Thinking of going to the Dark side.

Zippy · **Posted:** Tue Sep 15, 2009 8:48 am

Luna-

It sounds like your real concern is that your riding group has all dropped weight and now might be leaving you in the dust. That right?

It might be the road bike, it's probably the weight loss. Keeping up with your peer group is an amazingly motivating force; it gets my ass out the door on days when I'm tired, it's cold out, it's hot out, blah, blah, blah.

Lots of good advice on this thread on how to lose some weight:
-running
-hire a coach
-ride more, eat less
-cut out soda, beer and sugary drinks
-commute to work by bicycle

Here's what I do when it's time for me to get down to "race weight" (143):
-No soda
-No beer
-more veggies and salad, less carbs
-coffee = strong and black
-water and lots of it

Before rides, I don't have anything but strong, black coffee. I don't take in ANY calories for the first 90 minutes of the ride or if the ride is shorter than that.

Hope that helps.

Eric

ocd · **Posted:** Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:47 am

Zippy wrote:

Here's what I do when it's time for me to get down to "race weight" (143):

143

sladnas · **Posted:** Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:29 am

kettlebell wrote:

2. Do a 1hr of hard cardio before eating breakfast.

I'm always amazed that people can do this, but it makes me pass out just reading it. The body is in a hypoglycemic state after waking from sleep and requires fuel. I've been hit by this so many times that I make it a point to eat breakfast period, regardless of morning activity. If I don't, I'll be laying on the ground somewhere waiting for the stars to clear from my vision before limping home. Alcohol after exercise (particularly on an empty stomach) can have the same effect because alcohol inhibits the liver's ability to produce glucose for the duration of the alcohol being in the blood. This is one reason I usually don't celebrate a long ride with beer...however lots of people are (obviously) not as sensitive to this and get by just fine. Trips to the doctor and personal observation have gotten me to this point.

bentmywookie · **Posted:** Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:44 am

Saw this vid on mtbr made me think of this thread....

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60lqDP4nKfw[/youtube]

I lost 10 lbs in a couple months by switching from regular to diet soda. Small sustainable changes in diet have helped for me,

... Like others have said if you think it will be fun go ahead and get a road bike... it can only help your mtn bike skills. Just be active.

If you want to go all in just get the P90X dvds and be done with it, I have seen some crazy results from friends.

Zippy · **Posted:** Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:55 am

ocd wrote:

Zippy wrote:

Here's what I do when it's time for me to get down to "race weight" (143):

143

I'm a short bastard (5'5") so don't be too shocked by that weight.

jonathan_sykes81 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:59 am

sladnas wrote:

I'm always amazed that people can do this, but it makes me pass out just reading it. The body is in a hypoglycemic state after waking from sleep and requires fuel. I've been hit by this so many times that I make it a point to eat breakfast period, regardless of morning activity. If I don't, I'll be laying on the ground somewhere waiting for the stars to clear from my vision before limping home. Alcohol after exercise (particularly on an empty stomach) can have the same effect because alcohol inhibits the liver's ability to produce glucose for the duration of the alcohol being in the blood. This is one reason I usually don't celebrate a long ride with beer...however lots of people are (obviously) not as sensitive to this and get by just fine. Trips to the doctor and personal observation have gotten me to this point.

You should read this.

jonathan_sykes81 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 15, 2009 11:00 am

jonathan_sykes81 wrote:

sladnas wrote:

I'm always amazed that people can do this, but it makes me pass out just reading it. The body is in a hypoglycemic state after waking from sleep and requires fuel. I've been hit by this so many times that I make it a point to eat breakfast period, regardless of morning activity. If I don't, I'll be laying on the ground somewhere waiting for the stars to clear from my vision before limping home. Alcohol after exercise (particularly on an empty stomach) can have the same effect because alcohol inhibits the liver's ability to produce glucose for the duration of the alcohol being in the blood. This is one reason I usually don't celebrate a long ride with beer...however lots of people are (obviously) not as sensitive to this and get by just fine. Trips to the doctor and personal observation have gotten me to this point.

You should read this.

YMMV.

ocd · **Posted:** Tue Sep 15, 2009 11:23 am

Zippy wrote:

ocd wrote:

Zippy wrote:

Here's what I do when it's time for me to get down to "race weight" (143):

143

I'm a short bastard (5'5") so don't be too shocked by that weight.

Ha, didn't mean it as a bad thing.

I just think if I dropped 30 and hit 143 I'd be siginificantly faster! Especially uphill!

jabantik · **Posted:** Tue Sep 15, 2009 11:44 am

if you want to increase your saddle time or training volume, consider commuting to work/school and doing errands and going to the store by bike. riding your bike is cheap and good for you. driving a car is expensive and bad for you.

you can just swap your knobbies for slicks, or if your bike is too good to lock up, get a beater. a 105-equipped steel caca from the 90s is only marginally heavier and slower than a full record carbon gucci bike.

GP_pilot · **Posted:** Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:02 pm

jabantik wrote:

you can just swap your knobbies for slicks, or if your bike is too good to lock up, get a beater. a 105-equipped steel caca from the 90s is only marginally heavier and slower than a full record carbon gucci bike.

It's 1992 all over again. For 2010, Specialized has re-released their steel Allez, list price of $610. Bonus, you even get down tube shifters! Now my 1995 steel Allez is back in vogue.

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBC ... 8&eid=4350

sladnas · **Posted:** Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:03 pm

jonathan_sykes81 wrote:

YMMV.

Thanks. I've read it before, but it's worth another read. I put the disclaimer on there because I know what works for me, personally. Hopping out of bed and hammering out some cardio without eating will screw me every single time. I guess part of this whole thing is just figuring out your own body and what it needs.

jonathan_sykes81 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:08 pm

sladnas wrote:

I guess part of this whole thing is just figuring out your own body and what it needs.

Couldn't agree more.

Mudd · **Posted:** Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:22 pm

Ld00d wrote:

i've lost near 15lbs in the last month or so. i weighed in at 198.5 yesterday. down from a peak of somewhere near 215.

i attribute my success to lowering my caloric intake and backing off refined sugar stuff (candy bars) and booze.

i also ride my road bike more these days cuz i can get an hour in before work and get some good cardio goin. i listen to some podcasts and jam. the roadie is good for aerobic, and the mtb is good for anaerobic. the roadie has actually made me stronger in the dirt too (in my mind anyway).

i love the dirt. i rode my local yesterday and it was fun, but it knocked out 3 hours of my day that could have been spent with my daughter.

I agree!

Cross train on the road bike. It will improve your cardio.

BigHeadzDC · **Posted:** Thu Sep 17, 2009 11:57 am

I'm enjoying both road and dirt.. nothing wrong with that.

Thinking of going to the Dark side.

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