Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - My first 13+ mile ride with group

Hello everyone,

Last year I joined this forum and thought it was going to be the year for me to slim down again. At 5'11" and 258lbs, its time to do something. Well, that never happened so I am back again with more motivation and focus. Sorry in advance for the long winded story but I am very proud of myself as this is the longest ride I have done with a group of dedicated cyclists without wanting to pass out.

My best friend sent me an email about a bike ride down the southern part of the Henry Hudson Trail from Freehold to Marlboro NJ. It was for the West Windsor Bike Club and he and a few people from town were going to be the Freehold Ambassadors to them. I found out the ride was about 5 miles each way on the trail plus a little more since we were taking some back roads to avoid the main streets ending up at the Metz Bicycle Museum located in Freehold. Around 13 miles total.

I have been doing about 5-6 miles a ride last year, but this year I haven't gone on more then one trip around the block yet. I decided to do the ride and I will prepare ahead of time. That never happened. With everything this past week, I never even touched the bike. So Sunday morning I check my tire pressure, throw the bike into the back of my pickup and drive to his house. I wasn't quite sure how I would do but mentally I was prepared. Its the physical part that worried me.

We ride over to the starting point of the trail (1 mile away) and wait for the rest of the group. By 10am we are heading down the trail to Marlboro to meet with the Cycling club. Within 30 minutes, we get to the other end of the trail, where we were to meet the rest of the people and I felt pretty good. 5 miles or so down like nothing. By the time the rest of the group arrived, I had 45 minutes of rest. My legs were still in good shape. I did a couple stretches before we headed back.

Now with the power of about 30+ riders we head back down the trail and into Freehold. We stopped for lunch before heading into the Bike Museum. I felt good, not exhausted. My legs were a bit warm and feeling tight but overall, I was in good shape. About 12 Miles down and we just had to go maybe another mile or so round trip to the museum. I did very well for being the first real ride I have done all year, or any ride for that matter.

After I got home, the hurt and stiffness started to kick in but I took a couple Advil and took it easy for the rest of the day. Today, I feel really good. My legs are about 90%, my butt isn't that sore, and my back feels great. I already plan on taking the bike out tomorrow or Weds (depending on how I recover) for another 8-10 mile ride. This is a perfect start to my new outlook.

Thanks for hearing my story.

That's awesome. I know how hard it can be to get back into it. I've been riding again for a few years, but my wife is just starting to ride and hasn't done more than 7 miles yet.

As I was reading and got toward the end and you started talking about hurt and stiffness, I was gonna say to just take some Advil, but you have that figured out. Don't worry, that will get better the more you ride.

Congrats on getting back to it.

Good on you for following through !!!! See?, you really CAN do it.


With everything this past week
This was my problem for about 15 years. We have to stop making excuses, and just get on the dang bike... :)

Nice job. Make 13 miles your new long distance once a week and you will be doing it easier and easier each time.

Now, the trick is get back on the bike and ride some more.

Repeat tomorrow.

Repeat the day after

And so on.

I am still a bit sore even 2 days later but I am planning on going out for some ride tonight. Maybe not 10 miles but at least 5. I felt good after the ride and want to continue. I'll post later once I get back with my results of today's ride.

Very nicely done! Congrats on putting the miles behind ya. There is something to be said about the pack mentality, make ya focus on the ride not the mileage.

Good job Im sure your post will be a inspiration to others who are thinking of getting on their bikes and giving it a try.

My legs feel they have recovered today so as long as my wife doesn't have anything planned for me (because they do those type of things) I should be out on the road by 6:30pm for 5-10 miles depending on how well I feel after the first 5 miles. I've been drinking extra water today to make sure I am hydrated (plus its 88 degrees at my desk at work)

I just got back from my ride tonight. I waited until the sun was behind the trees (after 7pm) since it was 85 degrees and high humidity. I went through my neighborhood and onto some back roads less traveled then down a main road with a wide shoulder so I was out of the way of cars. Apparently, the trail I went down a few days ago must have been flatter terrain because today's ride was more difficult. Either that or my legs didn't recover as much as I hoped. 2 miles into the ride, I was already feeling it. I stopped briefly for some water and I continued on. I did a total of 5 miles in 25 minutes. That's around 12 mph which is a fair rate of speed for my unfit status I guess. Tomorrow will be another rest day (also the wife's Birthday) so Thurs will be the next ride, if I can squeeze it in between the time I get off work and my bands studio time.

You guys are great motivators. I will keep posting my progress for inspiration.

Someone from the bike group posted some pictures so I figured I would post two that I can be seen. Sorry for the bad resolution, its what they had.

I probably don't qualify for this group any more having gone from 225 to the low 180s.

OK. You're sore. Get back on the bike and do a couple of miles easy spinning. Use it to go to the deli and liqour store. Grab a back pack and use it for errands but use it a little every day.

OK. You're sore. Get back on the bike and do a couple of miles easy spinning. Use it to go to the deli and liqour store. Grab a back pack and use it for errands but use it a little every day.

I don't really drink so no need for the liquor store runs. As for the deli, I have a convience store 1 block from the house and I usually walk there instead of drive. I have been getting out there still. My legs are getting used to the rides as well as my butt. Tomorrow I am meeting a buddy of mine and we are heading to some trails in a park for some off road fun. If I remember, I will bring a camera. Also tomorrow is my first weigh in since I started this whole thing. I am hoping for at least a 1-2lb difference from last week. Cross my fingers.

Congratulations! Keep it up, and in no time you'll hit 20. Then after that 30 and 40 seem like no big deal either!

I didn't mean specifically the deli and liquor store. I meant any reason or no reason to ride.

I meant not sitting home because your buddy is MIA, it too, hot or two cold within reason, or any of the other excuses we can find.

When, you're getting in shape to ride, you will sore most of the time. The, when you decide you want ride faster and/or longer, you'll be sore most of the time.

And, you may find that you're thinner but haven't lost much weight because muscle is heavier than fat and you're developing muscle.

I know you were just making an example, and I was making a joke back. I realize the pitfalls of an unfit body starting to do things it once did not. About 7 years ago, I dropped from 254lbs to 220 just by eating better, walking 2-3 times a week and at least 5-6 miles on the bike once or twice a week. My body would be sore for a day or so but I would feel much better after I did it.

The day after I rode this 13 mile trip my legs felt like jello and sore but the day after I felt stronger, standing taller, and willing to get out and move more. I have no problem with muscle weight, I have the mass, it would be nice to turn it into something useful.

I also have no issues with riding by myself. My wife's Magna mountain bike has smaller cranks so it takes her much more energy to keep up the same speed with me. I feel sometimes she holds me back so when I get out on my own, I get to speed a bit more. We tried switching bikes but she doesn't like my bike for some reason. At least we get to ride together. If she comes more often and feels she will do this with me on a regular basis, I will buy her a better bike. No need to spend the money if the nice bike just sits.

My quote for the day - "An overweight body in motion tends to stay in motion (in more ways then one) but an overweight body at rest tends to multiple fat cells and has a greater gravitational pull to the couch"