Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Had my first ride today! How can there be so much pain?

First off, I just want to thank everyone again that helped with out with advice and such in the thread I made a few days ago, it really helped.

I bought a Giant Revel 2, left everyone on it that came with it, and just added a rack for a water bottle and a sigma computer thing to keep track of things.

First ride was today! Right before work, which sucked for a while. My wife went with me, and we did a whopping 3 miles, total. Man. By the end of those three miles I thought I was going to die! It amazed me that I can ride a stationary bike for an hour and feel fine, but ten minutes on the bike path had my thighs screaming. Got off to walk to my car and felt like I was floating on air, but mainly because I couldn't feel my legs.


So, a few questions for you guys, again. What gear should I be carrying with me? I bought a bike-mounting pump, to be technical, and a all-in-one tool set, still looking for pillow-padded bike shorts. I'm guessing I am going to need a patching kit, oh and to learn how to patch a hole on the road.

I saw some green slime that seems to be a sealant, do those work?

Should I be on the lookout for heavier-dutier tires, since I'm a heavier-dutier guy? (Read 350lb+) The rims are supposed to be double-walled or some such voodoo, so hopefully that will help.


So yeah, new person-on-a-bike here, any advice for a newbie just hitting the trails for the first time? Other than a towel. I did take a towel with me.

Oh man, my ass hurt.

Sorry, at moment I don't have much advice... But I do want to say:

CONGRATS ON THE FIRST RIDE!!!!

Oh no, you got a Giant! That's your problem right there!




:roflmao2:


I kid. Keep at it, your body will become accustomed to it and you will improve. Congratulations!

Oh, and don't feel obligated to ride every day - set your self a goal you can obtain, like riding 12 times a month. Have fun.

Thinking about what's in my seat bag - a spare inner tube is a good idea along with something to get the tire off the rim and a patch kit. I also keep some cash in there because I usually don't take my wallet. I also learned the hard way that I can't hear my cell phone from in the seat bag, so I got a little holster for the cell phone that straps to the head tube.
Good Luck!

When I started riding a year ago, three miles was a long ride. It seems like I hurt for the first couple of months. But, by the third month I did my first organized ride: twenty five miles. Now, I feel like I'm cheating if I don't do ten miles a day. My bike is my only transportation, unless I ride with my girlfriend somewhere. You'll learn what to carry, what you can handle, bike maintenance and so on and so on as you get some experience. I have really come to depend on BF for knowledge and just plain interest. If I can give you any advise it's this: NEVER GIVE UP! That way your confidence will build. Good luck!

The pain will pass. The first few weeks are torture, then you can gradually increase the distance and eventually speed. My first ride back on the bike was whole 5 miles and it HURT! That was 4 months and 20kg ago. Now I back to 86kg for the first time in 15 years and I rode 120km last Saturday with no pain at all at a cruising speed of around 30-35km/h. Stick with it and you will see results.

As for supplies I carry a spare inner tube, patch kit, tire irons, water bottle, multitool, frame pump, and a presto to shroder adapter - very useful if you want to use the gas station compressors. If I ride for more than two hours I'll add water and food in a backpack.

3 miles on a first ride is huge!!!! My first ride was less than a mile and I could do an elliptical machine at the Y for an hour. Everyone has sore butts in the beginning so you're normal. I'd alternate days riding with something else like walking for a month. Don't get caught-up with going out each ride to set a new record. Learn to love riding first. Speed and distance will come as long as you are consistent.

Make sure your seat height is correct. Too low could be part of the issue with the leg pain.

Carry with you - spare tube, patch kit, pump, tire levers, multi tool. For longer rides consider having something to use for a tire boot (in case you slash your tire). Money. Cell phone if you want, if you're far from home/car. Chain tool and spare chain pin if you start going farther from home/car also.

Do not use slime in your tires. It doesnt' work well, and will prevent patches from adhering if you try to patch.

If you're riding on knobby tires, consider something like this: http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/michelin-country-rock-tire . It's slick enough to roll fast on the street, but still has some tread for dirt. I have these on my kids' bikes and like them a lot.

Get your wheels checked after a few hundred miles to make sure the spoke tension is good.

Congrats on your first ride! As someone who used to be 450 pounds (now 280) I can relate. I was sore all the time whether it was because of biking or walking something was sore. Stick with it, set realistic goals, and give yourself some spacer days to let your body recuperate.

Whatever you do, don't give up!

As for what to carry I think most everyone covered it ... tire, levers, repair kit, id, tool perhaps, pump, and some cash.

Have fun out there!

I don't want to scare anyone off, but I always tell people that the only thing more painful than the first ride is the second. At least when it comes to your butt. Shortly after that it improves.

I'm not sure I saw this above....get a medium size seat bag. I carry two tubes, two tire irons, and a multi tool in mine. Some carry patch kits in place of the other tube.

That all fits easily in the bag and hangs under your seat outmofmthe way.

My big suggestion is that you pratique taking off the rear wheel and changing out a tube several times at home. I know it took me a few tries before I got the hang of re-installing that rear wheel easily.

Also don't use the tire irons any more than needed. I watched another rider out his tire on with his hands using sort of an Indian rug burn motion and have been using that instead of the tool since.

I thinkmimhave read there are videos on utube about tires of you need more of a visual reference.

I had my first on road flat last night and had it changed out in about 5 minutes...wasn't nearly as bad as I suspected it would be.

Congrats on your ride! I am new also, and it gets to be more fun as you become accustomed to sitting on a saddle. I suppose the one thing that I overlooked while riding was taking in enough H2O. You may want to add an additional bottle/cage to your bike. Have fun and start easy like me.

Stay away from the green slime!

Congratulations on the first ride.

Congrats on the first ride.
I'll second what CraigB said, it's like jumping out of a plane. The first one ain't that bad. The second trip out the door is scary as all but then after the 5th jump (ride) it's all good.

What's in my seatbag?
- CO2 cylinders and adapter
- patch kit
- tire lever
- spare tube
- the box top from the spare tube (this is for the hole that you might get in the tyre that needs to be covered so you can limp home)
- a $10 bill so I can stop and get Ice Cream and Chocolate milk :)
- a pump is mounted to the frame. I use that to make sure the tube is partially inflated and the bead is good on the rim before using the CO2

Advice:

- Make sure the bike fits you.
- NO(!) soft seat
- Padded Bibs
- wicking base layer if not just the top (UnderArmor type stuff)
- learn how to remove a tyre and patch a tube when you are at the house. When you are on the side of the road in 90 degree heat with the sun blazing down on you is not the time to learn.
- Tyre lever(s) are for taking OFF the tyre not installing them. Too many pinched/new hole in it tubes that way.
- When (not IF) you get a flat on the road make sure you know what made it go flat by inspecting the tyre real well. I have marked my tyre with a sharpie on the drive (right) side at the valve stem. That way I can know about where the hole is in the tyre with respect to the hole in the tube.

Last but not least... ride it like you stole it.

Thanks everyone! My butt is definitely sore just sitting here in this chair this morning, lol, so I'm looking forward to my ride tomorrow morning, weather permitting.


Will most definitely have to check out on YouTube about changing a flat, cause I know I'd likely screw something up if I had to right now.

My big suggestion is that you pratique taking off the rear wheel and changing out a tube several times at home. I know it took me a few tries before I got the hang of re-installing that rear wheel easily.


AGREE!

Spend a little time one evening/Saturday afternoon doing a dry-run of swapping out a tube. Believe me, you want to work out the kinks in your own driveway, not 20 miles down some bike path.



Other notes:
-To agree with what was noted by somebody above: Slime in your tubes is a bad idea, it prevents making good patches.
-Definitely get a patch kit. Really, buy three... keep one at home, one in your car (for "rescues" in case the glue in your seat bag is dried out), and one in your seat bag. Every kit I've seen at the LBS is $2 and comes in a perfect-sized little plastic case. Alternately, you can keep the stuff in an Altoids tin or something similar so your patches don't get junked up, or the tube of cement gets punctured.
-Buy yourself a spare tire. Invariably you will get a huge gash on your tire the night before a planned ride and your LBS won't have your preferred size in stock. (I'm not pessimistic, I'm a boy scout!)

Congratulations :thumb:

If you ride stationary bike and got that sore from a 3-mile ride, I have to ask if you got a proper fitting at the bike shop? If not, go back and ask them to help you with the adjustments. Proper fit is 95% of comfort on a bike.

Don't get an overly wide and padded seat or overly padded bike shorts. While it sound like it would increase comfort, the opposite is true. Excessive padding just increases the pressure on the sensitive regions while distributing weight away from the sit bones (ischial bones) where it should be. If you have a well fit, appropriate seat, the only soreness from pressure should be a circular area over the prominence of the sit bone on each side. It is counter-intuitive, but a less padded seat can actually take pressure off your more sensitive areas. The purpose of a chamois in riding shorts isn't so much for padding as it is to reduce friction, thus preventing saddle sores. Good riding shorts shouldn't feel like a diaper.

Once you have a good fitting bike with a seat that works well for you, its just a matter of riding frequently adding a few miles at a time. The initial soreness will subside and soon you'll be cruising all afternoon and having a blast.

Oh yeah. Green Slime = BAD

Stay away from the green slime!

Congratulations on the first ride.

I SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH THAT! Both for the Slime and ride.

I remember the day I finally rode 10 miles...I could not imagine at some point I would routinely ride 100+ miles in a day!

As to equipment, everyone has good advice. The best is knowing how to fix a flat and what it takes to do that. The tires on your bike are probably heavy duty (emphasis on the heavy) as it is - more important is making sure the tire pressure is correct. Nothing causes flats more than improper tire pressure.

The good thing about only riding 3 miles is that means you only a short distance to walk back. I would not get too crazy about loading yourself down with stuff now. A spare tube, tire irons and a pump will probably do you for now. As you extend your distance you can add in more equipment or accessories. If you are comfortable patching tires, carry a patch kit. I don't anymore since I don't trust patched tires but I have friends whose tubes are totally pink from so many patches.

Remember you and your bike right now are heavy... heavy is tough to push around. As you ride your body will lightened up and as you ride, you hopefully will upgrade your bike to be lighter as well. The key now is to just keep moving... 1 mile or 3 or 5 doesn't matter... just keep at it!!!

your arse and taint will hurt for the next two months. just the way it is. and after the winter break and you get back on next spring your arse and taint hurt for a month again.

nothing you can do to fix that, i learned the expensive way last year, i bought three seats/saddles when i first started to combat the soreness. when all i needed was to tough it out for a few weeks.

if your taint is taking a beating then, play with the tilt a small smidge. (nose down or up)


as for the three miles, thats way better than my first time. i only went a half a mile. second time i went 1 mile, third ride 2.5 miles. fourth ride was 1 mile. fifth ride i did 4 miles.

Last year i posted about the overpass on Oakton on the botanic garden trail. The first time i tried to go up it my lungs were on fire and legs were screaming in pain. i coasted to the bottom on the other side and took a 20 minute break under a tree, then went home and crashed.
now that same overpass i dont even shift a gear i stand up and fly right over it. my heart rate will jump only 5-8 beats and my legs now actually enjoy the increase in grade and ask for more.

just keep riding and space it out to get one day of rest, and just make sure you up your water consumption throughout the day and on off days and you will be doing 100 milers by the end of the season.

Edit:
forgot some good advice that i heard here. if your legs are burning shift up the rear cog. if your lungs are burning shift down the rear cog. and when going down a hill always remember to yell out "wheeeeee wha wha wheeeeeeeee!"

Learn to change a tire before you actually have to change one. I learned on the side of the road in the rain and it really sucked! I also popped a spare tube by not knowing how to use a co2 pump. My seat bag has a spare tube, patch kit, co2 pump and cartridges, and a multi tool. I always take a cell phone and wallet and more food and water than I anticipate needing.

With the rest of the choir I join in congratulating you on the ride. You made your body do something very good for it and it is protesting. Keep riding! The day will come when your body groans if you don't go for a ride. That is a good place to get to. :thumb:

+1

Nothing to add to this thread other than my congratulations on getting started and some encouragement to keep it up.
In a few weeks, you will look back on this and be amazed at your progress.

Make sure to post about your next few rides.
We are virtually out there with you and cheering you on!

Congrats on the ride! Keep it up, it does get easier on the backside. Get a tube, pump, tire irons, latex gloves. I had a flat today 20 miles away from the house and this is what it took to get me home. (also a Presta to Schrader valve adapter, I needed it to fit my pump to a Presta valve.)

Stay away from the green slime!

Congratulations on the first ride.

253519

Try adjusting your seat in small increments, up and down, fore and aft. You might be surprized what as little as an 1/8" adjustment can do for comfort.
http://sheldonbrown.com/pain.html

3 Miles...New Bike...The First of many rides for you.

You guys are awesome :D


Hopefully the raid we had today will be gone by tomorrow morning and the wife and I can hit the trail again. She picked up some bike-shorts-liners for me today from sports authority, so I'll be giving those a go.



Also, I just learned that you go commando with bike shorts.

I have a mini bag. I carry 2 tubes, 2 levers, tool kit, and $10. I carry my phone in my jersey pocket. Remember, the only easy day was yesterday.

w00t! Just finished my second ride, did about 4.5 miles and could actually still walk when I was done!






Also, is it normal to feel incredibly hungry afterwards?

yes.

it's your body refueling itself.

eventually 4.5 miles won't cause incredible hunger.

awesome,

went for 3 miles and almost past out, to 4.5 miles and still be able to walk. i call that a win win, in my book. soon your next thread will be "just finished a century". (i just learned the its a 100 mile ride and a metric one is 62.314 miles)

keep at it and eat healthier and soon you will be shopping for new clothes :)

I just learned that you go commando with bike shorts.

Yup! It's handy to have 3 or 4 pair. I don't know if wash temp is all that important, although I tend to use "warm" for everything, but they will last longer if you line dry them, as opposed to drying in a hot dryer.

Keep it up, when I first got back into riding a couple years ago 4 miles killed me and now I can do 30-40 at a good pace and barely break a sweat.

I feel like I could do a whole lot more but I have enough trouble finding the time to get in the 30 milers as it is.

-Steve

Also, is it normal to feel incredibly hungry afterwards?

Try some non/low fat chocolate milk for recovery and to take the hunger edge off

Congrats on the rides! Welcome to your new passion. I think my 1 st ride was 6 miles & I had to stop at least 3 times! I carry the same basic stuff $20 bill, tube tire levers, patch kit, multi tool w chain breaker, CO2 & connector. No Slime
I also wear a RoadID & use flashing lights front & back did over 1000 miles last year & ended with a 55 mile GranFondo, what a blast! See you out on the road! Andy

Oh, and get fit for a seat, one that doesn't hurt, took me trying 4 different saddles on my bike to get one that is comfortable....

Oh, and get fit for a seat, one that doesn't hurt, took me trying 4 different saddles on my bike to get one that is comfortable....

I have tried 7 different seats/saddles and still havent found one that works for me.

Just before reading your post I was thinking about my first ride a year ago. I rode 6 miles, had to stop for a break at 3 miles, and my butt killed me when I got back. Yesterday I did my first half-century & averaged 14.5 mph over the 50 miles. I'm shooting for a metric century later this month and then a full century in August. So, hang in there, ride every day you can, even in the winter, and this time next year you'll be laughing about that first ride.

Did about 8.5 today before work!

Did about 8.5 today before work!


Keep at it, I commute about 6.5 hilly miles and it's worked wonders getting me in shape and increasing my lung capacity.

Early, dramatic gains are the name of the game. You will find a plateau after a while. It isn't really a limit; it's just finding your current fitness level, and your distance will continue to increase with your fitness.

We hit that this weekend. My wife had ridden 7 miles, then 10, then 13, 14, and 22. Then Saturday we were shooting for about 25 miles and didn't make it; we called our son to come and pick us up. Our downfall was that we got cocky. We rode 11 miles out and decided to take a different, slightly longer and slightly hillier route home. We started later than we should have and ended up trying to slog home at the end in 95 degree temps in a blazing sun (I'm sure temps at the pavement were well over 100). Had we taken the flat route, or started earlier in the day, we probably would have made it.

Now we need to recognize that around 20 miles is what she can comfortably ride, and slowly add to that.

I was definitely feeling it after that 8 or so miles, so I'll probably try to do that for a bit until I feel just dandy afterwards, then I'll know I need to step it up.

Glad you are enjoying the bike. My first time killed me going around the block. I was gagging, gasping for air and wanted to throw up. I was that way for a week. I almost gave up riding a bike until I got on this forum and whined about hills. Everyone was great about the encouragement. Yup. Hills are going to kill you. Every time. It took a month to get a mile in and I still wanted to throw up. By the end of the summer I got 5 miles in. What I can't figure out is why at 220 doing a couple of miles absolutely killed me. It still does even a year later. So I can't tell you how envious I am of you. I did four miles yesterday and was exhausted. I can get up to 20 miles in a trip now but I pay for it the entire way.

Learn to change a tire. There is nothing worse than walking back 3 miles dragging your bike up and down hills in socks because you can't walk with cycling shoes. Learn some basic bike maintenance as well so you aren't hauling your bike up to the shop for simple stuff.

I'm further along in cycling and end up in some remote places so I have a hydra pack that carries water. I'm terribly paranoid about getting stranded since I live in the middle of nowhere, ride alone and I'd probably stuff that pack full of everything if I could. I keep a multi tool, inner tubes, CO2 cartridges, some energy gels, money, tire levers, money, a pump and a light jacket. A map if needed, emergency information and a cell phone. After my bike accident 6 weeks ago the paranoid part of me wants to carry a change of clothing in case I end up in the ER overnight again.

So glad you are enjoying yourself. Keep it up!

Congrats on keeping going.

+1 no green slime
+1 practice patching before you go (carry spare tube and patch kit...first flat put spare tube in) easy practice... take wheel off, take tube out and put it back in. for patching (after the spare tube :) ) use a patch kit with glue...follow the instructions. stay away from instant patches.

as to pain:
+1000 on proper seat height and bike fit.

and make sure you are in a low (easy) gear and are pedaling at a fast rpm feeling little pressure on your feet, and are not in a high gear (hard) pushing hard with your legs. err toward manic hamster on espresso type rpm.

Bethany: My Mom's from Shelton, Ne About 20 miles west of Grand Island. Once you get out of the Platte River Valley it's pretty desolate.

Nothing intelligent to add. YouTube is your friend for learning basic bike maintenance. My advice is to watch a couple on each topic. Most are pretty good but occasionally you will find one where the person is way off base on how to do something.
You MUST learn to change a flat. (BTW--I don't use patches. I always put in a new tube. Nothing wrong with patching, it's just the way I roll.)
You should at some point learn to adjust your brakes and derailleurs. Those are great things to know but can wait.

My first rides were in the 2 to 3 mile range. I remember PRAYING that the light would turn red so I could stop and catch my breath. My legs felt like jelly and I was sure I would need a lung transplant.
It gets easier.

Eventually you get to the point that your legs are telling you NOT to stop. I ran out of road last Sunday and only got 87 miles in of my planned 100 miles. The ride wasn't bad, but the next day I really could not ride a bike from the pain. Its all relative. Four months ago that level of pain came at 15 miles, Now the threshold is higher, but the pain remains the same.

Its always fun to challenge yourself to find out just how far you can ride. The benefits of a lighter, stronger, fitter body trump the effort by far. Just keep at it and you'll end up with pants that 6 inches too large at the waits and shirts that look like tents. :)

I remember PRAYING that the light would turn red so I could stop and catch my breath

secretly I still do this

secretly I still do this


The only lights that ever turn red for me are the ones that some not nice person put half way up a sucky hill.

So, a few questions for you guys, again. What gear should I be carrying with me?
-water
-co2 or bike pump
-extra tube
-few patches
-tire levers

I don't own a mountain bike, so I'm not sure how easy it is to take the tire off. Your first flat should always be a fresh tube, the second is the patch. I'd practice patching and installing tubes at home. Also buy or make a boot for when you cut your tire and you are in the middle of nowhere. A boot is basically a piece of material (old tire, hard plastic from park tools, or even a dollar bill) that keeps the tube from poking out a big hole in your tire.

pillow-padded bike shorts.
-get the best you can afford here. If money is not an option I suggest Assos. I really don't like any other brand.

I saw some green slime that seems to be a sealant, do those work?
-used to work when I was a kid, with all the goatheads!

Should I be on the lookout for heavier-dutier tires, since I'm a heavier-dutier guy? (Read 350lb+) The rims are supposed to be double-walled or some such voodoo, so hopefully that will help.
-I think you should be fine. Just make sure you run a pressure that is comfy for you. You'll have to experiment.

Oh man, my ass hurt.
-that is about a three week thing. Watch out for crotch numbness, that means you need your seat adjusted or a new seat.