Okay, I have bought a bike, any tips for a newbie?

[SchroSawMargeryDaw]

Bought a bike yesterday to commute to college, first time I had been on one since I was 12, planning to commute to college everyday on it, which is 2 miles each way, loads of hills.

I went a similar route yesterday covering 4.5 miles, omg my back and fanjo hurts! And I did have to walk up a couple of steep hills.

Does anyone have any tips? It's a cruiser bike.

I'm honestly not bothered about how I look and was all for wearing a helmet, just got a bit 2 minded after reading (and scaring) myself, realise it was a moment of madness though and will be getting a helmet! :)

Look at Beg Bikes for pretty (and extravagant) accessories.

Will have a look! :o

The helmet issue is far from clear cut, there's plenty of information on the net if you want to read up on it.

Eg www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10866273/Cycle-helmets-are-useless-says-brain-surgeon.html

Yes to a helmet - like car seats and seatbelts, I bow to the euro standards on this stuff. My head is the size of a child, so I really struggled to find one that wasn't hello kitty/spiderman, but I persevered and have a grey and white one now which is comfy and smart-ish.

Be careful of going up steep hills or standing on the pedals if you have any pelvic floor issues, it puts a lot of downward internal pressure on the area.

Thanks for that Suzanne Didn't have one today bit our roads are so rubbish that I really do need one, even if there was no cars, the potholes and stones here! And who's idea was it to put all the stanks on the cycle paths!?

DP came with me today, we covered over 9 miles as he needed a new inner tube as got a flat on the way down, I managed all the hills that I couldn't the other day, almost with ease! Slow and steady. All buy one and even if I had been cycling forever, I don't think I would manage it.

Who I don't have any pelvic floor issues, I'm actually the opposite and need to self catheterise (TMI ) so maybe it would help! Can't really stand on my bike anyway, it's quite high.

Okay, so I am now the proud owner of cycling knickers :o and a Childs helmet... (fits and I figure it's better than nothing until I can afford a better one).

Go Aldi!

Well done on todays cycling! You are making progress so quickly, imagine what it will be like in a few weeks - you'll be up that hill.

I have a pair of the Aldi cycling knickers and they are great

Yeah, I was dread that hilly road today (2 hills on it) but it was fine. I think it has helped wd have had nice weather, and the bike in pretty come to sit on. I have really enjoyed it.

The middle gear, I really struggled with it the past 2 days but it felt so much lighter today, couldn't believe it, it's like something just clicked.

We did do some walking I will admit (DP's flat, he hurt his knee and some bits were struggly) but the first day I nearly gave up before the end of the road so I am happy. :)

Feel a sweaty mess though! I've done classes and stuff recently and haven't felt as manky as I do after cycling!

DP gave me this look at the cycling pants. :o. Do they make a difference?

Wow, sorry I am on my phone and have fat fingers. So many mistakes.

Oooo yey! Glad I've found this thread, dd(3) and I have just cracked out our bike again.

We've been on it 2 days in a row...my. Arse. Killed!! When I got back on it today! Good grief! I was really pleased that I'd woken up not aching but once I got my arse back on that saddle I jumped back up again and shoved it in poor Dds face!

Luckily she still loves sitting on the back in her little seat as much as she did last year and she still fits in it and feels stable.

Im a bigger bottomed girl like you op, watching this with interest!

Hello!

See that was it today and yesterday, bum felt fine until I sat on it, after a mile or 2 it went numb got better though. :)

TBH my bum actually isn't that big (10 in pants) it's just err, not in very good shape. :o

We can get over the bum pain together, I'm really enjoying cycling, I love the feeling of going down a hill, so the arse and fanjo pain isn't putting me off.

Maybe try the Aldi pants?

I have a 3yo too and a 1yo but my bike can't fit a child seat and I don't think my poor legs could take it! Go you!

Well done, sounds like you are doing really well. I've taken up cycling recently too, because I used to run but since having surgery for the aforementioned pelvic floor issues (prolapse) that isn't recommended, whereas cycling is fine, as long as you don't overdo it on the hills. I've learnt a lot about exercising in a safe way for your pelvic floor and got a bit evangelical about it as I am horrified at how little I knew before and how much my previous lifestyle had probably contributed to it, so if I can tell anyone else anything I tend to do so.

Ow I'm disappointed now, I had images of another cupcake on legs cycling around like me :p

Down hill is BRILLIANT! Heading dd "WEEEEEE!" As we go down is fab

I'll have a look for Aldi pants, anything to save the arse pain!

Well done for keeping going, we're away for the weekend so won't be able to go out on the bike but I'm sure dd will 'remind' me when we get back!

Who No I absolutely think it's a good thing to raise awareness of. I'm a catheter user and very aware that I could easily go the other way. All women should know about the best ways to avoid/lessen pelvic floor problems. I took up running last year but got terrible shin splints as my feet are totally flat. . Hoping I can keep this up, it's so much fun! DP on the other hand is not so keen!

Wet I'm not small at all, my arse is strangely smaller than the rest I pretty much am a cupcake on a smaller arse and bigger legs. :o currently on the lc boot camp to try and fix that!

Aww, it sounds like your DD loves it, that's good!

Must admit, I feel too tired to think of food to make though and am currently living on Atkins bars the past few days, toothache isn't helping it but feel I should be doing something to give myself more energy.

I love that image

Unfortunately, our kitchen is being done so the contents of the cupboards are in the lounge. My snacks are literally 2 feet from the couch with Dds mini gingerbread men peeking out at me!

Wish I had some Atkins bars!

The Atkins bars are baddd, full of sugar alcohols and nit good on your stomach.

So, no cycling for me today as I feel awful and the weather is horrendous, we have such bad wind just now. :( I'm actually really disappointed!

Oooo no! Back off the Adkins bars then! Haha
I had a hot dog in wetherspoons today and no cycling! Knew this weekend would be bad diet wise but could've at least waited til we got to the house!

Dds missing the bike today too, all good signs!

I've had an Atkins yogurt shake, 3 Atkins crackers and a couple of bits of smoked cheese, I think dinner is an Atkins choc shake. Killing myself here. No cycling as weather was rotten.

Great that DD is missing it! Are you? Think I will try and get a few miles in tomorrow, don't want to be back at day 1 again!

Wow! Adkins sounds....exciting!

I am a bit yea! Going to try again on Monday and see if we can go a bit further, got a 7k route mapped out to work towards so going to do a mini bit of that next I think :)

Just sitting at Asda just now having a red bull, came up for a prescription and cycled up hill in the wind and rain!

I am loving this and have named my lovely bike "Bella". :o