Vorpal wrote:I have now hit the tender age of 50 and carry a fair amount of excess weight I'm struggling to enjoy cycling. Hills kill me and anything over 20 miles loaded is a real challenge.
How often do your ride your bike? How far do you go when you ride?
As someone who has been hauling children, plus all the things necessary for trips with children, for the last 9 years or so, I can assure you that a little extra weight doesn't make as much difference as fitness. If you want to go up hills more easily, go up hills a lot, and they will soon become easier.
Even though I was fairly fit, when I moved from a relatively flat place to a relatively hilly one, I had some work to do to get better at climbing.
The hardest hill I ever climbed was the first hill I pedalled up after 2 months off the bike with a broken rib.
To get touring fit.... I can do it on tour, but I need to start with low mileage and work my way up to it. And that's true, however much I am carrying. The difference between credit card touring and fully loaded is probably only about 10 miles per day, if I'm not fit for it.
If I can prepare, I need to ride 4 or 5 days pers week, at least 20 miles each time, and every 3rd ride or so, go longer and longer, and work my way up to my expected daily touring mileage.
Can you commute by bicycle? Or drive / train part way and cycle the rest? Do errands or shopping by bicycle?
Good luck with it. I hope you find your enjoyment in cycling again.
p.s. if you want a new bike, or think that will help, by all means get one. Go out and ride some bikes and see what takes your fancy. But if you think it will get you up the hills more easily, you may be paying for disappointment.
