Howdy folks. I have recently started a weight and exercise regimen to take some lbs off. I will be 51 in a few months so this looks like the place for me. I am the proud owner of a 7 speed townie. I passed on the walmart specials and went to a bike shop and paid a little more but I am very pleased with the product. My regimen is a 10 mile bike ride and the next day a 3 mile walk and repeat. I try to average about 10 mph on the ride. I take off on sundays. I am working with my doc on this since I have some health issues also. He approves of the 10 - 3 .

Questions to all of you is this.

After a 10 mile day and then 3 miles walking, my legs feel like lead. When that happens should I take a day off to recharge or push through it ? I really am not sore, just very tired in the legs.

My goal is to do a 20 mile round trip on the bike by end of july and then take a 50 mile trip by end of october.

Ten miles shouldn't be over-stressing anything. I'd be prone to push on through it. If it's just conditioning, you'll start to feel better after a week or two. If you're over-training you'll get more tired with time. It should be easy enough to tell the difference.

I took a hot bath and soaked my legs when I first began riding.

Thats what I had hoped to hear. The day aint good without a ride !!

I'll try that. Thanks. I am in Harris county BTW.

10 miles in this heat and humidity is a hard ride for a newbie.

I got in 215 miles last week and it sapped me good.
League City

First, welcome. BlazingPedals and 10 Wheels have hit the nail on the head. The only thing I would offer is that your goals seem very reachable.

What area of the country do you live in?

Just outside of Houston Texas.

Welcome. Sounds like you have set reasonable, attainable goals, so best of luck to you. No doubt, before you know it, you'll be telling us about your first hundred miler, known here as a century.
Oh, and just so you're forewarned, we talk a lot about indelicate things like colonoscopies, and delicacies like pie, all flavors.
So, have you had yours yet, and what's your favorite flavor?

Wife's name is Cherry so I will aways go with what doesnt get me in trouble. No colonoscopy yet. Dr hasn't brought it up and I'm not about to !!

It is a potential life-saver. (the colonoscopy, not the pie - well??) Anyway, YOU bring it up to your doc. We have folks in here who didn't, and went through stage 4 of colon cancer. And, it is not so bad, really.

Really, it's not so bad. It's very popular to talk about how bad it is because it wouldn't be popular to say how much fun it is.

If you're brand new to your exercise regimen then you may benefit from an additional day off in the middle of the week, e.g. Wednesday, until your strength improves.

Oh, and welcome!

My colonoscopy was great! They used great drugs! And I say that as a professional healthcare provider. DO NOT get a colonoscopy on the street with street drugs!

Ten mile rides are very reasonable for a new cyclist. When ten miles seems way too easy, then you will know that you are making progress.

Welcome BigTerry,
Be careful this stuff is addictive. Might not be too long before 10 miles just barely gets you warmed up.

Welcome Big Terry, get the colonoscopy and ask about a shingles shot. Miles will get easier just enjoy the ride most of all.

Have you picked out your next bike yet?

Welcome to the forum! A colonoscopy is highly recommended for anyone over 50. Its one good day of a drug induced euphoria. I forget the name of the new drug they give you but it is, oh so good, no hangover either. You should really go get it done.

Welcome to the club. Your exercise regime sounds pretty good to me. If you think you need a day off, you could change to a 3 day series. Day one - Bike 10 miles, Day 2 - Walk 3 miles, Day - Do weights at the gym for your upper body. repeat, Sunday off.

The biking and walking can be for endurance, not necessarily speed. Your heart and lungs will love you. The weights can be for strength.

Colonoscopy is great for weight loss too. I think I lost about 9 pounds overnight Seriously, talk to your doc. It's no big deal and the drugs are good. Welcome. Bet you didn't think your introduction thread was going to go this direction

Welcome!
Thumbs up for buying a bike from a LBS.

Welcome to the 50+ looney bin, Big Terry and Cherry, you'll find several other 50+ members in the Houston area. Have a piece of your favorite PIE after the next ride, post up a ride report and a picture of your bike in the N+1 for 2012 thread and schedule that colonoscopy you know you really want. Ride safe.

Bill

Welcome, Terry. No one has mentioned it yet, but we expect to hear about your PSA (prostate specific antigen) scores as well. Have you had a PSA test recently?

Cherry pie will be fine.

Best of luck reaching your fitness goals - hope that you feel better each day.

Are you going to incorporate any core strengthening or upper body resistance work (maybe on your walking days)? Maybe discuss this with your MD? These exercises will contibute to overall health, because we tend to lose muscle mass at our age(s) otherwise.

Have fun!

Phil G.

I'll ask about colonoscopy on my next visit. Havent even given a next bike thought yet. In a year perhaps. I get to where I can do an MS150 then may consider a new bike. Right now my 7 speed Townie is all I need.

Considering a Gym membership to add some weight training.