Returning to cycling, advice needed
mtbcommuter
Posts: 72
I have cycled off and on for a good few years, have completed coast to coast (over three days) twice now as part of group for charity.
Didn't cycle at all last year but due to increase in weight & waistline I've started again. I'm male, 41, 6'2" and currently 18 stone 3lbs (lost ten since beginning of Feb due to commute) commute distance is currently 5.5 miles (although this is over a hill, start at 163 feet above sea level, peaks at 503 20 mins into ride the drops to 320 at work) this takes me 30 - 35 mins depending on wind/traffic etc. Currently riding a Scott MK1 MTB. Commute average of 3 days per week due to variable shifts.
My main reason to cycle is weight loss and fitness gain. My questions are these;
1/ Would I benefit from electrolyte drink or similar or would water suffice and be less calorific?
2/ Would a hybrid/road bike be any better, or would it struggle with hills?
It's possible that I may be moving office in next few months which is exactly 5 miles further (and I would pass old office) but slightly lower. This would basically be a long downhill on way in and long slow climb coming home until I hit the hill.
3/ Given this change would answers to questions 1 & 2 be any different?
Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.
Didn't cycle at all last year but due to increase in weight & waistline I've started again. I'm male, 41, 6'2" and currently 18 stone 3lbs (lost ten since beginning of Feb due to commute) commute distance is currently 5.5 miles (although this is over a hill, start at 163 feet above sea level, peaks at 503 20 mins into ride the drops to 320 at work) this takes me 30 - 35 mins depending on wind/traffic etc. Currently riding a Scott MK1 MTB. Commute average of 3 days per week due to variable shifts.
My main reason to cycle is weight loss and fitness gain. My questions are these;
1/ Would I benefit from electrolyte drink or similar or would water suffice and be less calorific?
2/ Would a hybrid/road bike be any better, or would it struggle with hills?
It's possible that I may be moving office in next few months which is exactly 5 miles further (and I would pass old office) but slightly lower. This would basically be a long downhill on way in and long slow climb coming home until I hit the hill.
3/ Given this change would answers to questions 1 & 2 be any different?
Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Comments
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I don't think you need to worry much about sports drink and hydration with a relatively short ride like that. A lighter fast road bike should make a significant difference to your ride, but then so would some bodyweight loss.0
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Whatever you cycle you will meet your goal of losing weight and gaining fitness.
As the previous poster said - don't worry about drink types - just some water / juice if you need to have a sip of something.
Regarding the bike - you could get a hybrid or road bike depending on your needs. Do you need mudguards or a pannier rack? I personally went for a hybrid for my commute bike - as it can carry a rack and mudguards.
The gearing on alot of hybrids is MTB orientated - so the gearing for the hills should be fine. I put a 12-26 casette on my hybrid - and it's fine for general commuting. They usually have something like a 11 - 34 casette - a wider spread of gears - making climbing easier.
I'm fairly heavy at 18.5 stone and 6'4'' tall - and I found my hybrid can cope with rough canal paths and road riding very easily.
Think about where you see yourself with the cycling further down the line - on the roads, or hitting trails. Personally, I will be buying my first road bike soon - for recreational riding, and use the hybrid for commuting.
Finally...alot of people who start on hybrids are often glad that they switched to road bikes - the decision is yours and good luck!0 -
To counter my previous post, if budget is an issue I would just roadify the MTB, at a minimum putting on slick tyres.0
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Thanks for all that, I think I already knew that I didn't need sports drinks but everywhere I read seemed to tell me I did ! Re roadifying my bike Mikey, I have semi slicks on it at the moment, which are a hell of an improvement over the knobblies but as some of the ride to work is over verges/cycle paths I think I'd struggle with the full on slicks? I have a mtb rack fitted which is great, the panniers aren't though (too big, bought cheap off ebay from some german company during the winter) The other changes i've made (mainly for comfort when doing coast to coast) are; liberator saddle, suspended seat post and cleated shoes/peddles. I put some bar ends on but can't get away with them, I never feel comfortable using them so they may come off. Oh and a bell
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Ah, yes, a road bike might not be the solution then, if you're doing off road stuff.
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