Cycling! How to get started?

(Tom Seest) #101

Yes. Whatever you get, you want mountain bike gearing so you can spin…

(ianrobo) #102

to be honest @tdseest it all depends not he terrain if pure road then a compact is fine for anyone, thats a front of 50-34 (large and small ring) and usually back range of between 11-32. I currently have two bikes but my climbing one is a compact but rear of 11-29

obviously if off rod (trail) or MTB you may need bigger than that

(ianrobo) #103

For information, I have restarted an old blog I did and include Keto power on it.

Happy for anyone to send a contribution or any thoughts.

(Tom Seest) #104

When I was touring at 420 pounds with an added 40 pounds of gear, I really had to have the mountain bike gearing to climb hills…

(ianrobo) #105

ah there is always that of course ! it is difficult to say what anyone would need and feel comfortable for their first effort …

(Tom Seest) #106

On my first tour, in the State of Washington, I started in Callum Bay, and climbed 900 feet up in the first 8 miles. It was brutal, but I learned all about hill gears.

(ianrobo) #107

and learnt how fun climbing is eh ? people say why do I do it and the simple reason, 5 years ago the local hill used to kill me and now I can climb proper mountains, thats achievements !

And when you cycle up there and see this, boy nothing beats it, I have shown that nothing is impossible.

Screen Shot 2017-01-01 at 20.07.53.png1565×1116 2.2 MB

(glen babicci) #108

Hi Donna
In Sydney there are some social cycling groups, not racing just groups that go for rides on weekends stop at coffee shops at the turn around point. just a thought depends if your comfortable with a group?

(Meeping up the Science!) #109

I definitely will hit up a group :slight_smile: Just may not be able to ride for more than 20 minutes until the knee gets replaced.

(Mark) #110

My wife and I have a couple Electra Townie bikes and are great for riding the bike path they are designed with flat foot technology which my wife likes because when you stop riding you can sit with both feet on the ground unlike alot of bikes where you are unstable getting on and off the bike ,they make a men’s and women’s versions and have been very reliable on longer rides and have a Schwinn aerodyne stationary bike that makes doing high intensity workouts possible and it works both your arms and legs at the same time because I read that the short sprint interval training was more effective than long endurance training I learned that from mark sisson the paleo guy and he used to be a competitive marathon runner and said it destroyed his body and says sprint workouts have been much more beneficial for him and he looks pretty good for being in his sixties

(Genevieve Biggs) #111

Late to the game, but Hi Chicago!

(Meeping up the Science!) #112

Chicago meeps back :3

(Genevieve Biggs) #113

Chicagoland native, currently in Central IL. Illinois winters are brutal for biking. I stop commuting in November.

(Tom Seest) #114

How are is your commute? I want to come up and ride in Amish land again.

(Genevieve Biggs) #115

Just 3 miles to school from my apartment. :slight_smile:

(David) #116

The point about cadence is that knees are designed for bending. Not pushing heavy weights, e.g. pedals in high gears at low speeds.

Also, the height of your saddle should be so that when the pedal is at the lowest point of the rotation your leg should be slightly bent, not straight. Set the saddle height based on this, NOT so that you can touch the floor when seated.

(joelchandler) #117

That’s correct that’s why I use the heel as a good measurement because obviously the ankle will give further extension resulting in a pretty good approximation for a beginner.

Obviously there are further tweaks to suit the individual body but it is a good starting point.

(Martin Danner) #118

Copenhagen offers a great example for the rest of the world. However, from the looks of things, the riders there really need to start wearing more protective gear. :slight_smile:

(ianrobo) #119

oh saddle height is vital for sure and needs to be careful on what you select.

As for cadence remeber the lighted the spin (i.e… more cadence) is all about your aerobic system and that is what people should be training for in cycling. Grinding a heavy gear is not only very inefficient, it also does not burn the fat as you would want.

(Guardian of the bacon) #120

Rookie cyclist here.
When cycling weather arrives I don’t have a lot of time to ride. 14 hr workdays most days. Would altering heavy gears and light gears to do a HIIT type workout make sense? A 12-15 km ride would probably be typical for me.