazing. I'm doing more on the bike than I ever thought I would at this point. Just keep at it and I'm confident you will have the same experience!

Now I am addicted and my wife says I talk to much about it. Like every time I see another cyclist or a tasty looking climb :D. Even got a trainer so I can train all winter in the dark! :D

Good luck and keep on turning those cranks!

:)

Thanks Tom, I'll give it a go

http://timetostarthasbegun.blogspot.com

Is there an easy way to have it appear every time I post rather than type each time?
Somewhere in the user control panel??

I'll try again

Great stuff, done it

Thanks again Tom

Thanks Tom, I'll give it a go

http://timetostarthasbegun.blogspot.com

Is there an easy way to have it appear every time I post rather than type each time?
Somewhere in the user control panel??

Well, you could edit your profile to display a signature line and put the link there. That's the easiest way. ;)

Ah! I see you found it ;) Cool!

Congratulations on the new bike! It should serve you well and is nice looking to boot. Nice color too:).

Don't worry about the sore bum and wobbly legs, these will go away with time. If your bottom side is still uncomfortable after rides for a month or so then you might want to look into some padded biker shorts. Just take things slow while your body gets used to riding a bicycle again, you'll be riding 20, 50, 100+ mile rides before you know it.

Sore bum for a month!! Ooh!

Think you are a bit optimistic with the milages too, Bau, but I'll keep working at it and we'll see!

Sore bum for a month!! Ooh!

Think you are a bit optimistic with the milages too, Bau, but I'll keep working at it and we'll see!

I suspect that you'll be rather surprised at your gains. ;)

Maybe 50-100 miles IS overly optimistic, but as Tom said- You WILL be surprised at your gains.
One "secret" is to ride every day, even if it's "around the block". Each day you DON'T ride, you revert back. Even a short ride will reduce THAT amount.
As I mentioned in my earlier post, keep it FUN! Over extending yourself to the point of misery puts a "sour taste" in your mouth and is one of the worst things to do.
When in doubt about if you need to shift, stay in the lower gear. Spinning freely is easier on your stamina and body parts then pushing hard.
When your confidence level is high enough, raise the seat. You might even raise it incrementally as yor confidence increases.
You'll want to have it set to a height where you'll fully extend your legs with your HEELS on the pedals without rocking the hips. That will get you EXTREMELY close to the ideal height.
As you get experienced, you'll notice that even 1/2" too low makes the legs feel sluggish.

what a neat bike, I love the color!! I just started riding about two months ago; I bought a folding bike and I keep it in my car, and try to ride for 30 minutes every day at lunchtime. There's lots of hills, so most of the time I only go about 4-5 miles, but it's wonderful. The only problem is, I'm having more and more problem coming back to work, I just want to keep riding. The longest distance I've ridden is 13 miles, at a recent charity ride. But it felt great, and I'm already looking forward to next year's ride. I wish my husband was into as well, but for now I am just enjoying my bike. I really enjoyed your blog too, I can really relate.
vickie

Sore bum for a month!! Ooh!

Think you are a bit optimistic with the milages too, Bau, but I'll keep working at it and we'll see!

It gives you something to shoot for. Might take a year, might take five but you got your eyes on a prize. Stay at it and stay optimistic yourself and you might just be surprised how much you'll progress.

Ride on and be safe.

Bau

Great start. Especially as it must be getting a little nippy up there by now. There aren't too many Scots on the forum, but my Grandmother was (her family is from Whitehills which must be about directly north of Angus) so I'll translate where necessary!

Keep it up!

Tom (or wee Tam if it makes you feel at home)

:) Your Smile says it all! Congrats and keep cycling!

:)Hi everyone,
Been out again the last two days. Same sort of distance, out and back, but a good few steady inclines to help me get used to the gears. I have been raising the saddle a little each time as I gain confidence, which is helping.
Thanks again for all the help!:D

Sounds great timetostart......no longer time to start....you done started! :beer:

Great start. Especially as it must be getting a little nippy up there by now. There aren't too many Scots on the forum, but my Grandmother was (her family is from Whitehills which must be about directly north of Angus) so I'll translate where necessary!

Keep it up!

Tom (or wee Tam if it makes you feel at home)

Another Tom of Scot descent here, My Gramps is from Glasgow and my Gram is from Skye ;)

Congratulations! You look as though you're having fun, and that's what it's all about. Healthful exercise is all well and good, but virtue is boring. The best thing about a bike is the memories of being a kid, escaping the apron strings on your two-wheeled freedom machine, whizzing downhill with your arms outstretched and shouting, "Wheeeeee!" It all comes back.

Always been a feardie-cat - never did arms outstretched and certainly not up to that yet!!!

I've have had a few "Wheeee!"s :D but also one or two "OH sh*t!!"s :eek: as I rumbled :o downhill!!

But you're right it's fun, damned hard, but fun:)