newbie and some sort of programme needed

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granty

New Member
Location
Abingdon, Oxon
hi guys and gals

im new to this cycling lark (apart from smashing bikes up when i was a kid) ive recently decided to get a bike for travelling to and from work approx 7 miles but mainly pleasure and fitness (way to overweight and have problems with my right knee and need to build the muscle up after keyhole) , ive brought myself a hybrid scott sportster 50 2011 bike due to the fact i will be riding along a towpath for 3 quarters of my journey.

Basically whats my best way of getting into riding and pacing myself before i burn out, and any other useful hints/tips you can give me.

cheers peeps
granty
 

Paulus

Started young, and still going.
Location
Barnet,
Good morning and welcome Granty. The best way to get into riding is to get out there and ride. Choose a lowish gear and spin the pedals so that it is quite easy to turn the pedals without making your legs burn after only a mile or so. Decide on a route around where you live, say one mile and do that every day for a week, it could be to the shops, around a park etc. The following week add a mile or so and repeat. Once you have got the point where you can ride 5+ miles easily, you are there. Remember to eat before you go out for a ride and drink fluids before, during and after your ride, no matter what the distance.
 

arallsopp

Post of The Year 2009 winner
Location
Bromley, Kent
Yep, I'll go with what Paulus said. The main thing is to get out there. The first few miles are the hardest. Once you're familiar with the route, the bike, your legs, a lot of the foreground staccato will dissolve to a background hum.

Stay on autopilot. Bimble around. Edge up the miles slowly. You'll do great.

Oh, and make sure your saddle is the right height. :smile:

Andy.
 

E11a

New Member
Welcome, Grant. Take it easy, especially if you have any continuing weakness in your knee, and build up your speed and distance gradually. Most importantly, enjoy yourself!
 

italiafirenze

World's Greatest Spy
Location
Blackpool
Yep, I'll go with what Paulus said. The main thing is to get out there. The first few miles are the hardest. Once you're familiar with the route, the bike, your legs, a lot of the foreground staccato will dissolve to a background hum.

Stay on autopilot. Bimble around. Edge up the miles slowly. You'll do great.

Oh, and make sure your saddle is the right height. :smile:

Andy.

This.

If you have the saddle too low you will place more strain on the knees. Get an expert to help if you can. If you can't you can get it pretty close by sitting on the saddle with your heel on the pedal, your leg should be straight. This usually gives the right amount of bend when pedalling with the correct part of the foot.
 

BrumJim

Forum Stalwart (won't take the hint and leave...)
Get out there and learn. At 7 miles, once reasonably fit, you can push it as hard as your body will take. You'll learn that from experience, but equates to heavy breathing, rather than lungs fit to burst.
 
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