50PlusCycling

I got back onto my bike back in early March, out of shape and overweight. I did my usual loops around town and the park with agonizing slowness, and was getting lapped by regulars, most of whom are 70-ish. I started with 20km rides the first weeks, moved up to 30km rides for a few more weeks, then 40km, and now 50km. I’ve also picked up the intensity of my rides, adding intervals and sprints.

I had an issue with discomfort in my right knee, which was odd. Saddle adjustments helped a bit, but I realized I was riding with a wider stance than usual (partly because I’m riding a space-frame Moulton), so I moved in my cleats a little, and focused on keeping my knees closer together, and the discomfort is now gone. Other issues were the saddle. I was breaking in a Brooks Professional, and this saddle didn’t want to break in. I wore good cycling shorts with it, but if anything, that was even less comfortable, so I swapped in a well-used B17 from one of my other bikes, and all is wonderful.

This week I feel great. I’m doing 50km every day (when the weather allows) at a decent pace, and outrunning the bike messengers up the long hill between the park and my neighborhood. On Friday I’ll get my old road bike out of the mothballs and see how well I do on something with bigger than 20” wheels.

Later in the summer I’m supposed to do a ride across Hokkaido with a friend or two, and then another ride or two out to Izu. It looks like I should be in good shape for those rides.

Fredo76

Congratulations on your progress.

Let us know how the bike change feels.

Wildwood

50km daily on a bike with 20" wheels is something of an accomplishment by itself.

50PlusCycling

It's been another week, and another 150km, and I have lost 5 pounds. Unfortunately, the rainy season has hit Japan, but hopefully I'll be able to get in 3 or 4 rides per week.

MinnMan

Yeehah, that's a great feeling.

I'm in a very different place from the OP in terms of fitness and experience, but after a winter where I lost some of my oomph, I'm just now feeling like I have it back. Some of my chronic pain issues have diminished enough to be (temporarily) ignorable. Rides are a joy when your (relative) ability is high and when your health challenges recede. The weather has been highly rideable (though a tad too hot maybe) and I'm just jazzed to be out on 2 wheels this June.

We have plenty of threads about our challenges and complaints. I've started my share of those. Right now, I'm just so grateful to be on the other side of it.

50PlusCycling

Today was great, 60km, the first half of the ride I averaged 15 mph. I had to tighten my belt another notch to keep my pants up. Rain is forecast for the next couple days, so I’ll have an unwanted break.

When I ride a lot, it makes me want the ride more, and I get annoyed when the weather turns ugly. But I have a new rainy-day project to keep me busy, an old Moulton Stowaway which I hope to resurrect. I’ve never ridden one of the old Moultons, I hope it lives up to their reputation. By the time it’s ready to ride, I should be light enough not to crack the rear fork.