Posts: 65
11/3/08 1:06 P

Because non-weight-bearing exercises are the best for me I have started really getting into cycling as a form of fitness. I have always loved to bike but now I have stepped it up a notch and am seeing a real transformation in the strength of my legs and what I am able to do. I must say that the expresso bike at the gym has helped boost my ability, in addition to regular rides outside. The expresso bike is a stationary bike that has video and a gear changer that makes you feel like your outside. You feel the challenge of hills and definitely work it. Distance varies from 3 miles to 20 plus miles through different types of terrain.

Posts: 8
11/2/08 1:29 P

That is so interesting. I also started on a 2005 rockhopper, that I rode everywhere. I now ride a Stumpy FSR, a 2006 with many upgrades. I also ride a 2005 S-Works road bike, the E5 frame with a mix of DA and Ult. I also did something a month ago I have not done since I was in the military: I jogged. We have a ride close by our house that is a 9 mile fireroad climb, with mile markers. The first time, I hiked up to mile 1, and jogged to the bottom. Second time, I did 2 miles up, jogged down. I loved it so much I just bought trail runner shoes. My wife has the same progression, from rockhopper to the women's expert stumpy. She rides a roubaix on the road. She has been able to do 3 miles up the fireroad running. As a side note, we did a Moab trip in September, and found the scenery spectacular, and the riding very very challenging. Your story was very inspiring, thank you.

SparkPoints: (15,447)
Fitness Minutes: (12,378)
Posts: 2,178
11/2/08 1:20 P

Hi! I am Marnie from Nevada. Good for you, you are doing so well! I picked up a bike about 3 1/2 years ago. I went from 210ish to 130, had to pick up a couple of lbs to 135. I started out on a 2005 Specialized Rockhopper. I rode that thing everywhere, and lbs started melting off. I got to know a guy that was a mechanic at a bike shop. He quit when we started dating, and we opened our own. I entered and won my first mtn bike race on that rockhopper.

After that, I wound up with a now very custom Marin Riftzone. Love it. And I also had a Giant roadbike, which I have since sold and now have a fantastic, ultimate bike in my Ridley.

On my Ridley, I recently completed my first official century ride with that goofy guy I met at that shop that day... that was a very cool thing for us.

Biking dropped my weight, strengthened my legs, and allowed me to do something I couldn't do even when I was younger, and that's RUN. And my next goal is a 50 mile foot race through the Wasatch mtns in Utah in april.

Your story inspired me, and I hope mine helps you!

Edited by: MTNBIKENV at: 11/2/2008 (13:22)

Posts: 8
11/2/08 12:17 P

I originally joined Sparkpeople in 2006, weighing in at an uncomfortable 270+. I liberated an old rigid trek "mountain bike" from my brother who was not using it. I rode less than three miles, most of it down hill that first ride, and thought I would need an ambulance. Now, thanks to cycling (I do both mountain and road) I tip the scale at 218 and counting down to 180. I can easily do 40 miles on the road bike, and mountain bike trail rides can be as long as 20 miles. I would love to hear motivational cycling stories, they keep the cranks spinning!