Josephcsylvia

Hey guys, so I got out for my first ride last night. Here's how it went and then I have a few questions.

My stats 5'9 320lbs
Bike Giant atx27.5

I only rode 1.79 miles time was 10:19 and I paused at the halfway mark for water, gain in elevation was 17'

Legs felt like jello as I am very out of shape and my rear is quite sore today lol. How is that for a first ride? My goal right now is 10 miles a week.

Question, how do I know if I need to adjust my disk breaks to stop faster?

How uncomfortable should a saddle be? Lol

jethro56 

It takes me 100 miles riding at the beginning of the season for my butt not to hurt and 500 miles before I no-longer notice discomfort. Your first ride is about the sames as mine was 7 years ago. When you get 25 miles on the bike take it back to the dealer and have them adjust for normal breakin stuff. Take today off but ride tomorrow.

Josephcsylvia

thank you. Ok good to know about the saddle. I just ordered a pair of padded shorts to wear under my gym shorts. I will certainly have them check things out in a couple weeks when I get them miles in.

Black wallnut 

Congrats on your first ride! For now you might just trust the bike shop that set up your bike with the adjustment of your disc brakes. I still remember my first ride as an adult over 5 years ago, it went about as yours did. It really will take time for your butt to get accustomed to the saddle, over time you will toughen up. Give it about 20 hours of ride time. Your goal of 10 miles a week is a lofty goal and one that should be attainable.

Enjoy the ride! Welcome to the forum btw.

MRT2

10 miles/week is only a little more than 1 mile/day. You can do better. Shoot for a half hour/day.

Josephcsylvia

Black wallnut thank you, I really like my local shop, they were very helpful. Yes just found this forum, still figuring things out.

Josephcsylvia

Mrt2, I set my goal low for the first couple weeks for a couple reasons, im really out of shape lol and its 95° and humid here already. I also want that feeling of hitting my goal. To be completely honest I dont know if I could ride 30min right now but I do appreciate the confidence thought, that is what I like about this forum.

Nstoltzner

Welcome to cycling! I will start with the saddle which I will tell you that it's going to hurt for a bit. It shouldn't be an excruciating experience but some pain is to be expected for sure. I also wanted to chime in with the mileage, first of all good job! I started about the same and now I do 10 miles without a second thought, so it does get a lot easier. Keep going for it and aim to do 10% more or so a week. With the disc brakes, just talk to the LBS after about 30 miles on the bike to ensure that it's all adjusted properly.

Josephcsylvia

Thank you, its not excruciating more uncomfortable/ irritating than anything. I look forward to riding further, being fit would not be new to me several years ago I was an average of 185lb and running 5/7 miles 5 days a week, then I tore my acl and put on 135lbs in short amount of time. No more running for me so I decided cycling will make me just as happy. The 10% increase seems like a great strategy as the increases will be larger in time, thank you

rnothog

You did fine for your first ride!

Endurance will come later. Keep it up!

ypsetihw

at this point I would agree that you should try to put more time in the saddle, and not worry about the distance or speed. ride away from home for 15 minutes, then turn around and don't worry about how long it takes to get back. in a couple weeks this will seem easy.

a year ago my first 7 mile commute nearly killed me. on tuesday I rode 60 miles total before/during/after work and got up and rode to work the next day no problem. progress will come faster than you think.

Nstoltzner

I know where you're coming from there my friend. I started at 305 lbs and am down to 280 with a 6 week setback from surgery. I started in February and have multiplied my distance ten fold and went from averaging 8 mph to around 15. The point is, keep it up and have fun. If it isn't fun you won't ride. I use trackers because I like to see my progress but they are not the end all be all of cycling.

Josephcsylvia

Thank you guys.

Josephcsylvia

Awesome, it is fun for sure. I downloaded a tracking app but dont look at it while riding, I stick my phone in the small bag under my saddle. I use it for reference later. Because it stores all my rides

deapee

Yeah sounds typical of a first ride from an out of shape person.

I suggest (like someone mentioned above) ditch the 10 mile a week goal (for now). Make a goal of like a half hour 3 times a week or something like that instead.

If you REALLY want to get into shape, do a half hour to 45 minutes 3 times a week, and on your off days, use the stair stepper at the gym. The reason I say the stair stepper is because you won't be sitting on your sore butt.

If you REALLY push it, within 3 months, you can be doing 20-30 mile rides 3-4 times a week no problem at all. This comes down to your goals and determination of course.

But yeah...I remember first getting on a bike. I made it 3 miles away and thought I was going to have to walk my bike back or call an ambulance...The hill that used to get me is like 1% grade and like 50 feet long. I could probably pedal up it backwards now if I wanted to. I wouldn't even consider it a hill now.

Milton Keynes

Start out early in the morning. That's what I have to do now if I want to ride since summer hit. It's not always cool in the morning before sunrise, but it's certainly cooler than in the late afternoon or evening.

Before you know it you'll be getting to where you'll go further and faster, and you'll be riding a half hour, then an hour or longer. When I first started last August, it was about all I could do to ride 3 or 5 miles, but I soon worked up to 30 miles. I still remember the first time I was able to ride 10 miles without stopping to rest. Now I get up early, get in 10 miles before work every morning, and on the weekends I look at doing 20-30 miles. Just set little goals for yourself, achieve them, and then set longer goals. 10 miles a week is pretty easy to achieve, try that for a while before making yourself do 25 and then 50 miles a week. Or better yet, take the advice to not worry about distance, but instead ride as far as you can for half an hour. Then extend that to 45 minutes, then an hour.

HauntedMyst

When I started riding again, I did about the same. It was exhausting. 4 months later I was able to do the 25 mile midnight ride. You'll be surprised at how fast you progress if you just stick with it. I would highly recommend getting some bar ends. The more you ride, the more you'll appreciate additional hand positions.

Willbird

I took 4 months off this winter.....and my Asterisk hurt a lot starting out, I shall never take 4 months off AGAIN :-).

You will be going 10-20 miles before you know it I bet. If you have a smart phone setup Strava and use it now :-), you will like to look back :-).

There is a Water Tower near the mid point of my 20 mile loop and I still remember the first time I made it that far in this incarnation as a cyclist, and the first time I made it there on a day I headed out INTO the rain...it was 37F that day and pouring rain, I pondered making a left and cutting the loop 4 miles shorter or just going the full 20, and I went for it :-).

I remember crossing that spot at 15F too, and I WILL cross it at 0F too if mother nature cooperates :-).

Bill

sdmc530

Congrats!!! Been there too remember when I first started out myself I could do 2-3 miles and ars hurt. Kept at it invested in some shorts now i ride 50-70 miles a week and feels awesome. I am also a superclyde

Seriously just keep at it. Use strava if available to you and have fun. Enjoying the beauty that is out outdoors. It will pay off for certain!!

Turzy

Welcome to the forums!
Congrats !
Don't worry about how many miles you did on your first ride, you got started, that's what matters.
Next ride, try to go a bit further, and do the same thing again the time after that, and so on... Take your time, enjoy the scenery, the weather, whatever...enjoy what you're doing and have fun doing it! Progress will come.
Take a day off between rides, but try and stay active (take a walk)

Allez3

Brakes will be more effective as you lose weight.

As for your ass? Well...the only way to fix that is to keep riding...

Willbird

Part of me hates setting monthly goals but they do get my sit bones onto a bike saddle on some days it might be easier to find an excuse to not ride. There is a goal thread here in this forum every month. My first month June 2014 I think I picked 200 or 250 but ended up over 300.

May this year was 350 and June was 400...75 or so to go on that :-). July will be 450 probably :-).

CircleofOne

Sounds like a perfectly fine first ride to me. I've been riding about a month now and have been learning not to push it too much too soon. The saddle has not been nearly uncomfortable as I was afraid it might be, going by the typical stories of new riders I had read. Might want to give it some more time before trying others out.

Also from one newb to another, don't be afraid to go in lower gears to spin vs mashing them to death. I was getting SO winded, and afterwards my quads felt like lead, because I was pushing too hard.

Keep on cycling and good luck!!

cyclist2000

Good Ride, keep it up. More distance will come with more riding and there is a normal break-in time on your butt. A long time ago, my first 20 mile ride of the year would produce such pain that I didn't want to sit for 3 day, then I was good to go for the rest of the summer.

Josephcsylvia

Thank you guys, rode again today, no major butt pain so that's a plus. Top speed today was 19 mph, rode for 20min. Things are looking good. Just got a bike rack for the back of my suv, it takes two seconds to put on and im off to different places.