weight loss

sj88

Im considering taking up road cycling to lose weight, what kind of bike should I purchase? I was thinking maybe I should start with a hybrid bike or perhaps even a mountain bike?

djm501

I did that- got a hybrid. It's a good bike but if you're doing road cycling - get a road bike. Lots of extra and weighty bumf on a mountain bike (and also to a certain extent a hybrid) that is entirely unnecessary and will in fact hold you up.
You don't want knobbly tires on the road (except in extreme circumstances) and you don't need suspensions at either end of the bike for road cycling. Plus if you start doing long distances you'll want drop handlebars for moving your hand about occasionally.

But really I'd get a cheap second hand bike to begin with so you don't waste money on a bike you don't ride or is wrong for what you find you like. Get used to riding find out what you like and save up for your second bike -the dream machine.

djm501

Oh and if my experience is anything to go by - there's nothing better for losing weight than cycling. I've dropped 4 stone in the seven months I've been doing it. Took a *lot* of cycling but I love it :-D

philwint

I'm not sure. A hybrid has the advantage that you can cycle almost anywhere on it, and the disadvantage that it's a jack of all trades. So if you think you might want to ride canal tow paths or gentle woodland trails as well as roads (remember riding on busy roads does take some getting used to). The a hybrid might make sense.

Once you have tried out "general" cycling you might find you prefer the off road stuff, or the road stuff. Then you can buy a specific tool for your favored job. And be left with a perfectly serviceable nipping-to-the-shop-bike as well.

Of course the danger is you find you like both and end up having to get a mountain bike and a road bike.... and there you go, starting on n+1

Anonymous

Running is a lot cheaper, easier and quicker for weight loss, but I am guessing you have already ruled that out?
Not that I want to discourage anyone from buying a bike though

Does not sound as though a mountain bike would be a good idea.
Get a decent bike though, or else you will not enjoy it and quickly give up!

Oh, and good luck with the weight loss

VTech

I mentioned this when I joined a few days ago and someone mentioned making a thread on weight loss, I actually think this is a great idea as it motivational for others.
Good luck to you sir.

smidsy

Like this one?

viewtopic.php?f=40011&t=12862448

team47b

no, they said a thread about weight LOSS

pride4ever

sj88 wrote:

Im considering taking up road cycling to lose weight, what kind of bike should I purchase? I was thinking maybe I should start with a hybrid bike or perhaps even a mountain bike?

You having a laugh?

pride4ever

sj88 wrote:

Im considering taking up road cycling to lose weight, what kind of bike should I purchase? I was thinking maybe I should start with a hybrid bike or perhaps even a mountain bike?

You having a laugh?

pride4ever

Carbonator wrote:

Running is a lot cheaper, easier and quicker for weight loss, but I am guessing you have already ruled that out?
Not that I want to discourage anyone from buying a bike though

Does not sound as though a mountain bike would be a good idea.
Get a decent bike though, or else you will not enjoy it and quickly give up!

Oh, and good luck with the weight loss

Nah, no one looses weight by exercising alone, the key is too eat no more than 1500 calories a day along with exercise. Exercise alone burns painfully low amounts of calories for energy expended. Get some willpower and turn the doughnuts down if you want to lose weight.

ShutUpLegs

I see plenty of fat MTB'ers when I'm out. Get a MTB

dhobiwallah

Depends how you are planning to use it to lose weight...

If you are just planning a lifestyle change - commuting to work/nip to the shops etc on a bike rather than drive a hybrid might make sense depending on your route (eg mild off-road). Hybrids basically come in 2 flavours, compromised road bikes (skinny tyres with flat bars) and really compromised MTBs (knobbly tyres and low grade suspension forks that do more harm than good - first upgrade would be to ditch it for a rigid fork if you can't afford to upgrade it for a decent sus fork). The road flavour can make sense - if you want the knobbly route I would just get an MTB and put slicker tyres on it if reqd.

If you are using it as a dedicated workout decide whether you want to take up on or off road cycling and buy the appropriate tool - they are very different things. A hybrid for actual MTBing is pants, and it had disadvantages on the tarmac when you actually start putting miles down too.

I personally prefer MTB - away from traffic - out in the greenery and I like the technical aspect of negotiating obstacles too. I feel more like I am enjoying a hobby while having to work hard than I do on the road. Having said that I am on the road much more at the moment as due to the volume of rain in the last 6 months the trails round our way are really sticky and unpleasant - whereas the roads dry out within a few hours of the rain stopping.

Horses for courses - but in short decide what you want to do and buy the appropriate tool. Lots of good deals on entry level bikes on ebay as people taking up the sport upgrade their first purchases...

slowbike

pride4ever wrote:

Nah, no one looses weight by exercising alone, the key is too eat no more than 1500 calories a day along with exercise. Exercise alone burns painfully low amounts of calories for energy expended. Get some willpower and turn the doughnuts down if you want to lose weight.

Way to go with the encouragement ...

To the OP - you need a bike suitable for the type of riding you intend to do - a hybrid is a good compromise bike - but do get a decent brand one from a good LBS - you'll exercise more if the kit works, is comfortable to ride and you enjoy it ...

You do need to be sensible with the diet as well as exercise - it's no good stuffing yourself with chocolate/cake after getting back from a ride - but do give yourself a treat once in a while - create some goals and see if you can hit target (ask on here if you want a sanity check on those targets - you don't want them too easy or too hard) ...

I've lost a stone in about 6-8 months and kept most of it off - I wasn't aiming to loose weight, but a change in exercise and diet has achieved that along with a big increase in fitness. I'm happy enough with my weight, but wouldn't mind turning a bit more fat into muscle ...

Anonymous

pride4ever wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

Running is a lot cheaper, easier and quicker for weight loss, but I am guessing you have already ruled that out?
Not that I want to discourage anyone from buying a bike though

Does not sound as though a mountain bike would be a good idea.
Get a decent bike though, or else you will not enjoy it and quickly give up!

Oh, and good luck with the weight loss

Nah, no one looses weight by exercising alone, the key is too eat no more than 1500 calories a day along with exercise. Exercise alone burns painfully low amounts of calories for energy expended. Get some willpower and turn the doughnuts down if you want to lose weight.

Why did you quote me and then write something that is nothing to do with the quote?

I did not mention anything about food/calories, I said that running was better than cycling for weight loss, which it is.

Of course you have to limit calories too, but that's the same no matter what exersise you do.
One of the reasons I feel running is better though is because it gives you a different relationship with food.
Time trials are similar to running imo, but just going out for a ride on a bike is nowhwere near as good.

slowbike

Carbonator wrote:

but just going out for a ride on a bike is nowhwere near as good.

You are right - but it's better than nothing - and we all have to start somewhere !

VTech

I agree.
I think its easy to forget just how hard cycling was to start with, especially for those that have not ridden for a number of years (me).
The shock of the first mile is still a nightmare for me but ive only done a small amount of mileage so hoping that will go.

VTech

I agree.
I think its easy to forget just how hard cycling was to start with, especially for those that have not ridden for a number of years (me).
The shock of the first mile is still a nightmare for me but ive only done a small amount of mileage so hoping that will go.

slowbike

VTech wrote:

I think its easy to forget just how hard cycling was to start with, especially for those that have not ridden for a number of years (me).
The shock of the first mile is still a nightmare for me but ive only done a small amount of mileage so hoping that will go.

As I usually commute by bike I've got a regular route to compare myself to - whilst my overall speed has increased a bit, I can distinctly remember certain hills where I used to put in "maximum effort" in bottom gear just to get up and then need to recover at the top ... whereas now I still put effort in - but it's not maximum, I could ride a gear harder and I don't need so much recovery at the top ...
In the beginning I think it's important to set some markers that you can repeat over time - and record those so you can track any improvement you're making.