What to do? (longish post but please read)

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  • woodywmb
    woodywmb Posts: 669
    Now that you've joined a club, encourage another member to accompany you on easier routes or shorter distances. We did this - set up a beginners section, doing just 15 miles at a time on more social outings. It's become the busiest part of the club. In fact, other clubs could learn from this experience. This year's beginners are next spring's 40 and 50 milers.
    http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/1296598/
  • ALaPlage
    ALaPlage Posts: 732
    Everyone is different I suppose. This time last year I was a little like yourself - feeling a bit down about myself - it seemed all work and no play and I was unhappy with my ever burgeoning weight as I hit 16.5 stone. Cycling was a release but with the short and cold days I had not been on the bike since early October. So I decided to set myself a goal to push me into action. That goal was the AMR London to Paris Event in July culminating in the reward of seeing the TDF come in to Paris.

    It worked for me. Went from infrequent warm weather cyclist to seriously keen, almost any weather cycling. Built up the training from January to June and by end of March I was hitting 100 mile training rides at the weekend. From Easter was doing two midweek 30 to 40 milers in the evening. At the weekend getting a 60 miler in on Saturday and 100 miles on the Sunday.

    Weight dropped to 14stone 3 pounds (albeit it has crept up to 15 stone again with the cold weather slowing my training down - more to do with the road condition than anything else). That said I am in a better place this year and set to do the LEJOG in June. Hope to get the weight down to under 13 stone with the training plan for this year.


    My advice is if you can be disciplined then set yourself a target event. It worked for me.
    Trek Madone 5.9
    Kinesis Crosslight T4
  • MarcBC
    MarcBC Posts: 333
    Brilliant guys and thank you. Thanks too to LM for the pm.

    I am going to try the Evans Chieveley "fun" run in Jan on the basis it is short and I hope that not too difficult - the longer runs will be too hilly at this stage.

    It is also a good target in terms of a defo date to get out on the road bike. I am using the exercise bike every other day at the moment (45%/55% Zones 2 and 3) and on the MTB next week. A (motorcycling) mate of mine has just joined here and I know he will be there too, albeit in one of the proper routes.

    Marc
  • CyclingBantam
    CyclingBantam Posts: 1,299
    Marc, you are doing all the right things so far. The only thing that will ever limit you, me, or any one else is the limits we put on ourselves. If you really set your mind to an event you will do it in a pretty short space of time.

    There has been great advice on here so far and I will try and add my own experience to help motivate you. I started cycling about 4 years ago after being a 'pretty fit 24 year old' (in my own opinion. I wasn't overweight but I had done no real exercise for 4 years). When I started cycling I couldn't get up a gentle hill 2 mins from my house. I was gutted. I continued going out on my bike and very quickly went from struggling after 10 mins on the bike to being ok for rides of 10 miles or more. I commuted to work which is great if you can, and really continued to improve. I eventually joined a club (2 years later than I should have, you just need to get out with them, you will amaze yourself how quickly you are fit enough to keep up.)
    Earlier this year, I cycled 1234 miles from Bradford to San Remo in Italy in 17 days carrying tent and all my own stuff, alone. The hardest thing when I was away was the hardest thing you ever find with cycling. It's the getting on the bike in the first place. If I can do that, you can. You can do whatever you set your mind to, you really can. Set yourself a target (say completing one of the 40 mile club runs by feb) and let us all know how you do. You can do it, you just need to ride.

    It is also worth searching for 'the amazing shrinking gaz' who comes on here. Gaz lost over 20 stone cycling. Absolutely amazing. Read his blog. I'm not referring to your weight, read it to see his motivation. Like I say, if one person can do it so can you.

    Can't wait to hear how you get on.

    Ben
  • MarcBC
    MarcBC Posts: 333
    Well guys, I finally got off the comfy armchair and onto the bike saddle this morning. :D

    I caught up with my club halfway throught a ride out in a nearby village and did a 21 mile run with them (15 with them and 6 alone to get back). Pace was about right and the "slopes" not too tough.

    Despite one crash immediately upon getting on the bike ( :cry: the new bike is now scratched as of zero miles on the GPS) - foot got stuck in the pedals, I actually got a buzz from it.

    Ready for next Saturday now, with hopefully a ride or two during the week.

    Thanks for all the encouragement, it really has helped so far.
  • rc856
    rc856 Posts: 1,144
    Excellent mate. Well done.
    That'll be a big hurdle overcome.
    :)

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