Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - One year anniversary

Yesterday was my one year anniversary of riding a bike (excepting my childhood riding). I bought a cheap flat bar road bike (a mistake for me in retrospect) which is still my main bike. The bike is fine, I just wish I had drop bars now...:(. Saving up slowwwwwly for a new one. I originally bought the bike so I could go out and ride with my 8 year old daughter. I never imagined that I would enjoy it as much as I quickly came to.

So, for my first year on the bike I managed the following...

Miles

1320 - first 6 mo
1770 - last 6 mo
3090 - total

Time (hr:min)

85:15 - first 6 mo
107:22 - last 6 mo
192:37 - total

Climbing

47,855' - first 6 mo
72,375' - last 6 mo
120,230 - total

Other benefits...

1. Lost about 40 pounds in that year and acheived Clye Emeritus status
2. Went from 38 pants to 34 pants and XL shirts to L shirts (with M possibly in site)
3. Resting HR dropped from about 60 to 48
4. Increase in avg power in last 6 mo on 10 mi TT from 161W to 205W (still pretty low :D)
5. A "long" ride used to be 15-20 miles. Now 35 - 40 is a "short" ride (unless I'm doing intervals :D)
6. Blood pressure dropped from the 130ish/90ish range to consistently in the 115ish/65ish range
7. I consistently feel a LOT better than I used to.
8. Oh yeah...I can see some ribs and six pack starting to poke through :D

I started all of this at 44. I really wish I had done this 10 years ago (or more). I wanted to share you with you guys & gals here because you have been a great inspiration for me as I started and continued this hobby. Thanks to you guys and gals for that inspiration and the inspiration that I continue to get from you!

Congratulations, keep up the good work!

Three thousand miles in your first year back on the bike is outstanding! Ditto for your weight loss. Cheers to you, John.

I am humbled by your efforts. I made about 1000 miles last year, and at my current rate, won't hit that this year.

Good job, John!

Thanks guys.

In all fairness I had been speed walking and swimming prior to getting the bike. So I had gotten a bit of fitness before then. However, cycling brought it to a new high and I really enjoy continuing to increase my fitness.

I am humbled by your efforts. I made about 1000 miles last year, and at my current rate, won't hit that this year.

Don't be...

Miles don't matter. Time spent and does and quality relative to your fitness level does. Just keep on riding and enjoying it. 1000 miles is probably several hundred more than most folks do ;)

Congratulations on your milestone!http://smilies.sofrayt.com/fsc/party4.gif

I got a lump in my throat when you said you wished you had done it 10 years ago! i'm 33 and trying to do it now. You're great to do it at any age and you're my inspiration for the day:) Well done!

Just curious do you find it as easy to remember other important dates i.e. wedding anniversary, birthdays etc or is this top of the list. I know loads of people who can't remember their own birthdays let alone cycling anniversaries;-) lol

I ususally remember the most important dates (ie. the dates where if I forget them I am a dead man, wedding anniversary, wife & daughter birthday). I remember the next level down dates as well. My Mom & Dad's B-days and somewhat surprisingly, my in-law's B-days. Anything past that I'm clueless :D

I'm thinking that I won't remember the day I started cycling again a year from now. Although, I keep a detailed log of my workouts. So, I can always figure it out ;). Although, maybe I will remember. It's the day before I have to mail a stinkin' check to the Govt.

Grrrr.....:mad:

I got a lump in my throat when you said you wished you had done it 10 years ago! i'm 33 and trying to do it now. You're great to do it at any age and you're my inspiration for the day:) Well done!


Get to it and don't look back. I used to be (in my teens and early 20's) extremely fit and a pretty decent athlete. I really let myself go from about 23 on. Thing is, I really enjoyed getting out and playing hoops or football and stuff like that and as I deteriorated I couldn't do it very well. Now I'm old and will never be able to do that stuff close to as well as I used to. Where, if I would have maintained my fitness (or gotten it back earlier) I would have been able to enjoy a pretty high level of performance all those years.

Oh well, if I can get back to 75% of what I used to be able to do, I will still be able to get out an lay some arse whoop on a lot of youngins. As long as they don't go for my knees :eek:. Especially the ones that sit around and watch TV and exercise their thumbs on the X-box :D.

Thanks guys :)

1000 miles is probably several hundred more than most folks do ;)

As I work for the Office for National statistics in the UK, I can confirm* that the average UK person cycles 35 miles a year.


*this isn't actually confirmed, I can't be bothered to look it up, but I'm sure it was around this number.

All this bragging and I have to ride with you this weekend? Do you have a helmet that fits?:D

All this bragging and I have to ride with you this weekend? Do you have a helmet that fits?:D

Oh, that was other benefit I forgot to mention...

My body has adapted so that I now have grown a permanent hard shell around the top of my head that grows as needed to accomodate head size. But I think that came from being bitten by a radio active armadillo, but I'm not sure.

:D

As I work for the Office for National statistics in the UK, I can confirm* that the average UK person cycles 35 miles a year.


*this isn't actually confirmed, I can't be bothered to look it up, but I'm sure it was around this number.

disastrous, i'd say thats the worst in europe? after ireland:( i'd say the scandinavian countries are mighty though and make up for us. compare that to the amount of "mileage" we get out of our couches and tv.