Just an Introduction

Soupstone

Basically just getting started and posting for the sake of it.
Broke out an old, cheap, rubbish mountain bike (assuming thats what MTB means) from the garage.
Little bit of research, changed the tyres to road and started cycling.
Looking to lose weight.

Posting in road beginners as I think it's going to be more on road than off.
I'll search/read plenty before I ask, but my initial thoughts of buying a better quality MTB are being changed.
Even in my novice state (3 runs in the past 3 days, 5, 10 then 15 miles) I've noticed a mountain bikes top gear probably isnt enough.
I'm going to start commuting on Wednesday by bike (only 15 miles round trip but a lot for an overweight beginner). Then start looking for bikes.

Anonymous

Hi! And good luck with your new cycling journey!

rc856

Hello and welcome

slowlanejane

welcome.

That's quite alot of miles racking up quite quickly. Well done you and long may it continue.

"only" 15 miles is in fact alot of miles if you've done nothing like it for years. The guys on here can make it sound like "only" because their own outputs are much higher, but it is still a long old way - you'd definately think twice about running it!

It took me ages to get up to doing more than an hour in the saddle at a time and not being dead legged and sore-bummed the next day and I got quite disheartened about 3 months into my newbiehood because I wasn't making bionic progress.

But the guys on here were great - same ones who do the big miles - everyone started somewhere - so if you tire, remember your body isn't a machine and it needs time to adjust.

But many guys on here have amaaazing stamina from the word go and never tire - maybe you'll be one of those.

Won't know till you try.

Phil_D

I did the same thing not too long ago. The one piece of advice I can give you is to have a look at your finances now to see where you can spend less money, because you're about to start spending quite a lot on cycling.

rogerthecat

Phil_D wrote:

because you're about to start spending quite a lot on cycling.

ain't that the truth

Peddle Up!

+1

Soupstone

Thank you for the welcome and advice.

The first 3 runs were more to see what I could do. Target was to complete them at all costs even if it involved getting off and pushing (managed not to though).

My 10 miler will be the maximum for a while (the commute is the 15 miles round trip) and I'll just try and improve how I do it.

Plenty uphill bits to build stamina.

It wasnt easy, but it will get better with time. Then I'll look at going further.

Already considering other bikes, i'll probably buy something in 4-6 weeks.

Peddle Up!

"Already considering other bikes, i'll probably buy something in 4-6 weeks."

Gentle the slope, and easy the way.

samartin26

Phil_D wrote:

I did the same thing not too long ago. The one piece of advice I can give you is to have a look at your finances now to see where you can spend less money, because you're about to start spending quite a lot on cycling.

Completely agree with the money comments!! I've signed up for a charity 100 mile trip in August, and have just purchased a Specialized Secteur. And after having a quick flick through this months Cycling Plus, found out that there are quite a few essentials required.

I'm happy to do the shopping bit...just hope I'm up for the cycle bit :P

Butterd2

+1 to the money thing but it's still cheaper than a car (just!) and PT and better for both you and the planet so it's actually very easy to justify spending silly amounts of money IMHO.

15 miles is a nice round trip, that's what I do, probably not enough to loose a lot of weight but it will certainly improve your fitness and you'll feel better for it. Best of luck ans see you on the SCR thread in commuting soon!

Brushiemma10w

The finance thing is very apt. Hadn't ridden a bike for 15 years then went out with a couple of mates, borrowing my son's MTB for 8 miles offroad stuff (which I've never done in my life). Thoroughly enjoyed it so immediately went out and bought a Trek Cobia and some gear.
The following weekend I went out with said mates again, but this time rather than load the bikes up and drive to the offroad site, we cycled. Ended up doing about 6 miles offroad and a further 26 on the road travelling to/from the location. Unfortunately, I enjoyed the road bit even more and should take delivery of a Specialized Allez Comp before the week is out, along with yet more kit.
3 weeks ago I hadn't ridden for 15 years, but now, at the age of 47, I'm as excited as a kid the night before Christmas. Sadly, I've also gone thru £2,500+ during this time, but you only live once eh

Peddle Up!

" I've also gone thru £2,500+"

Early days yet.

Brushiemma10w

Peddle Up! wrote:

" I've also gone thru £2,500+"

Early days yet.

Oh yes :twisted:

Brushiemma10w

Peddle Up! wrote:

" I've also gone thru £2,500+"

Early days yet.

Oh yes :twisted:

navrig

Soupstone - don't be put off by these spendthrifts ;-)

There are plenty of people, like yourself, who have started to dabble and think the bug has bitten. They then spend silly £ on new kit only to pull a muscle or get fed up and the shiny bike resides in the garage for the next 6 months. Next thing is it appears on Ebay or in the classifieds.

So get used to pedalling to confirm you are interested, get to know what you want (size, gearing etc) and then look for someone else's mistake on Ebay etc.

If you find something suitable you could save a fair bit.

BTW enjoy the feeling, there is little to beat a long ride and the satisfying tea and cake afterwards :-)

Soupstone

It's a whole lifestyle change I'm going with, got around 100lbs to lose, with biking being the excercise part (and I'm enjoying it which is a massive bonus).

Backed up with diet and alcohol ban.

My idea so far is to go for a half decent second hand bike and take it from there. Think works planning cycle to work scheme in November, not too sure if they're a good idea yet, read a couple of things that suggest they arnt.

Unfortunately, if I had £2500 it would be an old Hayabusa or a ZX12, this one will need done on a tight budget.
That may change though lol.

Brushiemma10w

Soupstone wrote:

It's a whole lifestyle change I'm going with, got around 100lbs to lose, with biking being the excercise part (and I'm enjoying it which is a massive bonus).

Backed up with diet and alcohol ban.

My idea so far is to go for a half decent second hand bike and take it from there. Think works planning cycle to work scheme in November, not too sure if they're a good idea yet, read a couple of things that suggest they arnt.

Unfortunately, if I had £2500 it would be an old Hayabusa or a ZX12, this one will need done on a tight budget.
That may change though lol.

I hear yer Soupstone. I used to have an Aprilia RSV Millie. Loved it but time prevented me from using it anything like as much as I'd have liked. In comparison to motorbikes, cycling is fairly reasonable and now that I have a bit more time and a few lb's to shift its great to be back after the 15 year hiatus. Its quite possible i'll pull a muscle on the first outing of the roadbike, but i'll try not to stick the bike on Ebay.

Alcohol ban??? :shock:

Soupstone

Ok, a ban is probably a bit extreme. A reduction is probably better.

Stone Glider

Welcome to you. As others have said, there is a world of fascination and expense awaiting you, should you choose. There are choices that are available if you can be patient and plot your strategy: end of season/year sales, Lidle/Aldi promotions, budget lines, etc. The weight loss issue can be a source of disappointment after a 'honeymoon' period but your shape will certainly continue to change and your health/fitness will improve as you persist.

The trick is to enjoy it. If it becomes a chore then you are doing it wrong and you will need to re-calibrate.

BTW : Sudocrem..... the cyclist's friend

stevec205gti

Soupstone wrote:

Even in my novice state (3 runs in the past 3 days, 5, 10 then 15 miles) I've noticed a mountain bikes top gear probably isnt enough.

Welcome to the bug!

Your quote about gearing - this is a comment that I hear often, with a lot of overwieght, unfit new cyclists moaning that bikes need to be geared a lot higher (no offence intended - but I'm guessing if you've got 100lbs to shift you fall into this category), but if you ride with them they grind along in high gears doing themselves no favours at all. Once you get into a bit more you'll get far more out of your cycling if you learn to 'spin' your legs at a higher cadence - 80 to 90rpm as a rough guide. Once you start doing this you'll find although your mountain bike is quite low geared you can still get shifting at a decent rate and travel for further. If you're already shifting your legs round at this pace then you'll love having a road bike underneath you!!!

All the best

Soupstone

Your probably quite right, I felt my wee legs were going as fast as they could with no extra speed coming out the bike on the downhill bits.

Is a mountain bike also easier to pedal in the lowest gears than a road bike? I think at this point that would help me more.

sagalout

Soupstone wrote:

Unfortunately, if I had £2500 it would be an old Hayabusa or a ZX12, this one will need done on a tight budget.
That may change though lol.

You should do the ZX12R at some time - I had one last year and its the most ballistic, outright ridiculous bike I've ever owned. I've had fast bikes before (ZX9R, currently a Blackbird plus various 600's and 750's) and the 12 is the only bike I never got used to the power on. It really is like hitting the warp factor button when you give it full beans.

Anyway, back onto cycling.....welcome to a hobby thats as addictive as crack and probably more expensive! I lost 60lbs over a year or so, now down to 12st 4 and had to re-buy all my wardrobe, including motorbike leathers. Started off with an old mountain bike a couple of years ago, now own a carbon roadbike, a TT bike, a steel roadbike and a mountain bike.

Good luck

kieranb

Hi soupstone,

I would be surprised if you need to change to get higher gearing, the top gear on a good MTB should be fine for almost all occasions. The gears on an MTB will usually be over a wider range to cope with the extremes in slope/ surface conditions you meet off-road, steep hardpacked downhill v bumpy steep uphill (or slippery wet grass!).

Going second hand is a good place to start, ignore the shiny ads in the mags and be wary of sales people!

Soupstone

Had a Hayabusa before, just thought similar boom to bucks was a zx12. Love the look of the Blackbird too though (first bike was a cbr1000f, I'm assuming the Blackbirds a big comfy bike too. Nearly bought one before the Ducati but the guy lived in Aberdeen around a mile up a dirt track and the snow was terrible at the time).

But as you say, the cycling lol.

Looking more like a decent used MTB first with road tyres as theres one avaliable.

First commute tomorrow morning, I'll have a wee weigh in too an have a running total in my sig.

Soupstone

kieranb wrote:

Going second hand is a good place to start, ignore the shiny ads in the mags and be wary of sales people!

Hi Kieran,
I've an inbuilt phobia of sales people, and I'm also a bit tight so thats right up my street.

I always say if it wasnt for people like me, those that like to keep updating their equipment/cars/motorbikes etc wouldnt have anyone to sell their old ones to.

Although I can also have moments of madness.

Soupstone

Got up at 5:30, had sorted all my gear out last night, downstairs and had a eureka moment.

Its Dark at 5:30. Still dark at 6 (last time I could leave to make it comfortably). No lights.

So postponed.

Hit Aldi's, trip computer and tool kit, up to Argos for some lights.

So try again in the morning.