trigger

Hey there ... my first post!

I've been a casual cyclist for several years now ... I don't own a car, live in a fairly big city, and use the bike to get around. Haven't biked through the (Canadian) winter yet, but I cycle about 8 - 9 months of the year. The point is, I've never done any "serious" cycling.

I'm very seriously embarking on a mission to lose about 50lbs, and though I've tried running (got it up to 3 miles every other day), it's been a hard pursuit to make stick. I thought that cycling might be the answer ... I love being on my bike! At the moment, I ride a 2005 Marin Muirwoods (flat bar, 26inch wheels) though if I can reach my goal, I will reward myself with something nicer and more appropriate for longer rides.

I'm looking for some advice on a training program / routine to follow to help with my weight loss. I'm a vegetarian, and like to think I watch what I eat most of the time. I am giving up beer and eating after 10pm, and I have started a calorie log of the foods that I am eating to get an honest picture of things.

Realistically, how far / fast / often should I be trying to ride in order to see a drop in weight / change in body shape. I can ride 9 miles pretty easily at an average 12 - 15 mph, and have been doing this daily, but I've never gone much further (I don't think). Today I bought a cycle computer that has a cadence feature as well.

Any input would be MUCH appreciated.

Thanks as well for all the tips I have picked up cruising these boards, and for the many inspiring stories here.

(51)

How FAR you go depends on how many calories you intake. If you eat more you'll have to ride more. Once you know how many calories you are eating, and figure out your mileage, use this calculator to see how many calories you are burning. I *THINK* 3,000 calories=about a pound. So if you burn 500 extra calories per day, in 6 days you will lose a pound.

Hope this helps until a professional gets here.

king koeller

Vintage roads bike rule!!
Keep on biking!!!!!!!!!

Only one question?
Your giving up beer?
Any riding is way better than none,
Just go for it !!

Sometimes a beer (Hamm's) is the perfect thing after a long ride!

trigger

Hey!

Thanks for the quick replies. That calculator is handy, but how do I figure out my Power / Watts? That seems pretty essential ... I'm about 5'11 and 198lbs

BEER - yeah, well. It's summer in Canada, so that one's going to be rough, but drinking my calories is not going to help me drop the pounds. When it comes off, I will factor a few brews back in to the master plan I devise to keep it off.

Thanks again guys.

Dr_Robert

Nothing wrong with a few brews every now and then - just be aware of how many calories are in that little bottle. I've been curbing my alcohol intake as well, but I still have 4-5 beers once or twice a month. It's something of a treat, and hasn't put me off my training program at all.

If you can hold 15 MPH, and you have the time, try to hold that pace for an hour. Once you've done an hour, try for two. You'll be riding 30 miles a day before you know it.

-DR

Wogster

Hey another guy from Toronto, what part of the city are you in, maybe we should organize a Toronto Clyde Ride.......

(51)

What are you doing here, Skinny? Beat it!

trigger

Actually, he's a girl - but I'd be up for a Toronto ride.

Wogster

Sorry about that, your handle doesn't imply gender

I think 51 made the same error though.

jaxgtr

Yea, but "she" is still skinny compared to most here. I'd loved to be 198 at 5'11. Only 100 to go.

trigger

No worries about the gender mishap ... I didn't really think about that when I chose my handle ... (always a moment of panic). I'll clear it up with an avatar at some point or other.


Nice to be called skinny, but it ain't true. I may have less weight to lose to accomplish my goals, but I face the same barriers and obstacles regarding motivation and commitment as the rest of you. I have found the stories on this board to be VERY inspiring, and they have helped to firm my resolve to finally(!) drop the weight. The sense of community and helping each other out that seems to permeate this board is bound to help, as well. Nice to have folks that understand.

Good luck to all of us!

Wogster

Heck I would like to be looking at the south side of 200 myself, and I am only 5'9" Mind you I only have about 16lbs to go

Roody

Easy rule of thumb: you burn roughly 40 calories for every mile you ride. The estimate for walking is 90 calories per mile. These estimates are independent of your weight and riding speed. But figure a skosh more for hill and a tad less when you're just noodling.

(I emphasize roughly because every time I post this somebody says it isn't true. Nevertheless, it is a quick and dirty guesstimate, and close enough to the results you'll get on the complicated calculators, which are also rough estimates. All the time spent calculating an "exact" calorie figure would be better spent riding your bike!)

gobot

Sounds like you already have a lot of the pieces in place-- as a vegetarian you are probably geting most of your calories from carbs-- which you can just burn through like nobody's business if you just add in some extra cycling!

Try cutting down on cheese and fried foods if you want to work on the diet-- that's where most vegetarians have trouble (if they have diet trouble, that is)

as far as cycling goes, I just started too, and I find that about 20 miles is a great workout-- you can probably do 50 since you already probaly have good leg muscles for it.