Want to get back into cycling, what's the best way please?

Aura · Post by **Aura** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 1:22 pm

I haven't ridden my bike for a while and would like to get back into cycling, after being told by my nurse that I am I'm slightly overweight. I have a curvature of the spine, and I am worried that my back will give me pain if I try and get back into it again, and put me off. What's the best way of doing it please?

:-3

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 1:40 pm

Do you have exercises to help strengthen your back? I would start with a small distance, and build up to it again gradually.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 2:11 pm

Your back will hurt I would suggest a recumbent bike for the house so you sit and ride. They also have recumbent bikes for street riding as well. Or get a treadmill for the house safer and easier on the back.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 2:40 pm

CARLA;1350981 wrote: Your back will hurt I would suggest a recumbent bike for the house so you sit and ride. They also have recumbent bikes for street riding as sell. Or get a treadmill for the house safer and easier on the back.

Most of the pleasure of cycling lies in watching the world go past, visiting places that you've never seen and talking to people wherever you stop. Sitting in a room at home would drive me crazy and put me off exercise forever.

I'd say slowly - start with, say, five miles on the flat and see how that goes before building up the distance and taking some hills into the route.

According to the Osteopath, my back problems stem from a curvature of the spine but the exercise helps rather than hinders.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 6:31 pm

Make sure your seat and handle bars are adjusted to your comfort. Start with short distances and flat landscape. And enjoy the ride.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 6:40 pm

I agree but I still would suggest a recumbent bike they are great rode one in Mexico for 7 days.

In the states you take your life in your hand when you ride a bike our streets they aren't designed for bikes and it is extremely dangerous we have bike lane but they are dangerous as well. Most go off road on fat tire bikes in the back hills.

Most of the pleasure of cycling lies in watching the world go past, visiting places that you've never seen and talking to people wherever you stop. Sitting in a room at home would drive me crazy and put me off exercise forever.

I'd say slowly - start with, say, five miles on the flat and see how that goes before building up the distance and taking some hills into the route.

According to the Osteopath, my back problems stem from a curvature of the spine but the exercise helps rather than hinders.

Post by **spot** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 7:52 pm

I'm trying to work out what streets designed for bikes would look like, or why a bike lane might be dangerous. Commuting by bike in a city has to be an option Carla. If the city doesn't fit then it needs reshaping. If the other road users don't fit they need banning.

As for Aura's "What's the best way of doing it please" the answer is gradually, and the other part of the answer is with professional advice on posture by people who know how to ride bikes. Like never locking your arms rigid, for example - it can take many months for a trapped nerve to repair itself.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 9:21 pm

Bike lane run parallel to car lanes they are marked with white lines. The problem is there are to many cars on the roads to ride in them safely. Commuting by bike is a novelty in the states unless you live in a small city or an area that is open, or you live in the center of the city. Towns and cities in the US aren't designed around the center of the city we all live in the burbs so bike riding is for pleasure mostly on the weekends not for getting to, or from work.

Post by **spot** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 1:00 am

Suburbs are vile places. I always felt living space should be vertical. With space to park a pushbike.

Aura · Post by **Aura** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 9:03 am

Thanks for that, what is a recumbent bike?

There's many places to cycle in the UK, have to renew the tyre and inner tube. Can you also recommend a good ladies saddle? (one of the type that has a hole in the middle)

Many thanks.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 9:14 am

Recumbent bike you site like in a chair:

Attached files

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 3:37 pm

CARLA;1351020 wrote: I agree but I still would suggest a recumbent bike they are great rode one in Mexico for 7 days.

In the states you take your life in your hand when you ride a bike our streets they aren't designed for bikes and it is extremely dangerous we have bike lane but they are dangerous as well. Most go off road on fat tire bikes in the back hills.

We seem to be reasonably well set up for cyclists in the UK and you see quite a few commuting in London and I meet lots on the country roads.

I've covered a fair swathe of London from the South East round to the North and most of Central London as well as a large part of North West Leicestershire without feeling in any danger from the other road users. There are also some very good off-road cycleways covering the country :-

National Cycle Network | Sustrans

that are graded according to difficulty - a very good way to get started and it can be quite social.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 3:40 pm

Aura;1351049 wrote: Thanks for that, what is a recumbent bike?

There's many places to cycle in the UK, have to renew the tyre and inner tube. Can you also recommend a good ladies saddle? (one of the type that has a hole in the middle)

Many thanks.

A Comfortable Saddle

Gives very good advice, both about saddles and about restarting cycling after a lay off.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 1:18 am

Aura;1350977 wrote: I haven't ridden my bike for a while and would like to get back into cycling, after being told by my nurse that I am I'm slightly overweight. I have a curvature of the spine, and I am worried that my back will give me pain if I try and get back into it again, and put me off. What's the best way of doing it please?

:-3

Just get on it and potter about. If you have a road bike drop handlebars you might find a hybrid with suspension forks and with a more upright cycling position more comfortable and worth considering. You can also get suspension posts for your saddle that have a shock absorber built in to it. which will absorb some of the shock to the spine. I would suggest you just get on the one you've got and start cycling first though. You get a lot of ladies specific saddles as well.

Edinburgh Bicycle - Road Bikes, Mountain Bikes, Parts, Accessories & Clothing for Men, Women & Kids

Not suggesting you go and buy one from them but the buying guides and technical info you might find helpful. If you can find a good bikeshop run by an enthusiast you should be able to get a lot of help and advice - don't take any money with you if you go looking for a bike, that way you won't make any impulse buys you regret later. Specialist bike shops will often let you try the bikes before buying which is good as what feels nice in the shop can suddenly feel very unstable on the road. Mountain bikes or road bikes can cost several hundreds or even thousands so they are used to people not buying on a whim and expecting a high level of service.

Recumbents are fairly lethal imo on any road with cars, they sit quite low down and drivers tend not to see them, leaping off is a bit harder to manage should the need arise. plus they're relatively expensive. On one level I can understand the appeal and the logic behind but personally I wouldn't have one.