Hi all - Long time lurker (3 months), first time poster. I figured this thread would be good as any to lose my RBR virginity on; considering I got into cycling because I felt disgusted with myself and couldn't believe how out-of-shape I had become:
Growing up, I was always pretty athletic (basketball, tennis, baseball). Around 5'11'', 170-75 lbs. Never struggled too much with my weight. Played collegiate basketball. Graduated. Law school. Graduated.
You know the drill...stopped working out as much because life got in the way, and then 6 years removed from college I realized I had slowly ballooned up 30 pounds. During the time since graduating, I had always tried to keep the weight off, half-heartedly doing a diet here or there, ran for a few months here or there (would typically lose 5-10 lbs and then put it right back on). Tipping the scale at over 205 lbs was tough. I know many have much better weight gains on here, but for me, given my lifestyle previously, that was a hard fall. I reached my low point December 2011, when none of my suits fit anymore, and I ended up buying a 44R jacket and 40W pants. Yeah, my wife loved me "no matter how I looked," but I was completely disgusted with myself. I decided then and there that enough was enough.
New Year's Resolution on January 1, 2012: I gave myself 1 year to get healthy.
No, I didn't give myself a goal weight (even though I thought it'd hopefully be around 165-170ish). No, I didn't say I was going to lose x amount of weight in y amount of days. I knew it was going to be a long road back, and I figured 12 months would be a healthy timeline to not go nuts over some crazed diet, but to change my lifestyle and eating habits.
I started on our treadmill, trying to run around 3-4 days a week. Couldn't even go a mile without stopping (and 5 years ago I ran a number of 5k's <20 min no problem). That was a real eye-opener. But I kept with it. Every meal I ate, I would cut the meal in half when I got it, and would wait a minimum of 10 min after eating the first half. The majority of time, I'd be full after waiting the 10 min.
In April, I didn't keep up the running as much, because frankly, I was getting sick of it, and I kept getting shinsplints. So I picked up tennis again, and would run 1-2 days a week. By this time, I had lost about 10-12 lbs and had been keeping it off pretty well. But 10 lbs over 4 months wasn't anything earth-shattering.
Fast-forward to June; I said to myself, "Road biking has always looked really fun, and it'd be a good workout" (I live in a western suburb of Minneapolis, and the amount of roadies around here is mind-numbing; I believe I heard something like we have the highest amount of road bikers per capita of any state in the country?).
So I hopped on Craigslist, and picked up a 2011 Trek 2.3 for $1,100 w/shoes that I believed to by my size after a few weeks of research (54cm, since I only have a 30.5 inseam).
I went to my LBS, bought a jersey, helmet, gloves, shorts, bag, tire tools, etc. Set me back $750. At that point, I said, "no going back now!"
Hop on the bike the next day and go 20 miles; that was it. I fell in love HARD.
Since that day in late June, I've logged just over 1,000 miles over the past 3 months (around 4 rides per week), and am so addicted to riding that I think about it almost all day and night (along with stalking this website for info). I've gotten respectable enough I think; as my typical ride is 30-35 miles averaging ~18.6-19.1 mph with around 800-900 ft in elevation gain (we don't have any extended hills around the lakes that I ride, but there are a number of pretty decent 1/2 to 1 mile inclines). I'll hit up weekend rides of 40-50 miles. I'm a really competitive person, so I do like seeing bikers in kit gear up ahead and working to blow by them.
Again, since I'm not weighing myself, I can't say for sure how much weight I've lost, but I know many co-workers & friends say it looks like I've lost 15-20 lbs easy. I now fit into clothes I haven't worn since college (I'm now a 40R top and 34ish waist).
Best part of it all; I love being able to take hills that 3 months ago would've brutalized my legs; standing out of the saddle at 13-14 mph and sucking air the whole time, to now being able to sit in the saddle all the way averaging 19-20 mph up the hill while hitting KOM's against others on MapMyRide (I know Strava is where the serious guys role, but I'll stick with MMR a tad bit longer because I need the self-esteem boost
So short story long, cycling has definitely changed my life. My only worry now is being in MN, with the weather getting cold, that I fear riding a trainer (looking at the Kurt Kinetic?) will bore me to tears after the scenery I get to see around our many lakes on my typical routes.
P.S. I'm already on the hunt for a new ride (I need to get fitted to make sure I'm buying the right size between the 54/56cm), and targeting the Cervelo R3, even though I've never been on one. Also looking at the mid-level Madone's and Orbea Orca's. Anything else I should be looking at?
Sorry for the rambling message, but I just thought I'd get my intro out there as well. This site is easily the best cycling website on the web, and I'm glad to be part of it!