| jonsbeka
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Hi all, I've read through a lot of the old posts that have to do with biking, but I was curious what you might recommend as a routine for me. Here are a few stats :shock: I'm 5'1", 28, female, 196 lbs, and carry all my weight in my butt/hips/thighs. I haven't ridden my bike really since I was a kid. I own an 18 speed mountain bike my parents got me when I was 15. When I ride, my butt hurts in a matter of minutes, my back aches after about ten, and my arms feel like they're going to stretch right off my body to get the handles. And I have to push myself because I tend to be a wuss :oops: Oh yes, and I have to take my 1.5 year old daughter with me in a seat I got last year that hooks onto the back of the bike.
Any recommendations where to start? Also, are there any website recommendations where I could read up on biking? Thanks :) |
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Tue Apr 08, 2008 2:42 pm |
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| oldpjams
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I would start by visiting a bike shop with your bike and make sure that your bike fits. To some degree, your body will adjust to what you ride with time in the saddle, but if the reach to the bars or your saddle height is wrong you aren't doing yourself any favors. They can also make sure that your bike is in tune and that your brakes and tires are in good working order.
For a program, I would spend a couple of weeks just riding. Ride until you feel good and then stop. Keep track of your time or mileage. After a couple of weeks, start increasing your workout by 10% or so each week.
Bicycling Mag has a couple of decent books published on getting started.
http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Magazines-New-Cyclist-Handbook/dp/1594863008/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207666389&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Magazines-Complete-Cycling-Skills/dp/0875964869/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207666389&sr=8-4 |
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Tue Apr 08, 2008 2:54 pm |
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| jonsbeka
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| Thank you! I'll be picking up those books from the library tonight, and calling around to check out prices for the bike. Hubby said I could see what they charge and then we'd decide. I'm hoping I get to go for it! Is it generally expensive to get a tune up and get the bike fitted for you? |
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Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:59 pm |
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| luvs_torun
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jonsbeka....
An idea for your "tush" is to get a nice pair of women's riding shorts. They are padded in all the right places :wink: ...
You're rear's gonna be sore for a bit starting out... but if you keep riding consistently, the soreness will go away.
Like jams said too... keeping track of your time/mileage is a good thing.
I use my Garmin GPS (that I use to run with) on my bike when I ride.
However, you can get relatively inexpensive cycling computers too.
Have fun! :D |
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Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:11 pm |
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| oldpjams
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| A comprehensive fitting can be very expensive but a shop shouldn't charge you anything to look at you on a bike and tell you that you saddle should be moved up or down and that your stem is too long or short. |
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Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:50 pm |
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| RedRox
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| sigh... never a good thing when your stem is deemed too short! ;) :lol: |
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Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:08 pm |
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| oldpjams
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RedRox wrote: sigh... never a good thing when your stem is deemed too short! ;) :lol:
Correct. |
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Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:34 pm |
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| wileybosco
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| :shock: |
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Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:58 pm |
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| jonsbeka
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| Well, I've got the books and have been reading through them, as well as some others I got while I was at the library. There's so much I never knew! I'm hoping that if it's not as crappy as it looks like it is today that I can get my hubby up a little early to start helping me with fitting my bike as well as we can on our own. Reading through the sections on how it should fit makes me realize that my fit is completely and utterly wrong - designed for pain, lol! In addition to that I was pedaling with the wrong part of my foot. So, if I can get those things fixed today I'll try to get my first short ride in!!! Thanks to everyone who's replied so far 8) |
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Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:26 pm |
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| oldpjams
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Peter White's article is as good a place to start as any:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm |
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Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:52 pm |
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| jonsbeka
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| Do you have any links to a picture of a bike that points out all the names of the different parts? This is something I have yet to come across. While I can guess fairly well at most of the terms, I find that some of them are beyond me. I think it's one thing and then it ends up being possible for it to be something else. :roll: |
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Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:00 pm |
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| oldpjams
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http://www.parktool.com/repair/bikemap.asp
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_p.html
http://www.jimlangley.net/wrench/bicycleparts.html
Or, just ask. There aren't that many parts even if the cost of bicycles would lead you to believe otherwise! |
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Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:03 pm |
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| wileybosco
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| What's the tent frame called? |
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Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:47 pm |
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| oldpjams
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wileybosco wrote: What's the tent frame called?
The frame, crazy. |
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Sun Apr 13, 2008 6:00 pm |
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| jonsbeka
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Mwahahahahaha :twisted:
I went to visit my mom this weekend only to find out she's way into biking. She lent me one of hers to ride till I can afford a good one of my own! Now all I have to do is a get a pump for the tires..... |
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Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:27 pm |
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