Does anyone apart from me just get on their bikes and ride them?

[3narf]

I use a Garmin & Strava. Not because I'm particularly competitive, more because I need to get in shape.

It kind of annoys me that I'm quite fast on a bike and (aerobically) very fit, but still overweight. By recording the miles I do it proves I'm not going mad and imagining it all!

 

[Andywinds]

Consume less calories? I'm being serious, it takes my body about 4 weeks to realize that it needs to lose fat. Then once it starts dropping it continues. I've lost a stone since July, that is not a lot but steady.

I use a Garmin & Strava. Not because I'm particularly competitive, more because I need to get in shape.

It kind of annoys me that I'm quite fast on a bike and (aerobically) very fit, but still overweight. By recording the miles I do it proves I'm not going mad and imagining it all!

 

[3narf]

Consume less calories? I'm being serious, it takes my body about 4 weeks to realize that it needs to lose fat. Then once it starts dropping it continues. I've lost a stone since July, that is not a lot but steady.

I know, I know... the only times I've ever lost weight is by eating less. Exercise never seems to make any difference.

 

[Andywinds]

I was in a similar situation where I was not losing weight about 2 years ago, but I was busting my ass every time on the bike. I was finding that when I counted what I was eating my food was through the roof. Now I've cut the obvious crap out and it has made a difference. I did drop too many carbs so have increased this now. The way to lose weight is said to be through diet and not exercise.....or so i've read.

I know, I know... the only times I've ever lost weight is by eating less. Exercise never seems to make any difference.

 

[mjr]

I really believe if I didn't have a goal I would not have kept MTB'ing or road biking this long, I would have got bored like I do with most of my many hobbies. I've always been competitive in everything that I have ever done.

What's going to happen when you aren't competitive any more, through age or illness or whatever?

There's so much to see out there cycling. Some of which only appears at certain times of year or in certain weather. For example, the combination of Golden birches, red maples and green pines in Lynford arboretum last weekend: that won't appear again until this point after a similar sunny autumn and will be a ride to look forward to, who knows when.

 

[Andywinds]

If I am with mates and we are MTB'ing then we push each other as well. But if I only went biking with mates that would be once a week/month. On my own is where i have made the most progress because I can go out 3-4 times a week. If I get ill or cannot ride as much then who knows.

What's going to happen when you aren't competitive any more, through age or illness or whatever?

There's so much to see out there cycling. Some of which only appears at certain times of year or in certain weather. For example, the combination of Golden birches, red maples and green pines in Lynford arboretum last weekend: that won't appear again until this point after a similar sunny autumn and will be a ride to look forward to, who knows when.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I was in a similar situation where I was not losing weight about 2 years ago, but I was busting my ass every time on the bike. I was finding that when I counted what I was eating my food was through the roof. Now I've cut the obvious crap out and it has made a difference. I did drop too many carbs so have increased this now. The way to lose weight is said to be through diet and not exercise.....or so i've read.

Borne out when you see photos of riders on sportives, 50% of every field need to spend less time thinking about the cake stops.

 

[mjr]

Borne out when you see photos of riders on sportives, 50% of every field need to spend less time thinking about the cake stops.

Or stuffing their face with over-refined high-sugar gels while riding slower than a Fred on a roadster...

 

[uclown2002]

I know, I know... the only times I've ever lost weight is by eating less. Exercise never seems to make any difference.

"You can't outrun a bad diet".

 

[Andywinds]

Excellent quote.

"You can't outrun a bad diet"'

 

[Old jon]

Bought the bike at the end of June, solemnly declared ' NO GADGETS ' 3rd September fitted bike computer. Other stuff followed, inevitably. No garmin or strava, whatever they may be, but I do like to know how far I have ridden, to justify the ache in the legs I suppose.

 

[Sara_H]

Without wishing to burst your bubble - I find those things are usually measuring the speed of the motor vehicle behind you.

They put one up near primary school local to me recently. It flashed my speed up at 23mph. It was definitely me because there weren't any other vehicles on the road.

 

[snorri]

I know, I know... the only times I've ever lost weight is by eating less. Exercise never seems to make any difference.

I remain convinced that regular cycling keeps my weight down by keeping me away for prolonged periods from all the readily available snacks in my kitchen.

 

[Dave7]

I'm somewhere in-between. Its my first year of "proper" cycling so I have kept a log of my distances for a) an idea of how far I have been each ride & b) for some idea of my annual distance. I also have a 10 mile loop for when I just "need" a quick sprint and I have enjoyed seeing my times get better but never bothered if it's been slower.

 

[gavroche]

Up to now, I have logged every ride I have done but as from January 1st, I will not anymore .I will still use my Garmin just to see what I have done on a particular ride but will not log it. I don't want to be compelled to do so many miles a month anymore and will only ride when I want to and as I want to. That way, I hope I will enjoy my cycling more .