Rides for overweight unfit people?

i pretty much neglected my health from 20 to 34.. this changed in 2002 after about six months going to the gym

in my first year competing in sprint distance triathlons (2003) i lost about 15kgs in weight..
when i started training for an 8 day tour of the alps (2007) i lost 20kgs over 6 months..

ten triathlons, four marathons, two alpine tours later, i am now hovvering between 78-85kg between summer and winter.. is there a generalisation when it comes to weight?? we are all different sizes and have different metabolic rates for burning glycogen / fat..

if you want to do this properly, i'd recommend getting a cheap HR monitor and work within a comfortable range.. it is your heart and lung capacity which need to improve first.. record every sunday morning 'resting heart rate' when you wake up, establish your maximum HR.. then maintain 60% - 80% workrate on the bike, when it gets too comfortable start to up the distance or the pace, or add some gentle hills.. the HR monitor is a good measure for this if you what to see progress.

it will take time, there are no short cuts. it will be tough to begin with, but it won't be long before you start to feel the benefits. group training rides are a great incentive. and read some good reference books like 'complete gude to endurance training' by Jon Ackland, also think about nutrition and recovery.. it's all there.. and explains alot about the science in sport and training modules, but more importantly how this all effects you emotional, mentally and physically.

another book i found inspirational was called Aerobic written by a US pilot trainer in the 1960s.. a time when proper exercise in america was unheard of, nobody had ever seen the nordic skiing machine, and when gyms only had free weights..

eventually you will abandon the HR monitor and start listening to your body when you go out on longer and longer rides, there will be no stopping you.. within a year you could make a 100miles in one ride.. and you never forget your first century ride it is a great achievement..

good luck people, and enjoy it

Be comfortable in your own skin - lose enough you'll have plenty to spare!

It seems that most of this thread belongs on the weight loss thread. I was under the impression that the intent of this thread was to organise rides where people who are less confident in their abilities would be able to come along and not be worried about getting dropped or made to feel shit for holding everyone else up if they are tail end charlies.

Well meaning advice about intervals or weight loss strategies is more likely to put people off than help; it certainly doesn't provide any incentive for me to come along if people are going to be covered in HRMs and stop watches to monitor peak fat burning. I'm more interested in getting on my bike for a bit, riding until I'm a bit tired, stopping until I feel better, then riding some more.

Heart rate monitors>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Exactly.

It seems that most of this thread belongs on the weight loss thread. I was under the impression that the intent of this thread was to organise rides where people who are less confident in their abilities would be able to come along and not be worried about getting dropped or made to feel shit for holding everyone else up if they are tail end charlies.

Well meaning advice about intervals or weight loss strategies is more likely to put people off than help; it certainly doesn't provide any incentive for me to come along if people are going to be covered in HRMs and stop watches to monitor peak fat burning. I'm more interested in getting on my bike for a bit, riding until I'm a bit tired, stopping until I feel better, then riding some more.

Heart rate monitors>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

3 pages of discussion before a ride is sorted?
Seems reasonable for LFGSS.

what if theres a weekly ride were we increase the distance by like 5 miles every week. till we hit like 100 in a day.

Sounds like a plan but what about those that discover this thread 6 weeks into the rides and want to join in but can't manage the increased distance. In other words you'll never please all the people all the time.
I don't really know the answers other than perhaps it needs someone(s) to decide a route they want to and are comfortable with riding and then post it as a ride open to all.

Why don't you start with laps of Richmond Park?

Heart rate monitors>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I agree with this but would really recommend the use of a simple cycling computer, one that shows speed, distance and average speed. Nothing more is really necessary.

Such a device can really encourage. First because you are likely to be able to ride further than you would imagine and the distance monitor will confirm this. Secondly, because you can see improvement when riding the same course. A better average speed. This latter measure should be taken with caution as wind can play a considerable part.

As t heart rate, the best advice I ever received was that most cycling should be done at a pace that allows you to hold a conversation while doing it. I often talk to myself while climbing hills.

Eat less beans then.

"Fewer" not "less".

One baited hook, two bites.

Result.

Andy, you bait us in a masterly way.

Yeh, Clive got pwned.

I often talk to myself while climbing hills.

Clive: Oh, darling, you look lovely today
Clive: thank you dear, so do you
Clive: we both look so good riding at a comfortable pace
Clive: yes we do, and I can feel the pounds just falling off
Clive: Oh, don't be silly, sweet-bunny, you're as slim as a wand
Clive: (giggles) silly!
Clive: Let's stop and have a kiss
Clive: Ok then

Slash fic by will.

Clive: Oh, darling, you look lovely today
Clive: thank you dear, so do you
Clive: we both look so good riding at a comfortable pace
Clive: yes we do, and I can feel the pounds just falling off
Clive: Oh, don't be silly, sweet-bunny, you're as slim as a wand
Clive: (giggles) silly!
Clive: Let's stop and have a kiss
Clive: Ok then

Actually it goes something like:

Clive: HateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHateHate

Someone recently asked me what inspired me to cycle long miles. "Hatred" was my answer.

Anyway Will, why is it always about sex? And what are you doing on a fat boys thread?

Skinny runt.

^Must be all the lo-cal merlot Will drinks. And yes Will there's no room for you in this thread:)

Sorry Dammit, this thread has a 90kg min. weight limit. Out you go..

88.9, I will weigh myself again on Friday night after a few glasses of pop and a takeaway or two.

88.9,

tl;dr (too light; didn't read)

It seems that most of this thread belongs on the weight loss thread. I was under the impression that the intent of this thread was to organise rides where people who are less confident in their abilities would be able to come along and not be worried about getting dropped or made to feel shit for holding everyone else up if they are tail end charlies.

Well meaning advice about intervals or weight loss strategies is more likely to put people off than help; it certainly doesn't provide any incentive for me to come along if people are going to be covered in HRMs and stop watches to monitor peak fat burning. I'm more interested in getting on my bike for a bit, riding until I'm a bit tired, stopping until I feel better, then riding some more.

Heart rate monitors>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

i hadn't planned to scare you off, i would be happy to organise a ride. smaller groups are best, start with regents park (which is very flat) a couple of laps early one sunday, then go for coffee, no HRMs just a chat at a comfortable pace..

This is looking more like the drinks threads but with parks instead. So far we've got Greenwich, Regents and Richmond. Any offers from Easts?

Easts would probably be Victoria Park.