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Weight Loss Update: This morning I got on the scale. It read 186 pounds. That’s 2 down since I posted on the 19th. I now weigh 1 pound more than I did when I got married more than 14 years ago. And I’ve lost 19 pounds since I started this quest. Not to shabby, huh? I don’t know how many more I’m going to drop, but I’m going to keep riding and keep the intake cut back. Just have to wait and see where it stops.
So anyway, Monday and Tuesday this week I spent on my bicycle. I put in 60 miles between the 2 days. While riding, my mind went through a bunch of different possible blog topics, but none of them seemed to fit. Until…
The upright posture puts all of your weight on your bottom. That is normal when you’re sitting in a chair, but it’s hard to pedal a bicycle from that position. In addition, it leaves you not sitting on your pelvic bones. This can result in chafing from the leg motion of pedaling, and numbness from the constriction of blood vessels.
As you lose weight and (more importantly for cycling) get fit, you want to move to a more efficient body position. That can mean going from a comfort bike, to a hybrid, to a true road bike.
It’s also very important to get a bike that fits you correctly. A correct fit will put you in the most efficient position for pedaling. It will reduce your chances of injury as far as possible, and will leave you feeling comfortable on your bike. If you are comfortable when riding and enjoy it, you’ll ride more.
If you’d like to start riding, or you’re riding now but aren’t comfortable on your bike, then I’d suggest a window shopping trip. Go to as many different local bike shops as you can find and ask questions. Tell them what it is you are looking to do and why, give them a budget to work with. See what they recommend and if they offer fitting services. Fitting often will cost extra. I paid $80 for my fitting a few months back. Don’t expect fitting to be a free service.
A good bike shop will also be happy to show you how to repair a leaky tube with a patch kit and replace the tube. They’ll explain the maintenance that needs to be done periodically (chain lube for example).
When you buy your first bike you’ll need a few extra things. A water bottle and frame cage to keep you hydrated. A floor pump - so that you can top off tire pressure once a week at least. A frame pump, patch kit, tire levers, spare tube, and a bag to hold it - so that you can repair a flat while on a ride. You might also need a wrench in order to remove your wheel. The bag is helpful for other stuff too, like a cell phone.
Next time I think we’ll discuss the difference between riding for fitness and riding leisurely.
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On the return leg of the Tuesday ride I passed
someone that was out riding as exercise for weight loss. She was riding
at a sedate 7 or 8 mph. She didn’t appear to be out of breath, so the
pace was easy. However, she was struggling and didn’t look comfortable.
Then I noticed her bicycle and realized why. It was a very low grade
bike, and the body posture had her back very upright with a wide cushy
seat. Bikes like this put your body into a very poor position for
exercise, pedaling efficiency, and comfort. These bikes are often referred
to as “comfort bikes” (pictured sample to the right).
Instead, she would have been much better off on any
number of inexpensive hybrid type bikes (pictured sample to the left). These place the body in a more
dynamic position. They have a smaller seat to reduce chafing. A harder
seat to make sure that the bones are taking your weight (this really is
more comfortable over for riding), and to reduce numbness.