Back on the wagon, er velocipede.

Katie and I have only ridden once since the last post. She ended up walking after a few minutes as that is what her preference was. I took my bike in and gave hers a try while she walked. It was like riding a couch, I kind of like it but it was definitely weird.


On a literally lighter note: I am (also literally) back on the scale! I have dropped from my unknown overweightness to being measurably 381.1 lbs. This is while not riding much and not really sticking to a diet other than "Don't be such a glutton, Rick." Onwards, downwards, and wedding bound?

--
Rick

Back after a bit of recidivism.

This last weekend my girlfriend and I picked her up a bike to ride with me. We chose an Electra Townie 7D from REI. It has an altered pedal and seat geometry that makes it super comfortable. I have envy. We rode on a trial ride a bit more than a mile around the neighborhood.

I should be riding some this weekend as well. I am hoping  to get more than a mile or two on the bike, but I cannot be sure.

Interestingly, I figured out that I had installed my new split seat backwards (easy to do with a noseless seat) it is now a LOT more comfortable.

Got yer nose(less)

Tonight I rode another mile our so testing out my new saddle. A Hobson Easyseat. I think I like it! More to follow.

my kingdom for a flat mile

The area around my house, where I am doing my beginner training riding is fairly hilly. I just took a quick spin around the block to finalize my decision about getting a split saddle (hobson easyseat from amazon.com,) and, instead of going around my normal loop, I went down a long gradual slope and up a steep hill and finished on the flat back to the house and i was really having fun cycling on the flat.

I guess I need to find a nice flat place to bike this weekend to give one last try to this seat before I swap it out.

I also am really looking forward to buying some bike shorts or a cycling bib from Aerotech clothing after the new year. street clothes and bikes don't seem to mix for me.

(after) Midnight Ride

So on this, my second night of cycling, I fell asleep. Right after dinner. On the couch. Oi vey.


I woke up groggily around 2:30 AM and realized that my 'just relax with TV for a half hour after dinner before I ride a FULL mile tonight' turned into the dreaded food coma.

About half an hour later I realized that this is EXACTLY why I have bought into cycling as my exercise of choice. I can do it any time I want! My neighborhood is well lit and there is no traffic at this time of the morning (not that I didn't keep a look out for safety's sake.) So ride I did.

That whole 'full mile ' thing petered out at .87 of a mile and turned into a nice 'cool down walk' to finish the grueling (for me) 1/8 th mile mild incline to get back to my door.

I am still happy. And sweaty.

Rick

BIKE! bikebikebikebike

It feels like christmas for 6 year old me.

I just got a brand new bicycle. And rode it almost a mile. My butt hurts.

I am happy.

Hope for a fat guy

About two weeks ago my high capacity Weight Watchers digital scale stopped telling me how fat I've been getting.The last weight it told me was around 378. That is in pounds. Now it just says 'Err.'

Now, I know that 'Err' is just an abbreviation of 'Error,' but in my head my first thought was "It doesn't know what to say!"

I weigh enough to shock and embarrass a bathroom scale into stunned silence.

A bit of background on me:

I am 28 years old and sit at a desk all day long five days a week being an IT guy.

I have a long term fiance/girlfriend/love of my life: a seven year old lazy border collie mix:

and a 2 year old perpetual kitten:

I love them all dearly.

I play music sometimes, I like to read a lot, I have a beard and I can't bend over to put on socks without getting short of breath.

Quite obviously something has to change. I have tried just dieting, I even spent a few weeks going to the YMCA to swim, lift weights and get on the elliptical. The problem with all of that is I am lazy and crave instant gratification. If I can't exercise EXACTLY when I want to, I just won't.

So I thought of biking. I can always have my bike with me, I can bike as short or as far as I want, I can set goals like, do all my drug store shopping on bicycle or only eat out at restaurants I have biked to.

I started seeking out info on what kind of bike to buy and how to start cycling as a large guy. I quickly came upon bikeforums.net and the concept that an oversized bicyclist is referred to as a Clydesdale! What an inclusive term! It describes the situation without putting anyone down. I really like it. There is also a very active forum there for Clydes with some amazing, inspiring, and supportive folks who are quick with advice and encouragement.

I am hopefully buying my first real bike tonight. I think it will be this:
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=51625&menuItemId=0