Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - This clyde has started to ride

Hello to the board. Yes, I am a Clydesdale (coming in at 275 for a 5' 8" frame). I am built like a Pacific Islander; short, stocky, thick legs. Unfortunately I have developed an unfortunately large mid section. I have just started to ride and am doing two short rides per day so that I can build some stamina (I have not worked out or exerted myself in a few years so I am wayyyy out of shape). I rode twice today (4 mile rides each). I will continue to do this for a week and then extend the mileage to 6 each ride. My goal is to ride continuously for 10-15 before the end of fall. I am in Colorado so I can ride comfortably through October or early November (barring snow). I also have to get used to this altitude thing. The fact of the matter is that I need to get out and ride. I do have some extra time at the moment so I will now focus on riding a bit more than I was thinking about a couple of weeks ago.

Anyway, I am thrilled to have begun my riding adventure. Thanks to the board for the many encouraging threads I have read. I hope to be able to offer the same inspiration I have read. Thanks!!!

Welcome. You'll find lots of great help and inspiration here.

seriously?

you are robot doctor? my high school guidance counselor is going to get a phone call from me... that was never offered!!!

welcome!!! pedal 'crack' all over your part of town :D I have pedled almost 40 lbs of it myself!!!

WELCOME AGAIN!

seriously?

you are robot doctor? my high school guidance counselor is going to get a phone call from me... that was never offered!!!

welcome!!! pedal 'crack' all over your part of town :D I have pedled almost 40 lbs of it myself!!!

WELCOME AGAIN!

Yes, I am a "robot doctor." I work in the industrial robot world as a Customer Service Engineer and a Technical Trainer of robots. However, I find road cycling more interesting. :)

My goal is to shed 80 - 90 pounds off in the next couple or three years. That might be the right time to upgrade my current bike (1999 Trek 1200) to what ever is current at that time.

Hey Doc!

Welcome to the herd!

You will probably find that the mileage will come up quickly within a few weeks of riding. Our first ride a year ago was about a mile and we (Mrs. Zoxe and I) wanted to lie in the grass and die afterward. Just keep at it and add mileage gradually and 4mi will barely be a good warm up. :)

Hey Doc!

Welcome to the herd!

You will probably find that the mileage will come up quickly within a few weeks of riding. Our first ride a year ago was about a mile and we (Mrs. Zoxe and I) wanted to lie in the grass and die afterward. Just keep at it and add mileage gradually and 4mi will barely be a good warm up. :)

You are definitely right about the mileage coming up quickly. Maybe I am being too aggressive and taking a bigger bite than I should but this morning I more than doubled what I had done last night. I rode a little over 4 miles last night (mostly flat roads) and did just over 10 miles this morning (again, mostly flat roads). I know I am not ready for hills as my legs are feeling the flat road burn. I am looking to ride another 8 - 10 miles this afternoon and will ride my tandem rides and build the miles. I am hoping to tackle some low grade hills in the next week or two.

Thanks for the posts and encouragement!

Welcome, Doc.

I'm in a similar position to yourself...BMI of 30+ and getting back into cycling.

The most shameful part was discovering that my old jerseys didn't come anywhere near me. Had to go out and buy a few at size 2XL. There are also quite a few hills in my part of North Carolina which I tackle very, very slowly, with the granny gear firmly engaged.

It's amazing how quickly one starts to progress, however. The hill right by my house is starting to feel just a little easier every day. In all of this, the thing I regret most isn't having become overweight...it's the 20 Marlboros a day for the past 10 years (I really felt the affect of those evil things). Luckily I stopped that habit a few weeks before buying my new bike. No relapses and feeling better already...

Good luck on your journey.

Welcome, Doc.

I'm in a similar position to yourself...BMI of 30+ and getting back into cycling.

The most shameful part was discovering that my old jerseys didn't come anywhere near me. Had to go out and buy a few at size 2XL. There are also quite a few hills in my part of North Carolina which I tackle very, very slowly, with the granny gear firmly engaged.

It's amazing how quickly one starts to progress, however. The hill right by my house is starting to feel just a little easier every day. In all of this, the thing I regret most isn't having become overweight...it's the 20 Marlboros a day for the past 10 years (I really felt the affect of those evil things). Luckily I stopped that habit a few weeks before buying my new bike. No relapses and feeling better already...

Good luck on your journey.

Thanks for the post and best of luck on your journey as well. I come from a family where both my parents smoke and I know the affects can be difficult to kick. The good thing is that I never started smoking and have no desire. My dad had smoked for 50 years and kicked the habit a couple of years ago, cold turkey. He said he has no desire to smoke any longer.

That said, best of luck getting back into cycling and into your old jerseys.

Welcome, keep the pedals moving forward it will work for you. ECB1

Hmmm, so maybe my 9 aunts are Pacific Islanders!:D

Either way, wlecome!:D

No one was more out of cardio shape than me back in November. From riding 30-40 miles per month on average for about 7 months I logged 439 miles just in August alone and am planning on riding my first 50 miler later this month. And yes I am overweight. But that too is getting under control. Welcome.

Again, thanks for the encouragement. I really appreciate it.

As for my ride this afternoon, well, I did meet my goal of 8 - 10 miles. Actually I added a few more and one simple hill (not so simple for me). I road 14 miles this afternoon, again, mostly flat roads with one small hill. I completed the ride in just over an hour (my average was 13.6 on the cateye). I worked on cadence and the ride was a little easier. I can only ride once both tomorrow through Sunday so I will work on a 10 mile ride each day. I have to be honest, I am really liking this road biking thing. :thumb:

Apparently the addiction has begun. Welcome to the asylum.:D

Apparently the addiction has begun. Welcome to the asylum.:D

Is there really an addiction to riding? :D I know that I was this way with golf for many years. Golf does not mean what it once did for me but cycling has caught my eye.

It's not the cycling that's addictive, it's the enforfins! :p

Welcome. If you keep riding as you plan, you might find your weight-loss goal coming quicker than you realize.