First ride in 10 years!

[Monsieur]

A rather substantial 5.46 miles at an average speed of 8mph!
Nothing for you pros I know but just getting onto the bike and moving out of my garage is a triumph of effort over apathy!

Legs fine, heart/lungs fine, backside sore and numb....suppose this just goes with repetion?

Covered in 20 million little black insects but nothing a shower wouldn't cure!

I've now got 6 weeks of summer holidays in front of me so for first week will get bike out every other day and then next week will try daily.

For interest I've got a halfords cheapish Reebox Voyager...49 years of lazy weight to carry round on the poor bike!!

 

[Angelfishsolo]

A rather substantial 5.46 miles at an average speed of 8mph!
Nothing for you pros I know but just getting onto the bike and moving out of my garage is a triumph of effort over apathy!

Legs fine, heart/lungs fine, backside sore and numb....suppose this just goes with repetion?

Covered in 20 million little black insects but nothing a shower wouldn't cure!

I've now got 6 weeks of summer holidays in front of me so for first week will get bike out every other day and then next week will try daily.

For interest I've got a halfords cheapish Reebox Voyager...49 years of lazy weight to carry round on the poor bike!!

Congratulations

 

[smokeysmoo]

Well done to you Sir. Keep your eyes on the prize and the miles will come

 

[numbnuts]

Hi & to CC the first few miles are the hardest, it becomes easier after that..........so they tell me

 

[Red Light]

When I did my first ride after years away I think it was about a mile and much slower. So you're off to a better start than I managed.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Hi & to CC the first few miles are the hardest, it becomes easier after that..........so they tell me

Ah, they fed you that line as well did they NN, bar stewards aren't they

 

[Wednesday]

suppose this just goes with repetion?

Your bum gets used to it, but by then you'll be ready to go further and you'll want some padded shorts anyway. Might as well get some now so it's your heart and legs that set the limit.

 

[HLaB]

Any ride is a good one, chapeau

 

[jefmcg]

Congrats. Yes, things will get easier. Get the padded shorts and persist. Keep the rides short, and if you are still hurting when you get back on the next time - give yourself time to recover. You will get more used to it, and as you get stronger, you will put less weight on the saddle so that will help too.

I happened to read this yesterday, and thought it was relevant here:
http://sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html

You'll notice that I do call them "saddles," not "seats." There is a reason for this. A "seat" is something you sit on, and is designed to bear essentially your entire weight. Recumbent bicycles have "seats," but conventional upright bicycles have saddles. A saddle is intended to carry some, but not all of your weight. The rest of your weight is mainly carried by your legs, and some by your hands and arms.

A cyclist who is out of cycling shape from being off a bicycle for a few months or more, will start out strong, but the legs will tire rapidly. When the legs tire, the rider sits harder on the saddle, and that's when the trouble starts. Many saddle complaints are actually traceable to fatigue caused by starting out the season with a longer ride than you are ready for.

If it has been several months or more since you rode a bicycle regularly, you can expect to be sore if you ride any serious distance.

If you are coming off of a layoff of months or years, start with very short rides, maybe a mile or two, no more. Only gradually should you increase your ride distance. This may seem frustrating, but it does take a while to re-accustom your derrière to cycling. Anybody in decent shape can hop on a bike and ride 15-20 miles, but you'll be a wreck afterwards if you haven't accustomed your body to cycling first.

This is not to say that there are not real differences in saddles, nor that you should ride just anything. In fact, original-equipment saddles that come with bikes are often greatly inferior to better aftermarket saddles.

(The late Sheldon Brown's site is a great resource for all things cycling.)

 

[Norm]

 

[rowan 46]

That's a fair old jaunt for first time in 10 years so well done to you

 

[videoman]

Well done and long may it continue. I've also ridden my bike for the first time this year as since February I have been walking every day in preparation for my Coast 2 Coast walk which I completed last Monday so now hopefully more time to ride my bike again. I forgot how hard my B17 saddle was though.

 

[Tyke]

Well done, all the long rides start at 0 and work up.
Keep it up and go at your own pace and forget the numbers they will take care of themselves.

 

[Cyclopathic]

Good going. Keep us posted with details of subsequent rides. I think one of the many beuties of cycling is that it is for absolutely anybody at any level. This site is also very good for representing most kinds of cyclists so there is always someone at or about ones own level around making for a pretty easy going atmosphere...you'll have to excuse me before I start to get all mushy and well up.
Keep at it.

 

[Strick]

Well done Monsieur!
As others have said, keep at it and take it steady. Without even having to push yourself you'll soon be riding further for longer.