Cycling for fitness

LundiMardi

Hey people,,,

Just a few wonderingments.....

I need to loose a lot of weight and improve fitness by july, loose maybe 4 stone (if possible). Now i will be going to the gym, but i have other plans that means i really have to save every penny. So i'm *thinking* of cancelling the gym membership, leaving my car in the driveway and investing in a bike. Which will save me an awful lot of money in the long run...

I'm just curious, how hard is it to cycle to work and back for someone not soo fit, and is it possible to loose such weight with only one cardio excercise (coupled with a well balanced diet of course:p ).. As for the cycling itself, depending on where i'll be living, lets say 4 miles? at least one way will be uphill!!

I just don't want to invest in the bike if i'm not able to handle the commute:mad:

Alas, with that, what would be a good bike for this!! lets say EUR <500, i certainly don't want to be cycling a ****ty bike that breaks half way to work!!! grrr

silverside

4 miles should be easy, 15/20 minutes, it will get you fitter alright, cycling is a good way to feel healthier and lose a bit of weight. once you get used to getting out, you might even start cycling or running for fun at the weekends.

500 euro should get you a plenty good bike, something like a gt avalanche or specialised hardrock would be reliable & durable.

Civilian_Target

I started just over a year ago. I was cycling 4km to work - all uphill on the way there, and it took me about 25 mins on the first day. A week later, I was down to 20. Then I realised that if I pedalled faster it was much easier to not get knackered, and within a month I could do it with change for 15 mins, felt a lot better and had gained weight.

After a few months, I cycled everywhere, work had got further away, I was putting in at least 40 miles a week, and actually was approaching a state of fitness for the first time in years, felt and looked a lot better. And then I started cycling for fun!

My first bike was a sub-€200 aluminium mountain bike - which did the job reasonably well, at least it was light! And that'd be my main recommendation, what ever you get, just pick it up to make sure it's light. Me, I've just invested in an Orbit Orion (second hand) and if you can get something like that, well and good. Ideally for town use, you'd want:

Light-weight
Slick, puncture resistant tyres
Reliable gears (don't go for 27-speed, hubs are ideal but they cost a lot of money)
Don't forget you'll need: mudguards €8, lights €20, reflective jacket €15, helmet €40 and a decent lock €25 - and possibly a comfy saddle, €30. And rain gear and some sort of bag.

(edited for spelling)

Capt'n Midnight

Unless you have somewhere to lock the bike inside then you are looking at a heavy lock. This means there is no point in looking at a super light bike as you will loose the weight advantage pretty fast since it would need more protection because of it's higher resale value.

Perhaps two locks - shackle for rear the other a chain/wire for the front wheel

Quigs Snr

Cycling to work is a good start, what made a difference to me was training for a specific event, I signed up for the Wicklow 200 (theres a 100 also) last year to force me out on the bike, trained for the event made it on the day and have since joined a club and not looked back.

Will be racing the etape du tour this summer (mountain stage of the tour de france). And all because I just wanted to get fit ! You would need a road bike for all that though. Cycling to work every day as long as you are sensible with your eating might take a stone off you in the timeframe you describe. Training for something like the wicklow (or any of the other events that go on - there are many to suit all levels) might knock 2 stone off.

cormie

4 stone by July is a tough goal but I wish you the best of luck with it! I've had trouble with my weight too, I was about 16 stone when I was 12 due to medical reasons, got that looked into and improved my diet etc and was about 12 1/2 stone when I was 19ish, at this stage I was cycling 50 miles a week to and from work. I eat relatively good, but there were some things I would eat, that I was unaware of their effect (white bread, used to eat loads of that:o ) so I never got to my desired weight. Theeeennn... I got a car:( and I'm back up to about 13 1/2 stone now, it's ok because I'm 6ft ish. But I'm going to get back into routine and hopefully get to my desired weight soon:)

Anyway, I'm not sure if cycling really did much for me to be honest. I did jogging a few months ago too and even though it would tire me out, I didn't feel like I was getting anything from it. Then I started playing football in the summer and I must say, it's brilliant, best fun, gets you fit and you feel like you have done your body the world of good after each game. Perhaps try and get into some type of team sport aswell? I have to get back into it! Damn winter months and everyones lack of enthusiasm for outdoor sports:(

LundiMardi

thanks for the responce guys... At the moment though, after calculating fund etc, if i'm going to buy a bike any time soon, then i'm going to have to decrease my budget by a fair bit..

Today though, i seen my friends bike, it was quite sturdy and he only paid 250 for it.. It was a Giant Rock '06

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=7911

Would this be a recommended buy? I'm not delusional or anything, i know it's not going to be anything amazing, but something that will do me for now anyway.

silverside

yeah thats not a bad bike, Giant is an ok name and it's got some name brand parts, if you spend any less than that the quality will drop off rapidly. that shop is decent as well, which is very important.

make sure you go to the shop and check the right size for you, get them to set it up for you and go back for your first service , the cables will stretch after a few weeks and you'll spot any niggles, but the shop should sort that out.

you can put the money you save on bus fares towards a new bike in a years time anyway, if you want to

LundiMardi

bus fares? you mean car insurance!!!:) i won't really save anything tbh, need the car for other things.. i would love to get rid of it though..

Yeah i've ordered the bike, 23" frame, i'm 6ft 4 so even the 23" frame will probably feel small for me soo....

I chose to pick it up, if they deliver then you have to assemble the bike yourself,, **** that!! Bike's are horrible things to put together imo! Luckily the shop is about 2 mins away from me.

So i'm gonna pick it up fully assembled, i'll also get them to put some slicks on it, i haven't ordered them yet as i haven't a clue what size tires it takes, i presume 27" but i don't want to assume.. So when they get back to me i'll buy the slicks and get them to stick em on, hopefully they'll give me a decent discount as they'll be taking off unused tyres which they can sell on.

I also bought a lock, a mini pump and some lights, cost almost 320 in total... i would have bought a helmut but tbh i can barely afford the bike as it is!!:(

daymobrew

LundiMardi wrote:

hopefully they'll give me a decent discount as they'll be taking off unused tyres which they can sell on.

I also bought a lock, a mini pump and some lights, cost almost 320 in total... i would have bought a helmut but tbh i can barely afford the bike as it is!!:(

Did you sign up for the Cycle SuperStore loyalty card? It's free and gives to around around 5% discount off everything.

For the slicks, I have Continental Sport Contact (26x1.3) tyres, though they are expensive at e29 each. They have great puncture protection. Also, they can be pumped to 80psi, which helps you go faster than with softer or wider tyres.
The Panaracer CTX (26x1.5) tyre at e13.80 might be a reasonable alternative.

I'd encourage you to try stretch your cash and get a helmet. The cheapest Giro helmet is e38.

silverside

don't mean to be patronising but 23" is a very large frame for a mtb (i am 5ft 11 and cycle a 17" frame) so i'd recommend you try out the frame size to make sure...

i wouldnt cycle a bike without a helmet either, way too dangerous, broken legs and arms heal but brain doesnt, you could get a helmet cheap in argos..

LundiMardi

don't worry, i will get a helmut.. i just can't afford one tonight.. by the time i go pick the bike up i'll be able to get one. I just hope it fits because i do have quite a large head!!

Interesting about the frame size, i reckon 23" would be fine though, i prefer larger than small, but i'll know when i go get it anyway.

Yeah daymobrew i was going to pick up a pair of those Continentals alright..

Civilian_Target

LundiMardi wrote:

Yeah i've ordered the bike, 23" frame, i'm 6ft 4 so even the 23" frame will probably feel small for me soo....

That Giant, yeah? Looked like a safe bet - simple, light and effective. I'm 6'5" and a 23" frame is about right for me - rule of thumb is, the highest you should go is your trouser size minus 13".

I also bought a lock, a mini pump and some lights, cost almost 320 in total... i would have bought a helmut but tbh i can barely afford the bike as it is!!:(

Buy a helmet. Seriously. If you've ever written one off, you'll be incredibly thankful you bought a helmet. It costs €40 to buy a helmet, and €4000 to fix your head, don't be an eejit. And if you think you won't come off, you're wrong. Everybody falls.

LundiMardi

Civilian_Target wrote:

rule of thumb is, the highest you should go is your trouser size minus 13".

Heh heh, i don't think they make bikes THAT big.. but hey, that's why i'm buying a bike in the first place;)

Civilian_Target wrote:

Buy a helmet. Seriously. If you've ever written one off, you'll be incredibly thankful you bought a helmet. It costs €40 to buy a helmet, and €4000 to fix your head, don't be an eejit. And if you think you won't come off, you're wrong. Everybody falls.

Fallen off a bike many a time, tis always fun going over the handlebars:p In fact one time i fell off while turning and for some reason the bike just threw me off and i smacked my head off a lampost on the way to the ground, where i proceeded to break a rib or two.. nice!

I shall get me a helmut when i pick up the bike, i just can't afford to put it on my CC tonight is all.

Alkers

That's a grand bike, €250 is a very good price too. A mate of mine has the Rock SE (blue) and iirc he paid over €350. Good luck and hope you enjoy cycling!

mockerydawg

!'m 6'3" and would never ever ever throw my leg over anything bigger than a 19" frame. Anything above that feels more like gate than a bicycle.

Civilian_Target

LundiMardi wrote:

Heh heh, i don't think they make bikes THAT big.. but hey, that's why i'm buying a bike in the first place;)

Same - I'm 37" leg, but 23" is alright for me, with the seat up nice and high. Look like a bit of a dumbass on a 21" I have to admit.

Fallen off a bike many a time, tis always fun going over the handlebars:p In fact one time i fell off while turning and for some reason the bike just threw me off and i smacked my head off a lampost on the way to the ground, where i proceeded to break a rib or two.. nice!

Any time I've gone over the handlebars I've always managed to land on something that isn't my head. Its when you go over on your side, usually on an oily patch or something, that you get hurt....