Out of Shape Clydes - First Rides
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 233
Bikes: 2006 Diamondback Century
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Out of Shape Clydes - First Rides
When you guys started riding, how far/long were you able to go??
I seem to be exhausting myself after only about a mile, ~10 minutes of riding... Is this normal or am I riding wrong? (Avg 9mph)
I read other stories about people doing 3-5 miles or even more on their "first" ride... I feel like I may be doing something seriously wrong...?
I seem to be exhausting myself after only about a mile, ~10 minutes of riding... Is this normal or am I riding wrong? (Avg 9mph)
I read other stories about people doing 3-5 miles or even more on their "first" ride... I feel like I may be doing something seriously wrong...?
Last edited by nrowensby; 12-29-11 at 08:05 AM.
#2
Galveston County Texas
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In The Wind
Posts: 33,246
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1354 Post(s)
Liked 1,249 Times
in
626 Posts
When I first started I went with a five mile plan.
Ride 5 miles rest, do another 5 miles, rest >>>>>>>
Did 80 laps around the block for 40 miles one day, 5 miles at a time.
Ride 5 miles rest, do another 5 miles, rest >>>>>>>
Did 80 laps around the block for 40 miles one day, 5 miles at a time.
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
#3
Galveston County Texas
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In The Wind
Posts: 33,246
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1354 Post(s)
Liked 1,249 Times
in
626 Posts
When you guys started riding, how far/long were you able to go??
I seem to be exhausting myself after only about a mile, ~10 minutes of riding... Is this normal or am I riding wrong? (Avg 9mph)
I read other stories about people doing 3-5 miles or even more on their "first" ride... I feel like I may be doing something seriously wrong...?
I seem to be exhausting myself after only about a mile, ~10 minutes of riding... Is this normal or am I riding wrong? (Avg 9mph)
I read other stories about people doing 3-5 miles or even more on their "first" ride... I feel like I may be doing something seriously wrong...?
Do not worry about speed untill you get passed the first 500 miles.
Takes a long time for your body to adapt to the bike.
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
Last edited by 10 Wheels; 12-29-11 at 08:12 AM.
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
When you guys started riding, how far/long were you able to go??
I seem to be exhausting myself after only about a mile, ~10 minutes of riding... Is this normal or am I riding wrong? (Avg 9mph)
I read other stories about people doing 3-5 miles or even more on their "first" ride... I feel like I may be doing something seriously wrong...?
I seem to be exhausting myself after only about a mile, ~10 minutes of riding... Is this normal or am I riding wrong? (Avg 9mph)
I read other stories about people doing 3-5 miles or even more on their "first" ride... I feel like I may be doing something seriously wrong...?
BTW, my first ride was a mile.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 233
Bikes: 2006 Diamondback Century
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That's reassuring... All the stories I read made it out like people start at 5 miles and work there way up from there... Me barely being able to do a mile really made me feel like I was doing something wrong.
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 233
Bikes: 2006 Diamondback Century
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm not worried about my speed, but I didn't want people to think I was trying to push 15+ mph for my single, sad mile... (JK, I really enjoy my ride... no matter how short it may be.)
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 489
Bikes: '74 Schwinn Le Tour (x2), '83 Bianchi, '96 Trek 820, '96 Trek 470, '99 Xmart Squishy Bike, '03 Giant Cypress
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
As long as you don't fall over, you're doing it right.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 230
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
When I got my first bike (a Diamondback comfort bike), I think my first ride was probably around 1.5 miles. I had no idea how to use my gears properly, so I had to get off and walk up a few hills. I HATED biking. After a few more attempts that summer, I put the bike away and forgot about it.
A few years later, a friend convinced me to start riding with her. I started researching how to use the gears properly (youtube, sheldon brown, etc) and realized that most of my struggles on the bike were related to lack of knowledge. Things got so much better once I understood how to use the bike properly. I would say my first "real" ride was about 7 miles. It felt like 70, but I was so happy that I did it, that every ride after that, I strived to go just a bit farther.
Do you have lots of hills where you are riding? WHat kind of bike are you on? Does it fit you properly? Are you using your gears to your advantage?
A few years later, a friend convinced me to start riding with her. I started researching how to use the gears properly (youtube, sheldon brown, etc) and realized that most of my struggles on the bike were related to lack of knowledge. Things got so much better once I understood how to use the bike properly. I would say my first "real" ride was about 7 miles. It felt like 70, but I was so happy that I did it, that every ride after that, I strived to go just a bit farther.
Do you have lots of hills where you are riding? WHat kind of bike are you on? Does it fit you properly? Are you using your gears to your advantage?
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 233
Bikes: 2006 Diamondback Century
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks... I do feel like the bike was much steadier on my third ride than it was on my first ride. My first ride, I thought something was wrong with the bike; it looked like it was wobbling all over the place, after a couple more ride, I see it getting more steady, I realize it was probably me shaking,
#10
Galveston County Texas
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In The Wind
Posts: 33,246
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1354 Post(s)
Liked 1,249 Times
in
626 Posts
Took me a along time to learn to relax my grip with my hands.
Also helps to look futher ahead, and not at just the front wheel.
Also helps to look futher ahead, and not at just the front wheel.
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
I have just started riding as an adult... I'm quite a bit overweight (5'9" - 280lbs) and haven't really worked out besides walking short distances (less than 1 mile) in ~2 years.
That's reassuring... All the stories I read made it out like people start at 5 miles and work there way up from there... Me barely being able to do a mile really made me feel like I was doing something wrong.
That's reassuring... All the stories I read made it out like people start at 5 miles and work there way up from there... Me barely being able to do a mile really made me feel like I was doing something wrong.
Ten months after learning to balance, avoid mailboxes, and put the chain back on, I rode a century.
#12
Banned.
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
The thing you are doing RIGHT is riding your first mile. Congratulations. Soon it will be 2 and then 5 and then 10 miles. Pat yourself on the back. We all started with a mile.
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 233
Bikes: 2006 Diamondback Century
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Where I'm riding is not flat, but I wouldn't call it hilly... As for the gears, I am getting a better feel for them, but I'm sure there are times I could probably be shifting better. Any recommended reads on this?
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 243
Bikes: 2003 Trek 7300, 2012 CAAD 10 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 233
Bikes: 2006 Diamondback Century
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You are an adult beginner too? Wow. So I was. My first ride was five years ago last week. I rode a mile, had a mailbox jump in front of me - PA needs a mailbox leash law - and went down as I swerved. The chain fell off. I walked home thinking I'd ruined my new bike......
Ten months after learning to balance, avoid mailboxes, and put the chain back on, I rode a century.
Ten months after learning to balance, avoid mailboxes, and put the chain back on, I rode a century.
I too, lost my chain on my very first ride -- That's when I did my first short read about gearing, was shifting and pedalled backward slightly and the chain slipped right off. Luckily, I figured out how to quickly put it back on and pedalled home.
Thanks... Will do!
Last edited by nrowensby; 12-29-11 at 09:08 AM.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 230
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I was going to post the same Sheldon Brown link that DH did above. That is a great place to start, and there are lots of other helpful articles there. When I started, I didn't understand cadence (Sheldon's article explains it), and I usually rode in too high of a gear. As someone once explained to me, "If it is hard to pedal, make it easier. If it is easy to pedal, make it harder." You dont' want to spin your legs wildly, but you also don't want too much resistance.
In the beginning, I also did a lot of searching on you tube..."Shifting gears on comfort bike", etc.
In the beginning, I also did a lot of searching on you tube..."Shifting gears on comfort bike", etc.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 243
Bikes: 2003 Trek 7300, 2012 CAAD 10 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It's so hard to resist hard pedaling. Getting a speedometer will help break you of it once you realize you can go 3-4mph faster for so much less work
#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 233
Bikes: 2006 Diamondback Century
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My wife bought me one for Christmas, but I don't pay much attention to it when riding, I checked out my average speed when I got home yesterday, but didn't pay it any attention during my short ride.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Leander, TX
Posts: 331
Bikes: Yeti SB5, Canondale R500
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Congrats on getting out there. Just stick with it and soon you will think 5 miles is just the warm up portion of the ride! We all had a hard time on that first (and second, third, fourth, ...) ride.
As far as watching your average speed during the ride, I personally never worry about it. All I watch during the ride is my RPMs and find that if I keep those where they need to be then the speed takes care of itself.
As far as watching your average speed during the ride, I personally never worry about it. All I watch during the ride is my RPMs and find that if I keep those where they need to be then the speed takes care of itself.
#20
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 233
Bikes: 2006 Diamondback Century
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
By RPM's, I'm assuming you are talking about RPM's of the pedals (cadence) correct? I don't think my $20 computer does that.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Leander, TX
Posts: 331
Bikes: Yeti SB5, Canondale R500
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Sorry, I am talking about cadence. As far as not have cadence on your computer, don't sweat it just watch the miles go by (instead of speed). Before I got a computer, I just concentrated on keeping the pedals moving fast enough that I wasn't pushing too hard to keep them moving while not spinning so fast I wasn't doing anything. This will come easier as you get more comfortable with using the gears to keep your spin in the sweet spot. But the key is to keep getting out there and putting in the miles
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times
in
6,054 Posts
I honestly don't remember ... I've been cycling almost all my life. But I can say that my idea of what constituted a long ride has changed/grown over time.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Angola, Indiana
Posts: 57
Bikes: 2011 CAAD 10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My first ride was just under 5 miles. My lungs burned, legs ached, and I thought I was going to die. Then it just gets easier and easier the more I do it, except by behind hurting. I think I need a new saddle.
#24
Starting over
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 4,077
Bikes: 1990 Trek 1500; 2006 Gary Fisher Marlin; 2011 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 105; 2012 Catrike Trail
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
My first ride as an adult was on my brother's new road bike. I went about a mile down a flat road and wondered how in the hell I was going to get back.
#25
Senior Member
My first ride on my current bike after 10 years or so of not riding was about a mile. I don't have a computer nor is it likely I'll get one again. I'm riding for enjoyment. Even when it beats me up. Don't think I've ridden more than 10 miles in one shot yet.