Cycling

[kidzer]

Looking to start cycling again to get some fitness after about 2/3 years of neglecting to do almost anything.

Any general advice as to when to do it, how often to do it and what sort of distances to start on?

I did 3.15km yesterday and 4.5km so far today if that helps at all.

Also, any advice on what to eat before I go out to get the most energy?

Cheers,
David

[herulach]

Find yourself a local bike club and go out with them, (i assume you mean mtb rather than road? road clubs are just a bunch of sadists imo) Most of them wont mind waiting for you for a bit at the top of hills, and others will have a pootle night. Can you ride to work? THatll do you no end of good.

As for food, i tend to not worry about it, i just take cereal bars and jerky out incase i get peckish. But people say pasta or porridge or something else like that.

[kidzer]

'fraid I mean Road Bike.

Can't cycle to school (don't work, im at school ) beause the road is really busy and dad dosent trust me.
But theres some local roads that are fairly quiet that I used to use a lot to get a 10mile cyle, hopefully wana build up to that pretty quickly

[herulach]

If youre on a road bike then, well, what can i say, go buy yourself a mountain bike!!

Are there any back roads you can take? That way you have the advantage of going further and being out of the way of the traffic.

Have you got any local canals? I know all the ones round here have recently had the towpaths resurfaced so you could ride them on a road bike.

The bike club comment still stands though, theyre a lot of fun, and once you can easily do maybe half of what they ride easily youd be amazed how fast peer pressure brings you on.

[5lab]

porrige etc is good for a few hours before - a 10 mile or so ride its probably not worth taking food with you.. scrambled eggs are really good just before you leave

[Pirate Pete]

i find any food but bacon and eggs is fine before a bike ride. bacon and eggs screw me up at the top of hills, it feels as though i am going to die (no joke)

the best way to build up your stamina is to find hills which are the hardest in your area and form a 'circuit' from your house in a loop which goes up that hill(s)

do this circuit every weekend or as often as you can and discipline yourself to push yourself to the absolute max everytime you head up the hill (do not get off until you are truely finished). You will be amazed by how fast you can ride the hill you have chosen. Ive been doing this for about 4 years now and im fairly sure there are no hills left in my area which i cannot go up

if you are not having fun though, sell the bike and do a different sport because i really couldnt cycle if i didnt have fun while i was cycling

pete

[XA04]

Get yourself a MTB mate, I bike to school everyday, about 4 miles to get there and back, not much but its almost everyday and makes you feel better!, I've lost a bit of weight but my stamina has GREATLY improved (biked 42+ miles last week).

Get yourself the highway code too.. then your dad might trust you on the road a bit more - but if you don't like riding on the road.. just get yourself a MTB to go on and off the paths with. Can't afford the MTB? sell your road bike... road bikes usually cost more anyway.

[Clstrphbc_donut]

Carbohydrates. Main supply of your bodies energy.

Eg. pasta, baked potato's, spaghetti, rice.

List of others are here

Lucozade is also high in carbs.

[ajbrun]

I cycle a fair bit, and I seem to eat loads compared to most of my friends. They're always complaing that I keep saying we should have lunch .

I know it gives me energy, but it probably isn't the best way to do it, but I can eat 2+ chocolate bars a day. Like Clstrphbc_donut said - carbohydrates are good, but it's hard to eat what you want, when you want when you're still living at home. Even if you don't live at home, you'd probably eat when everyone else does anyway, and have what they do...

When I pass my driving test, I'll probably eat the same, but not do any excersise much after that since I'd have no need to. I don't cycle to keep fit - I do it for transport. That's not entirley a bad thing since I could do with putting on a bit of weight...

[vincent]

do what i've started

Plan out a cycle route- now cos i live near many dual carriage ways and busy main roads- i stick 2 the pavements - but none the less i've been doin it for one week now and already feel better about myself

I've planned out a circular of my area- using the main roads as a structure- for the past week i've been doin 1 lap- for this week- my target is 2 laps of it- until i feel confident to trek to other places- since the last time i cycled on the road- i got shunted off it cos of some Clot...