elae

Hi there,

I am 51 y/o and have been off the bike for almost 15 years now due to several life changes ... had a baby at 39 ... took a desk job these last 8 years! on and on :-) I know ... no excuses, right?!

Yet, here I am, about 30 pounds heavier than I need to be and missing my Lightspeed!

Back in the day, I rode 3-4 days a week, at least 20 miles each time. I'd love to get back to that schedule.

I recently had my bike tuned up at our local bike shop and jumped on the bike to take a ride. I barely made it 2 miles and I was done!

So,
I have a few questions for this group:
- What have you done to get back in shape?
- I'm considering buying a bike trainer .... which one do you suggest for someone in my condition?
- Is this the forum to connect to for accountability support? If not, please suggest some other groups as well.

Thanks so much!
elae

wthensler 

No, tons of excuses. I don’t know many riders that have never taken a hiatus.

My only advise, start slow, get a bike that fits for the type of riding you will be doing, and set a budget to ride something you will want to.

Set aside the time, hook up with others or join a group ride.

Speedway2

elae....maybe try another "style" of bike(for now). Perhaps a cruiser or hybrid to fit your new normal. You may find these bikes more comfortable=more riding time!

berner

I began cycling at about age 70 and slowly, very slowly worked up to the point that a 50 mile ride was a typical distance for long rides. the rest of the time I rode 5-15 miles at a a time for errands around town, groceries, library, post office. This all added up to 100 or 120 miles per week. The trick was to use the bike often. I also began watching diet and eating more plant based foods. Don't make it a chore. Keep it fun.

elae

Great idea, I still have my old mountain bike .... so I will cruise around on that for starters!
Thank you !

Riveting

Don't find time to ride. Make time.

elae

Thanks to everyone for the quick reply. Such great advice. I thought of also buying a trainer to work on my fitness level after work. Has anyone done that before? And what type of trainer did you purchase?

gil_00000

I second that! I've taken a break when I moved recently. The routes aren't as great, the roads suck, life gets in the way, etc. No worries!

I would take it easy as well. Even just taking the winter off I notice I'm not as strong as the fall. Going slow is great. Just ride, look around, enjoy the scenery. I think just simply riding is a big step towards your goal of riding more regularly. No matter the length or intensity, riding is riding. Every time you ride you're riding more than before. Take it easy and enjoy.

I can't offer specific suggestions for a bike thats good for someone in their 50s but I can say over my time as riding, I'm 33, I ride differently than when I started. You could look into relaxing the geometry of your current bike. That may be a cheaper option than getting a new / new to you bike. If you can shorten the stem and maybe add some spacers to raise you up a touch.

A new saddle could be a good option too. Saddles are uber personal decisions. Finding something that works and doesn't cause pain is paramount to enjoying a ride.

Speaking of saddles, you might address the other contact points. The bars/bar tape, and pedals/shoes.

I've switched different styles of handlebars over the years and had various amounts of success. I've found what works for me. No matter what bars I use, I always use Lizard Skin bar tape. I LOVE IT! It comes in a few different thicknesses. It comes in fun colors too if that matters to you. The compound feels really sticky, (not in a bad way) so much grip that even in the wet my hands don't slide right off. I swear by Lizard Skin. I don't like the price though. Its not cheap 40 or so for a pair of bars. You can remove the tape and re-apply it. I've gotten multiple uses out of one set. Or, I've changed out the brake levers with the same tape on the same bars.

You might find platform pedals are more your style at this point. Good thing about platform they're a dime a dozen. Having platforms lets you adjust your feet to a comfortable position. I have platforms and clipless. I make sure to pay attention to the Q-factor when switching between bikes. I have road and mountain so the Q-factor can be very different. The Q-factor is the measurement between your feet compared to the frame. My knees don't like changes with the q-factor bike to bike or after an upgrade.

Riding with other people can be fun too. I've liked having bike buddies over the years. I probably would ride more now If I had one close by.

What ever you do, enjoy it. I can't say that enough. There are a lot of people who are unbelievably stuffy about components, kit, speed, number of gears, frame material, Strava etc. Just ride and have fun. Bikes are ******g awesome. I ride an early 70's raleigh record fixed gear I converted into a commuter. Its not flashy, the saddle or saddle bag or the rack are worth more individually, than the rest of it. Its a rusty, chipped paint, low quality frame to begin with but it rides superbly. I LOVE it!

big john

I have a Blackburn trainer, It's cheap and dumb, just a magnetic resistance unit. I used it years ago and put it in front of the TV with a fan to cool me off. It's pretty boring. Now they have smart trainers and you can Zwift and race against riders all over the world.

I'm 65 and have had back issues yet I still ride a stiff racing type road bike and try to ride 4 times per week, sometimes on a mtb. Rest days are important if you are pushing it. When I started in my 30s I could barely do 5 miles. I kept at it until 5 miles was easy and started doing 10.

delbiker1 

You have to make the commitment. For some people, keeping track of mileage, and or time, of rides helps to keep the motivation. Having to write it on a calendar,post on spreadsheet, or whatever storage you use, is a mental reminder of what you are trying to do. Seeing those posts and the improvement in actual performance is a self satisfaction builder and a measurement of what you have accomplished so far. Seeing the improvement helps to imagine where you can go. For some people, riding with others is a big factor in sticking with it.

elae

Wow! So grateful for all the quick reply today. What a great community this is! THANK YOU!

I want to try and utilize my current bikes. I have a titanium lightspeed that at the time when I bought it between frame, components and gear cost me well into the 4000s. I have a nice Specialized mountain bike as well. Both of those bikes were fit to me. My mountain bike has regular flat petals and my road bike has clipless.

I love the feedback I received about just getting on the mountain bike for now. And building a fitness that way. In the meantime, I’d love to use a trainer with my road bike so that I can build up my fitness level here at the house before getting out on the road again.

thank you for the feedback Re: the trainer.

I read an article today that suggests buying a rear bike wheel just for use on the trainer. I’d hate to mess up the nice rear wheel that is on my Lightspeed.

any thoughts on a trainer that doesn’t mess up your rear wheel and is under $500!!!

MRT2

Is there any reason you can't just get out and ride your Lightspeed? Give it a few weeks and I am sure you will be up to 10, miles. And in a couple of months, you will be up to 25, 30 or even 35 mile rides.

Iride01 

You just need to ride. Add more time/miles as you get used to it. No other expense needed but time. Trainer might get you there quicker, but I suspect many trainers wind up being very low mileage items taking up space just like treadmills and stationary bikes.

freeranger

Do you have a friend (or maybe your husband) that can ride with you, and knows the situation? I ask, as a friend of mine was not much for distance, and was worried about riding with a group I occasionally ride with. So we went on a "casually" paced ride, stopped when we felt like it, took "water breaks" (or sports drink) every so often. Had him ignore his cyclometer until the end of the ride, which ended up being 27 miles--said he had no idea we had ridden as far or as long a time as we had. So, take it easy, find someone to ride with (that isn't going to push you further than your comfort zone), have a good time, you might find you can ride further than you think, or at the least, you'll be building up to it. Make enjoyment the goal at first-not speed or distance, which will come along with more rides..

BKE

Are there circumstances that keep you from getting out on the bike, why do you feel the need for a trainer?

Wileyrat

I've used my old 90 Trek 850 rigid frame mtn bike to ride myself back into road bike shape a couple of times now.

Maybe that's the reason I can't seem to part with it.

Carbonfiberboy 

I did exactly the same thing at 50. IMO, do not ride the MTB. Ride your road bike! Just ride it. I started by trying to get up the 500' hill to a nearby shopping mall, not that I wanted to shop, just a hill with low traffic roads. When I could get up that hill, I simply rode away from home until I was tired, then rode back, mostly avoiding hills, just getting saddle time. When I got up to 60 miles on a weekend ride, I started riding hills, see hill, ride up it.

I bought a set of resistance rollers early in my come-back. I rode them in a doorway my first year, though next to a wall works well, too. They're the best indoor training tool. Just throw your road bike on them and go.
https://www.sportcrafters.com/produc...ve-pro-rollers
More than $500, but they'll last you the rest of your life. No tire wear, no bike damage. They'll fix your bike handling and spin right up. Not as hard to ride as rumored.

dagray

Get a bike fit with the bike you own. Change the stem if necessary to sit you more upright (might cost $100.00 if you buy a really nice stem, mine cost $49.00). Ride that two miles three days a week for a week. Next week go 2.5 or three miles, then go five miles.

I started in 2014 after being off the bike for almost 25 years and could only go 0.75 miles before I was needing a 30 minute break to ride back home and be exhausted the rest of the day to within a year and a half riding the 50 mile route of a Tour de Cure.

YOU CAN DO THIS

BlazingPedals

My advice is, just ride! If a saddle or stem doesn't feel right because your body has changed with time, then it can be replaced. I essentially start from scratch every spring. This year has been especially hard, since I was just short of bedrest for about 2 months. My first ride this spring was 9 miles at 12 mph. Yesterday's was 27 miles at 18 mph, so getting there.You can do it too if you just stick with it.

HLaudio

Hey elae! I was off the bike for 35yrs! Got back on May2016! Rode a cheap cruiser type; crashed it! Broke collarbone. 6 months later back in the saddle. Bought a Pure Cycles single speed and been riding it for the past 2 years. Starting weight was 265lbs now I’m at 175lbs. Best thing I’ve ever done. I had to ride every day weather permitting. Started low miles, 5 miles round trip. Worked upto 20 miles round trip. I ride strictly for exercise. Crazy thing is it’s the only exercise I like! My advice to you...get on the bike and ride. It’s great outside!
be safe,
H

elae

My work schedule is very heavy right now. And, we live in an area that doesn't have a lot of safe bike routes near my home... I'll need to drive somewhere, park and ride, etc. So a trainer will help me increase my fitness level whist getting on the bike in the early morning at home, maybe set up in my office at work, or at home after work.

caloso

I agree with the others that you should ride the bike you have. Once the pandemic is over, spend a few bucks on a bike fit. In the meantime, just ride as much as you are able.

As for a trainer, I have a Kinetic Road Machine. Very solid, not crazy expensive, and an easy way to get on Zwift or Trainer Road.

elae

Thanks so much.I'll check this out.

elae

Great advice... I'll check this out at my local bike shop. Thanks!

elae

My husband plans to buy a bike and ride with me. We've been married for 15 years and he has never been a cyclist. Truly a newbie. He wants to start with a mountain bike. So, I'm sorta on my own with my road bike. I look forward to riding with him in a more casual setting. But, I'd love to dive back into the thrill I used to get whilst riding my road bike.