Can or should a relatively unfit person cycle 10 miles?

[Frequency]

Mostly up hill. Said person is overweight and has never been on a cycle in over 20 years.

It's me.I am said person. I'm having one of my moments of madness. Is it possible for me, a mid thirties, size 22 woman, to cycle 10 miles to work? The bus takes over two hours. Google tells me I can cycle it in an hour but should I attempt it or will I die?

I walk a lot without getting out of breath. I can run up and down stairs without getting out of breath but me and exercise in the traditional sense don't see eye to eye. I don't like it and it tends to make me pee in my pants.

This is exactly what ebikes are brilliant for. Go to work on full power for speed with minimal effort so not getting sweaty, then turn off the power for the ride home to get some exercise. They are total game-changers. I have one and use it like this.

@goodytooshoes I had a hysterectomy last year, it will get easier quickly, honest. (I know exactly the feeling you describe though! )

Definitely doable but you need to build up to it. My DH, in his 50s, cycles 15 miles to work and then 15 back.

@Ohdeariedear I've been fine with the gym. I feel better than I have in years it's just the bloody saddle in that spin class! I'm dying to get my bike out but it's still too dark in the mornings for me to cycle to work. Plus I've got my eye on a new bike. I didn't think it's pain to do with the hysterectomy, I think it was just saddle sore from being out of practice.

It sounds like an e-bike is the way forward then and my workplace do a cycle to work scheme, I've just looked it up on the company website. I still think I need to test ride my friend's mountain bike around the park before investing and hopefully by next winter I'll be driving and can drive in on bad weather days.

In really terrible weather anyone who lives x amount of miles away i.e half the company since it's in an industrial estate in the middle of an even bigger industrial estate surrounded by farms and more industrial estates can book annual leave without notice as the site is difficult to get to even by car in snowy weather.

It's doable but it will hurt like fuck for the first week. Borrow a bike and try it. Be nice to yourself, if you need to get off the bike for a rest do it. You can always freewheel down hills. If you want motivation use a tracking app to your phone and try and go a bit faster or further. If you can bring a small bottle of water great. Eating a snack such as a banana before you leave should give you enough energy to get you home.

Clothing wise soft leggings and a wicking top are useful. Proper cycling kit such as padded shorts are great, you don't have to go for tight lycra. Decathlon, Wiggle have basic but good kit. There's a website called Fat Lad At The Back that does plus size cycling kit for both men and women. A wind proof jacket and comfy gloves to protect your hands are great.

If you're bringing clothes a backpack will be sweaty and pannier bags are better.

You will beat the bus home even in your first week. Usually you can go four times further on a bike than you can walk so you will be able to do this.

I love cycling, I still go "Wheeeeeee!" down hills on my bike and I don't care.

Best of luck, cycling is a great way of using your body. You'll feel very proud of yourself, you'll get stronger over time.

Second the previous post. The first ride I will seem fine, legs might feel heavy like jelly however day 2 ur arse will hurt. You wont be able to cycle without pain hence why suggestion of building it up.

I cycle alot and took a 7yr break various reasons and gained weight almost size 20 however because I have cy led previously getting back on I could do a 10mile straight away but I would still suffer from first time getting bsck on saddle soreness.

I've just had a break over winter for 4months and hoping to go out tomorrow and I know my bum is gonna hurt even with a good saddle and padded tights! Such is life whe you stop cycling for a while.

I definitely agree with your decision on getting an ebike though

I think I'd be looking for a new job tbh 🥴.

Your posts made me laugh though OP and i admire your grit and humour, I suspect you will do just fine 🙌

It will take you a few weeks to build up to it. It’s completely doable, but not from not immediately from not cycling from 20 years. Don’t let that put you off, cycling is absolutely the best commute

Sorry! that sounds really confused, delete the from not before immediately

Get yourself some proper padded shorts or you're likely to mash your fanjo on the first full ride. Not a good way to spend the day at work.

You do need to build up, as many people have said, but you should be pleasantly surprised at how quickly that happens if you do it regularly. I second cycling in one day and getting bus back the next, then vice versa for a bit.

get an Ebike op! Mine has changed my life. I am a size 16, incredibly unfit, and can ride all over the place with my new e bike. I am now getting fitter so turn the motor off sometimes. I got mine through Ride2Work and it has been wonderful.

I went for the Cannondale Neo Trek.

Get yourself some proper padded shorts or you're likely to mash your fanjo on the first full ride

^

Christ

I cycle a fair bit with DS on his little seat in the summer. I remember a couple of years ago I was late to meet a friend so we were rushing, I had to get up a hill, and basically I arrived a sweaty wreck. Before I left our village, I noticed an e-bike parked outside the shop... about 5 minutes after I arrived at our destination it glided by, it’s ride looking serene and unruffled, having no doubt had a much nicer time getting up the hill than I had!

I am definitely having one in the future - that lady sold it to me without saying a thing!

10 miles is a fairly short bike ride once you're used to it, but uphill with quite a bit of weight on the bike (sorry but that will make it harder) I don't think you'll do it in an hour, as an unfit novice.

You should definitely go for it though. It wont take you as long as 2 hours and you'll get quicker the more you do it.

For the first few days you'll have a very sore backside but it will toughen up surprisingly quickly and the journey home will be downhill!

Also, provided the roads aren't too busy, cycling is pure joy Make sure you have a good breakfast with plenty of carbs.