BugDude

I'm a 46 y/o man, financial executive, in the surrounding Tampa FL area. I had not been on a bike since I was 14 years old. Early this year my wife suggested the whole family get bikes (we have a 13 y/o daughter and 6 y/o son). So we got her an el cheapo at Wally World and I started researching bikes that would accommodate my weight. I was 326 pounds. 13 years ago I was running 23 miles per week and weighed about 180 (and I was super skinny at that weight since I'm a very large built thick guy). 200 was a very comfortable weight for me and I didn't look like I was sick. After multiple knee surgeries, foot problems, back problems, broken tail bone, etc. I got to the point I just couldn't run anymore. I missed it, and gained a TON of weight over the years. Every time I tried to get back into it I had some major injury or surgery as a result.

I stumbled across Giant bikes and there was a dealer near my house. On Feb 6th of this year I went in and decided on a Giant Sedona DX hybrid and was fitted. From the moment I took my first ride around the neighborhood I was hooked. I started slow and quickly built up to 5 miles every morning. Then increased it over the weeks to 10 miles every morning taking 1 to 2 rest days per week and usually 1 long ride day per week on weekends. As I got in a groove, I got a very similar feeling to running without the pounding on my body. TOTALLY ADDICTED!!! I can't figure out what took me so long to rediscover something I did constantly as a kid?!?!?!

So at this point I'm doing 70 - 80 miles per week averaging anywhere from 12.5 - 13.5 mph. I get up at 5:30 am and ride during the week before work on a 10 mile loop in our gated community and weekends I hit a local wilderness park with a wide paved bike trail that connects to another wide paved trail. I've done a couple of 30 mile rides (which maxed me out) and several 20 couple milers. I did a 22 mile ride Saturday in 1 hr 40 min (13.1 mph), 10 miles yesterday at 12.8 mph, and 10 miles this morning at 13.5 mph. I'm over 663 miles since Feb 6th and can't wait to do more!!! I've got flashing lights on the front and back of my bike since I ride mostly in the dark, I've got a trunk bag for the long rides (pack plenty of water bottles, towel, and snacks), and I always wear my helmet. I also listen to my ipod when I ride, turned down low enough to hear cars coming or people passing.

I've lost 28 pounds since Feb 6th and am now at 298. I'm watching my nutritional intake closely with a free app "Lose It". I use MapMyRun in bike mode to keep up with my biking stats (I had it from previous attempts to get back into running). So here I am, a Clydesdale apparently (from lurking here the last month or so), and I'm wanting to learn, share my progress, and continue growing in biking. There's an athlete inside this body fighting his way to the surface. I've seen him before and I know he's still in there.

As for my screen name, I'm into antique Volkswagen Bugs and have several of them I work on, restore, and take to car shows. BugDude is a moniker I've had for over 16 years messing with Bugs and it's seemed to stick. I'm also an avid golfer, target shooter, and play electric guitar. Too many hobbies, not enough time!!!

PS. Shortly after getting my Giant my wife gave her el cheapo to our daughter and I bought her a Giant Cypress DX W bike. She loves it and raves about how smooth it is!!! Sometimes the whole family goes riding in our neighborhood, some weekends we go to the trail, and sometimes we get a sitter on a Saturday and my wife and I go hit a trail. She's maxed out at about 8 miles and can't go near as fast as I usually go, but when we go together it's about fun together casually riding and not how far or fast.

Oceanblue

Thanks for sharing your comeback story. Keep at it !

obed7

welcome to the forum. Lots of similar stories here, congrats.

RonH

Welcome to Bike Forums from west central FL. I'm 70. Stop by the Southeast Regional subforum and say hello to the locals. Lots of FL and Tampa area folks on here.

10 Wheels

Keep it fun and safe.