How'd you get started cycling?
06-23-07, 02:53 PM
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How'd you get started cycling?
How'd you get started cycling?
I was going to title the post "How did you get your big fat butt cycling?", but thought it might not be that clear of a title. LOL
Might be interesting for those of us Clyde/Athena types to share our stories of what brought us to cycling. I'm thinking our stories might be a bit different than your average cyclist as many of ours are probably related to weight loss.
What got you interested in cycling? Was it to lose weight? What was the catalyst? What made you decide this was the sport/exercise for you?
My story:
Oct 2003. I watched my mom die from a gastric bypass surgery which was necessary for her to continue with any kind of a quality of life. She never recovered from the surgery and died in ICU. The last thing she said to me while going in for the surgery was "You should consider surgery Chris".
I was probably at my biggest at that point (maybe 375-380 pounds) and 400 was always that scary number I was afraid to hit. After her experience with the surgery, I decided that was NOT the way to go for me. I was not beyond help yet....and I thought that was the last effort when you were too big to even exercise or do anything to help lose weight.
Anyway......as I said, I decided I needed to lose weight the natural way. I had tried the gym before and not liked it. I wasn't sure what to do...was still "thinking" about it. Then one day a friend of min, a lady 20+ years older than me (in her 50s) came up with an idea that we should go to the trail and rent some bikes that weekend and go for a bike ride. Sounded like a fun idea....I hadn't ridden a bike in 10 years or more at that point.
We rented bikes and she was so slow on it, I was having trouble riding slow enough to stay with her. She finally gave me the "OK" to go on...she'd be fine. So I started riding...and riding. At one point it seemed the trail ended (later found it picked up on other side of road, but I missed that), so I turned around and went back to bike shop. We looked at a trail map and figured that I had gone about 14 miles. I was soooooo impressed with myself. I never thought I'd get more than 3 or 4 miles.
Anyway.....that started my love affair. I was looking for a bike soon after (so was my friend). She had done some research on Consumer Reports and learned to get a bike shop bike and not a Wal-Mart bike. We went separately, but ironically ended up buying the same bike (Trek Navigator 300 - Comfort Bike).
Well, she stopped biking very quickly and became a "once every 3 months" cyclist. I started riding on my own but found it hard. I was typically only riding 4-6 miles. Until I moved over closer to work and found friends at work to bike with. That's when I started getting a bit more serious about it.
Now, 3 years later, I'm down about 50-60 pounds (did that in 1 year....and been hovering in same area...need to get serious on the weight loss part again) and still riding.
What's your story? How'd you get into cycling?
I was going to title the post "How did you get your big fat butt cycling?", but thought it might not be that clear of a title. LOL
Might be interesting for those of us Clyde/Athena types to share our stories of what brought us to cycling. I'm thinking our stories might be a bit different than your average cyclist as many of ours are probably related to weight loss.
What got you interested in cycling? Was it to lose weight? What was the catalyst? What made you decide this was the sport/exercise for you?
My story:
Oct 2003. I watched my mom die from a gastric bypass surgery which was necessary for her to continue with any kind of a quality of life. She never recovered from the surgery and died in ICU. The last thing she said to me while going in for the surgery was "You should consider surgery Chris".
I was probably at my biggest at that point (maybe 375-380 pounds) and 400 was always that scary number I was afraid to hit. After her experience with the surgery, I decided that was NOT the way to go for me. I was not beyond help yet....and I thought that was the last effort when you were too big to even exercise or do anything to help lose weight.
Anyway......as I said, I decided I needed to lose weight the natural way. I had tried the gym before and not liked it. I wasn't sure what to do...was still "thinking" about it. Then one day a friend of min, a lady 20+ years older than me (in her 50s) came up with an idea that we should go to the trail and rent some bikes that weekend and go for a bike ride. Sounded like a fun idea....I hadn't ridden a bike in 10 years or more at that point.
We rented bikes and she was so slow on it, I was having trouble riding slow enough to stay with her. She finally gave me the "OK" to go on...she'd be fine. So I started riding...and riding. At one point it seemed the trail ended (later found it picked up on other side of road, but I missed that), so I turned around and went back to bike shop. We looked at a trail map and figured that I had gone about 14 miles. I was soooooo impressed with myself. I never thought I'd get more than 3 or 4 miles.
Anyway.....that started my love affair. I was looking for a bike soon after (so was my friend). She had done some research on Consumer Reports and learned to get a bike shop bike and not a Wal-Mart bike. We went separately, but ironically ended up buying the same bike (Trek Navigator 300 - Comfort Bike).
Well, she stopped biking very quickly and became a "once every 3 months" cyclist. I started riding on my own but found it hard. I was typically only riding 4-6 miles. Until I moved over closer to work and found friends at work to bike with. That's when I started getting a bit more serious about it.
Now, 3 years later, I'm down about 50-60 pounds (did that in 1 year....and been hovering in same area...need to get serious on the weight loss part again) and still riding.
What's your story? How'd you get into cycling?
06-23-07, 03:09 PM
#2
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Here's my story, all neatly published in my blog!
https://theamazingshrinkingman.blogsp...y-cycling.html
https://theamazingshrinkingman.blogsp...y-cycling.html
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. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
06-23-07, 03:24 PM
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The first time I started cycling I was in grade school. It was a farming area with gravel roads--no asphalt. I got a new 24" Schwinn for Christmas. As I got a little older, I got a neighbor's cast-off 26" Hawthorne (both with coaster brakes). By this time friends and I would ride a couple of miles to each other's houses in a group.
The first years of college were in the Twin Cities. Someone was talking about an "English" 3-speed at a bike shop in Minneapolis for $50. Cycling was a better, cheaper alternative to riding city buses. I also learned how to get around in city traffic on that bike. It was very liberating.
Eventually I graduated to a used 10-speed and began to join some group rides. Kenneth Cooper's Aerobics had just been published. I thought the bike would keep my weight where it belonged and would make me fit and healthy.
Job responsibilities, a growing family, and increasing auto traffic on the roads got me away from cycling with any regularity. I started back a bit when gasoline prices began to rise (again) in the early 1990's.
It seems every place we have lived has a few decent routes over public roads for cycling, but then I get busier and traffic grows in density. At age 60 I began riding regularly again. I just decided it was something I would do for myself and gave it a high priority. My weight had increased again after losing 30 pounds with Weight Watchers three years before. I had tried walking 12000 steps a day, but that did nothing for my weight. Dropping weight by cycling is slow, but it can work. A lot of my other health related numbers have shown improvement, too. I am anxious for retirement when I can cycle even more regularly.
My wife encourages me to cycle and kept telling me I needed a new bike. I gave in and now have two bikes: the 10-speed mentioned above and a new Specialized Allez Sport Triple.
In summary, the reasons are: weight control, health, and enjoyment.
The first years of college were in the Twin Cities. Someone was talking about an "English" 3-speed at a bike shop in Minneapolis for $50. Cycling was a better, cheaper alternative to riding city buses. I also learned how to get around in city traffic on that bike. It was very liberating.
Eventually I graduated to a used 10-speed and began to join some group rides. Kenneth Cooper's Aerobics had just been published. I thought the bike would keep my weight where it belonged and would make me fit and healthy.
Job responsibilities, a growing family, and increasing auto traffic on the roads got me away from cycling with any regularity. I started back a bit when gasoline prices began to rise (again) in the early 1990's.
It seems every place we have lived has a few decent routes over public roads for cycling, but then I get busier and traffic grows in density. At age 60 I began riding regularly again. I just decided it was something I would do for myself and gave it a high priority. My weight had increased again after losing 30 pounds with Weight Watchers three years before. I had tried walking 12000 steps a day, but that did nothing for my weight. Dropping weight by cycling is slow, but it can work. A lot of my other health related numbers have shown improvement, too. I am anxious for retirement when I can cycle even more regularly.
My wife encourages me to cycle and kept telling me I needed a new bike. I gave in and now have two bikes: the 10-speed mentioned above and a new Specialized Allez Sport Triple.
In summary, the reasons are: weight control, health, and enjoyment.
Last edited by twobikes; 06-24-07 at 06:40 AM.
06-23-07, 03:31 PM
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My Daddy bought me a cool bike with training wheels when I was about 4 years old. It was touch and go for the first couple of weeks, but once them training wheels came off, I was a cyclist! Unlike so many, I just never quit riding just because I got a driver's license.
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
06-23-07, 03:38 PM
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I was weighing in at 385 and was on the verge of being diabetic. I met a fella who offered personal training services from his basement, and so I decided it was time to get back in shape.
He also happened to be an avid cyclist, and as we struggled with finding cardio options that wouldn't make my knees swell, we tried biking. I loved it! The first ride was about four miles, in February, in Wisconsin. I had four layers of clothes on and damn near killed myself on a few icy patches, and was on the couch for about a week with sore legs, but once they cleared up, I was back at it. The first 18 months I lost 45 pounds, and my doc says I am in no danger of diabetes or others ailments.
In the last eight months, I went through a divorce. While my weight stayed steady, my bike time went in the tank. I am just now getting back in the saddle, and am so glad I came back to check out this place!
He also happened to be an avid cyclist, and as we struggled with finding cardio options that wouldn't make my knees swell, we tried biking. I loved it! The first ride was about four miles, in February, in Wisconsin. I had four layers of clothes on and damn near killed myself on a few icy patches, and was on the couch for about a week with sore legs, but once they cleared up, I was back at it. The first 18 months I lost 45 pounds, and my doc says I am in no danger of diabetes or others ailments.
In the last eight months, I went through a divorce. While my weight stayed steady, my bike time went in the tank. I am just now getting back in the saddle, and am so glad I came back to check out this place!
06-23-07, 03:44 PM
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My older brother got into it heavily in the latter part of the 80ies and I ended up buying one of his mountain bikes as he upgraded. I rode it for a number of years and then life (marriage, young kids, etc) intervened. 15 years (and 50 pounds) later, I am in a position to afford a bike again and have the time to ride it again so I started back up.
06-23-07, 04:51 PM
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I biked constantly when I was younger... then I got that driver's license thing 
. And a long series of mis-steps left me at 567 pounds on June 15, 2005. By December of 2005 I was down to the 410 area, and getting in good shape thanks to ellipticals and free weights. In June of 2006 I was back up to the 430-440 range, stuck with a bad back thanks to a car accident and sick of the ellipticals. I stopped at my parents' house, and saw my brother's late '90s Raleigh MTB hanging in the garage. "Hey, can I borrow that?"
And I went to the trail, MTB in the back of my pickup. I headed out, and you couldn't pry that smile off my face after like 9 miles. I rode over 70 miles my first week "back", and was HOOKED. The ride was fantastic, it was on a crushed limestone trail that runs through the countryside here in Nebraska. A summer evening, dressed in a UnderArmor t-shirt and a pair of workout shorts. The saddle was too low, the tires didn't have enough air - but I didn't care! I was in the saddle, flying down the trail. Something I didn't dream of a year before!
A year later I've put on well over 2,000 miles, and thanks to cycling have dropped 60-70 pounds. I love it, and can't imagine life without the bike. Even around 370 pounds, I have no problems keeping up with all but the fastest 5 or 10% out there, and love my ability to constantly surprise everyone on the trail. I ride 20 miles without even thinking about it.
As I told someone in response to "why do you do that to yourself", that "it's just what I do!"
. And a long series of mis-steps left me at 567 pounds on June 15, 2005. By December of 2005 I was down to the 410 area, and getting in good shape thanks to ellipticals and free weights. In June of 2006 I was back up to the 430-440 range, stuck with a bad back thanks to a car accident and sick of the ellipticals. I stopped at my parents' house, and saw my brother's late '90s Raleigh MTB hanging in the garage. "Hey, can I borrow that?"And I went to the trail, MTB in the back of my pickup. I headed out, and you couldn't pry that smile off my face after like 9 miles. I rode over 70 miles my first week "back", and was HOOKED. The ride was fantastic, it was on a crushed limestone trail that runs through the countryside here in Nebraska. A summer evening, dressed in a UnderArmor t-shirt and a pair of workout shorts. The saddle was too low, the tires didn't have enough air - but I didn't care! I was in the saddle, flying down the trail. Something I didn't dream of a year before!
A year later I've put on well over 2,000 miles, and thanks to cycling have dropped 60-70 pounds. I love it, and can't imagine life without the bike. Even around 370 pounds, I have no problems keeping up with all but the fastest 5 or 10% out there, and love my ability to constantly surprise everyone on the trail. I ride 20 miles without even thinking about it.
As I told someone in response to "why do you do that to yourself", that "it's just what I do!"
06-23-07, 04:58 PM
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My story is in three parts.
The beginning:
We moved from the city to the country in one of the first subdivisions made in the county. I was in third grade, skinny as a rail, and for the first time friendless. I withdrew and became a fat angry kid, making it harder to find friends. High school was approaching and I knew I better do something. I started riding the Schwinn my dad had bought me before we moved. It began to be a bit small, but I road it everywhere. While kids were starting to get into the bmx game, i was a road cyclist through and through. In 1979 I saw the movie Breaking Away, found weight training, and went crazy. Unfortunately I was able to buy a car shortly after that and the bicycle was forgotten. I never did learn how to take care of the bike. I was not mechanical, my dad was. He had tools, and I was not allowed near them.
The Middle:
In the Army with a young family I was lured into the mountain bike world. It was all the rage and road bikes were hard to find. Forgetting that I loved the road ride and that I wanted a bike to commute around the installation. I bought the best mountain bike I could buy...a cheap heavy thing that did not fit me. I never liked that bike. Soon after I was stationed at Germany and by the time my bike caught up to me I left the Army and went back to Missouri. My bike was stolen in transit. You might think this was a good thing and I would learn. Surely Jumbo would get a road bike replacement.
Out of the Army without Uncle Same threatening me with jail or monetary penalties if I got out of shape, I got out of shape. My buddy suggested biking. I had no money so of course I bought the best that my credit could afford, a Schwinn Impact Pro mountain bike. Never mind that Schwinn was about bankrupt and that I hated the feel of the mountain bike or that I road on roads or bike paths. I quit riding without putting many miles on the bike.
Last part:
I have become Jumbo. I want to get myself in shape. Well, I am so far gone that I can only think about swimming or walking to get back into shape. Walking is so slow. Swimming requires going somewhere special. Well heck. What about biking? Nah, no one has ever seen a 300 plus rider. I looked around the net and found Tom. Seeing that picture of him on a x-mart bike with an oxygen tank on his back was pretty impressive. I started pricing bikes. Road bikes this time.
Well it should have been a road bike. I found myself on mbt and discovered 29ers. The Karate Monkey. I was ready to buy and went to my lbs to have them build one up for me. They laughed me out of the store. No, they did not literally laugh, but they made it quite clear I had no business betting on a bicycle. I was demoralized and forgot about riding.
For the next several months I tried to get myself excited about walking. Oooh, I was going to get into speed walking, marathon walking, hiking, blah. Walking is great, I just wanted, well I wanted to be a cyclist. I found a few other guys as big as I am that were riding. After bugging people around the clock I spec'd out my Big Liberty Blue and had her built by a shop in Mn. While I can't quite say that I am riding yet on a consistant basis, I am very close. Magic will happen again.
The beginning:
We moved from the city to the country in one of the first subdivisions made in the county. I was in third grade, skinny as a rail, and for the first time friendless. I withdrew and became a fat angry kid, making it harder to find friends. High school was approaching and I knew I better do something. I started riding the Schwinn my dad had bought me before we moved. It began to be a bit small, but I road it everywhere. While kids were starting to get into the bmx game, i was a road cyclist through and through. In 1979 I saw the movie Breaking Away, found weight training, and went crazy. Unfortunately I was able to buy a car shortly after that and the bicycle was forgotten. I never did learn how to take care of the bike. I was not mechanical, my dad was. He had tools, and I was not allowed near them.
The Middle:
In the Army with a young family I was lured into the mountain bike world. It was all the rage and road bikes were hard to find. Forgetting that I loved the road ride and that I wanted a bike to commute around the installation. I bought the best mountain bike I could buy...a cheap heavy thing that did not fit me. I never liked that bike. Soon after I was stationed at Germany and by the time my bike caught up to me I left the Army and went back to Missouri. My bike was stolen in transit. You might think this was a good thing and I would learn. Surely Jumbo would get a road bike replacement.
Out of the Army without Uncle Same threatening me with jail or monetary penalties if I got out of shape, I got out of shape. My buddy suggested biking. I had no money so of course I bought the best that my credit could afford, a Schwinn Impact Pro mountain bike. Never mind that Schwinn was about bankrupt and that I hated the feel of the mountain bike or that I road on roads or bike paths. I quit riding without putting many miles on the bike.
Last part:
I have become Jumbo. I want to get myself in shape. Well, I am so far gone that I can only think about swimming or walking to get back into shape. Walking is so slow. Swimming requires going somewhere special. Well heck. What about biking? Nah, no one has ever seen a 300 plus rider. I looked around the net and found Tom. Seeing that picture of him on a x-mart bike with an oxygen tank on his back was pretty impressive. I started pricing bikes. Road bikes this time.
Well it should have been a road bike. I found myself on mbt and discovered 29ers. The Karate Monkey. I was ready to buy and went to my lbs to have them build one up for me. They laughed me out of the store. No, they did not literally laugh, but they made it quite clear I had no business betting on a bicycle. I was demoralized and forgot about riding.
For the next several months I tried to get myself excited about walking. Oooh, I was going to get into speed walking, marathon walking, hiking, blah. Walking is great, I just wanted, well I wanted to be a cyclist. I found a few other guys as big as I am that were riding. After bugging people around the clock I spec'd out my Big Liberty Blue and had her built by a shop in Mn. While I can't quite say that I am riding yet on a consistant basis, I am very close. Magic will happen again.
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A Journey to Lose 170 -now 151 Pounds and a Place for Those Like Me
A Journey to Lose 170 -now 151 Pounds and a Place for Those Like Me
06-23-07, 05:15 PM
#9
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At the age of 40, I had a physical and was shocked by the number on the scale; 375 
, yet, everything else, except my outer appearance; was in the outstandingly good category which really surprised me. I went home and pulled into the garage thinking about the 375 and looked at the bike hanging upside down from the ceiling for the last couple of years and decided that was how I was going to lose weight and get in better shape. I took my first ride on June 1st, 2006 and rode 4 miles and thought I was going to die. My HR was in the 150 range 35 minutes after I came back in the air conditioned comfort of my house. My blood pressure was just starting to level out and I was still sweating a lot. It was sad situation considering I used to be in prime physical condition when I was young and while in the service. I ran 12 marathons, was a distance swimmer and was twice selected to interview for the US Navy Seals. I exited the Navy in 1990 and weighed 190 and had a 32" waist and 42" chest. At my peak I weighed 375, had a 64" chest and a 58" waist.
In the 1 yr since I started riding and watching my diet, I have lost 82 lbs, dropped to a 46" waist, 54" chest and have ridden over 2700 miles. I have inspired a couple of work buddies to join me in a quest to lose weight after I showed them Tom's website, my personal inspiration by the way, and get in better shape. I continue to be inspired by many of the members of this forum and their stories of success and failures, knowing that I am not the only one to stall or fall backwards a little, but yet figure a way to move forward and continue to their goal.
Thanks to everyone.
, yet, everything else, except my outer appearance; was in the outstandingly good category which really surprised me. I went home and pulled into the garage thinking about the 375 and looked at the bike hanging upside down from the ceiling for the last couple of years and decided that was how I was going to lose weight and get in better shape. I took my first ride on June 1st, 2006 and rode 4 miles and thought I was going to die. My HR was in the 150 range 35 minutes after I came back in the air conditioned comfort of my house. My blood pressure was just starting to level out and I was still sweating a lot. It was sad situation considering I used to be in prime physical condition when I was young and while in the service. I ran 12 marathons, was a distance swimmer and was twice selected to interview for the US Navy Seals. I exited the Navy in 1990 and weighed 190 and had a 32" waist and 42" chest. At my peak I weighed 375, had a 64" chest and a 58" waist. In the 1 yr since I started riding and watching my diet, I have lost 82 lbs, dropped to a 46" waist, 54" chest and have ridden over 2700 miles. I have inspired a couple of work buddies to join me in a quest to lose weight after I showed them Tom's website, my personal inspiration by the way, and get in better shape. I continue to be inspired by many of the members of this forum and their stories of success and failures, knowing that I am not the only one to stall or fall backwards a little, but yet figure a way to move forward and continue to their goal.
Thanks to everyone.
06-23-07, 05:30 PM
#10
Squirrel
I picked up a bike in 1984 during the big bike craze, mostly because everyone I knew was riding. I loved it, and rode it pretty much everywhere...to college, to my internship, to work, to the bar after* work. I had a car, but I preferred the bike. Never went so fast I got too sweaty, though.
Then I got hit by a car, followed quickly by moving to a place where it regularly gets above 110 in the summer. Both the bike and me were never quite the same after the accident. Moved back to MN, but only worked a couple miles from home and I could take the bus for a dime and not worry about parking the bike. Anyway, long story short, I forgot about the bike and gained 80 lbs over 12 years.
I'd try to ride my old bike every once and a while but it hurt. Got a new bike, and I've been riding every day.
Funny thing, when I was riding the heavy cruiser, I lost 10 lbs in a month. Now, even though I'm riding almost a hour a day, sometimes 1.5 hours, I haven't lost a lb.* since I got the new bike.
Sad, sad, sad. But I'm down 30 lbs in all so far, so life is good.
Then I got hit by a car, followed quickly by moving to a place where it regularly gets above 110 in the summer. Both the bike and me were never quite the same after the accident. Moved back to MN, but only worked a couple miles from home and I could take the bus for a dime and not worry about parking the bike. Anyway, long story short, I forgot about the bike and gained 80 lbs over 12 years.
I'd try to ride my old bike every once and a while but it hurt. Got a new bike, and I've been riding every day.
Funny thing, when I was riding the heavy cruiser, I lost 10 lbs in a month. Now, even though I'm riding almost a hour a day, sometimes 1.5 hours, I haven't lost a lb.* since I got the new bike.
Sad, sad, sad. But I'm down 30 lbs in all so far, so life is good.
06-23-07, 05:35 PM
#11
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Hello, there my dear friend. no this is not tom this is crazylady. I want to tell you a big secret. I have felt the same way and have weighed as much as 435 lbs. Yes, sweetie it does take time and you and i can do this blog riding together if you would like. it does not matter how far you go, or
how long it takes. it is the just doing it. we will be doing it together. i will tell you when i go out for a ride with the stormcrowe. now i will get off for now. the stormcrowe is standing over me and i am on his laptop. oops. i got caught.
no tom did not down load anything
crazylady
how long it takes. it is the just doing it. we will be doing it together. i will tell you when i go out for a ride with the stormcrowe. now i will get off for now. the stormcrowe is standing over me and i am on his laptop. oops. i got caught.
no tom did not down load anything
crazylady
Originally Posted by JumboRider
My story is in three parts.
Th we beginning:
We moved from the city to the country in one of the first subdivisions made in the county. I was in third grade, skinny as a rail, and for the first time friendless. I withdrew and became a fat angry kid, making it harder to find friends. High school was approaching and I knew I better do something. I started riding the Schwinn my dad had bought me before we moved. It began to be a bit small, but I road it everywhere. While kids were starting to get into the bmx game, i was a road cyclist through and through. In 1979 I saw the movie Breaking Away, found weight training, and went crazy. Unfortunately I was able to buy a car shortly after that and the bicycle was forgotten. I never did learn how to take care of the bike. I was not mechanical, my dad was. He had tools, and I was not allowed near them.
The Middle:
In the Army with a young family I was lured into the mountain bike world. It was all the rage and road bikes were hard to find. Forgetting that I loved the road ride and that I wanted a bike to commute around the installation. I bought the best mountain bike I could buy...a cheap heavy thing that did not fit me. I never liked that bike. Soon after I was stationed at Germany and by the time my bike caught up to me I left the Army and went back to Missouri. My bike was stolen in transit. You might think this was a good thing and I would learn. Surely Jumbo would get a road bike replacement.
Out of the Army without Uncle Same threatening me with jail or monetary penalties if I got out of shape, I got out of shape. My buddy suggested biking. I had no money so of course I bought the best that my credit could afford, a Schwinn Impact Pro mountain bike. Never mind that Schwinn was about bankrupt and that I hated the feel of the mountain bike or that I road on roads or bike paths. I quit riding without putting many miles on the bike.
Last part:
I have become Jumbo. I want to get myself in shape. Well, I am so far gone that I can only think about swimming or walking to get back into shape. Walking is so slow. Swimming requires going somewhere special. Well heck. What about biking? Nah, no one has ever seen a 300 plus rider. I looked around the net and found Tom. Seeing that picture of him on a x-mart bike with an oxygen tank on his back was pretty impressive. I started pricing bikes. Road bikes this time.
Well it should have been a road bike. I found myself on mbt and discovered 29ers. The Karate Monkey. I was ready to buy and went to my lbs to have them build one up for me. They laughed me out of the store. No, they did not literally laugh, but they made it quite clear I had no business betting on a bicycle. I was demoralized and forgot about riding.
For the next several months I tried to get myself excited about walking. Oooh, I was going to get into speed walking, marathon walking, hiking, blah. Walking is great, I just wanted, well I wanted to be a cyclist. I found a few other guys as big as I am that were riding. After bugging people around the clock I spec'd out my Big Liberty Blue and had her built by a shop in Mn. While I can't quite say that I am riding yet on a consistant basis, I am very close. Magic will happen again.
Th we beginning:
We moved from the city to the country in one of the first subdivisions made in the county. I was in third grade, skinny as a rail, and for the first time friendless. I withdrew and became a fat angry kid, making it harder to find friends. High school was approaching and I knew I better do something. I started riding the Schwinn my dad had bought me before we moved. It began to be a bit small, but I road it everywhere. While kids were starting to get into the bmx game, i was a road cyclist through and through. In 1979 I saw the movie Breaking Away, found weight training, and went crazy. Unfortunately I was able to buy a car shortly after that and the bicycle was forgotten. I never did learn how to take care of the bike. I was not mechanical, my dad was. He had tools, and I was not allowed near them.
The Middle:
In the Army with a young family I was lured into the mountain bike world. It was all the rage and road bikes were hard to find. Forgetting that I loved the road ride and that I wanted a bike to commute around the installation. I bought the best mountain bike I could buy...a cheap heavy thing that did not fit me. I never liked that bike. Soon after I was stationed at Germany and by the time my bike caught up to me I left the Army and went back to Missouri. My bike was stolen in transit. You might think this was a good thing and I would learn. Surely Jumbo would get a road bike replacement.
Out of the Army without Uncle Same threatening me with jail or monetary penalties if I got out of shape, I got out of shape. My buddy suggested biking. I had no money so of course I bought the best that my credit could afford, a Schwinn Impact Pro mountain bike. Never mind that Schwinn was about bankrupt and that I hated the feel of the mountain bike or that I road on roads or bike paths. I quit riding without putting many miles on the bike.
Last part:
I have become Jumbo. I want to get myself in shape. Well, I am so far gone that I can only think about swimming or walking to get back into shape. Walking is so slow. Swimming requires going somewhere special. Well heck. What about biking? Nah, no one has ever seen a 300 plus rider. I looked around the net and found Tom. Seeing that picture of him on a x-mart bike with an oxygen tank on his back was pretty impressive. I started pricing bikes. Road bikes this time.
Well it should have been a road bike. I found myself on mbt and discovered 29ers. The Karate Monkey. I was ready to buy and went to my lbs to have them build one up for me. They laughed me out of the store. No, they did not literally laugh, but they made it quite clear I had no business betting on a bicycle. I was demoralized and forgot about riding.
For the next several months I tried to get myself excited about walking. Oooh, I was going to get into speed walking, marathon walking, hiking, blah. Walking is great, I just wanted, well I wanted to be a cyclist. I found a few other guys as big as I am that were riding. After bugging people around the clock I spec'd out my Big Liberty Blue and had her built by a shop in Mn. While I can't quite say that I am riding yet on a consistant basis, I am very close. Magic will happen again.
__________________
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
06-23-07, 05:44 PM
#12
Granola Munchin Hippie
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How I started biking. I did it when I was a teenager. that is when the dino's roamed the earth. i swiped my little sister's bike. I went everywhere on that thing. I loved it. but then i grew up and boom so did the weight. I thought i would have a heartattack when i learned how much i weighed. but that was found out when i was to have major surgury on me self. my balance is now no good so i ride a 3 wheel recumbent. i am loving every moment of it. Most definitely when tom gets bypassed with his fancy older bike and they all want to know all about my recumbent. i love every minute of it. i will not tell a lie there.
Well, you asked and there it is all me.
Safe rides and let's be safe out there
Crazylady
Well, you asked and there it is all me.
Safe rides and let's be safe out there
Crazylady
__________________
The bicycle (or trike), the most sublime form of vacation vehicle on the planet!
The bicycle (or trike), the most sublime form of vacation vehicle on the planet!
06-23-07, 05:44 PM
#13
Senior Member
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Location: Jacksonville, FL
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Originally Posted by solveg
Funny thing, when I was riding the heavy cruiser, I lost 10 lbs in a month. Now, even though I'm riding almost a hour a day, sometimes 1.5 hours, I haven't lost a lb.* since I got the new bike.
Sad, sad, sad. But I'm down 30 lbs in all so far, so life is good.
Sad, sad, sad. But I'm down 30 lbs in all so far, so life is good.
06-23-07, 05:49 PM
#14
I Design Stuff
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Well I've ridden a bike for as long as I can remember, but just normal kid stuff. When I hit 16 I bought what I thought was a sweet bike (I had slightly less taste than I do now) and rode it a little bit, but eventually drove everywhere. I was training for football nearly 7 days a week and just didn't have the energy to bike anywhere. So after being an all-state football player I decided not to play college ball anywhere. Went to college, bike stayed home. A couple years later I brought it to school and rode it for about a year. I had a roommate who was pretty into biking so it got me back out there. When he moved out, so did my desire to ride & by now my bike was 7 years old, never serviced, and had always been too small for me (I'm 6'5") it has sat on the back porch for two more years. (I'm 23 now, fyi.)
So a couple months ago I realized that I was no longer a slightly pudgy muscular 270lbs like highschool and now was actually a chubby 310lb (and growing) tall guy who was no longer an athlete. I hate not being athletic, but it is hard to find the time in design school. I've wanted a roadbike literally since I was 12 but never bought one because I couldn't take it anywhere besides smooth roads... and I ride on some crappy roads, towpaths, etc... and I didn't want to deal with flats every 6 miles or bent rims all the time.
Then a friend showed me Kona bikes... and I discovered the JTS Cyclocross bike. It is the first cyclocross bike I had ever heard of. I looked into them and realized it is exactly what I had been looking for for a long time. I then found this forum, learned somewhat what to look for in bikes for heavier riders... and eventually built a 60cm Surly Cross Check. Going on three weeks now & I love the bike. I'm already itching for bikemods or a second bike.
I hope to lose alot of fat, but I'm genetically a clydesdale for life. I could have 0% bodyfat and I would still be over 200lbs. So I will embrace it and hopefully someday end up with some superstrong legs to whoop the jockey-esque riders up and down the hills
So a couple months ago I realized that I was no longer a slightly pudgy muscular 270lbs like highschool and now was actually a chubby 310lb (and growing) tall guy who was no longer an athlete. I hate not being athletic, but it is hard to find the time in design school. I've wanted a roadbike literally since I was 12 but never bought one because I couldn't take it anywhere besides smooth roads... and I ride on some crappy roads, towpaths, etc... and I didn't want to deal with flats every 6 miles or bent rims all the time.
Then a friend showed me Kona bikes... and I discovered the JTS Cyclocross bike. It is the first cyclocross bike I had ever heard of. I looked into them and realized it is exactly what I had been looking for for a long time. I then found this forum, learned somewhat what to look for in bikes for heavier riders... and eventually built a 60cm Surly Cross Check. Going on three weeks now & I love the bike. I'm already itching for bikemods or a second bike.
I hope to lose alot of fat, but I'm genetically a clydesdale for life. I could have 0% bodyfat and I would still be over 200lbs. So I will embrace it and hopefully someday end up with some superstrong legs to whoop the jockey-esque riders up and down the hills
06-23-07, 06:05 PM
#15
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34yo 225lbs
35yrs 10months 340lbs Chest pain-shortness of breath-lazy as a lima bean
35yrs 11months cleaned up diet-started walking-doing light calisthenics
36yrs 6months 260lbs jogging but knees starting to hurt soooooooo
bought a 2nd hand bike from a friend
AND NOW I IS A RIDER!!
SpokeApe
35yrs 10months 340lbs
Chest pain-shortness of breath-lazy as a lima bean35yrs 11months cleaned up diet-started walking-doing light calisthenics
36yrs 6months 260lbs
jogging but knees starting to hurt soooooooobought a 2nd hand bike from a friend
AND NOW I IS A RIDER!! SpokeApe
06-23-07, 06:29 PM
#16
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You guys and gals all rock!
__________________
A Journey to Lose 170 -now 151 Pounds and a Place for Those Like Me
A Journey to Lose 170 -now 151 Pounds and a Place for Those Like Me
06-23-07, 07:09 PM
#17
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got a dui and lost my license in '88 (?). rode some cruisers and then bought my first decent bike, a mt. bike in '89 since I was riding around town so much.
for many years I never went off road, but I always had mt. bikes. been riding off and on ever since. haven't drank since '89, not because of the biking, but it's all related.
bb
for many years I never went off road, but I always had mt. bikes. been riding off and on ever since. haven't drank since '89, not because of the biking, but it's all related.
bb
06-23-07, 07:11 PM
#18
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I got into cycling as a form of rehab. Back in Nov 04 i had a bad accident on my dirt bike at a jump contest,long story short i snapped my femur and had several other injuries. I spent a cpl months in a wheel chair and several on crutches......6 months till i was allowed to put weight on it and try to walk again, didnt go well!, my knee and leg was weak from not being used so long story short i got into this as rehab and loved it so i've stuck to it
https://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d8/mhraxo/break.jpg
https://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d8...upperthigh.jpg
https://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d8/mhraxo/break.jpg
https://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d8...upperthigh.jpg
06-23-07, 07:53 PM
#19
Out fishing with Annie on his lap, a cigar in one hand and a ginger ale in the other, watching the sunset.
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Originally Posted by mhraxo
I got into cycling as a form of rehab. Back in Nov 04 i had a bad accident on my dirt bike at a jump contest,long story short i snapped my femur and had several other injuries. I spent a cpl months in a wheel chair and several on crutches......6 months till i was allowed to put weight on it and try to walk again, didnt go well!, my knee and leg was weak from not being used so long story short i got into this as rehab and loved it so i've stuck to it
https://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d8/mhraxo/break.jpg
https://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d8...upperthigh.jpg
https://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d8/mhraxo/break.jpg
https://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d8...upperthigh.jpg
__________________
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
06-23-07, 09:43 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Toronto (again) Ontario, Canada
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It all started when I was 4, the sidewalk in front of our house was in poor shape, I fell off a tricycle, and broke my left arm. Dad being a practical sort, decided that 3 wheels were too dangerous, so we tossed the trike, and dropped a wheel. I learned to ride a 20" 2 wheeler after my arm healed up, rode that thing until way too small described it perfectly, guess I was about 12, got a Raleigh 3 speed, at that point. When I was 14 got a 5 speed derailléur bike, think it was a Supercycle the crappy er Canadian Tire house brand bike. When I was 16, spent my own money on a Fire engine red, Sekine road bike, ah, that bike was beautiful, 10 speeds, drop bars, made all kinds of enhancements to it, it even went to college with me, on the train, when Chester (RIP) the conducter said "where are you gonna put that thing" referring to the bike box, I pointed at the luggage rack, and said "up there, and your going to help me", the luggage racks on a CP Rail Budd RDC were huge, and it fit perfectly.... Got lucky bringing it home, the train had a dual purpose car, which was half baggage car half passenger car, so it went in there...... They eliminated the smoking section in those cars, something I didn't mind. When I was 24, I sold the bike (stupid, I know, but I bought a car, and didn't know any better)....
Now add 16 years, and about 60 pounds, decided to get a bike again, found my one brother-in-laws bike, truly a hunk of junk, snagged it, and found lots of broken parts, how he had managed to bend the rear brake bolt, I don't know, gave up on that project at one point, waited another 4 years and 10 pounds, decided to get a bike again, picked up a nice deal, a Factory demo, 2004 Norco Bushpilot, it's really a mountain bike, but I found after a bad crash, that off-road wasn't my thing, so I started conversion to a touring bike. About half done now.... The 70 pounds, well that's about half done too.....
Now add 16 years, and about 60 pounds, decided to get a bike again, found my one brother-in-laws bike, truly a hunk of junk, snagged it, and found lots of broken parts, how he had managed to bend the rear brake bolt, I don't know, gave up on that project at one point, waited another 4 years and 10 pounds, decided to get a bike again, picked up a nice deal, a Factory demo, 2004 Norco Bushpilot, it's really a mountain bike, but I found after a bad crash, that off-road wasn't my thing, so I started conversion to a touring bike. About half done now.... The 70 pounds, well that's about half done too.....
06-24-07, 12:43 AM
#21
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In Dec 05 I got a picture back that someone had taken at a christmas party that I had attended. What I saw in the picture depressed the hell out of me. Round face, double chin, man boobs and a gut.
I put the pic on my night stand where it still sits as a reminder and a motivator.
The day after getting the pic I began working out 5 days a week and only eating about 2000 calories a day. The first weigh in wasn't until a month after I started the diet but I weighed 270 lbs. By then my pants had already begun to fit alittle looser so I figure I had been up around 280 or so to start with. Through the next 3 months I lost 10-12 lbs a month and weighed about 235 when I walked into the bike shop in late March. I figured that since I only worked 10 miles from home I could ride to work. We have showers and a locker room so I didn't have to worry about being nasty all day long. I walked out with a Trek 1200. I put 35 miles on it in the next 3 days. Then I had to take a few days off since I hadn't ridden a bike in 10 years and boy did I hurt
I began to ride on the days that it was dry enough and then went to the gym on the days that I drove. The weight loss continued at its rapid pace and by july I was down to 205. I had also put around 800 miles on the bike between commuting and group rides. A bunch of friends decided that they wanted to do the STP and I joined them. That was a freakin blast. Just 8 months ago I was a sedentary lump that had borderline hypertension and 38% body fat. Now Im riding my bike 210 miles from Seattle down to Portland. It was a great accomplishment.
By August I was down to 192lbs.
I continued to ride to work and for fun and ended the year at 1750 miles. I started riding earlier this year and this coming Tuesday it the odo should turn 3000.
Had some vital stats taken a month ago and they were great. Very low blood pressure. Doc said if he didn't know I was so active he would have been concerned. My resting heart rate is down to around 50. LDL counts were so low that the test didn't even register them however the HDL is a bit low as well but not horribly so.
I still haven't come to terms with the biker tan
I put the pic on my night stand where it still sits as a reminder and a motivator.
The day after getting the pic I began working out 5 days a week and only eating about 2000 calories a day. The first weigh in wasn't until a month after I started the diet but I weighed 270 lbs. By then my pants had already begun to fit alittle looser so I figure I had been up around 280 or so to start with. Through the next 3 months I lost 10-12 lbs a month and weighed about 235 when I walked into the bike shop in late March. I figured that since I only worked 10 miles from home I could ride to work. We have showers and a locker room so I didn't have to worry about being nasty all day long. I walked out with a Trek 1200. I put 35 miles on it in the next 3 days. Then I had to take a few days off since I hadn't ridden a bike in 10 years and boy did I hurt
I began to ride on the days that it was dry enough and then went to the gym on the days that I drove. The weight loss continued at its rapid pace and by july I was down to 205. I had also put around 800 miles on the bike between commuting and group rides. A bunch of friends decided that they wanted to do the STP and I joined them. That was a freakin blast. Just 8 months ago I was a sedentary lump that had borderline hypertension and 38% body fat. Now Im riding my bike 210 miles from Seattle down to Portland. It was a great accomplishment.
By August I was down to 192lbs.
I continued to ride to work and for fun and ended the year at 1750 miles. I started riding earlier this year and this coming Tuesday it the odo should turn 3000.
Had some vital stats taken a month ago and they were great. Very low blood pressure. Doc said if he didn't know I was so active he would have been concerned. My resting heart rate is down to around 50. LDL counts were so low that the test didn't even register them however the HDL is a bit low as well but not horribly so.
I still haven't come to terms with the biker tan
06-24-07, 12:51 AM
#22
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Originally Posted by JumboRider
You guys and gals all rock!
GOOD GAWD BRETHREN AND SISTREN!! I'd like to 2nd and 3rd this statement by Brother Jumbo...
You guys & gals absolutely ROCK!!
CAN I GET AN AMEN!?!?!
SpokeApe
06-24-07, 01:28 AM
#23
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God is my story lame! With the gas prices going up I wanted to buy a motor scooter. I was all set to buy one until I told a co-worker (An "old country" russian lady) about my plans. She looked at my fat gut, scoffed, and said "You valk to verk! It good for you!" Well, the scooter idea died along with my ego, I dusted off my bike in the garage, and here I am!
06-24-07, 01:49 AM
#24
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Originally Posted by SpokeApe
GOOD GAWD BRETHREN AND SISTREN!! I'd like to 2nd and 3rd this statement by Brother Jumbo...
You guys & gals absolutely ROCK!!
CAN I GET AN AMEN!?!?!
SpokeApe
My story is coming, but it will be awhile. I'm riding 50 miles in three hours, and on next to no sleep.
06-24-07, 02:38 AM
#25
cycling n00b
Join Date: Jun 2005
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I had always enjoyed cycling, rode everyday as a kid, and tried to take care of my bikes. That's until the mountainbike craze hit our land and my paernts bought me (a cheap) one. THe bike outright stunk, wouldn't shift or brake properly no matter how I adjusted and fiddled with it. I lost interest after a while, and after moving out and studying and being unemployed for a number of years, bikes weren't really in the budget. Three years ago I finlally got some econimoic stability, and one of the first things I did was get an affordable hybrid bike and started to ride. At first it was 10-15km trips on gravel, coming home all sweaty and beat but still wanting more.
At this point I was 130 kg and really seriously out of shape. Kept at it, bought a couple of old roadbikes in various conditions and troed to fix them up and then bought a Sannino track bike after drooling over all the beautiful fixed gears in the forum. Now I was doing 50-60km rides and losing weight.
Took a 8 day tour on the hybrid and decided I really like touring and really hate that bike, so I started saving up for a real touring bike wich I got a couple of weeks ago. I've lost about 35kg over these 3 years, and hope to lose another 15 or so in the coming two. Maybe I'll even start racing a bit then.
At this point I was 130 kg and really seriously out of shape. Kept at it, bought a couple of old roadbikes in various conditions and troed to fix them up and then bought a Sannino track bike after drooling over all the beautiful fixed gears in the forum. Now I was doing 50-60km rides and losing weight.
Took a 8 day tour on the hybrid and decided I really like touring and really hate that bike, so I started saving up for a real touring bike wich I got a couple of weeks ago. I've lost about 35kg over these 3 years, and hope to lose another 15 or so in the coming two. Maybe I'll even start racing a bit then.