Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Father sayid he wants to join me when I start cycling.

I was talking to my dad yesterday after how I plan on starting cycling soon (no bike atm). The more we talked the more he agreed that it may not hurt him to try it as well.

My father is 51. He is 6', 300lbs and has high blood pressure and diabetes.

With that, I don't think it'd hurt either. Now for us to go find come bikes to ride.

I'm 51, 6' tall and when I started I weighed 300 pounds. The first 6 months I lost 50 pounds and didn't even diet, just rode my bike every day. I was pounding down pizzas and cheeseburgers and the weight still came off. Then I thought, imagine how much I would lose if I dieted? LOL. So I started eating less, lost more weight and got faster on the bike.

If you ride your bike every day and accept Lance Armstrong as your Lord and Savior, you will lose weight!

http://images.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/_photos/2005-06-30-lance-look.jpg

Nice Richard.

Austin, I'd definitely encourage your dad to ride with you. I'm 48, and diabetic (currently in remission, apparently, as I'm diet and exercise controlled. I have the BP of a 16 year old athlete and a resting HR that floats between 48 and 54. My BP used to be 195/210 and a RHR of 109. I think I'll be living a bit longer, what ya think?

Edited to correct a typo

Its good to have a biking buddy. Buddies/Partners are the secret weapon in any exercise program. They push you to go when you don't want to but need to and vise versa.

Jerry

Unless you're way overweight too, I'd encourage you and your dad to ride separately! Slow person and fast person trying to ride together can be a major irritation for both. But definitely get out and ride, one way or the other.

Austin, I'd definitely encourage your dad to ride with you. I'm 48, and diabetic (currently in remission, apparently, as I'm diet and exercise controlled. I have the BP of a 16 year old athlete and a resting HR that floats between 48 and 54. My BP used to be 195/210 and a RHR of 109. I think I'll be living a bit longer, what ya think?

Edited to correct a typo

Tom, you should tell him the whole story with photos. You are an inspiration for folks like Austin and his Dad. It's no exaggeration to say biking saved your life. A mild overstatement for the rest of us. I controlled my hbp, got off meds, and lost 120 pounds. Hopefully, I'll last a little longer, too.

Austin, if Tom shows you his story, show your Dad, and get him out there. It's never too late to get fit. Good luck to you and your Dad.

p.s. Big coincidence- I gave my Dad a bike yesterday- a Gary Fisher with slicks, like mine, but with fatter seat and tires. Maybe he can get off his meds, too.

+1, I don't think I would even be on a bike without reading the stories you all have posted.

Jerry

Unless you're way overweight too, I'd encourage you and your dad to ride separately! Slow person and fast person trying to ride together can be a major irritation for both. But definitely get out and ride, one way or the other.

That's the thing, we are both overweight.

My brother also said he would join us.

Take lots of pics. When I get to my goal weight I'm gonna sell my miraculous weight loss story to the highest bidder, whether it's Jenny Craig, Bowflex, TrimSpa or whoever. I'm gonna cash in big time. I'm looking for a big payday.

Tell your dad I started bicycling 10 years ago at 58, so he is still very young for a bicyclist.

Also, we have a great 50+ forum here in BFN and have him drop by. Lot's of newbies there just getting back into (or starting) bicycling.

There is a great "sticky" thread for newer and returning 50+ bicyclists.

Wow, I can't think of a better riding partner than your Dad/Mom/Wife/Son/Daughter. By 35 I had lost both my parents, so I can't even describe what it would be like to have that experience.

My wife is a skinny minnie and has no desire to ride, neither does my son. My daughter is a fairly high level athlete, and I'm working on convincing her it's a great cross training tool. It's a bit difficult to talk her into as she's about to be 18, works out like a maniac daily already, has a part time job, and has a some weird desire for a social life:roflmao2:

The above people are my main drive for doing this, past, present, and future.

It's on my Blog, http://theamazingshrinkingman.blogspot.com, just start at the beginning and come forward. I haven't had time to update much lately, but all the old stuff is there. :D That and look at the Before and after pics thread, you'll see some of my before/after stuff, including riding the bike with an Oxygen bottle at first. ;)


Tom, you should tell him the whole story with photos. You are an inspiration for folks like Austin and his Dad. It's no exaggeration to say biking saved your life. A mild overstatement for the rest of us. I controlled my hbp, got off meds, and lost 120 pounds. Hopefully, I'll last a little longer, too.

Austin, if Tom shows you his story, show your Dad, and get him out there. It's never too late to get fit. Good luck to you and your Dad.

p.s. Big coincidence- I gave my Dad a bike yesterday- a Gary Fisher with slicks, like mine, but with fatter seat and tires. Maybe he can get off his meds, too.

Cool! Family support is critical in weight loss.


That's the thing, we are both overweight.

My brother also said he would join us.

my before/after stuff, including riding the bike with an Oxygen bottle at first. ;)[/QUOTE]

...riding the bike with an Oxygen bottle...

*That* is a freakin' Lifetime movie, right there. What a transformation. It makes me think of all my lazy friends who are "too busy, too old, too tired, too fat" to ride. Yeah, right.

Fair play to the three of you. hope it works out. and there is no such thing as being too old! i see old men here in their 70's riding around everyday. true they have been doing it all their lives and its not as if they are pounding the pedals but cycling is for everyone;-) hope you have a good time with it. you probably wont think so now but this is one of these memories that you'll never forget.

You'll love having your dad ride with you. My 11yr old son rides with me all the time-road rides up to 20 miles and hitting the single tracks. I'll be honest, he makes my day and that makes biking all the more enjoyable. It wouldn't be as fun without him.

That is very cool...
You need to get matching jerseys if you frequently ride together...
"Team Rollin' Thunder" Or something corny like that!

There will always be fast people and slow people in a group, and in the beginning I think it is up to the fast people to slow down and make the ride comfortable for the slower people. As time goes on you will find that the slower riders get faster and will push themselves to keep a faster pace and have a little more fun with the faster riders - this does not take long, and it's still a hellova lotta fun at an easier pace while everyone acclimatizes!

My dad is in his mid sixties and me and him and my brother have used cycling as a way to recconect after years of strained/non-existent relationships.

I am a longtime performance/racing/mountai biking zealot, my dad is a scrawny eccentric guy who lived a generally sedentary lifestyle up until recently, and my brother is in the early stages of becoming a utility bikaholic (with his Xtracycle - I have to argue so he doesn't bring 80 lbs of gear on a short training ride). Me and my brother struggle a bit to control our weight, but it has never become a major problem.

My main advice for you is to find a set time to do your group rides, schedule them in and follow the schedule! Knowing that you are letting someone else down by not riding is a better incentive than a bathroom scale or personal mileage goal, IMHO.

Good luck! You're in for some fun!:):thumb:

I think it will be fun to do.

Now go out and buy that bike!

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2006/writers/em_swift/09/12/armstrong/p1_lance_0912.jpg