Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Well I am back (hopefully for a while)

Posted for the first time late 2008 and just never picked up the bike again when the spring came along. My plan is to ride indoors this winter so I will need to get a trainer or something else to get my cardio up. The reason I didn't pick up the bike was I was embarrassed struggling just to go around the park near my house which is between 2.5 to 3 mile with a couple of very small hills. I had to stop mulitple times and there were spots where I could just glide. I am currently at 5'11" 243lbs and would like to get to 210 by the end of 2010 if possible. I am hoping that riding indoors will get my cardio up so when the spring comes along I will not be so embarrassed and will stick with it. If anyone can recommend a quiet indoor trainer to purchase due to living in an apartment it would be much appreciated. I am hoping to spend under 250.00 if at possible. I currently do not exercise at all besides some short walking as part of my commute so I know it won't be easy at the beginning. I want to lose the weight slowly so I will keep it off without getting too crazy. I currently own a 2009 Cannondale Bad Boy. Thanks and have a Merry Christmas.

A magnetic or air(fan based) one, might be best. I haven't used one but did buy two with a heavy flywheel, and that sound ("thump, thump, thump") was obnoxious.

Do you have people living below you? If so I kind of doubt you will find anything quiet enough, unfortunately. And for the record I've always thought fluid trainers were much quieter than magnetic or fan-based ones.

Scott

We all start somewhere Pat_RI. My advice would be to get out and ride. If you have to walk, you have to walk. I wouldn't worry about being self conscious if you have to walk. Maybe people will think you have a flat or something and a bus full of sweedish swimsuit models will pull over and offer you a lift. It could happen; unlikely, but it could!

Hi, and welcome back! Like the post above me says...forget everyone else! At 6'0" and 342 (with a new Knee) I was just going up and down my 400ft driveway at first, and with the new knee, I expect that I will be doing that again! My first "ride" if you want to call it that was bout a mile, and was (to me) a very big production...

My point - all of us can talk about embarrassment, lack of ability, and so on... please, don't let it stop you!

Thanks guys much appreciated. I would still like to get an indoor trainer that is quiet because it is a nice crisp 34 degrees right now with ice so outside isn't an option for me. I would rather be safe than sorry.

good luck and stick with it. i picked up my first bike several years ago and probably put less than thirty miles on it before i came up with enough excuses to not ride at all. i picked it upa again 1 year ago and still have to make my self stay on it. i love to ride and am getting better. now i can ride 50 or so miles but it still is a lot of work.

stick with it. ride outside every pretty day you can even if it is only for a short ride.

Posted for the first time late 2008 and just never picked up the bike again when the spring came along. My plan is to ride indoors this winter so I will need to get a trainer or something else to get my cardio up. The reason I didn't pick up the bike was I was embarrassed struggling just to go around the park near my house which is between 2.5 to 3 mile with a couple of very small hills. I had to stop mulitple times and there were spots where I could just glide. I am currently at 5'11" 243lbs and would like to get to 210 by the end of 2010 if possible. I am hoping that riding indoors will get my cardio up so when the spring comes along I will not be so embarrassed and will stick with it. If anyone can recommend a quiet indoor trainer to purchase due to living in an apartment it would be much appreciated. I am hoping to spend under 250.00 if at possible. I currently do not exercise at all besides some short walking as part of my commute so I know it won't be easy at the beginning. I want to lose the weight slowly so I will keep it off without getting too crazy. I currently own a 2009 Cannondale Bad Boy. Thanks and have a Merry Christmas.

Firstly. Don't get embarrassed by not being able to go as fast or far as you think you should. You'll never get there if you don't just ride.... and if you think someone else is looking down on you for trying.. screw 'em. Riding a little and then a little more every day works... good plan I thinks.

Second and to your question. Wind trainers are only quiet until you get a little bit stronger. Once you start going a bit better you'll be making one of those sound like a jet taking off. I have one and like it, but I would not describe it as quiet. I think the most quiet is fluid, but they also seem to be the most $$$. The Kurt Kenetic seems to be one of the best and can be had around $300 new. Check Craigs list though... lotsa used ones out there.

you have almost the same situation I faced last Christmas. I was 240 lbs and 5'11" Fortunately I had many years experience of cycling and being fit so I knew it was just a question of cutting down severely on the calories and gradually building up the miles on my bike .

I spent some time planning my program beforehand so that I already had some targets and direction . This helps with motivation and monitoring progress.

I mapped out 3-4 hilly routes around my home of about 5-6 miles each.All of the loops reversable so I ended up with quite a few differant loops . I figured also that short routes would help keep me focused and the hills would give me a short but intense workout.

When I first put my lycra on I have to say I was very embarrassed at my huge belly and from the rear view I looked like the Michelin man .

I always start with 2-3 miles flat warm up round the village then finish with 3-4 miles hilly loops with plenty of downhills to follow the uphill bits.

Within 3 months I'd gone from 30 minutes to less than 25 minutes for the 5.7 mile hilliest loop and my legs started to get some muscle definition. My lungs no longer burned nor my legs turn to jelly and I felt great mentally too as I lost 5-6 lbs.

I kept a food diary and recorded the calories of every single thing that entered my mouth including fruit drinks etc. I was amazed to find that instead of being on about 1500 calories a day I was actually consuming near 2500 !
By changing certain high calorie foods for low calorie options I soon got down to about 1500-1800 calories a day and the weight started to fall off.

First to go was by gross fatty flabby double chins and cheeks (face) then my waist and breasts also .

I wanted this to be some motivation to you and to say that cutting your daily calorific intake will lose you weight 10x faster than any exercise could. Exercise will help with improving cardio vascular fitness , toning muscles and making you feel more energetic and positive. Good luck

Welcome back. And don't be embarrassed. You are riding a bike, remember? It's supposed to be fun.