My 1st ride in 22 years!
08-30-19, 07:15 PM
#51
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Thomas you are in a league that I doubt I’ll ever see. Twenty and thirty mile rides are something that seems unobtainable from where I’m at today. I’m doing between 5-7 miles four days a week, in addition to walking 2.5-3.0 miles six days a week. I’m trying to just get stronger, but I really don’t have any set goals as of yet. Maybe in a few months I’ll start thinking along those lines. Your post is very encouraging, and I thank you for it.
Absolutely the best thing about a bike is that you can ride as fast or as slow; as long or as short as you want to. There's no pressure unless you want to beat your friend's PR on Strava. It's mellow, it's beautiful and it's healthy. Congratulations and good luck!
08-30-19, 07:21 PM
#52
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This is so inspiring to read. I went from about 1981 until 2010 without riding a bike. Got back into in a big way from 2010 until about 2 years ago: Thanks to some health problems, I only started riding again at the end of July. I used to ride 100 miles a week, and 25 miles was easy.
Since starting up again, I have gone from 4 to 7 to 14 to now 16 miles this past weekend. I want to add a couple of miles to that tomorrow. It is a big deal to get back into it. I just have to remind myself that it’ll take time to build back to what I used to do.
Keep rolling, and stay safe in FLA with that storm coming in!
Since starting up again, I have gone from 4 to 7 to 14 to now 16 miles this past weekend. I want to add a couple of miles to that tomorrow. It is a big deal to get back into it. I just have to remind myself that it’ll take time to build back to what I used to do.
Keep rolling, and stay safe in FLA with that storm coming in!
May I suggest that you look at Strava or one of the other tracking programs? There's no way I'll match the times of the zero percent body fat 20-somethings, but you can filter the comparison results by age, and that makes me feel better. It also keeps track of where you've gone and how you're doing much better than a spreadsheet. And it has other features.
But the point is that you're getting out, and you're riding, and that's admirable.
08-30-19, 08:55 PM
#53
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Reading these posts of others who are riding again after long layoffs is truly inspiring. I’m finding that riding is therapeutic in so many ways. It’s one of the most enjoyable things I do now!
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08-30-19, 08:58 PM
#54
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This is so inspiring to read. I went from about 1981 until 2010 without riding a bike. Got back into in a big way from 2010 until about 2 years ago: Thanks to some health problems, I only started riding again at the end of July. I used to ride 100 miles a week, and 25 miles was easy.
Since starting up again, I have gone from 4 to 7 to 14 to now 16 miles this past weekend. I want to add a couple of miles to that tomorrow. It is a big deal to get back into it. I just have to remind myself that it’ll take time to build back to what I used to do.
Keep rolling, and stay safe in FLA with that storm coming in!
Since starting up again, I have gone from 4 to 7 to 14 to now 16 miles this past weekend. I want to add a couple of miles to that tomorrow. It is a big deal to get back into it. I just have to remind myself that it’ll take time to build back to what I used to do.
Keep rolling, and stay safe in FLA with that storm coming in!
09-03-19, 04:16 PM
#55
Senior Member
GREAT STUFF!!! I'm in a similar boat, but not as extreme. Just got my first ride in over 2 decades in today! Keep the updates coming!! You are such an inspiration and your story is motivating!!
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09-03-19, 08:18 PM
#56
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Reality check
This mornings ride was a challenge. We had a pretty stiff East wind this morning which really made riding difficult. What surprised me was how often I kept down shifting to compensate for the wind. Translation: I’ve got a long way to go to get my endurance built up. Or as we used to say at work when faced with a huge challenge: how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!
Ride on!
Ride on!
09-04-19, 04:51 AM
#57
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AND WELL IT SHOULD, now keep on living that incredible feeling.
BTW, where in FL? Gears are there for up-shifting and down-shifting. Use them and enjoy. Even during my ride to the food store I will be shifting down then back. .
BTW, where in FL? Gears are there for up-shifting and down-shifting. Use them and enjoy. Even during my ride to the food store I will be shifting down then back. .
Last edited by OldTryGuy; 09-04-19 at 04:57 AM.
09-04-19, 01:25 PM
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09-04-19, 01:27 PM
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09-04-19, 02:41 PM
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FIRon, you are nailing it! Slow steady gradual build-up is the way to go! I got to do the same thing when I had my heart attack and quad bypass surgery, and the gradual approach paid off for me just as it is already for you.
09-04-19, 05:07 PM
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Come on over to my neck of the flats due West of you where elevation gain will be from the humpback bridges in Rotonda. In January there should be the Hamster Wheel 200 on Washington Loop Rd. off Rt17. Plenty of training time left 
Hamster Wheel 200
Hamster Wheel 200
09-05-19, 10:25 AM
#64
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Way to go rustystrings! It is a gradual process isn’t it? When I first started riding I made the conscious decision that no matter how far or long I would ride, it was good enough for that day. I am completely at ease with riding 5 miles, 12 miles, or perhaps one day even 25 miles. What matters is I’m out there, I’m active, and I feel good!
09-05-19, 10:28 AM
#65
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Come on over to my neck of the flats due West of you where elevation gain will be from the humpback bridges in Rotonda. In January there should be the Hamster Wheel 200 on Washington Loop Rd. off Rt17. Plenty of training time left
Hamster Wheel 200
Hamster Wheel 200
09-07-19, 10:24 AM
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1 mile becomes 2. No rush, take it easy, just smile. Congrats ... enjoy the ride!
09-08-19, 04:12 PM
#67
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That’s how I feel, too. I saw this guy leaving a store with a new bike for his 10 yr old son. Big smile on his face (and mine) as we both remembered how special a bike felt to us as kids - freedom!
1 mile becomes 2. No rush, take it easy, just smile. Congrats ... enjoy the ride!
1 mile becomes 2. No rush, take it easy, just smile. Congrats ... enjoy the ride!
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