Returning to cycling after 10 year absence

[Vantage]

Welcome back to cycling
I returned to it after only a 3-4 year break and after my first 6 mile ride, found myself leaning against the front door and trying not to collapse from exhaustion while trying to open it. The next ride was much less dramatic. I'm type 1 and quit smoking 2 weeks after buying the bike and that was just over 4 years ago.
My fiancee is around your weight and she too found it harder recovering than she thought it would be. She can manage a gentle ride these days but she's no cycling enthusiast.
Stick with it and I'm sure it'll get easier. You can only benefit from it.

 

[eldridge]

Brilliant effort, just take your time building the rides as you go, don't give up though, it will become I wouldn't say easier, but the fitter you get you will start to enjoy it more.

Best of luck

I would go and see the doc just for piece of mind

Eldridge.

 

[Stevec047]

Well done for getting out there. I am in a very similar boat having being sat on my backside for well over 10 years and piling on the pounds. 5.8 and around 17 stone and an ex smoker.

Started cycling back in October and it was a killer but over the past few months things have become easier. Still struggle on long climbs or multiple ups and downs but I can already see and feel the benefits.

Keep it up and by the summer you will be a new person full of energy and unfortunately skint as you will be needing to go out and buy a new wardrobe for your slimer self.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Well done, on accepting you had a serious issue developing , and doing something about it. Don't worry about a lack of fitness at the moment. If you keep at the cycling, you'll soon get fit. It won't take as long as you might fear either.

 

[al-fresco]

When I first rode the 5 undulating miles into work it took me 45 minutes to get my breath back. I sold the bike to a mate and thought I was finished with cycling for ever. When I retired my mate gave me my old bike back as a retirement present!. Now I cycle about 5000 miles a year and I can't imagine life without a garage full of bikes.

I was also diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes but last year my doctor 'undiagnosed' me.

 

[Racing roadkill]

When I first rode the 5 undulating miles into work it took me 45 minutes to get my breath back. I sold the bike to a mate and thought I was finished with cycling for ever. When I retired my mate gave me my old bike back as a retirement present!. Now I cycle about 5000 miles a year and I can't imagine life without a garage full of bikes.

I was also diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes but last year my doctor 'undiagnosed' me.

That's the thing with type 2 diabetes. It's very often caused because the insulin can't get past the fat deposits, which are surrounding all the internal bits of the body. Lose the fat, and very often the condition corrects itself. And the risks associated with the condition ( retinopathy, stroke, loss of limbs etc) abate as well.

 

[Ticktockmy]

Hi I recently decided, after hitting 17 stone (at 5'8" not good!) to start exercising again. I chose cycling as I used to love it, and my knees wouldn't take jogging! However I did a short 6 mile ride today, nothing too strenuous as on the local greenway. For about 2hours after my breathing was very wheezy. Is this normal or something I should talk to my doctor about? I haven't smoked for over 9 years, but have type 2 diabetes. Thanks for any ideas

I note you did not say how old you were, which should be taken in account. Being type 2 diabetic I assume that your GP is already keeping a eye on your health. I would however run your cycling adventure past him or her, could well be they would give you some guidelines regarding how to develop your fitness. 6 miles is a good starting distance and as you did not collapsed before you finished the ride. I would say that's a nice distance for you to start to build up your fitness before increasing the distance, and bring some small hills into your route. Just take easy at first, when you you find you can do a short ride with out being knacker, just push yourself a little more.

 

[Montydog]

....well done on getting out there and

i started last Aug.....over weight and unfit....OMG the first ride i was blowing bubbles out of every hole....but with cutting the rubbish out of my diet and slowly building the miles up am getting there

So well done

 

[e-rider]

Hi I recently decided, after hitting 17 stone (at 5'8" not good!) to start exercising again. I chose cycling as I used to love it, and my knees wouldn't take jogging! However I did a short 6 mile ride today, nothing too strenuous as on the local greenway. For about 2hours after my breathing was very wheezy. Is this normal or something I should talk to my doctor about? I haven't smoked for over 9 years, but have type 2 diabetes. Thanks for any ideas

wheezy could be a sign of asthma - if you haven't exercised for some time and have some existing health problems, best to get the thumbs up from the doc before you start anyway

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

From a big guy that was even bigger at some point let me tell you well done for getting started...

The breathing issue like some others mention if it goes away after a little, short while after stopping don't pay "too" much attention... If it last long after you stop see your Doc.

And an opinion or advice I can give you is take it easy... stick to 3 to 5 miles a day this week.. Or 3 or 4 times a week... Then increase the distance for next week to 6 or 7 and keep adding till you reach whatever goal you have in mind...

My story is here http://theweekendreportisborn.blogspot.com.es/2015/09/how-did-it-happen.html and maybe you can some useful info or just the good vibes to keep you going..

All the best...!

 

[Banjo]

Well done on getting started .The first mile is the biggest hurdle to overcome.

I would definitely have a chat with the doctor probably nothing but put your mind at ease.

Try to make your ride finish close to your next meal time as you will be hungry after cycling and don't want to start snacking to get through to your next meal.

Don't overdoe it or stress over speeds or times just get out there and enjoy the ride.

 

[jay clock]

Little and often. I would do similar ride but down to 3-4 miles and see how you fare, then build up slowly. Simply doing lots of short rides every day helps enormously. I was commuting 12 mile round trip last year on a Brompton and it was a massive boost to my training for an Ironman (still did longer rides too at the weekend though)

 

[GuyBoden]

I got back on a road bike in July 2015, after many years off, I started with 1-5 mile rides in the first few weeks, now in Feb 2016, I ride about 100-120 miles on most weeks, mainly 30-45 mile rides.You'll be surprised how quickly you'll get fitter if you get out on regular rides and just keep pedalling.

 

[rugby bloke]

I'll pretty much repeat what has already been said - well done for making the first step, from now on its little and often. I'm sure we can tell horror stories of early cycling rides, I can remember my first commute on a Boris Bike, I seriously thought I was going to see my breakfast again ... which would have upset the tourists around St Pauls !
Get into a regular routine and find a selection of nice 4 to 10 milers, which you can tackle according to your mood.

 

[mjr]

I can remember my first commute on a Boris Bike, I seriously thought I was going to see my breakfast again ... which would have upset the tourists around St Pauls !

The pigeons, on the other hand...