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.Big*Bear
09-12-09, 06:40 AM
Hi there everyone, I thought I 'd tell you a little about myself and hopefully inspire a few people to get on their bikes and ride.
Having owned bikes continuously since I was 5yo (i still remember the bruises) I don't know why I never took cycling seriously until recently (that's 40 years later!). Maybe its midlife crisis stuff; the impending feeling of one's own mortallity we all feel as we get older.
In May this year I was talking to a good buddy of mine about losing weight and getting fit. He invited me on a 1 hour training ride around a local park. I was touching 292 Lbs and though I am 6'4" I was feeling and looking very unhealthy. I had quit smoking in January and felt this exercise was the next step to better health. So I decided to join him. The route was about 10miles. I was a little daunted as my friend and his wife were very athletic both competed at international level in their younger days. I told him not to wait for me as I would work hard but at my own pace. The first session was tough but I managed the 10mph pace needed to get round in the circuit in 1 hour. Though it was hard work I continued to join my friend over the next month or so cycling every day with a day or 2 rest each week. It's now mid-September and I've lost 40Lbs and not gone back to smoking. I'm cycling for 2 - 3 hours on each session at about 16mph pace, with sprints and a few hill climbs.
I don't ride anything special just a hybrid made by Saracen that I have owned since 1995. It has a hand-made cro-moly frame with quite a steep head angle so its a fast handler and with It has new wheels, Mavic A719's, and a new Shimano SLX groupset but essentially it is the same bike I've owned for 14 years. I made the upgrades as I plan to do a some cycle touring in France next spring.
Over the years I've tried the health clubs and various diets but none have worked very well. Yes, I get fit and lose weight but it doesn't last. Plus it costs alot too. Once you've paid for the bike cycling is as near to free as one can get. I haven't had to go on a crazy diet either. I just eat sensibly - 2000 to 2500KCals/day. Not unexpectedly, now that I'm working harder, my appetite is lower so even though I burn more fuel I don't feel like like eating more than normal. How cool is that?
My resting HR is in the low 50's down from the low 70's. My blood pressure is 110/70 and I get back to my Recovery HR (85BPM) within 15 minutes (not the 2 hours it took in May!!). All this progress in 4 months is beyond my wildest expectations. Plus is doesn't stop there. I have a cycle trainer for the winter months so by Spring I will be more than fit and strong enough to do a weeks riding (with luggage) in the Dordogne region of France.
I hope I have inspired a few people to get their bikes out of the garage and do some riding.
Bye for now.
Having owned bikes continuously since I was 5yo (i still remember the bruises) I don't know why I never took cycling seriously until recently (that's 40 years later!). Maybe its midlife crisis stuff; the impending feeling of one's own mortallity we all feel as we get older.
In May this year I was talking to a good buddy of mine about losing weight and getting fit. He invited me on a 1 hour training ride around a local park. I was touching 292 Lbs and though I am 6'4" I was feeling and looking very unhealthy. I had quit smoking in January and felt this exercise was the next step to better health. So I decided to join him. The route was about 10miles. I was a little daunted as my friend and his wife were very athletic both competed at international level in their younger days. I told him not to wait for me as I would work hard but at my own pace. The first session was tough but I managed the 10mph pace needed to get round in the circuit in 1 hour. Though it was hard work I continued to join my friend over the next month or so cycling every day with a day or 2 rest each week. It's now mid-September and I've lost 40Lbs and not gone back to smoking. I'm cycling for 2 - 3 hours on each session at about 16mph pace, with sprints and a few hill climbs.
I don't ride anything special just a hybrid made by Saracen that I have owned since 1995. It has a hand-made cro-moly frame with quite a steep head angle so its a fast handler and with It has new wheels, Mavic A719's, and a new Shimano SLX groupset but essentially it is the same bike I've owned for 14 years. I made the upgrades as I plan to do a some cycle touring in France next spring.
Over the years I've tried the health clubs and various diets but none have worked very well. Yes, I get fit and lose weight but it doesn't last. Plus it costs alot too. Once you've paid for the bike cycling is as near to free as one can get. I haven't had to go on a crazy diet either. I just eat sensibly - 2000 to 2500KCals/day. Not unexpectedly, now that I'm working harder, my appetite is lower so even though I burn more fuel I don't feel like like eating more than normal. How cool is that?
My resting HR is in the low 50's down from the low 70's. My blood pressure is 110/70 and I get back to my Recovery HR (85BPM) within 15 minutes (not the 2 hours it took in May!!). All this progress in 4 months is beyond my wildest expectations. Plus is doesn't stop there. I have a cycle trainer for the winter months so by Spring I will be more than fit and strong enough to do a weeks riding (with luggage) in the Dordogne region of France.
I hope I have inspired a few people to get their bikes out of the garage and do some riding.
Bye for now.