Way back in January 2008, I participated in a "weight loss competition" with some of my coworkers, all of whom are guys... I lost 20 pounds in about 10 weeks, going from 240 to 220. (I won the contest, but I never officially joined because I figured I would lose because they were guys and would lose weight faster. Guess I was wrong!) But I lost weight purely through diet, so when March rolled around and it started getting nice out, I decided to go to the store and buy a bike to start exercising. Riding it around my neighborhood, I could manage about 10 minutes, going maybe 1.5 miles at best, and I would be too tired to continue. I ended up getting rid of the bike.

Since starting this weight loss effort in October 2010, I added regular exercise in December, working up to 5 - 6 days a week at the gym. Yesterday, I went to a used bike store and picked up a relatively cheap bike so that I could give riding a try again. I figured that since I have been exercising more regularly, maybe I would be able to do a bit better than my previous record of a grueling 10 minutes for a mile and a half.

I went 14.5 miles in about an hour and a half, and I don't even feel tired!

Wow. Thats a really good achievement

Wow, good for you!! That's a looooooong time riding a bike ~ awesome!

Awesome for you. Good job!

Awesome!!! Good for you, I can't wait to get on my bike when the warm weather hits!

How exciting is that! I love bike riding.

Oooh, two of my favorite NSV's! One, you beat the guys! Two, an athletic achievement, and an impressive one at that! I love it! Good for you! That's quite a lot of progress.

That is real confidence builder. I've been planning to buy a bike, your post just gave me the nudge I needed.

Good job!

OMG.. this is so exciting to hear!
I was just talking to my DH about how we bought new bikes last month and I was so discusted the ONE day I tried to ride it and could only make it for 10 min, that I have not been back on it.

I think you posted this just for me *wink*.

Congrats! That's amazing!

Thanks guys! I really love how much more capable I feel now vs. six months ago. I was definitely starting slow when I started exercising (10 - 15 minutes of cardio in the gym, for instance) but I was really happy with my ability to bike to the entire opposite end of town yesterday and back... (and then another 4.5 miles round trip later in the afternoon to go in to campus. Whee!)

Runundefined / Kallismom - Definitely don't give up on your bike dreams! I'd recommend working on strength training for the major leg groups (especially quads) while you work on increasing time on the actual bike. I have noticed that the strength training for my leg muscles has really helped me both with running and with biking.