I started biking to lose weight this year. I'm 5'8 175 pounds would like lose 25. I absolutely love it! I bought a Trek mountain bike. I'm at 20 miles, average speed about 12. I do go like 14-15 usually but overall its 12 with my app on my phone with my water breaks and getting stuck around crowds as I bike on the lake. Is this good so far my progress?? I'm so exhausted when I'm done and I know I'm not in good shape. My legs feel tighter. And I have 2 bad knees and those get sore but I really try to focus on my muscles when biking but heard this is good for bad knees. Will I achieve weight loss or just looking trimmer overall? I go 4 times a week. This is my 4th week and I only dropped 3 pounds and I do eat really well. Any advice? I would like to bike longer and biking for good causes etc.
I have so many questions about biking
- Thread starter Tiger15
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
sidevalve
Über Member
Try a trip to your docs and tell them your taking up excercise and ask for a good diet sheet [don't worry - you don't have to live on grass and rainwater] and any other advice. They seem to love that sort of thing, makes them feel wanted. They may even do a bit of an 'MOT' ie blood pressure etc etc.
If the knees ache a lot try altering your riding position a little [only one thing at a time].
Are you riding mostly on the flat or up and down hills ? Oddly I find hills make it easier on the legs [harder up but a bit of a rest down, sort of evens things out a bit, works for me anyway].
You don't mention your age but that can make a big difference to how fast you can 'shape up' [and how hard to push untill you do].
Whatever the no 1 most important thing is just to get out and enjoy it.
If the knees ache a lot try altering your riding position a little [only one thing at a time].
Are you riding mostly on the flat or up and down hills ? Oddly I find hills make it easier on the legs [harder up but a bit of a rest down, sort of evens things out a bit, works for me anyway].
You don't mention your age but that can make a big difference to how fast you can 'shape up' [and how hard to push untill you do].
Whatever the no 1 most important thing is just to get out and enjoy it.
Globalti
Legendary Member
Continue to eat a good balanced diet but cut down the portion sizes, reduce carbs and fats and give up beer. Spin the pedals in a low easy gear rather than mashing in a high gear to avoid harming your knees. Make sure the saddle is at the right height; your heel should just contact the pedal at the bottom of its stroke with your leg hanging loose (not straightened) and you sitting on the saddle normally. If you're not riding in deep mud replace the tyres with some commuter tyres or road slicks, pumped up to the maximum pressure. Get plenty of rest in between rides, four times a week may be too much. Oh, and make sure your saddle is set at the correct attitude - for most men this means flat or a couple of degrees up at the nose. Wear padded cycling shorts next to the skin, no underwear. Padded cycling mitts will help with comfort and protect your hands if you take a tumble.
I would vary your routes a bit or you will get bored just sticking to one.
I found paths and lanes around where I live that I never knew existed until I got out on a bike.
I started very similar to you, on a MTB and after 2 years I decided to try a road bike and been hooked on that for the past few months completing my first 50 last month.
I haven't really lost much weight (5'11 and 178 Ibs and 45 years old) but my fitness has improved massively in this time.
Stick with it, don't get hung up on numbers and just enjoy it, that way you will find the benefits will come.
I found paths and lanes around where I live that I never knew existed until I got out on a bike.
I started very similar to you, on a MTB and after 2 years I decided to try a road bike and been hooked on that for the past few months completing my first 50 last month.
I haven't really lost much weight (5'11 and 178 Ibs and 45 years old) but my fitness has improved massively in this time.
Stick with it, don't get hung up on numbers and just enjoy it, that way you will find the benefits will come.
numbnuts
Squire
- Location
- Gone over the hill and far away
Enjoy your ride, cycling is not a punishment, after that everything will fall in place
GilesM
Legendary Member
- Location
- East Lothian
20 miles on a mountain bike at 12mph average speed is fine, as you get fitter this will get faster and /or easier, as you get fitter you'll probably find going further at the same speed is more fun than just trying to bust a gut to go quicker all of the time. Just enjoy the ride, and as others have mentioned, check your position, obvious one is saddle height.
As for the weight loss, in the last year I lost similar sort of weight to your target, I've been cycling for years, so I knew I didn't need to exercise more, the cycling was just stopping the weight rising too quickly, what I had to do was just each less, and drink less beer, it's not always easy, but if we're honest, it is obvious. Have fun and good luck, and don't punish yourself.
As for the weight loss, in the last year I lost similar sort of weight to your target, I've been cycling for years, so I knew I didn't need to exercise more, the cycling was just stopping the weight rising too quickly, what I had to do was just each less, and drink less beer, it's not always easy, but if we're honest, it is obvious. Have fun and good luck, and don't punish yourself.
