toplasher

hi peeps hows all. Ok i just bought my self a mountain bike. What i would like if anyone could give me some advice on how long i should start riding for as its been like 15 years since i had one. Im trying ot lose wieght ive lost 3half stone so far yes im a big lad but it seems to have come to a slow point so i got bike. But i don't want to over do it straight away. Like how long should i be going for a ride to start i remeber when i was young i got saddle saw don't want that again it hurt lol any advice would be most greatful. thank toplasher

Retro Grouch 

I think the more common rut people get into is riding repeated laps of the same 3 mile loop. That hurts you two ways.

1. You tend to race with yourself and you become disappointed and discouraged if you don't complete the loop faster than yesterday.
2. Every time you complete a loop you have to make a decision to start another one. It's too easy to rationalize stopping before you should.

drmweaver2

My advice, based on returning to cycling after 30 years, just get on the bike and ride. The next ride do the same thing. and so on...
Not being "flip". My first ride back, I could only do 2.5 miles or so. By the next week, I could do 10. Distance steadily increased while I didnt concentrate on/think about speed. By the time I began thinking about speed, my distance was up to 30 miles - and I found I was averaging just under 14 mph. Long steady distance tends to burn more calories for me than any distance I can maintain for any period of time when I try to go faster. So, when I'm trying to lose weight, as I have been for the last year, distance at a pace I can maintain for a long period is more important/effective for me.

Just my experience, fwiw.

toplasher

thanx