Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.Keith E. Larsen
07-29-08, 09:33 PM
Hi Fellow Cyclist,
I'm a 60 year old man that has cycled off, and on through the years, but recently I came to terms with the fact that I was way out of shape, and fat. So, I took a weight management class offered at work, and a nutrition class for 10 weeks. I started off walking until I dropped off about 20 pounds. Then a bike saddle wouldn't kill me. I made it a point to get in at least a 30 minute ride twice a week at our altitude of 8,236 ft. which provide a good heart tumper for an old bear. When I lost some more weight I increased my ride time and frequency as I much as possible.
I started this process back in September of last year, and I've dropped 65 pounds, and no longer need to take medicine for high blood pressure. So now I'm feeling great, and I'm perscription medicine free. I feel as good as I did in my 30's. Now I car pool down the mountain with my wife to her work, and off load my bike daily, and continue my comute to my my job. This is only a 20 minute ride in the morning because it's with the wind off the foothills, somewhat downhill, and generally cool. However by days end it's in the 90's, uphill, into a warm wind, and usually takes a few minutes longer.
If anybody out there is reading this, and wondering why I'm bragging, Well, I'm not doing it to brag. I'm doing this to show that there is a way out of the Fatman suit for everone. If you're really over weight I recommend starting out with log slow walks, and increase the speed, and distance each time until you see some results. Get rid of some of the bulk before you try buckling the bike frame with your mass. When I got back on the bike I used the bigest wide butt saddle I could find, and wanted soft riding suspension. As I lost weight, and improved my fitness I found myself once again falling in love with hardtail bikes with thin leather saddles. I still want to go for another 30 pounds, which put me back to a weight I hadn't been since my teens. I'll take it slow, and easy making sure I hurt myself. By the way, it's always a good idea to talk this over with the Doc before putting yourself at risk of a stroke. Make real sure you'r safe.
I work at a County Jail in the maintenance department. Since I've gotten back into biking I've found myself wanting to get more people on wheels, starting with indigent inmates either going out on work release programs,or simple leaving jail, and trying to get their live's back together. I've been salvaging bikes, and donating the bikes to as many as I can. This has really fired my passion for biking, and I hope it sparks some interest in someone in need of of a friendly push. So, kick those peddles friends, and when you start feeling the rewards of your efforts, drag a friend along. See how many people we can get back on wheels. It's so much fun.
I'm a 60 year old man that has cycled off, and on through the years, but recently I came to terms with the fact that I was way out of shape, and fat. So, I took a weight management class offered at work, and a nutrition class for 10 weeks. I started off walking until I dropped off about 20 pounds. Then a bike saddle wouldn't kill me. I made it a point to get in at least a 30 minute ride twice a week at our altitude of 8,236 ft. which provide a good heart tumper for an old bear. When I lost some more weight I increased my ride time and frequency as I much as possible.
I started this process back in September of last year, and I've dropped 65 pounds, and no longer need to take medicine for high blood pressure. So now I'm feeling great, and I'm perscription medicine free. I feel as good as I did in my 30's. Now I car pool down the mountain with my wife to her work, and off load my bike daily, and continue my comute to my my job. This is only a 20 minute ride in the morning because it's with the wind off the foothills, somewhat downhill, and generally cool. However by days end it's in the 90's, uphill, into a warm wind, and usually takes a few minutes longer.
If anybody out there is reading this, and wondering why I'm bragging, Well, I'm not doing it to brag. I'm doing this to show that there is a way out of the Fatman suit for everone. If you're really over weight I recommend starting out with log slow walks, and increase the speed, and distance each time until you see some results. Get rid of some of the bulk before you try buckling the bike frame with your mass. When I got back on the bike I used the bigest wide butt saddle I could find, and wanted soft riding suspension. As I lost weight, and improved my fitness I found myself once again falling in love with hardtail bikes with thin leather saddles. I still want to go for another 30 pounds, which put me back to a weight I hadn't been since my teens. I'll take it slow, and easy making sure I hurt myself. By the way, it's always a good idea to talk this over with the Doc before putting yourself at risk of a stroke. Make real sure you'r safe.
I work at a County Jail in the maintenance department. Since I've gotten back into biking I've found myself wanting to get more people on wheels, starting with indigent inmates either going out on work release programs,or simple leaving jail, and trying to get their live's back together. I've been salvaging bikes, and donating the bikes to as many as I can. This has really fired my passion for biking, and I hope it sparks some interest in someone in need of of a friendly push. So, kick those peddles friends, and when you start feeling the rewards of your efforts, drag a friend along. See how many people we can get back on wheels. It's so much fun.