Weight
spruce86
Posts: 21
I'm training for some very long distance rides in July of about 80-100miles. I've never done anything like these distances. I'm very comfortable on a bike, currently doing 20-30miles, fairly easily, a couple of times a week. At the minute I'm tipping the scales at about 15st but have started to eat more healthily.
How will my weight affect my riding? Should the decrease help it considerably? Should I try and actively lose my weight outside of my riding or will my training naturally help me lose it?
How will my weight affect my riding? Should the decrease help it considerably? Should I try and actively lose my weight outside of my riding or will my training naturally help me lose it?
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Comments
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Depends how much you need to lose, 15st could be ok if you are tall, not so if you are small.0
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spruce86 wrote:I'm training for some very long distance rides in July of about 80-100miles. I've never done anything like these distances. I'm very comfortable on a bike, currently doing 20-30miles, fairly easily, a couple of times a week. At the minute I'm tipping the scales at about 15st but have started to eat more healthily.
How will my weight affect my riding? Should the decrease help it considerably? Should I try and actively lose my weight outside of my riding or will my training naturally help me lose it?
Ride more. Eat less. You'll see great improvements. Pretty simple really.
The less weight you carry on the bike, the easier it gets, especially in the hills. That should be obvious. But the flats will become easier also.
Riding more will help you lose weight, as long as you eat healthily, but if you really want to lose weight, diet is the key. Combine a good diet and lots of exercise and you will lose a lot more than just diet or just exercise.
Look to gradually increase your mileage on a week-to-week basis until you can easily do the 80 miles. For many people that is just a long training ride!0 -
It depends a bit on composition, but if you're carrying a lot of fat it can only help.
I had done very little exercise in 20 years and had gone to over 18 stone last year. Since the end of March 2010 I have lost over a pound a week. Initially I didn't do much exercise - walked to the shops instead of taking the car etc, but as my weight came down I built it up and started cycling in October at about 15 and a half stone.
I haven't cycled as much as I would have liked - largely due to the weather, but when I haven't been able to get out I've gone to the gym instead. However partly through practice, though largely I think through weight loss, being on the bike feels much better than it did only a few months ago.
It's a basic equation, you need to burn more calories than you absorb to lose weight. Exercise can make you hungry, which can result in you eating more, and a lot of people overestimate how much they burn off by exercising.
I've signed up for some sportives, with the first one being the Etape Caledonia in May at 81 miles, so that will give me a good indication of progress.
James0 -
You'll notice weight most on uphills. If its a hilly route not carrying unecessary weight can be an advantage - but what you consider is ok is a matter of definition, our lifestyle otherwise etc.
You'll probably go down a bit once you get cycling more - especially if you dont use the extra exercise as an excuse to eat loads more - been there, done that.....0 -
I'm 6'2" and 18 stone. managed 85 miles from annesley to skegness each summer for the last 2 years on little or no training just the commute to work and the odd couple of hours out.
i've not trained hard but pace myself. i am active but also love cake but i have managed to get by quite well. yes i may be snail slow up hills but just enjoy my riding. if you arent going to ride le tour then my advice is dont diet just for cycling...Cube Cross 2016
Willier GTR 20140 -
Pokerface wrote:spruce86 wrote:I'm training for some very long distance rides in July of about 80-100miles. I've never done anything like these distances. I'm very comfortable on a bike, currently doing 20-30miles, fairly easily, a couple of times a week. At the minute I'm tipping the scales at about 15st but have started to eat more healthily.
How will my weight affect my riding? Should the decrease help it considerably? Should I try and actively lose my weight outside of my riding or will my training naturally help me lose it?
Ride more. Eat less. You'll see great improvements. Pretty simple really.
Whilst broadly speaking I'd agree with that, what you eat plays a big part as well. In terms of pure calories I'm eating roughly the same numbers as I've always done, but the food is the right kind of food. No ready meals or sugary treats, and the weight is falling off. So I would perhaps change that to ride more and eat better.0 -
phreak wrote:Pokerface wrote:spruce86 wrote:I'm training for some very long distance rides in July of about 80-100miles. I've never done anything like these distances. I'm very comfortable on a bike, currently doing 20-30miles, fairly easily, a couple of times a week. At the minute I'm tipping the scales at about 15st but have started to eat more healthily.
How will my weight affect my riding? Should the decrease help it considerably? Should I try and actively lose my weight outside of my riding or will my training naturally help me lose it?
Ride more. Eat less. You'll see great improvements. Pretty simple really.
Whilst broadly speaking I'd agree with that, what you eat plays a big part as well. In terms of pure calories I'm eating roughly the same numbers as I've always done, but the food is the right kind of food. No ready meals or sugary treats, and the weight is falling off. So I would perhaps change that to ride more and eat better.
100% agree. (But I did specify a 'healthy' diet!)0 -
On top of my (current) 100 miles a week my daily diet is;
Breakfast; Eggs and Fruit
Lunch; Salad and Yoghurt
Dinner; Chicken or Fish with Pasta/Rice/Potatoes
In between meals I'm eating 3 portions of fruit, made up of grapefruit bananas or apples.
Does that sound like the healthy kind of diet I should be after? I'm a little pathetic with diets having never done one so I just figured on eating natural food stuffs.0 -
spruce86 wrote:On top of my (current) 100 miles a week my daily diet is;
Breakfast; Eggs and Fruit
Lunch; Salad and Yoghurt
Dinner; Chicken or Fish with Pasta/Rice/Potatoes
In between meals I'm eating 3 portions of fruit, made up of grapefruit bananas or apples.
Does that sound like the healthy kind of diet I should be after? I'm a little pathetic with diets having never done one so I just figured on eating natural food stuffs.
That sounds quite healthy. Make sure there's some good veg in there also.0
