Cycling UK Forum

Would anyone give me some advice? Firstly I have recently bought a mountain bike ( I have not cycled for over 30yrs, I am 54 and a couple of stone overweight) Eventual aim is to get fit, buy a touring bike and spend a couple of weeks going round parts of Scotland perhaps next year.
I have signed up to attempt a 30mile cycle run both on and off road at the end of September.
Does anyone know where I can buy padded shorts or trousers for a 40/42 waist, also a base layer and top for the larger man. As I have never attempted a cycle run before any advice on what food to take or anything else I might need would be most welcome.
Thanks
Archie Bain

With regard to preparation, the only real advice is to ride the bike as much as you can. You may already know that this involves agony to begin with. Your backside in particular will be very tender. It is easy to assume that this is the fault of the saddle but it is largely because you are sitting on the muscles which are suddenly getting used to doing all that extra work. No point in searching for extra soft saddles - after a couple of rides you will have a tougher BTM.

The main things with food and drink are

1/ Avoid dehydration. No need at this stage for anything exotic, just make sure you have water with you and have a drink.

2/ When you are cycling the energy expended means that your blood sugar level is dropping imperceptibly but all the time. If you do not replace it, the blood sugar level will dip below the critical line and you will experience, knock/ AKA the bonk / the wall etc. Call it what you will. Again, you don't need anything exotic at this stage, just eat something before you feel hungry, of the jam sandwich, energy bar type of thing.

Enjoy your ride. (Others will advise on where to buy big togs.)

Why not try Lidl or Aldi? Both do low cost cycling gear of all sizes, but be sure to check out the size it says first against actual. I was caught out once.
I have some padded Y fronts from there which are OK, but I personally find most padded shorts too thick and sweaty.
Suggest you just go out and try it a few times.
PS Bananas are good for slow release energy.
Good luck

If there's a Decathlon in your area it would be worth looking in. They cover your size. I know. Dont ask why
They also have changing rooms so that yopu can check fit and possibly more importantly decide whether you can live with the image...

30 miles - you'll easily be ready! Dont worry about distance, start by riding for an hour and then increase your time in half hour steps. For this sort of distance discomfort is likely to be more of an issue than fatigue. Pains in the proverbial usually diminish with familiarity. Numb hands might require better grips, mittens or adjustments to your riding position.Time in the saddle will be your diagnostic tool!

If you encounter soreness "down there", as opposed to an ache then you might be afflicted by a type of sweat rash. Sudocrem, as used for babys, is your friend. Cheap, effective and available from any chemist.

I'd also recommend Decathlon - i'm a 42" waist and 48" chest. I find their XXL shorts and tops fit me fine.

Archie
A good bike shop will have clothes in your size, My father inlaw is of similar dimensions and he never has any problems finding stuff.

If your an internet shop try Wiggle, or bike plus. There sizing guides seem fairly accurate. But be sure to look at the sizing guides, different manufactures have different sizes, to the point with cycling clothes One manufacture will call a 36 inch chest large, whilst to another its a small.

regards

NUKe

I have just got a pair of padded cycle shorts from Tesco for £8.50 which seem to do the job (the XL will fit your waist) and the Altura Nevis waterproof top from Evans (and other shops im sure) go to XXXL which fit me (thank god!). I've been out most mornings this week (my first week owning a bike) so I hope the XXXL stuff starts getting bigger on me in the next coming months!

Hi
Just wanted to thank everone who took the time to answer my question
Archie

Go to your local cycle shop and ask if they can measure your bum.

You sit on a gel pad and when you get off they measure the distance between the indentations.

Any other method is up to you and the measurer.

I had just bought a new bike and as luck would have it, the saddle fitted was exactly the right size.
I've always used a Rolls saddle before, this one is a Selle and to be honest I don't seem to get as sore, and it doesn't take long before it stops getting sore either.

It may be coincidence but it worked for me.

Good luck with the ride, and don't be tempted to go too quick. At your own pace you can go all day.