I am thinking about starting cycling I am seeing more and more people on road bikes. I used to ride a mountain bike years ago and I would like to use it to lose weight and chill out.

Anybody started recently are you still enjoying it?

 

I have always liked cycling as a pastime, but decided to try a little bit more in the last 6 months. I have progressed to 40-50 miles outings on my mountain bike. I also circuit train aswell. I have gained a reasonable level cardio and lost 2 stones since xmas. Fitness wise I don't remember actually being this well.

 

I got back on my mtb a couple of years ago after several years off, mainly to give the dog a decent length run at weekends. Managed to persuade MrsD to start joining us about eight months ago. We're still loving it, usually do about 18 miles on Sat or Sun, and 7-8 miles one night mid-week

If you don't have one already, get a decent bike, a crap one does nothing for your enjoyment of a ride
MrsD started on a cheap crappy catalogue bike she had been given, which she continually moaned about. I persuaded her to let me put one together for her around a decent frame, and she couldn't believe the difference

 

Stop thinking about it and just do it

 

Pretty good as part of a all round regime

Think you'll get pretty bored on the road , without some kind targets

 

Join a club if you're road riding. Otherwise it can be boring and also dangerous - safety in numbers! I used to road race but now just do a little light off road riding. All cycling is a great cardio workout. Good luck.

 

It's great but be prepared to get sucked into buying lots of kit!
Trail centres are good for MTBs; safeish, fun, fast riding. I was at our local one yesterday and had great fun on my Cotic Soul!

 

I mountain bike for fun with the mrs, cyclo cross race for fun but take my road racing quite seriously. No matter what cycling you do just make sure you wear a helmet, i crashed last June, shattered my collar bone and cracked helmet in half on kerb. Doctors said i would of been dead without the helmet.

If you do start i can highly recomend using Strava, it adds a bit of fun to your cycling

 

Don't bother with the speedo / trip computer type thing. I used to get obsessed about the average speeds over a run, and trying to hold a constant speed throughout, took away a lot of the enjoyment, only use the trip computer now to tell the time of day and how far I have travelled.

As above, get a decent bike, and get fitted to it. Being uncomfortable, stretched or cramped on a bike will take most of the enjoyment out of the run. Buy some decent cycling clothes, makes all the difference particulary when road cycling, dont forget some safety items too.

Buy a puncture repair kit, spare tube and carry those on your bike. Learn how to change a tube or repair a puncture before you start riding, you dont want your first crack at this to be at the roadside!!

 

I always found it quite difficult to balance the gun whilst cycling, so had to listen to music rather than try and take things out.

 

The traditional Vallumlj exercise to lose weight thread.

 

I agree about not using any GPS tracking to monitor your pace. I can cycle for 2-3 hours and not realize that time has elapsed. But when I train on the home exercise bike I clock watch, you just can't help it.

I do use Sport tracker pro app but don't take it out of my pocket till I finish my cycle, contradiction

 

I used to do a lot of cycling last year. Average around 10 miles an evening for 3-4 evenings a week of mixed road and off road routes.
As well as weight training in the gym 3-4 evenings a week I went from 16stone 4 to 12stone 5 in 4 months. (A few over the counter supplements helped). To say I was pleased was an understatement. I was finally able to see my **** in the shower again.

Because I work as a mobile engineer some customers I returned to did not recognise me.


I used a GPS harming watch with hrm. Plug it into pc and view data log of caps burned, time, speeds etc and a map of route on google earth.

As it happens I've just sorted the bike out again now the weather is warming up.

 

And dont buy a bike from Halfords, they sell utter shi*e

 

Made me laugh I need to try something lol. I have a claud butler bike which I am getting new tyres and serviced. Need to find a helmet now.

 

We use the 'Map My Ride' app, mainly as a way of showing MrsD that she is improving week on week

Tried it once strapped to the dog's harness in a zip-lock bag, the amount of distance she covered during an average run out was astounding

 

I have also heard that joing the British cycling association can get you discounts on bikes etc. How much is this as I have looked in their site but found it a bit confusing.
Thanks

 

Is your fetish for Lycra only just coming out?

I love being out on the bikes and doing the goldilocks challenge every year. - not ready for gladiator yet!

When you do join the clubs please don't be a bell end and ride 4 abreast in the road

 

I'm a member and get 10% discount in halfords and wiggle (online).
Plus you get insurance in the event of an accident.

Nik

 

I could get 50% discount and I still wouldn't buy a bike from Halfords

 

My bike is in the LBS having a new frame, under warranty thank ****! It's doing my nut in not having it, especially as I'm meant to be cycling the Leeds - Liverpool canal a week on Friday!

Shameless plug... http://www.justgiving.com/Kaye-Bob

Beware though, cycling and buying kit will consume as much much spare cash as you have!

 

Neither would i but the discount is handy for accessories etc.

 

I have a carbon team road bike and a carbon pro mountain bike both Boardmans from Halfords. Aside from iffy salesmanship and servicing/assembly, the bikes themselves are very well specc'd for their price. I imagine non Boardman bikes would be a different scenario.

I've owned both bikes for a year, the mountain bike serviced once the road bike not. I started commuting on the roadie on May 1st (15 mile trip each way) and use the mountain bike on Sundays and the odd time during the week. I should be doing 138 miles combined (90 commute miles) this week on the road. I've lost 2 and a half stone since taking it up.

 

I'd love to ride that

 

That's tame! Try Hully Gully at Gisburn, I'll even go with you!

 

I'm lucky to have Glentress (Spooky Wood) right on my doorstep

 

Started about two years ago on a piece of crap MTB, now Ive got a decent road and full sus and wouldn't be without my riding.

My only problem is having to eat enough to keep my size, or the riding will take you down to nothing

 

Deal

 

You'd probably find it hard with a bike ...

 

I bought a road bike last year and have gone from a 20mile ride at 15mph tiring me out to being able to do 70miles at 17mph. I have also spent a fortune on Lycra and shiney bits for the bike. However, I am fitter than ever and have lost almost 2 stone

As for road cycling being boring, get Strava on either your smartphone or GPS bike computer. It makes things more interesting, especially if you have a little competitive streak

Steve