Getting back to fitness. It begins...

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

working too many hours on nights, drinking too much booze to cope coupled with a terrible diet, pills to sleep, pills to wake up - has left me a physical heap.

I did a 2 day ride fixed with @Pennine-Paul on the Lancashire Cycleway Southern Loop and had to bail on day 2 after only 30 miles. It took me over a week to recover and my lower back still aches.

So I need to get fitter and lose weight as 18 stones is not good for me.

So the plan is to do a minimum of 4 rides of a 15 mile hilly loop per week for a few week and then up it gradually. I want to be able to do 100 milers again by New Year.

To keep me motivated I'm planning on logging my rides in this thread....any support will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

8/11/15 - 15 miles, hilly loop - On Brompton. Ridiculously windy and wet.

 

[screenman]

How tall are you?

Fit is only one letter away from fat, but in life it can make huge difference.

Go for it, no more excuses.

 

[Neilsmith]

Good luck I started riding 18 months ago and it's improved my fitness no end. I'll keep an eye out on your progress. The first hills I went up almost killed me, but within the year I climbed the col de la Pierre Saint Martin from Arette. I don't think I will ever break any speed records but I did it. If someone had told me I would do that within a year I would have thought they were bonkers

 

[midliferider]

You will be successful because
You have taken the most important step, that is your own realisation that present life style is not healthy.
Your plan to loose weight is not made on some dietary regime alone but actual physical activities.
My only advice if it is of any value is this. It is good to have goals but make what is easily achievable.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

So the plan is to do a minimum of 4 rides of a 15 mile hilly loop per week for a few week and then up it gradually. I want to be able to do 100 milers again by New Year.

I know you are already an experienced cyclist, but maybe you should aim a bit lower until Spring, perhaps? Will you still be working nights? This causes upheaval in the body's system, ime.
Good luck in your quest to regain fitness!

 

[ColinJ]

I am going to do one or two afternoon rides a week with @just_fixed to give him a bit of support and also to make sure that my own fitness doesn't slip too much between now and next spring.

 

[slowmotion]

@just_fixed, I would start a lot more gently than that. If you aren't fit (and Lord knows, I wasn't when I started again), four 15 mile rides a week are probably going to seem punishing and bad for morale. My first 5 mile commute nearly killed me. Just take it really gently to start with, and get to enjoy being out bimbling around. If it's fun, you'll do it more and more. There's no point in wanting to be some sweaty grim-faced iron man in a Nike advert. Bikes should be fun!

 

[screenman]

Can I suggest a calorie counter as well, certainly helped me.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

@just_fixed, I would start a lot more gently than that. If you aren't fit (and Lord knows, I wasn't when I started again), four 15 mile rides a week are probably going to seem punishing and bad for morale. My first 5 mile commute nearly killed me. Just take it really gently to start with, and get to enjoy being out bimbling around. If it's fun, you'll do it more and more. There's no point in wanting to be some sweaty grim-faced iron man in a Nike advert. Bikes should be fun!

I'm more than capable of this, this is gentle for me. Up until 6 months ago I was capable of 100 milers, it's the last 6 months that's been a big change. Even as late as July I was still just about capable of 30 miles hilly fixed gear rides (did a few with @ColinJ), thanks for the support though.

The shock came when I did a repeat ride of the Lancasire Cycleway on fixed at 69". Day one was horrendously wet n windy and we cut it short to 50 miles. Day two was bad, I was in pain from the get go, saddle pain and lower back and at the pub stop 30 miles in, I bailed and rang the wife for a lift home. Had I started on the Brompton I may have been in better shape on day 2 because Rivington on fixed in that weather isn't easy even when fitter.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Just about to get ready for 35 miler with 2100ft of climbing. It's windy and overcast but mild, gunna risk my favourite Quoc Pham shoes. I predict it'll take me 4 1/2 hours over all due to the wind up here at the moment.

 

[Neilsmith]

Just about to get ready for 35 miler with 2100ft of climbing. It's windy and overcast but mild, gunna risk my favourite Quoc Pham shoes. I predict it'll take me 4 1/2 hours over all due to the wind up here at the moment.

Enjoy

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

35 miles 2100 ft climbing on a Brompton in this relentless wind in 3 hours 35 minutes in total inc stops......well chuffed (and aching).

 

[Neilsmith]

Well done I'm so envious as Injury has prevented me cycling for 3 weeks and a day, but who's counting. Photos would be nice if you ever get a chance

 

[Sailorsi]

Sounds like a plan! Just start of gently and build up to it over a month or so. I'm annoyed with myself as I have picked up a knee patellar tendon injury from doing too much (that and a lack of flexibility). What makes it worse is that I ordered a new bike 3 weeks before the injury and haven't gotten chance to ride it! Looking at a 2-3 months recovery with no running or cycling . Keep us posted, if I can't cycle myself - I can still listen to others having some winter fun!