chefisaac

I am new to cycling and bought a road bike. I love it but riding is tough as heck.

I road my first ride on Sunday.... 13 miles and it felt great. Hills were tough.

I did a ride tonight and could only do 10 miles. It was hard to keep up and the humidity was hard for me as well.

I am over weight at 324 pounds. Lost 40 pounds so far and hoping to lose more with cycling. But I do have a few questions:

1) how do I deal with the humdity?
2) I assume riding gets easier the more you do it, right?

Thank you all!

Mr Pink57

1) You just keep drinking, and you just have to deal with it to be honest. On really humid day I keep a third bottle in my middle jersey pocket completely filled with ice and a pinch of salt (sometimes a bit of sugar).
2) It does get easier as you go. Practice makes perfect. Proper cycling wear and shoes make a big difference if you don't have those yet.

Some people tackle hills differently, I am a sit and spinner vs a stand and masher especially over longer rides.

Velo Gator

You're doing great. Keep it up, it will get easier.

1nterceptor

1. After awhile you'll just get used to it. what kind of top and bottom
are you wearing? Is it a technical fabric, meant for sporting activities?

2. See number 1, yes the mileage with come the more you ride and the
hills get easier

mvnsnd

Yes, it will get easier. Keep up with the fluids and don't over do it. Take it easy and listen to the cues of your body.

RJM

It gets easier, your rides will get longer and you will get faster...but you have to keep going out there. Hills will get easier with time too, I like to sit and spin up the hills too.

I don't know where you live, but where I live it is ridiculously hot and humid. I didn't ride today because of it. What you basically have to do is take a little extra water and just deal with the extra sweat. Heat and humidity do wipe you out quicker than moderate temperatures, just make sure you drink enough fluids while out on your ride.

Good luck!

Shuagster

The words of some guy who rode a bike: "It never gets easier, you just go faster"

mtalinm

hi there, I'm from the same club. my experience was

* it takes awhile to stretch out. at first it will hurt to lean over but over a few months you will become a lot more flexible. not sure there is a shortcut, but it will happen

* for hills, don't try to stand up and pedal just yet. instead, shift into a very low gear, put your hands on the top of the bar, sit back on the saddle. it's not as if you need to worry about wind resistance while going uphill.

* get some cycling bibs. cycling shorts will probably roll down your front, and you have to keep pulling them back up. yuck.

keep in mind that you are burning more calories than the skinny guys!

Commodus

Well I lost five pounds a few weeks back for an event, and I could definitely notice the difference.

I imagine if you lost like 50 pounds it would be like a whole different sport. So yeah, it'll get easier. Like, a lot, lot, lot easier.

Phil85207

I moved to the Arizona desert. Seriously though try wearing cycling specific clothes if you are not already. Jerseys wick away moisture and will help to keep you cooler. Head bands to keep sweat out of the eyes. The best I have found are the kind with little B.B,'s in them that swell up as they get wet. I don't know what they are called. Good luck and keep on cycling.

Caymem

I'm 250 lbs: Bibs, cycling specific jersey, lots of water, taint lube, move your hands around a lot on the bars, wiggle your toes and fingers often, pump up your tires before every ride, put an extra bottle in your back jersey pockets to squirt on your head and back on really hot days, learn to stand for short bursts of energy instead of a quick downshift,

It does get a little easier, and much more enjoyable. Ride, ride, ride!

Stratman351

When I started riding again in 2005, I was at 270 lbs. (I'm 6' 1", and a good weight for me is 210; I'm 57 years old). Back then a LONG ride was 15 miles over moderately hilly terrain. I dealt with heat/humidity by stopping for a two or three-minute water break whenever I felt the need, which was roughly every 5 miles in the very beginning. Gradually I was able to go longer between breaks (and it was never really about the water; it was about a short break allowing me just enough rejuvenation to grind out the next leg).

As to getting easier, well yeah...it does, except that you'll find yourself wanting to go faster and farther. Keep at it, slow and steady: it's worth it.

spock

Why does it have to get easier? Just ride...

DropDeadFred

it will get easier! Good job on the 40lbs! you can always talk to the clydesdales as well...we have a local group dedicated just to them, they not only ride but run, walk whatever together and usually are a good support group. Better than listening to some 130lbs guy telling you its easy, ya know. Easier to hear it from somebody who has been there

Mr Pink57

Shuagster

I think of it like this: the same way you feel after your rides these days, will be the way you feel in a couple of months after a 30-40 mile ride, and so on...

halfspeed

It will get easier to ride the same route at the same speed. The catch is, you probably won't want to ride the same speed on the same route. So no, it doesn't get easier. You just go farther, faster.

FactVord

I wear 50oz camelbak on hotter/humid days with my water bottles are sprayers. Always keep hydrated.
The last thing you ever want to happen is faint/black out, which did happen to an elderly lady on a cruiser last weekend. She's alright though! Splash of water helped her to regain consciousness.

ericm979

My first ride was 6 miles. It kicked my ass, and I was a 25 year old very fit runner.

It's hard at first for everyone.

ChristopherMast

Gets easier... head over the the Clydesdale forum and check out the "before and after pics" post in the stickies

dahut

1) Sweat. A lot.
Drink plenty of water and sport drinks. I mix em half-half with water. Until you start knocking back 60-90 minute rides (or longer), the full-strength carbs and minerals in them are not really needed.

2) Riding does get easier.
Then you'll be a fat guy who is in better shape. Take my word on this - I'm there.

You are likely to lose weight, if you keep the cycling in the front of your mind.
In fact, get addicted to it - seriously. Start thinking of yourself as a 'cyclist,' not a bike rider.

Learn the meaning of the acronym "HTFU," too. It will help get you over some tough spots. I have it stenciled on my bike:



Also, aim to become an expert in cycling nutrition, too. It is peculiar to endurance athletics and will change the way you see food.

Congrats on the current weight loss and welcome to the world of pedals.

Painful Chafe

It does get easier. The biggest change is actually in the begining. Get a couple of more rides in and you will realize you just rode the last 5 miles hard without letting up. Then it will be 8, then 10, etc. It kind of just happens and all within the first dozen or so rides.

Enjoy the rides and keep going. It is one of the best ways to get in shape. Honestly, its almost like cheating.

celticfrost

+ in-frikkin'-finity.

In the meantime, just keep riding.

lwrncc

"It doesn't get easier, you just go faster".

This is gonna be my new sig.

SlowOlympian

I was going to respond, but i guess maybe i shouldnt...

Ill still say congrats on the weight loss, and i think its awesome youre doing something about it, especially in such a masochistic sport as road biking! good luck! now get out and ride ride ride!!!