I've been struggling to get a bike that fits, ... still working on it (need to install long stem & new brake/shifter cables due to new handlebar height.), but just the same I've been riding these small 3-mile rides with my kids about once a week. Well the first ride I was nearly dying after a mile, as the first 1/2 mile is all uphill, although it's a gentle slope. I've probably only ridden this 3 mile stretch (1.5 miles out and back) once a week for the past month or so but now my kids and I can ride it without stopping and it's getting easier. The past few times have been painful in the knees, so I haven't pushed it, until yesterday, then I pushed it and my youngest almost kept up with me. I'm 40, 285-lbs @ 6'4"... shamefull, they should be riding circles around me at 11 & 12-yrs old. We'll now be riding this little ride every day it doesn't rain and hopefully graduating to longer rides down to the lake this weekend. Oh yeah, and my butt is starting to toughen up so that I prefer the smaller harder saddle over the cheap-o vinyl brooks w/springs. Still looking forward to being on a bike that fits... I can see that being a whole different experience. 2 weeks ago I scored a Motobecane Nomade and even though the bike needs a bit of work(new front wheel/taller handlebars. raise seat to match etc.) I really like the ride over my slightly smaller Puch.
So what's interesting is that just this little bit of excercise and trying to eleminate fast food have lead to my bringing in the belt a notch and every now and again for no reason at all I get this really weird feeling of feeling good... like a sense of wellbeing and strength.

Strange

Welcome to the madness! :D

Small steps lead to big results. Keep it up!

Thanks Tom, you and several others on this board are a big (no pun intended) inspiration for me. Last winter at the Doctors office they gave me a printout that told me I was "obese" ... I've always been overweight and suspect that will always be the case as the only time I wasn't was due to cigarettes, but I quit those 10 years ago and dont intend on going back. Finding this forum has been a great motivator to get out and actually do something...

What blows my mind is that I've only done this little 3mile ride about 6 times total but it's done so much for me already.
Last week my friends came over and we played some music and then I invited them on a bike ride. I've accumulated a few bikes, just none big enough for me yet, but the 4 of us plus my 2 kids went out for a ride and It was a great thing to share with them. They all had a good time riding and I will probably give them all bikes eventually, but my friend who is really obese is getting one from me next week. He was digging it and tearing it up, so I bet he'll be hooked once I get the derailers adjusted.

So what's interesting is that just this little bit of excercise and trying to eleminate fast food have lead to my bringing in the belt a notch and every now and again for no reason at all I get this really weird feeling of feeling good... like a sense of wellbeing and strength.

Strange

Sometimes I hang out on a message board for folks who have had weight loss surgery. Over there it is called a NSV--Non Scale Victory. Since, most of us, are around ourselves all the time we tend not to notice the progress. It is really cool when all of a sudden, out of the blue, you get a sense of being in better shape than you used to be. It almost makes me want to go to a mirror to see if this is really me!

Great work and congratulations on your progress. And, you are getting some great time with your kids. Much better than you parked on the couch and them off in another room becoming one with the XBox.

"The past few times have been painful in the knees, so I haven't pushed it,..."

Is the seat height correct? 10MM too low and my knees hurt! (I recently discovered after installing shorter cranks and forgetting to raise the seat) Check this link. I modify it a bit by just riding and getting some speed up. I then do the "heel thing" while pedaling forward.

http://bikenhike.com/page.cfm?pageid=23&FAQid=25

Also, ride every day, even if it's just around the block. It REALLY keeps you from "reverting" as much.

"The past few times have been painful in the knees, so I haven't pushed it,..."

Is the seat height correct? 10MM too low and my knees hurt! ...*snip*...


Oh yeah, seat is Way too low... but until I can install the tall stem and raise the handlebars, I can't raise the seat or I get really bad back and wrist pain. Then once I raise the handlebars I have to install new longer cables :) It's a domino thing. I got the parts last week, but haven't been able to install them yet. Thinking of taking a day off just to work on the bike & then ride without having to go do this or that. After I get those basics done, I believe wider handlebars and knee savers will be in order. When I finally get a bike dialed in I know I'm really going to ride.

............ but the 4 of us plus my 2 kids went out for a ride and It was a great thing to share with them. They all had a good time riding and I will probably give them all bikes eventually, but my friend who is really obese is getting one from me next week. He was digging it and tearing it up, so I bet he'll be hooked once I get the derailers adjusted.

The gift that keeps on giving & may seriously change someone's life.
Now that's what I call good Karma....... :)

Well Done!! :thumb:

Until you can adjust the seat higher, avoid "mashing". Use a lower gear and spin.

I'm afraid to "mash" partially because I don't want to mess up my knees and partially because I don't want to warp these old wheels with too much torque. I have to make them last until I can afford to build up a wheelset of Deep V's w/heavy duty spokes. So I've been putting my heels on the pedals and gearing for the hills to minimize wear & tear.

Today I was able to put on the tall stem and run the new brake cables on the Nomade. WOW! What a difference that made. I only had time for a quick test run but I did my little 3 mile ride with no leg pain! That was awesome! My seat wasn't dialed in right yet so shortly after the 1/2 way point I was getting wrist pain on my right hand as I wasn't able to sit much. I was thinking I'll need a set-back post, but when I got home I saw that the seat was tilted forward a bit, so I adjusted it and took it for a spin around the driveway. It feels fantastic, but we'll see once I put a couple of miles on it. Tomorrow weather permitting, I'm going to try for the 10-mile ride I've been wanting to do.

I started on a mountain bike that was about one size too small. I did a lot of adjusting before things stopped hurting. I had pains in the front of the knees, so I raised the seat. I then had pains in the back of the knees, so I lowered it a bit.

It had an adjustable stem so I raised it to keep my hands from going numb. I tried some different seats but ended up returning to the stock gel seat. The key for me with butt pain was realizing when my sit bones weren't on the seat properly and then adjusting the seat position forward and backward to make sure they tended to stay there during a ride. Another trick that helps is get up off the saddle at regular intervals. All it takes is 30 seconds, but do it every mile or every 5 minutes or whatever works for you. It keeps your butt pain from getting to the tragic level. :-)

John

I learned to ride lite a long time ago, nothing like hitting a transition in the road from pavement to gravel and getting slammed hard in the tailbone and risking a pinch flat. Lately I've been riding perched with the seat pinched between my thighs because I couldn't get the seat back far enough or high enough to actually sit on. The new tall stem changes everything. I'm looking forward to the 10-mile ride today, we're going to take a family trip into the library. 5-miles there and then 5 back again.