Commuting - How can I get my friend to start riding?

I am getting kind of worried about one of my friends, he is about 300 LBs and he doesn't seem to care. He drinks a six pack of beer every second day or so, and he also smokes, he does no exercise except watch TV. He has a bike, he rides it to the liquor store to get beer ( doesn't wear a helmet) I want to get him off his ass, I am worried about him possibly having a heart attack or something. I am willing to ride with him, but I don't know how to start, for example how far should we ride in the beginning, assuming that he will go along with my idea? Now is a good time for him to start riding because about a month ago his truck packed it in and he is trying to get it fixed ( I hope he doesn't get it fixed). Can anyone help me on this matter?

You really can't force someone into it. Cycling has one big acceptance problem in that it's painful at first. You have to push past that. I would start by riding with him until he complains of pain and then turning around and going home. Work him up to it. Each time you go out, just go a little further. Throw in some rewards or set goals for a place to reach. Don't make it about cycling or about the bike but try and appeal to something he's already interested in... a place, a thing to do, etc.

Thanks for the advice khuon, what I am also worried about is that when he complains about pain that he may not want to cycle ever again and then he will revert back to his old ways, but I want him to continue cycling, so I will hopefully see him this weekend and MAYBE we can go out for a short ride.

If he is riding his bike to the liquor store, he is already doing much more than most people. Not everyone likes to ride just for the sake of riding. He may be one of those. I'd concentrate on encouraging him to do more utility riding for groceries, library, and the like.

Paul

As Khuon said, you can't really force someone into doing something they really don't want to do. As someone else mentioned above, errands is probably the most likely way, but don't expect too much. The fact is, being a 300lb slob is all some people want out of life.

dangle a sixpack in front of the bike.

Get the liquor store to raise the price on his favorite beer, and then get another liquor store, five miles away, to lower it, and then tell him about the price at the other store.

Find some other places that he might like to ride, like Dairy Queen.

Get the liquor store to raise the price on his favorite beer, and then get another liquor store, five miles away, to lower it, and then tell him about the price at the other store.
You took the words out of my mouth er keyboard -;)

Get the liquor store to raise the price on his favorite beer, and then get another liquor store, five miles away, to lower it, and then tell him about the price at the other store.

Or tell him that the last two days you've ridden up this one hill and from the top you could see some girls naked sunbathing in their back yard. If that don't work, tell him that they were making out

Or tell him that the last two days you've ridden up this one hill and from the top you could see some girls naked sunbathing in their back yard. If that don't work, tell him that they were making out

Why lie? I would go out and actively seek that view! :D

"he does no exercise except watch TV"

I didn't know watching TV was exercise :)

Assuming he's smart enough to work a remote control, he knows everything you do about his health and his outlook on life. Most likely all you can do is provide a good example and support him when he decides he's ready.

You can also bulk up so you can carry his coffin at the funeral.

"he does no exercise except watch TV"

I didn't know watching TV was exercise :)

What he needs is a pedal-powered generator for his TV.

dangle a sixpack in front of the bike.

LOL!! Best chuckle I've had all night.

Seriously though, I think the problem, as already stated by others, is that it's up to your friend to decide if he wants to get fit, it's not really going to happen unless he wants it to. Encourage him, sure, but ultimately it's up to him.

If cycling isn't his game then it's futile. If I was totally out of shape and my friend tried to get me into rollerblading to lose weight, I'd never go for it.

And I'll second what's already been said - give an incentive, i.e. MAKE IT FUN. As I just said, if he's not into cycling, then it'll never be fun for him.

(and maybe some sugar in the gas tank wouldn't go amiss, just to be *sure* he doesn't get it going again)