Starting all over again after a 3 year cycling gap

reborn_cyclist

Cycling was my passion. 3 years ago I was in pretty good shape. I loved the competition of the weekend club rides and rode several time trials. I cycled on average 150+ miles a week including work commutes. The terrain was mixed, with lots of short/medium sharp climbs.

Personal problems made me turn away from cycling. Over the last 3 years I drank alot (beer), my diet was very bad and I did virtually no exercise and put on lots of weight. I was slim previously, only 12 stone and just under 6ft and had a good overall cycling physique.

I have now put on a couple of stone of fat and I am very unfit. I have mentally got the fire back for cycling, but I have a mountain to climb to get back to where I was. Stopping my regular drinking/eating pattern is the hardest thing, but I feel ready to ride and just need to set myself realistic goals.

I have cycled the 18 mile round trip commute to work only a handful of times over the last couple of years, which was tough (the climbs on the way home!). I used to do that without even thinking about it and then ride a 30-40 mile hilly coastal route after tea!

Am I too old now at 36 to get that feeling/fitness back that I used to have? Now I mostly feel physically tired, although my mind is up for it.

pictit

reborn_cyclist wrote:

Cycling was my passion. 3 years ago I was in pretty good shape. I loved the competition of the weekend club rides and rode several time trials. I cycled on average 150+ miles a week including work commutes. The terrain was mixed, with lots of short/medium sharp climbs.

Personal problems made me turn away from cycling. Over the last 3 years I drank alot (beer), my diet was very bad and I did virtually no exercise and put on lots of weight. I was slim previously, only 12 stone and just under 6ft and had a good overall cycling physique.

I have now put on a couple of stone of fat and I am very unfit. I have mentally got the fire back for cycling, but I have a mountain to climb to get back to where I was. Stopping my regular drinking/eating pattern is the hardest thing, but I feel ready to ride and just need to set myself realistic goals.

I have cycled the 18 mile round trip commute to work only a handful of times over the last couple of years, which was tough (the climbs on the way home!). I used to do that without even thinking about it and then ride a 30-40 mile hilly coastal route after tea!

Am I too old now at 36 to get that feeling/fitness back that I used to have? Now I mostly feel physically tired, although my mind is up for it.

Are you too old?.No,not by a long,long shot.Just from reading between the lines I would say your biggest hurdle is in your head.I am fifty now and took up cycling again after a 30year gap where I drank,smoked and partied far too hard :roll: .I still smoke[trying to give up!] and my normal ride is a hilly 30-36 miles.I aint a pretty sight going up the longer/steeper hills here around the Lothians but I bloody well enjoy it .You too will enjoy it again once you get into the right frame of mind.Believe me,if I can do it,almost anyone can!!!! :oops:

Eurostar

I suggest a tour abroad. This is how I get back into it after a 17 year break. I went to Norway and shed 5 inches from my waist in 6 weeks. You don't need to get fit first - just get on the plane and build up the miles gradually. I started on 25 miles per day and soon built up to 90 at the age of 42. Just make sure you have your saddle and riding position sorted out before you go. After a while I got really pleased with my physique, jumped on another plane to Vancouver and headed for San Francisco. One day I did 159 miles. I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that the trip changed my life.

oldwelshman

Not too late.
I had 23 year gap and started again in Novemer.
Been racing, doing sportives and race on track this season.

Got-to-get-fit

I am a carbon copy of you mate.
im 36, 6ft and was 15stone
I had a break of 3 year from cycling, i lived in cumbria and used to commute to work every day averaging 140 mile a week. It was hell on earth as well cos as you can imagine the lake district is quite a hilly place...i then did a manual job for 8 hrs and rode home again. I was at my peak physically, i was litteraly bouncing.

i then took a job in the north east and my responsibility/stress/time all swallowed up my passion for cycling.
I put on 2 stone in weight and got to a point where i could not even be bothered to walk to the shop round the corner....i would get in the car to go 200yards i would eat absoulte crap all the time.....once ate 4 takeaway pizzas four nights running and im talking 12 inchers, usually washed down with 4 cans of stella.

I then read a couple of cycling books and my imagination fired again and i got back on the bike in earnest. The first couple of commutes were like screaming torture, my lungs thought they would explode and i used to spit out half a tonne of rattling phlegm off my chest when i eventually dragged my sorry ass into the firms car park (no i dont smoke)

Ive been doing it now for 3 month ive lost a stone and a half in weight, i still like a pizza but maybee now only once a month. i think the eating thing just naturally follows, when you start to feel fit and healthy through exercise you actually want to eat things that are good for you.

I now do my 12 mile commute in 36 mins i get into work feeling fresh and alert, my home life has improved, i feel more energetic for my 2 year old son, i have a better love life, i feel more confident and i love shopping for clothes (well as much as a bloke can)

On my first commute it took 50 mins and i stopped a couple of times to (die)
When i arrived at work my colleagues did not know whether to hand me my work or call an ambulance.

My best advice is get out and do it.....take the pain of the first week as a barrier that needs to be crushed, dont worry about the eating thing just get out there, the healthy change of attitude and nutrition will come with time. If you start cysling and start eating carrot sticks instead of mars bars you will soon get pi**ed off as it will be too much of a radical change. Build up the cycling and then think about the food once you feel fit enough to address the issue. The main thing is to make a start .....the journey of a thousand steps begins with the first one.

jibi

I use this guy ( if at work turn down the sound its just music)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOacnK_JJoA
My mate Tom in the USA
if he can do it anyone can.

Inspiration every time I feel down.

No-one is too old, I'm 58

Stick in there and it will become easier, just get into a habit of riding.

good luck

wastelander

Too Old? Not a chance! I got bitten by the road bug last year and since changing jobs in January of this year and with the change to BST I now regularly clock up 100+ miles per week commuting/weekend trips. The 18 mile commute round trip has turned into a 25-35 mile round trip, a day off of the bike is now a hardship to endure not something I look forward too, the 13st 12lbs has turned into 13st (and dropping!). I didn't START until I was 40 so there's nothing to stop you and you'll always find plenty of encouragement on here!

pipeman

and just got the bug again after around 7 years off,,,,still only have limited riding time,ie,every other week,,but have bought a cheap tourer and i am gonna try,,,i feel mentaly better after a ride,even if my butt is sore and my legs ache,,,i'll never do what i did before,,but the cycle will allways have a place in my life now!

pictit

,,,i feel mentaly better after a ride,even if my butt is sore and my legs ache,,,i'll never do what i did before,,

True,never do what we did before,as long as we're doing something now though,eh?!! .Also,all things being equal [bike correctly set up and the right saddle for your particular arse] the pain in the arse should go away I reckon.Mine did as I started going out on a regular basis so hopefully yours will 'toughen' up:)

bluedigger

jibi wrote:

I use this guy ( if at work turn down the sound its just music)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOacnK_JJoA
My mate Tom in the USA
if he can do it anyone can.

Inspiration every time I feel down.

No-one is too old, I'm 58

Stick in there and it will become easier, just get into a habit of riding.

good luck

I'm 57 and bought a hybrid 3 years ago never dreaming that the "bug" would get me again! Just bought a carbon/aloy racer and feel reborn! Should've got one years ago.
I feel 17 again. OK that's an exageration, but i'd forgotten how good a lightweight bike feels. I'm riding further and further and hope to become fit enough to do some of the big tdf climbs in the future.
You're never too old!

Rich Hcp

You'll be fine.

Hankering after a new bike after six months!

rustychisel

Yep, 3 years is nothing. Give yourself six months as a reasonable timeframe and you'll feel great and be pushing the thin whippets. Reward yourself with that new bike.

Cheers.

Al. P. D\'huez

Stopped smoking at Christmas 06 after getting a place in the London Marathon. Used cycling as a form of cross training for the marathon so bought the best bike I could afford (Specialised Allez double for £400 in sale!).

Thought I would get laughed out of court with my bargain basement bike and equipment by the local club riders but I stuck at it and now cycling is my first training choice as opposed to an alternative to running. I'm 39 later this year and carrying more pounds than I should but I love the freedom that the bike gives me.

I suppose the next step is to join a club but the bargain bike & equipment might not cut it with the local whippets on carbon so for now I'm happy to train on my own.

Too old....3 year gap......so what mate,get back on and enjoy !

Johnny Ergo

I echo the sentiments of everyone who has posted. Don't get too hung up about the things you used to be able to do. If you are enjoying the 'now' the rest will take care of itself.
Good luck.

rohloff-rich

All the sentiments above prove that the suffering of the first few weeks and months of 'oh my god what am I doing to myself' are quickly replaced with 'beat my previous best, WOOHOOO!!' - it takes less time than you think but has more worth than many other things you will do.

Stick at it - the passion returns and then there's no stoppin ya!

Dearo

I'm new to cycling, does a carbon frame really make that much difference to your ride ???

Rich Hcp

Stik with what you can afford, carbon forks and seat post.

The rest is for racing as far as I am concerned

andy66

I bought an all carbon bike and find it a really compliant ride but still quick handling. Love it and enjoy it more than any of the stell/aluminium bikes I rode. Still it may not suit everyone as the Zertz inserts (a kind of basic suspension) may make it too compliant for some people so its each to their own.

But...I agree spend what you can afford.

Welcome back to the road

Andy