Originally Posted by HandsomeRyan
Okay- heres the 411-
I am just getting back into riding after not touching a bike for about 7 years (i was probably 14 when i stopped, i'm 21 now. i am 6'2" 250lbs and i work an office job where i sit around for 9 hours a day. I want to loose some weight becasue i am getting married in august and going to the mayan rivera for honemoon.[think bathing suit] i am looking in the local newspaper as well as bike shops to find a bike (looking for a $800ish hardtail with decent componentss that can be ridden as-is and upgraded as budget allows)
how do i begin training with the bike? what should my starting goals be? how do i know if i'm progressing at a suitable rate? how do i know if i'm pushing myself too hard? not hard enough?
discuss.
To get into shape, your goal should be to ride in the aerobic zone. Basically, you should be able to talk easily for *most* of your workout. Riding too hard will actually compromise your improvement, and make you less likely to continue.
For losing weight, cycling is a good exercise, but it's more about what (and how much) you eat than the exercise. There are lots of cyclists who ride a ton but still carry a lot of extra weight. If you post what you are currently eating, there are folks here who can give advice.