The last time I was on my bike, was … Well a long time ago. Before I can even think about going further than 50km (10km for that matter), I will have to get back in a basic shape. Telling yourself that you need to get yourself into shape is easy enough, but actually doing it and sticking to it is something completely different.
If you’re used to not moving a muscle other than those required to walk a short distance from A to B, it’s even harder. Motivation can come from a number of sources, but they tend to lose their spark and you end up feeling like you’re doing a chore – a chore that you can decide not to do, so you simply don’t. Result = Status Quo.
How to find the right kind of motivation and how not to lose it, I can’t say, but I can say what my motivation is. It’s a number of things really. I’m overweight and want to get rid of the excess somehow, I want to see the world on my terms and I simply want to get out more – fresh air, not the city stuff. In all of those things you will find my motivation for doing what I’m doing now. I could choose to see the world via railroad, plane, car, motorcycle and a few other things – even walking, but none of them really appeal to me. The only possible solution to me is the bicycle. If I start riding the bike regularly again I will 1) lose weight 2) get out of the house 3) see the world (at least when I go longer distances). All that has one big title hanging overhead – a goal. To be able to do a (circa) 1200km bicycle ride through Sweden and Denmark, and actually do it … and live to tell the tale. Naturally, I could set a goal of crisscrossing the globe on two wheels or some nonsense like that, but just being able to get through 1200km of pedaling will be absolutely huge for me.
Back to the “getting in shape” part. You’re forced to get in shape to get anywhere beyond your immediate surroundings on a bicycle, and by getting on the bike and pedaling it comes bit by bit. But when you’re serious about losing weight and wanting to do 100km or more per day for several days, just pedaling to and from the grocery store will, although it does have a big impact, not do as much as you might think. I’ve bicycled everywhere most of my life, so I know. Once, I got on my bike to go to the beach, some 25km away. Even though I was in what I considered excellent shape, I just about collapsed upon reaching the beach. It was a long ride home. Note: The bike was the correct size, meant for long distance riding and so on.
A training schedule is needed. It doesn’t have to be written down somewhere, your own head will do just fine. Personally I like to see things on “paper” as they serve as a reminder if I should ever lose my focus.
Since my stamina is much like that of a rock, I will have to start slow. I don’t want to overload my body as it will simply shut down on me.
Here’s the schedule thus far. It’s subject to change depending on how my physique reacts.
Week 1-3: 5km per week day. 10km per weekend day.
Week 4-6: 10km per week day. 20km per weekend day. Add 5km on the weekend rides if everything feels good.
Week 7-9: 15km per week day. 30km per weekend day.
Week 10: 20km per week day. Maintain 30km per weekend day. If everything is clicking, add 5-10km to each day (or more if everything feels OK).
I used to go 10km per day when I was in school. Even though school is “only” 10 years ago, a lot has changed since then, but at 31, I should be able to do at least 5km per day for a week. 10km the next week doesn’t sound too crazy. Of course, I may end up aching from head to toe after just 5km (disregarding the need to get used to being in a saddle again), thus making week 2 a repeat of week 1, but only time will tell. The first 10 weeks might end up being stretched out to 15-20 weeks. It all depends on how my body reacts.
