Need to lose weight quickly....what about cycling?

[Deeperthanathousandcuts]

Ok so the scoop is I am getting married in 6 months and need to squeeze into my wedding dress. My hours of work are arduous so exercising before or after work is a no-go.

I dwell in the City and take the tube most days into work which I loathe. One of my colleagues in work suggested cycling into work. My initial thoughts were f### no, but, we have shower facilities in work and the cycle would be around 11km which I'm told is easy peasy lemon squeezy. Is his doable? I so, how long would it take? What would I need to wear? What bike should I get, sit up and beg or road bike? There are so many bikes out there, some cheap and some insanely expensive. Help please :-).

Get whichever bike you fancy. Something with gears if you have hills. A specialist shop will allow you to test ride. I would guess that for 200-300£!you can get a reasonable bike. You will also need front and back lights, lock, helmet. Another 50-100£. Wear what you like. Lycra is comfortable, good in rain or tracksuit bottoms are comfy - but not something that flaps around at the ankles. Do a trial run at the weekend. I would guess it will take just over an hour, depending on how many lights you come across.

How much weight do you need to lose?

However, regardless of that, you should know that weight loss is 80% down to diet and only 20% to exercise, so what are you eating/drinking?

I'm too scared to ride on the roads, but spinning really makes the lbs drop off me, so I reckon from a weight loss point of view, you're onto a winner.

www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-californium-1-2016-women-s-hybrid-bike-ex-demo-ex-display-EV299786

225 for a sit up and beg.

If you're doing it just to lose weight then forget about it. Losing weight is 80% diet.

Also, cycling on London roads is death trap central. Please be careful and get all the safety stuff you possibly can.

Ty Whippet, my route is undulating so gears would make sense I think. I thought I'd have to get head to toe in the cycling get up, padded shorts and the shoes so it's good to hear that I can be fairly relaxed about all of this. My fiancé has pointed out a nice looking bike which is on sale, ex display so the price has been slashed. Sorry to sound naive but how dangerous is it to cycle on the road? I don't hear of that many accidents but knowing my luck I'd get crushed, any tips?

Also id advise you to try it first before actually committing to buy a bike. I have done it a few times and it was a hideous experience. Nothing like the relaxed fun feeling of a Sunday afternoon ride through a park!

Get Strava, a cycling app that records your route and speed. Also calculates calories. Great motivation to beat yesterday's time.

On average people who cycle live longer- any risk of having an accident is more than offset by being fitter!

Spinning and cycling on a road are nothing alike. You will never do the interval training on a real bike and genuinely go at the speeds you cycle at during the sprints in spinning.

Obviously cycling is good and exercise etc but it in no way has the same benefits as interval training as you do in spin.

Sorry cross posted. Many of you answered my questions. Queen hats what I'm worried about, I'm quite clumsy and do sometimes wonder how there aren't more accidents because the roads in London can get a bit hairy.

I'm dieting, low carbing which has worked well but I'm just trying to shift the last few pounds and tone up in time for my wedding so think I now need to add exercise into the equation.

Wonder if I can get some cycling lessons, does this even exist? Just so I can get used to road cycling.

I would start running if I were you - 30mins every other day, you will be half a stone lighter within a few weeks.

Your borough might provide some free cycle training- or you could pay for a couple of hours and practice your route.

I've found london fine - traffic moves about 12 mph in london and drivers are aware of cyclists because there are so many. The thing to watch out for is hgvs. They are involved in a disproportionate number of cyclist accidents because they have very poor visibility when turning left or right.

The LCC website has some information on cycling in london. There are a set of cycle maps too that highlight cycle routes - either off road or separated from cars.

lcc.org.uk/pages/startcycling
Lots of info.

I find cycling to work gives me a real buzz. You could add a few hills if you want to burn off a bit more energy!

I've done a cycle commute into central London and it worked miracles for getting fit and toned and skinny (miss those days). You do have to ride assertively and pick your route but it can be done.

I run on the weekends as I just don't have the time before or after work. I was ookibgbfor exercise to fit in to my work day and cycling seems to fit as it takes me an age to get to work on the tube and I always feel grubby after being pressed up against strangers.

Whippet thanks for the encouragement I'm going to see if I can get a few lessons, my colleague did offer to assist but I think I'd feel safer in the hands of a pro. Have decided to try out a Santander bike tomorrow and if I like it I'll buy the ex display bike. I'm rather excited to try it now.

God for you op. I used to cycle to work in London, about 6 miles, so not far off your distance, took me 30 mins and the only accident I ever had was totally my fault (and the only damage was a ladder in my tights!). Not sure it will help lose much weight but it's a lot more fun than the tube

I would run to work and take the Tube home. An 11k run a day will be a lot of exercise. Cycling that distance, in a city, will burn very few calories at all - you need speed, distance and (preferably) hills to burn calories cycling.

I regularly cycle 10-15 miles (though not to work) and wear tracksuit bottoms, normal trainers (anything is OK for your feet, but it might get wet/muddy) and something comfortable on top. I do need to shower afterwards!

Getting cycling lessons would be a great idea. I've cycled in my city (not London) daily for almost 20 years, and have only once had contact with a car (passenger opened their door into the road), and didn't even come off. However I cycle assertively, and lessons would help you know how to stay safe.

I have impressive thighs, and, to my surprise, upper arms, but I've needed to adjust my diet to lose weight, so while cycling will be good for you in lots of ways, I'm not sure how much it'll help you get rid of the last few pounds.

Hope that helps!

First time I did low carb I lost ten pounds in two weeks! The weight just dropped off. It's v doable if you stick to it..

I would try getting off the tube a couple of stops early and running instead.

I cycled twice in London and quickly decided it wasn't for me!

OP google your local Belles on bikes group - friendly cycling groups for women to build your confidence! There's also a cycling topic which MN in its wisdom has placed in 'in the club' alongside Gransnet rather than with any other health/exercise topics, so it's rarely used!

I used to cycle up until 3 years ago and have just started back up about a month ago. It's great for dropping inches but it makes me hungry so I need to double watch my calories! However, I cycle on a proper cycle rpute away from the roads and I think I get the most benefit from being able to really push myself and it is an undulating terrain with one decent hill. I'm not sure you would get the same benefits from city cycling but it will help your overall fitness.

If you already run, I'd second the suggestion of running at least partway to work- you'd probably get quicker results from that than cycling in city traffic.

If there are shower facilities then why not do a run/tube combo with the eventual aim that you are able to run all of the way into work? Take the tube part way and get off a stop earlier and earlier as you get fitter.

At the same time I would be watching the cyclists to see what it's like, IMO you'd need nerves of steel and be prepared to have a few near misses.