cycling for weightloss

Fatloss08

just a quick question

how good is cycling for weightloss ??

i know weights is prob the best

Retrovertigo

I'd say it's pretty good as I seem to be at a standstill on putting on weight no matter how much I eat. Or drink etc.

I'd be biased though as I love to cycle.

Fatloss08

see the old man owns his own bike shop so i can get all the things i need for jam

i used to do loads of cycling years ago tilli got a car and lazyness

EileenG

It's pretty good. The great advantage of cycling is that you can do a lot of it, and getting from place to place means you keep going, instead of stopping when you get sweaty.

If you are like me, and always seem to be running five minutes later than planned, you can do some very high intensity cycling trying to make up time. You can burn about 400 cals an hour at a moderate pace, up to 800 if you are hitting the hills really hard.

Marathon Man

Fatloss08 wrote: »

how good is cycling for weightloss ??

Have a look at the people competing in the Tour de France.

Dirk Gently

you'll burn somewhere between 5-10 cals per minute.

10cals x 60mins = 600 cals burned.

10cals x 2 hours = 1200 cals burned.

realistically though 2 hours would probably burn about 900 (assuming you cycle at a good pace). Doing it in the morning for an hour on an empty stomach will yield the best results for fat loss. Once you drink some water before and during, one hour should be grand on an empty stomach and you wont need to wait a few days for recovery if you just do one hour each morning. A shower and some breakfast then sets you up nicely and feeling fit for the day.

If you want to cycle for 90mins and beyond you'll need some fuel inside you though. otherwise your legs will go.

rubadub

Marathon Man wrote: »

Have a look at the people competing in the Tour de France.

Well they will be thin on purpose to lower the weight for more efficiency on the bike, you see cyclists paying thousands to shave a few grams off their bikes. Tour de france is a long distance race too, short distance cyclists weigh more, just like marathon runners are thin compared to sprinters.

A sprinter does not get massive legs from sprinting, and swimmers do not get big from swimming. A cyclist may be losing the fat from cycling, but they might not think it is the most efficient way to do it. Cycling is an efficient mode of transport, so if you have to travel a fixed distance you would obviously burn more fat from running it.

Also naturally thin people will be more likely to be a pro cyclist, just like tall people are more likely to be pro basketball players, and short people become gymnasts (higher strength to weight ratio)

It really depends on how you are going to be cycling, and if it suits you. I cycle to work, shops,- everywhere I can. I lost fat due to it, and plateaued, weights got rid of the rest and were a lot better IMO, both work very well for me.

BUT I enjoy cycling, I end up with more free time since driving would take me a lot longer in dublin traffic. Not only do I save 30mins+ per day commuting, but that 45min cycle means I do not have to set aside 45mins to exercise later on, so really it is sort of like 1hr15min saved, if I was to do 45min at home.

If you are overweight cycling is great since it is low impact. If I was 13stone and wanted to shift 1 stone and was going to go to a gym and HAD to do cardio I might pick a crosstrainer over a exercise bike. Also outside I have seen cyclings downside being the fact you have to start and stop a lot, if commuting, while your cardio is usually recommended to be more continuous, so running outside would have less stoppages. Of course you could go cycling routes with little or no stops.

Hanley

Ok... this is really pretty simple.

Adding in cycling to whatever you're doing now will mean you use more calories. More calories used equals more weight loss.

BUT if you're just looking for something to do to aid weightloss, there's probably better options.

If it's a case of you'll either cycle and stick with it, or go on the threadmill/crosstrainer for a few weeks and then give up on it, you'd be better cycling.

spfeno

Interested in this thread as I have been threatening to take up cycling to commute to work - primarily for weight loss !!!

Living 18 miles from work is the only problem. I'm mid thirties and haven't cycled this kind of distance before (actually I haven't cycled in a good few years ).

Its a fair distance to be starting off with I know but I'm thinking of the NO PAIN NO GAIN rule.

Ballpark timeline - how long, at a moderate speed, does any one think this journey would take -

ROUTE - Ratoath, N2 motorway (Ashbourne Bypass), M50 junction, Finglas, Phibsboro, Quays, DUblin 2

ronbyrne2005

spfeno wrote: »

Interested in this thread as I have been threatening to take up cycling to commute to work - primarily for weight loss !!!

Living 18 miles from work is the only problem. I'm mid thirties and haven't cycled this kind of distance before (actually I haven't cycled in a good few years ).

Its a fair distance to be starting off with I know but I'm thinking of the NO PAIN NO GAIN rule.

Ballpark timeline - how long, at a moderate speed, does any one think this journey would take -

ROUTE - Ratoath, N2 motorway (Ashbourne Bypass), M50 junction, Finglas, Phibsboro, Quays, DUblin 2

You're talking more like 25km from Ratoath to Dublin2. You can't cycle the N2 afaik so you would have to use the backroads and R122 as far as Finglas before hitting dual carriageway there and its downhill most of way to liffey. I'd say try cycling it on your day off and see whether your up for it. Probably take you an hour to hour and a half untill you build up your fitness and cycle into town is easier as more downhill than uphill but at end working day you are facing more uphill going back to Ratoath.
You'd need to invest in a good lightweight bike and safety gear as especially in winter those backroads near Ratoath/North county Dublin are dodgy.

EileenG

18 miles is a pretty tough cycle if you are not used to cycling, and you will seriously need a shower and change of clothes when you arrive. If there is public transport from your home to work, you might start off by cycling there, bus home, then bus in the following day and cycle home.

spfeno

Apologies for jumping in on your thread FatLoss08 - thanks for the replies guys - the masochist in me says to give it a go - went for a few miles today and bum now sore - reckon I need an old combine harvester seat as any bike saddles I know of are a pain in the ar**

Onwards & forwards ..................

sickpuppy32

EileenG wrote: »

18 miles is a pretty tough cycle if you are not used to cycling, and you will seriously need a shower and change of clothes when you arrive. If there is public transport from your home to work, you might start off by cycling there, bus home, then bus in the following day and cycle home.

thats an excellent idea,l might do that one myself

sickpuppy32

actually anyone know can u bring ur bike on trains into dublin?

Explosive_Cornflake

Depends on the Train.
Railusers.ie would tell you what you can and can't do.

olaola

My Husband has recently got back into cycling. Not that he had much weight to lose, but his body fat has really dropped. He's the same weight he was when he was about 17 I'd say!

He does about a 25 - 30 k cycle about 4 times a week. Takes him about an hour & a quarter.

So looking at him (he hasn't changed his diet) I'd say, yes - it is very good for losing weight!

Lothaar

I cycle to work a lot too. It's only 10 miles each way, but it's uphill all the way home. Actually, I'm out in Tyrrelstown, which is close(ish) to Rathoath and have a similar trek.

A 36-mile round trip is a lot, and you'll likely either burnout or get p1ssed off killing yourself every day. It's uphill most of the way home, which is a real killer after a long day at work.

I suggest you invest in a bike rack for your car. Drive halfway to work and park somewhere. Cycle from there to work and back. You'll probably find that you can get halfway to work before hitting heavy traffic. If you park there and cycle in, you'll save loads of time and it will make cycling regularly more feasible.

If you can get it down to a 20-mile round trip, you'll be laughing. That's still gonna take about 2 hours each time, and will burn over 1,000 calories. You could start off by parking close to work, and gradually park further and further away, thus increasing the cycle as you get fitter. That'll make it a lot more palatable starting out.

The cycle-bus/bus-cycle option is a good one too.

You'll need to eat enough to fuel your cycling. You can still manage a decent calorie deficit, but you won't be dying on the way home. I didn't eat enough in the afternoon a few times, and ended up devouring everything I saw when I got home (including one memorable pancake Tuesday, when I downed 8 pancakes in about 2 minutes!). Sometimes just having a piece of fruit before you leave is enough to get you through it. Remember to track your calories using fitday.com or some such website, though.

Supercell

Lothaar wrote: »

I suggest you invest in a bike rack for your car. Drive halfway to work and park somewhere. Cycle from there to work and back. You'll probably find that you can get halfway to work before hitting heavy traffic. If you park there and cycle in, you'll save loads of time and it will make cycling regularly more feasible.

If you can get it down to a 20-mile round trip, you'll be laughing. That's still gonna take about 2 hours each time, and will burn over 1,000 calories. You could start off by parking close to work, and gradually park further and further away, thus increasing the cycle as you get fitter. That'll make it a lot more palatable starting out.

Thats brilliant advice!, I was recently considering cycling into work but gave up on the idea as am just too far away to do it realistically (and live on the side of a mountain so the cycle home would be utter utter torture)..however never thought of driving halfway and parking.
Big thanks, gonna look into getting a car rack and doing a dry run that this weekend

RobAMerc

I started cycling last year - I first did lots of short runs to about 5 - 6 miles then upped it to commute the 13miles to work 3 times a week after about 3 weeks.

Take you time on the first couple of runs and you'll be up to 18 miles in no time.

I gave up during the winter - but since Feb I have lost over a stone and really feel I have done very little for it. And the big bonus is I am much fitter without the dread the thoughts of going to the gym brought on.

But to be honest - doing what ever your happiest doing to loose the weight is probably the best thing.

Fatloss08

well today in the gym i cycled 18.74 km in 45 mins

not the same as road cycling but wanna get used to it again etc

gonna cycle 20km everyday in the gym

RobAMerc

doing it for real is a lot less boring than the excercise bike, don't let the boredom you get in the gym put you off cycling.

Fatloss08

theres cycling in the blood as my old man owns a wholesaler/retail business in cycling bikes

my brother is 30 and just cycled to atlone 125km in 3.5 hours and back the next day 125km , pus the old man goes out 3 days a week for 3 hours a spin

i did loads years ago but got rid of bike and got a car etc

just wanna work up my fitness

rubadub

RobAMerc wrote: »

But to be honest - doing what ever your happiest doing to loose the weight is probably the best thing.

Yes, it means you will be far more likely to keep it up for good. I feel the same with food, I eat nothing I do not like, just find stuff I like and I can stick with it for good. I might be better off eating other stuff but I do not like it and will not continue on with it.

I like cycling, running might help me lose more fat per hour, but I am far more likely to cycle for hours.

olaola

Just to note - there is a 'Cycle special' in Aldi this Thursday - bike racks etc...
http://www.aldi.ie/ie/html/offers/offers_week29thursday08.htm?WT.z_src=main

arybvtcw0eolkf

olaola wrote: »

Just to note - there is a 'Cycle special' in Aldi this Thursday - bike racks etc...
http://www.aldi.ie/ie/html/offers/offers_week29thursday08.htm?WT.z_src=main

The cycle computer gets a terrible review in the Cycling forum here on boards.ie.

But its only €20, and includes a heart rate monitor so probably worth the gamble.

Fatloss08

my old man sells everything to do with bikes , frames , groupsets , wheels clothing , accessories , might get a new wireless speedometer , a decent one , not the aldi specials

maybe some high5 energy source drink also

coax my way slowly back into it

pm me if anybody wants some stuff for bikes or prices

Note : im not advertsing ok as i havnt said the name but can get cheap deals if anybody interested

Bluscreendream

Hi guys,

sorry for hijacking this thread, I've been following this thread and have found it really inspiring. I'm 34 and Im struggling with a bit of flab including a huge gut (not beer related) and I've been trying to find the nerve to get back into cycling as I loved it as a youngster and I just find the gym terminally boring. Im living in Dun Laoghaire and work in Clontarf and would love to get to the stage where I could cycle into work. Could anyone reccomend a good affordable bicycle shop on the southside? Thanks a million.

rubadub

Bluscreendream wrote: »

Could anyone reccomend a good affordable bicycle shop on the southside? Thanks a million.

The bike forum would be a better bet
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=410

If you are going to spend under €300, I would consider going second hand. I would recommend a hybrid and there are huge savings to be got by buying online. Most bikes will need assembling, you could go to a shop to have that done if you are not able, it will still probably end up a good bit cheaper, esp. the way sterling is going.

www.chainreactioncycles.com
www.wiggle.co.uk

Bluscreendream

Thanks Rubadub for the advice and links, much appreciated.

Piste

This thread has inspired me to start cycling to Rathfarnham at the weekend insteead of taking the bus.

I know I shouldn't feel intimidated by Ranelagh-Rathfarnham, but a lot of it is uphill, and roads terrify me.




Also my helmet it a ridiculous bright yellow colour.

bwardrop

I've noticed a lot of people saying that this tread has motivated them to get back cycling. I too recently got back into it and am loving it...

If motivation is necessary, I highly recommend this book. Don't be put off by the description on play.com - the book is very accessible and not at all like a text book, more like an autobiography.

Mike Stroud recounts some of his adventures while simultaneously explaining what is going on in the human body which allows us to complete such feats - I found it very inspirational and thinking about it has got me home more than once when I felt like quitting on the bike!!

pocketac3s

I'd like to join the list of people recommending cycling for weightloss. I was in a car crash a few months ago and was housebound for a month, needless to say I piled the weight on. As part of my self imposed rehab plan I bought a bike and it was one of the best investments I've made in a long while.

Combined with going to the gym and a balanced diet I've noticed (as have my friends and family) my weight falling off - I've lost around 2.5lbs each week for the past three weeks - I can't believe the scales each time I weigh myself.

Not only is it good for losing weight, but its fun too - I like to cycle upto Howth summit or over to Dun Loaghaire is great fun and a reason to get up off your arse and do something.

Highly Recommended.