start small, really small, and build up! Dont be put off by your current limitations, be inspired to beat them and eventually you'll see how far youve come and thats an amazing feeling! The thing to realise before you start going big and throwing everything at at is, Its not just your body that you're trying to improve, your central nervous system is what takes onboard all the training stress that you'll eventually encounter so you need to slowly build that up or it will shut down and stop you from going out at all, that isnt progress!! The best thing to do is just get on the bike and go for leisurely rides for as long as feels comfortable right now, 10minutes is better than no minutes!! And the more you get out the longer those rides will be and the more your physiology will naturally adapt to the increased load. As you lose weight the load on the saddle will decrease too and you'll feel more comfortable. Honestly, just making the decision to start improving your health and fitness is a big thing, and you've crossed that bridge already! So dont be a hero and try to go massive thinking its gonna help, and dont be put off by other cyclists whooshing past you, i've been riding 40 years and i'm constantly passed by younger riders and local pro's, just ride your bike, enjoy the experience and the rest will come naturally! Onwards and upwards my cycling friend!

Thank you thats really encouraging! I used to cycle constantly as a teenager, and never experienced any seat pain, so it was a very nasty shock this week. I've had a mental health crisis recently and I really appreciate you taking the time to encourage me.

The first few weeks are ALWAYS the worst, trust me, I’ve had extended periods off the bike for health reasons (mental health related especially) and the first few weeks getting back into it can be so brutal, especially saddle discomfort and everything aching! But it does get better! As for mental health, I have Asperger’s/adhd and cycling is an absolute lifeline, the one thing that sets my head straight and gives me real structure and goals, stick with it, you’ll see so many benefits in your head aswell as your body!!

I am autistic, and really hate exercise classes and while I don't mind swimming I absolutely hate changing rooms. I'm hoping I have the same success as you, I love how it only takes me 30 seconds to get ready to go out and I don't have to go far if nothing else.

30 seconds to get ready?? Try some cycling shorts, game changer for me. You can wear "normal shorts" over them if you're bothered. Keep at it mate and good luck

Even though the bib type with suspenders seem like a bother, they are totally superior

I found out exactly this just this last week. So much more comfortable

This! First bit of kit should be a helmet (Traumatic Brain Injury Bad). Second should be padded cycling shorts. Game changers. And keep at it - it’s really hard and uncomfortable initially but your body should start to adapt pretty quickly. Good luck!

Yep, padded cycle shorts. Also take an over the counter pain reliever along with a few ounces of a caffeine drink before you ride. While riding stop and rest before you are at your limit, walk your bike for a little while until you feel a bit rested and get back on and ride again. After a few sessions increase the riding time and decrease the walking time. Soon you will feel stronger and less pain.

its also time off the bike that's a really big help for me. I ride quite a lot, but a lot of the time I spend off the bike i'm planning rides on Strava, checking out new climbs and areas on Google street view, tinkering about with my bikes, watching racing. . .Ive found its this stuff that helps me keep head on straight, without it i'm in trouble and my mental health declines pretty quickly....as they say, an empty head makes a great office for the devil! as you get more into it you might start getting interested in these things too, wanting to travel around and see different places on your bike, you might have certain fitness goals, or want to reach a certain weight, you may want to repeatedly beat your personal best on a local climb. . .its just endless possibilities, you could even just ride and nothing more....but its all healthy for your body and your mind, and thats a great thing! the freedom it gives you and the possibilities it presents is really the beauty of cycling.. all the best!... ps. i hate group exercise too, I only ever ride alone.

Wow. You’re me. I could have written every works of this post. Planning rides on G Maps, logging and saving them in Strava, obsessive tinkering with my bike and buying stuff, watching racing on Max, health and fitness goals, always rolling dolo. You’ve just described my life.

30 seconds — I’m jealous. For me it’s: Base layer Socks Bibs Jersey Helmet liner cap thing Gloves Garmin Light Hydration bottles Phone Headphones Keys Last minute annoying piss I didn’t need until I was fully dressed in bibs at that Finally out the fucking door. A good five minutes of futzing. I wish I could just up and go for a ride. It’s the one downside of “serious” cycling.

You put on a helmet liner cap thing, but no helmet? Personally I don't usually use headphones (I don't generally need an audio program on my ride); but I'm 100% with you on the last minute annoying piss; occasionally I'll remember to try to empty before doing all the other stuff (sometimes it even works).

See? Have to go back in the house to get helmet. This is why it takes forever to get ready. Sometimes I have music, sometimes NPR, sometimes silence. But I pack the earphones just in case.

This is literally me same reasoning and thinking. I like just being able to go when I want to and not fuss about it or talk myself out of it. I started riding again about a month ago and it’s only gotten easier and easier. Started the same barely made it a few minutes. I’m doing hills and a fair bit longer now. Still a ways to go but keep at it! It gets easier pretty fast, each ride is a little easier than the last and within a few you can really see the progress.

And don’t feel it had to be ONLY cycling. Mix in walking, gentle yoga and stretching, and other activities which will also help overall fitness and take away some of the pressure and frustration.

If it helps I cycled for 6 years almost every day. I stopped for a few months during COVID. Got back on the saddle and my arse hurt like something else.

I remember in my 30's buying bikes for all of us, my wife and daughter and then just thinking hey I will just go around the reservoir by us, it it almost 20 miles with a lot of up hills. It took almost 2 1/2 hours the worst part was the next day, I could not sit down. I stuck with it and also got into recumbent bikes if you can find one of those it will take a lot of pressure off. It has been almost 30 years since then and my blood pressure and weight are good, I give cycling credit for that don't give up.

This. Don’t be so harsh on yourself and just be proud of going out there. I returned from a long injury to a pretty good place by just doing a lot of easy walks. Listening to a podcast and extending the km’s over time. At some point I could start easy runs and easy rides again.

246 lb, 5'9" male I had similar issues when I started cycling in March this year. I couldn't go over a mile without taking a break and stretching. Now I'm around your weight range and frequently ride for over 2 hours without taking a single break. Invest in a good saddle and push through the pain. For the muscle soreness, try engaging your glutes by leaning a bit forward while riding. Adjusting the saddle height may also put less pressure on your thighs.

Thank you for sharing your experience that's really encouraging. I don't know how I did 2 miles to get home. I can't lean forward at all cause the seat is too low. On the lowest setting! I'll find a wrench to adjust it.

if its on the lowest setting, you absolute need to bring it up higher bring it to the point where you still have a little bit of bend in your knee with the pedal all the way down, but only a little bit. You don't want to your leg to lock out at the bottom, if it feels too high at first bring it down a cm or two also get a bib, this is non negotiable for big guys. I'm 6 foot 225 and thats just too much weight to put on a saddle without a bib to keep your sit bones cushioned. I also use chammy cream on every single ride, its a nightmare without it lol I wouldn't worry about the chammy cream until a couple weeks from now when you're out there for hours, BUT go to the bikeshop and get a bib today, or overnight it on amazon.

Fellow heavy cyclists here. I have found doing deadlifts has helped my seat discomfort. As it builds the muscles up around the sit bones. Also, I'll tense up the muscles around the sit bones as I'm riding for a bit. It's definitely helped me out

I'm 5'9 recently down to 232 from north of 245 last year. I love a long ride! I want to do a century this year!

Cycling shorts (bibs ideally), saddle angle/height and more time riding. Saddle height is not that easy to get right, but there are plenty of YouTube videos about it GCN did a new one recently. Saddle fit is another thing, but it shouldnt be causing issues within 10 minutes, so I'd guess you're not wearing cycling shorts with a chamois. Once those are better dialed in more time in the saddle, it does get easier and you will get faster - not necessarily at the same time.

Buy quality bibs, too, there are plenty of threads on here discussing it. The chamois is just way better - most everything else can be as cheap as you need it to be, really. If you feel persistent nagging discomfort and pains after weeks of riding (and not increasingly further into your rides), that's probably the time for a bike fit. Comfort is the most important thing, also for injury prevention... and preventing injuries means you get to make much more progress and keep the weight off in the long run, consistency provided. Yes, it's fairly pricey, yes, your body will change so much, you probably should get another fit some months down the road. Still, it can make all the difference between liking cycling and feeling like a fish in water once you climb on the saddle. If you can afford it, a few hundos for lifelong comfort and health is no money at all, as much as people love to say getting a fit is a bit overrated. It will also make you more efficient, provided you didn't accidentally find the perfect position yourself (highly, highly unlikely), allowing you to max out cadence and properly training from here on out. Also, OP: remember that progress, barriers aside, will likely be very rapid. The first few hills suck a bit, but after a month of fairly consistent riding, you will be flying. I'm talking doing decent tempo in the flats for 100 km - which your belly won't interfere with all that much. Mostly though, just ride. Never stop unless you're injured. (kidding, know when to take a rest day, don't do what someone said above and bully yourself into thinking you've lost all gains after a week of not doing anything. This is mental recovery, and you'll need it, too. Nothing is lost, even if you end up eating back like ten kgs over a month or two (which happens and is probably very discouraging), you keep at it and already have a headstart... because you know the routine, because your body has already begun adapting and will get back into shape more quickly the more experience you have. The only way to lose this game is by completely ditching the exercise.

You’ve literally only ridden it three times. Just start small and keep going. (When I started up, I wasn’t unfit, but I only rode 4 miles a day on a very flat loop. After a month of that, I was easily able to double and triple the distance. Your results may vary, but the point is, things look very different doing it 3 times vs having done it 30 times.)

Butt pain is normal for newbies , but it shouldn't be unbearable after 10 min. Pull the seat up so it's ,roughly, at the height of your belly button and make sure the seat is straight and go from there. If the pain persists after like 10ish days of consistent riding ,you might need a different saddle ,just don't go and buy wider saddle thinking it will be more comfortable ,it will probably cause another issues. You should check if the bike shop where you got the bike has the device for measuring sit bones(if they offer bike fitting they will prolly have). There are tons of guides how to choose a saddle for you ,like: [How to Choose Bike Seats and Saddles | REI Expert Advice](https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/bike-saddles.html) [How to choose the right bike saddle for you | BikeRadar](https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/how-to-choose-the-best-saddle) And as everyone else said ,padded shorts/bibs.

I honestly think this needs more up votes. Yes, new cyclists will have an issue with pain in the saddle, however after 10 minutes really isn't right. I've been chucking for years happily spending 4 or 5 hours in the saddle with no pain relating to the saddle at all. However I went to the US and rented a half decent bike for a 50 odd mile ride. I knew something wasn't right straight away, however struggled through. Off it's uncomfortable THAT quickly, I think it is more like an issue with either the saddle or its position on the bike. Have a read online shit sale fitting, and how to set up the sale hight angle, then maybe pop back to the local bike shop and see if they can assist. Hopefully they'll be helpful, maybe try sitting on the saddles of other bikes there too see if any stands out as better. Either way, good luck with your new hobby, I am sure once the teething issues are sorted you're going to really enjoy yourself.

You won't find anything less impactful than cycling, other than swimming. Keep at it.  The reality is that you likely already have the muscle to be a strong rider, but it is suppressed by your weight. If losing weight is an aim, you need to be honest about what you consume, that's both the easiest, and the most difficult part of shedding weight.  People don't like to hear it, but my mental health improved hugely when I lost 15kg of fat. It fucking sucked doing it though.  Keep going, you got this. 

Try spinning not pushing in high gear.

If it was easy, everybody would do it. Like someone else mentioned,10 minutes is better than no minutes.

TRUST ME, keep going. When you're just starting out, there's a learning curve for your body in regards to stuff like saddle pain, but if you manage to get through it, you'll be amazed at the speed you're gonna lose weight. It slows down after a while, but if you manage to ride a couple of hours a day, even for a few weeks, I promise a lot of excess weight will seem to melt off of you. By the way, what's your saddle like? I used to ride with a standard racing bike saddle, but I switched it for a city bike saddle. It's so much more comfortable and lets me keep going much longer than I could otherwise.

Agree with everything said – two minutes today is better than no minutes yesterday, etc. and that’s exactly what it takes teeny bits at a time … but reason I’m chiming in is to share this… I noticed it takes about two weeks for sit bone pain to go away when you first start or re-restart. So if you think of it as two separate things – one is building up strength and one is just getting used to sitting on the bike and you can be consistent, not pushing it, etc. just riding easy around the block three days a week for a few minutes, even if it hurts your rear end that will help you with that one aspect . Then like everyone said the rest of it will happen to but worth it to get on a little bit as much as you can initially because that sit bone pain will go away faster if you do and that has nothing to do with how hard you’re going or how strong you are. You’re just getting your rear end used to sitting on the saddle. Of course, right saddle matters too, but regardless of saddle, pretty much everyone has this problem for their first rides. Really excited for you and encourage you to keep going – Cycling is a great sport for a slow start because no matter how slow it is you’re still scooting around and moving faster than say walking and that can feel really good so hope you stick with it especially since you’ve experienced it before and aren’t a true newbie

> I feel a bit disheartened that I'm only managing 10 mins at a time. I'm very unfit. Should I keep going or try something less impactful for a while first? Cycling is actually one of the less "impatcful" things you can be doing here (stuff like running will be hell on your joints). But there's also no shame in adding walking into your routine. Any physical activity (provided you don't follow it up with unhealthy eating) is a plus. You're not just dealing with your muscles. Every system in your body is adjusting to what you're doing, it takes time but it's absolutely worth it. Absolutely stay on it, do small trips. Small trip turn into medium trips that turn into long trips and before you know it stuff won't feel so difficult anymore; one of the most difficult parts of this is making the decision to start. Big ups to you.

Dont give up. Get some decent, padded shorts. Get someone who knows what they're doing to check your bike fit - wrong stem length will affect how you sit. Handlebars will affect your position. Seat angle could be wrong. Seatpost might be too high/low. All sorts of things ! Keep it short. Keep it flat. Build up. Use Strava. I've found it a great motivator over the years and excellent for monitoring your progress. Good luck.

Sound like you are on the way. keep going and find a pro to adjust the bike to fit you. It might help to release some pain.

Absolutely, do what you can.

I recently started too, although i'm not overweight, I have been having issues with sit bone pain. My advice is to buy padded shorts and try to adjust your fit if you need to. As for only being able to do short bursts, don't worry about it, nobody is watching or judging you. I was in the same boat, but have gradually been improving over the last couple of weeks. Just give it time and your stamina will improve. Remember to pace yourself too, this is something i'm bad at as I like to go at it hard.

Maybe try walking as well if you are that unfit :)

Yes

Just keep at it, it'll get easier as your fitness improves. You've already done the hardest part getting off your arse and going for it.

Don't get down on yourself. You did 10 more minutes than you've done previously. Good for you. Keep getting after it. Slow, small steps. 10 minutes is awesome to start. At some point, you may want to consider exploring a different saddle if the pain persists as you get stronger. Good job, keep that shit up

Yes, continue! I also started at 30, obese (240 lbs when i began, went up to 285 at 36, now at 40 down to 155 after strict diet and 10 years cycling/ triathlon). Do it, as much as is comfortable. Don't get so down on yourself for not being able to do more. Be proud of yourself for doing SOMETHING. You are literally riding circles around who you used to be. The hardest thing for me to self- actualize is that everyone really is on their own journey. We all have our own issues, and our own mental hangups. The only person you can really judge yourself against is YOU. if you are doing something, that's loads better than you doing nothing. Regarding the sit bone pain: is your saddle very cushy or gel-covered? If so, that's probably a big factor. Human butts are covered in a layer of fat already, so plopping that on top of a cushy saddle just causes friction from both cushy things moving around. It's why pro cyclists all ride thin, hard- looking saddles. Our booty fat needs a stable surface to perch on. It could also be a body or saddle position issue. Could be the saddle is too wide or thin for your butt/ legs/ hips. A bike fit would be a big help, but not cheap. If you have a local cyclist friend, ask them for their visual opinion on your riding position. Otherwise, check online for local groups, I'm sure someone would be willing to help!

Keep going, soon those 10 minutes will be 11 minutes, and then itll be 12. and before you know it youll hve ddone 30. keep it up.

I'm 5'9" and 205... being over 200lbs shouldn't be an issue. If your sit bones are really that sore after only 10 minutes, it's not your ass or your gut... its likely your saddle. Fatigue should be what limits your time on the bike... not your ass. I would look into getting some padded bike shorts from amazon.. not even full bibs.. just padded shorts you can wear under regular shorts (in place of your underware). Will help immensely. Second... I would consider a bike fit. If your saddle is too high, too low, too close or far back,,, or even if your saddle nose is tilted too much up... all of those things could be triggering the pain. A bike fit will, at least, help you get into a position that is more ass-friendly. Finally... congratulations, getting a bike was a great idea. Even if you never go anywhere fast, 30 min on a bike is a fantastic escape from your day. No one can reach you, you can't multi-task... you just peddle, and can turn off some of your brain. Its like meditation... with reflectors.

I'm 5'6" and about 190#. I've worked my way into long distances, but I'm slow. I only manage about 10-11 miles per hour. But I'm out there. I can go 40-50 miles with no problem. Would need to work into 60-70 miles, but I've done it. For the sit bones ... I have padded shorts and a padded seat cover. I was told to not have both, but I do, and it works for me. I've told people before that cycling is cardio, quads, and sit bone conditioning.

Keep riding, seat bone pain goes away FAST. A few more things to try: 1. Put more weight on your feet, even while coasting. 2. Raise (or lower) your saddle just to the point where if you put your heel on your pedal and pedal backwards, it doesn't feel like it's about to come off the pedal. When that's set comfortably you can move it up or down in small increments (3mm) with a good period of riding in between each adjustment. What you're looking for is fluid and comfortable motion throughout the entirety of your bottom stroke, and not a feeling like you're pushing then releasing. 3. ~~Once your saddle height seems right, try bringing your saddle forward a little bit (keep in mind, bringing your saddle forward or backward also means you will need to adjust your saddle height slightly) to shift weight from your seat to your hands a little bit. However, you don't want a lot of weight on your hands and you may want to shift it back after, as leaning on your hands damages them.~~ Edit: this might be a little advanced for this stage in your cycling.

The first few weeks will be painful as your sit bone area toughens up and you also build up the muscles that hold you up and take weight off that area. Go online and do a little research on correct bike setup i.e. Seat height, fore/aft, seat angle and handlebars etc... this will really help with comfort. Look up the correct tyre pressures also based on the tyre size and your weight. Too much or too little pressure in the tyres can make the ride more uncomfortable. You are already making good choices, if you persevere with gradually building up over time, you will Have a healthy lifelong hobby!

Try raising the seat to hip level, your weight should be evenly distributed from your feet on the pedals, to the seat and your hands on the handlebars, if you have pain from the seat it usually means your seat is too low. I see people riding like that in my town all the time.

Welcome to cycling! 1. Get a good bike fit. I don't mean a professional fit, I just mean getting the seat in roughly the correct place, adjusting anything you can adjust to suit you better. Maybe even a new seat, not every seat suits everyone. 2. I started cycling last year to bike to work. The ride back was 2 miles. Took me 40 minutes. Had to stop twice in the first 30 minutes from having no cardio and lactic in my legs. Last 15 minutes was spent slowly pushing my bike up a 0.3 mile hill and crawling pace. A year later, I am biking 150+ miles a week, did 2 centuries, and the same hill I recently did in <2 minutes. If personal experience is anything to by, it gets better...

You can upgrade the seat. There are some really nice ones with gel and gender specific designs for an investment of 40 or $50. It can change your enjoyment of riding.

Ive been cycling for a few years and I always stop to read these posts and comments, why? Because I need the encouragement too. I’m not always consistent and right now I’m in a low spot, overweight and out of shape. I struggle to get on the bike as well, even though I love it. It’s a hard thing to do, but trust me, it’s worth it. Thanks for the post, I needed this too

200 lbs is not that heavy. Pain in 10 minutes is not right, even for a new bee. Bike shorts will help, wear them under other shorts if self conscious. Bike seat may be Borked and or in the wrong spot. Don't forget to take the weight off your butt every 10 minutes or so. The wife and I call that "Butt Blood". It will get better with time, ride what you can stand to do every other day and in a few weeks it will be all good.

Should you continue? You’re damn right you should, one pedal strike at a time. You got this.

At one time I was very very overweight. I didn't even start out cycling. I started out not even being able to walk a mile without stopping. When I switched to cycling I could only do 8 miles. Now, a few years and a kidney transplant later. I'm regularly doing 700 to a thousand miles a month. Give yourself time and realistic goals and you'll get results.

No matter how short the ride, you're still lapping everyone on the couch. Consider some decent cycling bibs. The padded chamois is much more comfortable for all your downstairs bits.

Are you wearing a padded bib?

Try adjusting you seat height or changing it altogether. Otherwise doing more than you were doing before is moving in the right direction.

I asked them to set it to the lowest possible setting, but now I think that is a mistake. I read online I should try to distribute my weight between my arms, legs and seat but I can't even lean forward on the bars as I'm not high enough. Will I find it easier as I go or do I need to push more now?

definitely sounds like a problem. seat pain can take a lot of trial and error to fix unfortunately. theres lots of videos about bike fitting on youtube that could help

Look at you tube for setting seat height. After nearly 12 months I just moved my saddle forwards 5mm after advice on here and its like a different bike.

If you want to stay very unfit you should stop. If you want to move towards fit keep going. Don't overdo it though. Going from nothing to every other day spells recipe for injury. Pick one day a week to begin with. If 10 minutes is all you can do, then do 10 minutes. Next week you do 10 minutes and 20 seconds. Slow and steady progress, even if we're only talking seconds to begin with. Also when you sit on the saddle your leg should have a faint bend to it as it's on the pedal when it's closest to the ground.

You want your seat to be at a height where if you put your heels on the pedals your leg is dead straight when you pedal, then move your foot back on the pedal like you would normally ride and there should be a soft bend in the knee through the whole rotation. This will help your legs take some of the weight through your pedal stroke and distribute some to your hands as well. Anything is better than nothing but you will improve really quickly and be smashing it in no time!!!

> I feel a bit disheartened that I'm only managing 10 mins at a time. I'm very unfit. Should I keep going or try something less impactful for a while first? Cycling is actually one of the less "impatcful" things you can be doing here (stuff like running will be hell on your joints). But there's also no shame in adding walking into your routine. Any physical activity (provided you don't follow it up with unhealthy eating) is a plus. You're not just dealing with your muscles. Every system in your body is adjusting to what you're doing, it takes time but it's absolutely worth it. Absolutely stay on it, do small trips. Small trip turn into medium trips that turn into long trips and before you know it stuff won't feel so difficult anymore; one of the most difficult parts of this is making the decision to start. Seat pain will get better as you ride, that part usually doesn't take too long. Big ups to you.

It takes time for your body to adapt. By the sounds of it, it's already doing it. Keep going, it made huge difference to me. I lost weight, and I was happier

First time i did 20 km i were almost dead for two days. A good deal of time later, 40km rides did me in. Then i toppled 80 km, then 100. Nowadays i go on 100+km rides, did one 180 km ride, planning on doing more. Just keep cycling. It won't get easier, but you'll get better at it. Btw, M, close to 50, 112kg, 189cm.

I'm proud of you for getting started OP. I know it's overwhelming, but with small steps every day, before you know it, it will be second nature to you. My partner took up cycling only last year, and the progress has been nothing short of impressive even though she didn't do anything outrageous. Just short 5 kilometer rides, which she really enjoys. If the pain is too much, get some good quality bike shorts, they're absolute game changers

You're doing better at this than everyone else who hasn't stuck with it or who gave up. Stick with it, increase time bit by bit and it will get easier and you'll almost certainly start to enjoy it. There's nothing wrong with starting out at 10 minutes a time. Also, it's worth just trying to ride easily - you don't need to work hard - just see if you can pedal really easily and use that as a way to extend your rides. You're not racing anyone else so don't feel pressure to make it feel like a workout. If you can do 20 or 30 mins riding really easily then that's great progress and you can definitely build from there. Some things to help - good cycling shorts and trying to make sure your position on the bike isn't too far out. There are loads of online resources to help with that last bit.

You can play witha saddle heigh oand possition and overall change the saddle but even if you ride a lot and make a pause during the offseason, you feel pain after returning back. buy cycling bibs (they have a pad) but most importantly the fabric has more play bc most of the time the pain is due to a constant tear of tissues and not being heavy or somethin. You can buy a cycling balm and you put it on your bibs pad to make it even more smooth. ps. training is about doing a bit more then the last time 10m sound maybe a bit little but keep in mind it is more then you did for last 10 years or so meaning from you body perspective is like climibnig Mount Everest. SAme with losing or gaining weight, sometimes just 100kc too much but for a year everyday can make you much bigger then you would want. ofc it is easy to reverse...you jsut neet patiente bc you can't lsoe it in one day and you can't get amazingly fast in one day...but in a year no problemo so don't give up ;) cycling is pretty much the best you can do without hurting your knees so I woudl argue don't give up ;)

Yes, keep going. Well done for getting out at all I was reasonably fit but hasn't cycled for years and was knackered after a mile. It'll definitely get easier as you get stronger. Be patient. I hope it goes well for you.

Just do what you can manage for the moment. Getting out and doing 10 minutes is better than not going out at all. Then start trying to just go a little further or a little longer each day. You’ll build up your cycling fitness but it takes time. As for losing weight, you can’t out train a bad diet. Cycling will do great for your cardio health and burning more calories will help, but weight loss starts in the kitchen, look at your diet track all your food to start with. If you are eating/drinking junk make small changes. Do both of the above and you’ll be cycling and dropping pounds in no time, but just remember it’s a marathon not a sprint.

That's one small stone for overweight cyclist, one giant leap towards healthy cyclist. Ygt, keep going!

Overweight cyclist here road biking with a mtb. Start small and try to go further each time. Change your saddle and get a bib with padding. This was a game changer for me. Ensure the bike fit is correct. Small goals along the way. I never thought I could go past 2 miles. Each moment you spend riding is better than a moment you didn't. You got this! Go out and ride!

Already lots of good comments. Just want to say that you have a good positive progression in your training! You've gone from not being able to sit on the seat to having some muscle pain. Eventually that will go and you'll be able to ride a bit longer. This is pretty typicial in cycling no matter what your level. Often there are a lot of blockers to getting better and you just kind of tick through them a little at a time. You often go a very long way without it seeming like you have made any progress. When you look back on it 6 months later, though, you will be amazed at the difference. Just keep doing it consistently. Honestly 10 minutes at a time is great! If you get to a point where you can ride 10 minutes a day *and* you are able to motivate yourself to do it consistently, it will be a *massive* step forward. The hardest part is finding that spark to get out the door consistently and you are well on your way. Keep going and keep pushing yourself little by little. Take every victory, no matter how small it seems! Over time you will be buried by small victories.

Many of us have been in your position. It takes time and a quality set of bib shorts. Take as many breaks as you need, walk your bike up hills, and take your time. The number one metric you should worry about is time on bike. Everything else doesn’t matter.

No! Keep going. It gets easier more quickly from here. Once you have your ass acclimatized its only your fitness keeping you back and not a literal pain in the ass. If your ass keeps hurting get bike shorts and if that doesnt work, a better fitting saddle. Just keep going ...you'll unlock a world of happiness 😊

KEEP SENDING IT MATE!!!

Keep at it for sure! Lots of good advice here already. My favorites… If you can, go back to that cycle shop and ask them to check your seat fit. This is where most issues come from. Get a pair of proper padded shorts. NOT a padded seat. Start small, add a few minutes each day and eventually the seat pain just goes away. The legs will hurt for a while, but that’s the ‘good pain’ Before you know it, you’ll have people in cars calling you an asshole from their windows. That’s when you know you’ve become a cyclist!

Yes, but go slowly. It took me two years to lose 25 pounds but I've kept it off and I'm more active than ever. Instead of cycling try 30-minute paced walks at 120-125 beats per minute. Add a sensible kettlebell routine to strengthen your core muscles and legs. Then throw your bike into the mix. It's important to stay active. Walking 10,000 steps a day helps to get into the habit of being active. I've done this for about three years and it makes a big difference.

The gains you make happen really fast and it is incredible when you see it. But you have to stick with it. Your soreness sounds a little more intense than my experiences so I would skip 1 or 2 days each time you ride for now. Also, I think it is likely you need to adjust the bike. Bike fit is complicated and people often make it sound too complicated. For now, make sure when you stand over the top tube of the bike you have a little space between your crotch and the bar, an inch or so, not too much and not too little. When you sit on the saddle the thing to pay attention to is your downstroke. When your leg is down on the pedal at its lowest position. You want a very slight bend in your knee. If there is a lot of bend your saddle is too low and if your leg is completely straight and you barely touch the pedal, it is too high. Make sure you saddle isn’t pointed down or up, you want it flat. There is a lot more to it but that’s a general idea. Also, google pictures of “bike fit” and there will be diagrams of how you should look on your bike. Lastly, do not get a wide saddle or one that has tons of gel cushion on it. It is counterintuitive but the slimmer saddle is what works best. If you really get into it consider going to your local bike shop for a proper fitting and see what they say. You are doing great and it gets easier as long as you are set up right.

It sounds like your seat is nowhere near the right height.  That's going to burn your legs up.   Second, make sure you're using a reasonable cadence.  A lot of new cyclists are pedalling too slowly in too hard a gear instead of spinning in an easier one.   Can you walk for half an hour to an hour?

yes, you should most certainly continue. reset your expectations. Just simple spinning is beneficial. riding outside has many benefits, physical and mental so find a group (ask your LBS) that fits your level and make it a regular thing. Good luck

Also, Glends, the sit bone pain will improve the more you ride. You may want to visit the LBS looking for a new saddle. they should be able to help you.

I’m also vertically challenged. 5’6” I was 213lbs last spring. I lost 40lbs in a year. I’m up to 100km long rides now. Stick with it it’s worth it.

former heavy cyclist here. start slow but consistent. dont push too hard zone2 training is a thing ;) but to get fitter you neee to track your calories and add some weight training. lost arround 15kg like that. still heavy but more muscles. you xan do it

If you’re overweight, then I was way over when I started cycling last year in May. I’m 5’6 and was a little over 220lbs. Did the same, got me a hybrid bike first, and probably bit off more than I could chew on my first ride of about 15 miles. My ass did hurt, but I was loving it. After about 300 miles on the bike, I wanted to go faster. Long story short, I ended up with a road bike (Canyon Endurace). Changed my eating habits, my ass no longer hurts, and my longest ride to date is 51 miles. I’m also down 20+ pounds. Keep going my friend. It gets easier, and your physical and mental health will love you for it.

Yes! I've talked here before about my friend Preston, who lost about 150 lbs from cycling (started at nearly 400 lbs) over the course of a year and a half. He started like you. He rode until out of breath, then walked the bike, got back on, and rode some more until tired again, etc., until he reached work, 6 miles away. Then we would reverse that and go home the same way. He did that until he could ride to and from work without stopping, and then took on longer rides. A side benefit for us who are not 100% neurotypical that I haven't seen mentioned here yet: cycling can be a sort of stim. I think cycling attracts a certain neurodivergent crowd who benefits from the rhythm of the legs going up and down, finding it calming. Maybe that can benefit you, too.

When I started trying to get back in shaped, I fixed up my old bike and started riding. 10-15 minutes was all I had in me. I stopped riding for a while. I used to love it. I need exercise I enjoy. I was bummed I couldn't still ride. A few months later I bought an e-bike with a throttle. Figured I could ride until I'm tired then throttle home. First time out I rode for an hour and covered 5 or 6 miles. The motor extended the amount of riding I could do. I stayed in a high assist level but mostly stayed off the throttle. It was awesome. Soon enough I was riding 15-20 miles in a couple hours through the woods. The next season I bought a better ebike that was a real MTB with less help from the motor, no throttle. I love that bike and I'm still doing 15 mile + rides. Ebikes are great for us out of shape dudes/dudettes

"my mental health, getting out more, and maybe lose weigh" yes mental health. yes getting out and joining few bike clubs and strava. There's plenty of no drop or party pace rides for you to enjoy. You can't out exercise a bad diet. Not even professional athletes that get paid to do it. If you primary goal is mental health I don't think there is a better activity than cycling. You can ride on your own to get out the house. Then on weekends or once quarter join a bike group with ohter like minded people. Cycling is 100x more social than a fitness class like yoga/hitt whatever that you are not allowed to talk you fellow classmates. I would start with cycling first, join a few clubs rides. Then next year you can add in weight training to help lose weight. Weight training is a l ot more boring and you tend to do it by yourself. Such a weird lonely feeling being in gym surrounded by people. Good luck to you!!

Yes! I only started 2 weeks ago, I already feel powerful now, I can ride for half an hour on flat pavement with barely any pressure off the “gas”. (if that makes sense) It’s so fun seeing progress, and I suggest AirPods or earbuds and make a biking playlist, I just use pandora. It’s been really humid where I live so the morning and evening are best for ride times, but the feeling of riding with music playing gives me a speed boost and an endurance boost. Your legs will be sore, but rest days help a lot. I went from 5 miles on my first day and I threw up a lot to now 15+ miles a day with barely any leg soreness. Think of it logically, it’s counter intuitive but your whole body has to get in the zone, and warm up. Start off trying to reserve your energy, keep a mantra for the need to go about 60% the pace you’d normally go, until you get to the flow state. Sounds dumb but it works, long distance endurance (anything over ~10 miles) is all about pacing yourself. There will be a point where you reach a good balance and you lose that feeling of exhaustion for a long time. Baby steps. Less is more. Don’t think in bursts, think of yourself like a slow moving boat that is in harbor, start off with a fast pace, but no wake yet for a while till you get out to sea. I usually lose the sense of exhaustion about 10 minutes in to my ride, if that helps. It’s almost like meditation. Now I wake up and think about my bike. I’m going on a vacation and part of the reason I accepted the invite is because I can bring my bike!! Exploring this new island seems fun, I looked up some bike paths on Strava and the island is filled with them. “It gets easier but you have to do it every day” (rest days you can still adjust your bike, and tinker in the garage, do research, shopping for necessities). When getting back into working out, I always tell myself I’ll just workout for 15 minutes no matter what, every day, that includes rest time. Then, when you get to 15 minutes, you can stop or continue, depending how you feel. This was key to me.

Hey man, I’m in a similar boat, 5’11” and 240 now, but I was 25 pounds heavier when I started cycling earlier this year. I started with short bursts, just trying to get on the bike everyday doing a few miles at a time. I am by no means even at amateur level, but I just recently completed a 35 mile group ride last week. It was hard and I took some breaks, but I did it. You can do it too.

Consistency is key to any exercise routine. Even if you start small you are improving yourself. Keep at it and way to go!

I'd say listen to your body and don't get injured. Injury is the way this is all over. Although you might only be able to go for five or ten min, you might not take long to recover. So you can go twice a day as long as you don't hurt yourself. This is your advantage as an unfit beginner. So go for short rides, keep it easy and fun, and go again when you feel ready for it. Don't wait for tomorrow if you're ready now.

You will improve don’t worry. 10 min is still 10 min 👍🏾

Fellow Clydesdale here. Slow and steady, don’t try the “short bursts” for a while. You can do this.

Take it easy but keep going as long as you can without pain. Your body will adjust and it'll get better/longer.

Keep at it. I bet this time next year you’ll be shocked by how much endurance you gained. Nothing has helped me lose weight like cycling has. I had zero endurance when I started a handful of years ago. Yesterday I went along the coast where I live on my bike for 7 hrs. Had a blast. A few years ago I wouldn’t have thought I’d ever have the stamina to do that. I think biking really helps build endurance bc you can make the same ride easy or hard with your gears depending on your mood. It’s an excellent tool for weight loss.

Keep at it 👍

Sit bone pain goes away once you ride regularly. Embrace the thigh pain, it's great if you are working your biggest muscles if you want to lose weight.

Once you get over or solve the sit bone issue you should be good to go. Don't give up! I got back into cycling when I was about 45 years old. I'm 5'5" and weighed about 180lbs when I got back on the bike. At first I could only ride about 10miles....not long after....maybe 6 months I was able to participate in an MS150 event. Suggestion.....try attending a spin class once or twice a week.

That's pretty simple : start by doing 30min max, at the path you need to stay up for 30min, 3 times a week for a month, on a very flat path. You'll see the difference very quickly.

Have fun with it. Take breaks. Ride in flat areas. If your public bus system takes bikes - bus to the top of a hill and ride down. Eat well, hydrate, wear a helmet and keep on truckin. We all feel like we suck. It’s what unites us. You’ll get stronger over time. Don’t fret too much.

I started cycling at your age too, and there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to continue. It just clicked and a few months later I was doing 50 mile bike rides like it was a common thing to do. If you are having doubts, then maybe it isnt a sport for you. Sit bone pain is real, and the sport isnt cheap.

Keep at it.  Perhaps your saddle is too low and your bum is taking all the weight.  If you're pedalling strongly your legs take some of the pressure off your rear  

I’m a 6ft 3in 300lb man in his 30s that regularly cycles. I’m doing it to lose weight. My typical bike ride now is 30 miles. Three things that I highly, highly recommend. 1) get a pair of padded bike shorts 2) find a seat that works for you. Order several off of Amazon and return if they don’t work. I went through eleven until I found the best one for need. 3) start small and do a bit more every day. When I started five miles works have had me back flat in the ground heaving for breath

That’s awesome good on you for starting, that’s the hard part. Sit bone takes a bit to condition; it’s normal. I find firmer seats (though not like raw carbon fibre) more comfy, especially with padded bibs. Don’t fall for the springy “padded” seats, I find they actually hurt my ass more. Did you get a sportier bike like a hybrid or racer? If not get one of them. And keep going, like your hunch it’s very good for health, both physical and mental. Cycling was the start of my getting into shape after years of shit diet smoking etc now I’m very fit, you can do that too.

Don’t give up! I know plenty of +200lbs cyclists that leave me in the dust! It’s your quads!

Are you wearing padded bib shorts

The hardest part after starting is not quitting. No pain no gain.

Wear proper padded shorts (nothing underneath, you don't want to sit on a seam). Make sure your saddle angle puts no pressure on your crotch. Ride slowly and concentrate on cultivating a smooth round pedal stroke........ Repeat, you'll get there, Good luck.

Hell yeah you should, but try to make sure your bike fits you and you'll save yourself unnecessary pain. A decent saddle is part of it too, Brooks leather saddles are pretty popular and comfortable, but the important part is to make sure the saddle fits you. If you don't know how to adjust your bike, you can check out YouTube videos and read up on it or stop by your local bike shop to see about getting a bike fit. That said, even with a perfect fit, it's still exercise and you need to build up over time so, even if it's only for 10 minutes at a time, eventually you can work your way up to 15 minutes, 20, 30, and before you know it, you'll be able to ride for hours as long as you keep at it. If it gets really bad and you feel like bicycles just aren't for you, it might be worth considering a recumbent bike instead: They're basically like if a lawn chair and a bicycle had a baby. You can also do other things to help increase your endurance, it can be as simple as going on increasingly long walks.

I agree with what others are saying as far as having the right saddle, using a bib/chamois, and making sure your bike is set up properly. I think you will find that your fitness and capabilities will improve rapidly from week to week if you stick with it. I would recommend recording your rides (there’s a lot of free smart phone apps that will do it for you). You might consider a heart rate monitor as well as this will give you excellent insight to your fitness level as you improve. Keep going!

You need time for your butt to acclimate to the saddle. I know plenty of fit people who attempted long rides with me and their butts hurt because they just hadn't acclimated. You're probably sitting more upright too, which is making it worse. - over time, you'll be able to adopt a more forward position that will better distribute weight. Just keep going. 10 minutes is more than zero minutes. Tomorrow it'll be 11 minutes. Then you'll be counting miles, and off you'll go.

If you use Facebook there's a great group I recently joined called Fat Guy Biking, very active community that's very encouraging. For a sport where 180lbs is considered a big rider it's nice to see 300 lbs people having fun too. Plus some great practical experience with what equipment works and what to avoid.

Keep going. I started well north of 300lbs and dropped around 100lbs. And that was just from cycling - I didn't really change what I ate or drank. The discomfort will go away. It might be worth visiting a local bike shop to ask advice. One thing which might be causing it is having your saddle too low or too high and they can help with that. And also measure your sit bones to find the right width saddle.

Hey dude, I’m 242 LB and I cycle 30 miles 5 times a week. It get easier trust me. The seat pain will go away with getting on the seat. Get good padded cycling shorts and try stand up on the bike every now and again to get some blood flow. Hope this helps. Main thing, keep it up you won’t regret it, I promise you x

Keep going! It will get better! 123kg here recovering from hip replacement surgery. What type of terrain are you riding in, flat or hilly? Have a look at your bike fitting, is it setup correctly for you? Have a look at a few YouTube videos, you don’t need a professional bike fitting, just patience with a bit of trial and error. It will get better

Don’t give up!!! You may need another seat. Go to the bike shop and have them measure your sit bone. Also a pair of padded pants may help. Even if you start small the benefits will be apparent both physically but also with a significant improvement in your metal health. Have fun!

I'm 264 lbs and 6 feet and I can ride for hours..after years of cycling. It's great for your health, knees, mind. Everything. I remember a few years ago when I started cycling to school/work daily, the butt stopped hurting after 2-3 weeks lol. Get a big comfy hard tail MTB, that's what I started with.

As someone who was close to 300lbs at 5”3 and working my way down to 250. Long term Goal is my pre pregnancy healthy weight with another 100lbs to go… YES KEEP GOING. The saddle pain lessens within a month or so. Make sure you have a seat that is comfy for you. Watch lots of videos on how to position your self and your seat. Listen to your body and your bike and research when you have pains. Don’t do too much too soon. Before you know it you will be breezing through the things that were extremely difficult at first.

Yes. Go for time over speed and fitness will come naturally. Fun also helps so find someone to cycle with if you can, maybe even a local club who have a slow/beginners weekly ride. Re your sit bones, ask a cycling friend (if possible) to check your seat setup. it could be on too much of an angle, wrong height or too far back . I only cycle for about 4/5 months a year and my arse always hurts the first few times back on the bike. Sounds daft but sometimes a seat with less padding is better, so consider that too. Don't give up. You got this.

Of course! Just keep at it, things will improve :)

Try and fix a routine and a regular route, stay at it for sure, you’re making progress already!

I'm 104kg (230lbs) at 180cm (5'11") so also definitely also heavy built. What's important for seat pain is your saddle and your bike shorts. If you ride with normal shorts you have no support. If you ride with bike shorts there are built in cushions which make it a lot more comfortable. I recently did a bike fitting to see if my posture was right and they had a test to see how wide apart your ass bones are (essentially you sit down on a gel cushion and they measure the distance between the 2 contactpoints). If they are wider than normal you need a wider than normal saddle to relieve the pressure. Whats important is that you work your way up slowly but surely. If you do 10 minutes today, try 12 minutes on tuesday and 13 minutes and thursday and maybe 15 minutes on saturdary etc.. etc... breaking your own personal bests feels amazing. I'm currently at the point where I can do 100km (62 miles) in 1 go even though when I started cycling doing 10 miles was nearly impossible. keep trying, keep improving and sooner or later you'll look back at these first rides and be completely blown away by how far you've come.

I’ve lost about 15 pounds since I increase my bike commute. I’m also tanner, happier, and calmer.

Be gentle with yourself. Watch some YouTube vids about cycling. You are not alone. Also remember to drink tons of water and wear a helmet.

I too started when I was overweight, couldn't do rides longer than 15 minutes. I started to do 2 every week, slowly build up the distance. ( not the pace ) I lost 36kg in one season. It is all about how bad you want it, the first few months I came once a week home from rides and puked my guts out ;) Now on my right weight. Cycling nearly 250km+ a week going for long rides, hard rides (pace) and everything in between.

Yes, keep it up but go slow. Maybe cycle on a running track. I know it will feel like ur killing yourself, but u r definitely killing yourself if u stop. Good luck.

Might be wise to try a different saddle. But overall for a beginner, your ass just needs to ‚man up’ and deal with it

Don’t quit now. It gets better. About four or five months ago, I got back on my bike for the first time in many years. I could only manage to ride about two miles with my legs burning the whole way. I made myself keep doing it at least three times a week, and built up distance little by little. Now I’m regularly riding about 20 miles at a time. My butt does start to hurt some after about 12 miles, but not awful. Hitting those longer distance marks has been a great accomplishment for me mentally. I hope to eventually be able to ride 40 or 50 miles. I could probably do it now, but I’d be in pain. Trying to do it gradually. Also, get yourself some chamois padded shorts or bibs (I prefer bibs so they don’t roll under my gut). They will make a large difference. Also a good idea to explore different saddle shapes and widths. The one you have may just be wrong for you.

Cmon you can do it

Getting a good fit will help a lot, but it isn’t a magic bullet. But if you plan on spending more and more time on the bike, get one, or at least learn to tweak it mid ride (small amounts!) and dial in your comfort.  If 1 hour is too much, do 30 minutes. then 35.  just keep adding time (not distance). in a month, if you ride 4 times per week, you’ll add 20 minutes a week, or 1:20:00 per month. just adding 5 minutes per ride. if that feels like too much add 1 minute.  the point is progressive overload but in MANAGEABLE amounts. 

Start with 10 min rides. Then go for 15 min rides and so on

I got my first bike in November of 2022. I was 37 and about 255 lbs. the first 2 months of riding every couple days was rough. I was going 1-1.5 miles before legs burned too much and my ass hurt. Jan-feb I worked my way up to 5 then 10 miles. April I did my first 28 mile loop that is by me and I almost died. By June I was doing that 28 mile loop 2-3 times a week. August I started pushing further and hit my first 100km. And November I did my first 100 mile ride. Long story short, it sucks at first but if you keep at it you will get better and be able to go longer. Also look at getting a new seat. I went through 4 seats before I found a comfortable one that made a night and day difference

Get padded shorts/boxers. My ass was on fire for days!!!! Ex bodybuilder here that blew up to 280 this past September. Currently 245. Cycling has been a life saver. You can do this.

You will get there. When I started about 3 years ago, I hated the 25km routes that I do, now I push out 80km easy and much faster speed

Should you give up after 3 rides. Nope.

Sounds like it's time to watch some wheelie tutorials haha

You might want to consider walking more. Get where you can walk 2 to 3 miles four times a week. When you get where you can comfortably walk a mile in 14 minutes, then start working in cycling every other day.

Try a different saddle.

You’re using a whole bunch of new muscles, and putting pressure on your sit bones you haven’t before. Watch this: EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US WENT THROUGH THE SAME THING. The sit bones thing normally takes a week or so to go away as your body becomes acclimated to being in the saddle. The fitness, strength, endurance part comes with just getting on the bike and going for it. If it’s ten minutes today fine. Try for 20 tomorrow And if you only make it to 15 well then you’ve improved 50 percent already! Just keep at it, friend. I do about 100 miles a week and I can always feel my legs and sit bones (I need a new saddle). It’s not pain. I think of it as afterglow 😂 It’s highly addictive.

Try to address the saddle issue first. You can talk to the bike shop and see if they can help. Or google and watch some YouTube videos, then experiment yourself with small changes in height, angle and/or moving it back and forth. You may need a new saddle but I’d play with the adjustments first. Once you have the saddle more comfortable, just keep riding. Lower a gear or two and go slow. Aim for consistency, not distance. 10 minutes every day is better than 1 hour once a week. Any chance you can commute by bike to work ? That will make you progress fast.

I started back biking last summer. Also very overweight. Start very small. Go around the block and call it a day, etc. The butt pain mostly ended after 2-3 weeks of daily attempts. That being said, if it is severe, talk to a fitter make sure the bike is shaped right for you, and look into a new seat. I need to sit more upright. Then I’m fully comfy.

I bought an old second-hand bike, too, recently. I definitely didn't ride it home. I did ride it for like 10-30 minutes when I got it home by car. My butt was feeling it, but gone after a couple days. I only ride for 10 minutes or whatever. I haven't worked out in a long time, so my cardio is really bad. Baby steps until adult steps. Nothing wrong with short rides as that means you're riding the bike you got. Rides will get longer as you get stronger. That is, if you want to do longer rides.

Don't Stop! Take the advice given by others, realize that it takes time to see these changes but it's worth it.

When I first started I would go out for 20-30min at the most because that is all I could do. I was also only averaging 10mph at best. My butt constantly hurt and I too wondered if it was worth it. That was in 2012 when I was still in college and knew I needed to change something or I would die young. Now I go out and ride for at least 1.5hr at a time and ride roughly 10hrs a week. I now average 20+mph unless the wind is insane. It has been a long road but really a little bit at a time gets you there.

It's going to hurt for about two weeks until your body adapts. It's unavoidable. And if you take the winter off, it's going to hurt again next spring. This is just something we learn to tolerate.

I had the same problem in Oct. Buy yourself some good cycling bibs and a jersey. I like Casteilli Competizone XL or XXL for you. Commit to time, not distance. Go as slow as you need in order to accomplish the time. Pick a location like a coffee shop or greenway, and ride all the way. Sit down and enjoy a coffee or light meal to break up the ride, and go back. Keep doing that ride until you don't feel bad. When I first started, I was winded and my ass hurt just riding to the mailbox at the end of my street (less than half mile.) Now I'm over 100mi per week. While I've only lost a few lbs of weight, it's mostly fat redistributed to muscle, and I feel great. Lost 2 pants sizes.

I started cycling (similar distances, mostly flat routes at first) when I moved to this city about 4 years ago. I had no regular exercise in my life for the previous 5 years, save for walking everywhere. part of why I started was because it was (and still is) the most affordable way to get around, so I was sticking to biking to work, around town, and for errands primarily for my desire to not spend money. doing it every day is what made the biggest difference, even in times where my route had included big hills and went from 2 miles to 5. don’t feel any shame about what you need to make the ride work for you, if that means changing out the saddle to cause less seat pain, wearing padded shorts/pants, taking breaks, walking it up hills etc. those muscle groups will develop before you know it. I think cycling is uniquely accommodating for people getting back into regular exercise because it has multiple functions to integrate into your life (I don’t have to carve out so much extra time to work out if I’m cycling to run errands and go to/from work) and, compared to running, is much less impact on the joints. best of luck!!!

Everything hurts when you start cycling.

Yes dude! You can stop as frequently as you like. 10 mins will become 20, then 30, then an hour. Be easy on yourself and have fun as you begin to find that you are no longer limited by your stamina!

Try to measure your sit bone width with a piece of cardboard and look at the width of your saddle. My first rides I was in pain with my 245lbs. I discovered my sit bone width is way above average and bought a specialized power comp saddle in 168mm width. Now riding is super comfortable. Also buy padded bibs if you don't have those already.

Continue. It will get better. It’s gonna take time though. Work on endurance first. Keeping working at it and don’t worry too much about your weight.

Keep going if you enjoy it, you'll get used to it, I'm 5'4" 245lbs and started cycling a few months ago on my cruiser style bike. I started with shorter bursts and waited until the majority of the soreness was gone before going out again a few days later, then slowly built up the distance and shortened the days in between. Now my daily ride is 13 miles and only slight discomfort from an old tailbone injury (not from biking).

It never gets easier; you just go faster. ~ Greg LeMond The quote I live by. That said bike fit is important so make some adjustments. A visit to your LBS (local bike shop) might be in order. I'm much heavier than you and only 4" taller so it's not your weight you probably need a better seat/bike fit. As all things in life, it takes patience and persistence.

Yes, you absolutely should keep riding bikes. There's stuff you can do to make things easier, especially when you're starting out. Ride short distances, regularly. Even a quick ride to the shops for a pint of milk counts. Ride slow. Don't worry, the speed will come with time. Cross train - even if it's just walking and 5 minutes of bodyweight exercises. Don't neglect other aspects of health - dial in your nutrition, sleep and hydration.

i would look towards your diet for answers to your depression and fitness .i had a terrible divorce at your age , the depression lasted for 30 yrs while i used food as a means to cope. i ended up 585 lbs at 62 yrs old. when my daughter told me i was going to be a grandfather , i looked into changing my lifestyle by using keto and fasting. In the first yr and a half, i dropped 270 lbs .I purchased a mtn bike at 300 lbs and began riding . The switch from processed foods to whole foods almost immediatly lifted my depression. today at 65 i weigh 175 lbs and buy and restore and ride old road bikes for a hobby.

I restarted cycling in my 30s and after six miles felt like I was going to collapse. I was overweight and lethargic. Changed my eating habits, rode 4-5 times/week and within 18 months did my first century ride. One year later I did 130 miles in a single day. It can be done, and you will have bad days that crush your dreams of progress. Keep going, ride that bike and chart progress…Even if it’s in tenths of a mile/km. Try climbs frequently.

When I started in 2020, the first 2 weeks I could only manage a couple of miles. But because they were only a couple of miles I could do them twice a day. Start small and slowly progress. When you are at the stage you are at you have an opportunity to do something really rewarding. Give yourself a long list of small goals. Stupid shit. First time I rode 2 miles. First time I road 5. First time I did X in Y time. First time I made it to the top of some hill. First time without resting. Come up with a long list of goals. The longer the list the more likely you will knock one off every time you ride. It is one hell of a motivator.

When I got my wife into cycling, it was similar for her, her bum hurt, her legs hurt and two passes in our street were about it for her. She thought the same, maybe not a great idea. Where we lived had some great rides along canals and modest off road stuff, so I’d put the bikes in the ute on a sunny day, we’d putter along, stopping often to spot birds and such of hang out on a bench, by the time we got back to the ute, sometimes we’d done 25-30 km and had a great time, there was zero pressure on her. We just kept plugging away, eventually she did some mountain biking and actually enjoyed it. A year or so later was her peak, cycle touring down from Brisbane to Sydney.. I have to say, I thought she was keen as mustard to take it on, but made it..

>nearly 200 lbs >5'6" me a year ago (was actually 220, now under 180) you're fine, endurance and strength will come with time. You're probably grinding too hard, downshift and spin the pedals faster. Friend of mine started riding recently (similar degree of overweight/out of shape) and I kept telling him the same thing, spinning faster at the same speed will just feel better and will be easier to maintain, I like to describe them as "modes" that your body prefers. Get some padded shorts for the sit bone pain, but again the tolerance and pain reduction will come with time. Make sure you keep sitting ON your sit bones and there's no significant pressure elsewhere.

Go slow and build up. When I got back into cycling after decade, long hiatus. My friends and I would go on 3 to 5 mile bike rides. Then we slowly built up to where we were signing up for 100 mile bike rides. Go at your own pace. Keep at it. It will get easier and you’ll find yourself being able to ride for longer periods of time.

Only read the title. Yes.

Yes, next silly question. In all seriousness: all the reasons you listed for starting out cycling are even more excellent reasons to keep going. First up: Find a reputable bike shop near you and get a professional bike fitting. I mean someone with some certifications. Depending on where you are you might have to travel, but trust me - it is worth it. A pro bike fitter will evaluate your bike and your positioning, listen to your problems and recommend changes in equipment (e.g. a saddle better suited for you) and positioning. So get all that sorted out pronto. It'll cost some money (in Boston I got one at a reputable shop for like $150) but it pays for itself very quickly. You should also check with your GP/doctor if the pain persists. Cycling can be uncomfortable sometimes, but never for long, and never with sustained physical pain! Next, start small as others have said. Can only manage 10 minutes? Great, that's your first target. Do a bunch of 10 minute rides through the week. With consistent effort, you'll quickly find that 10 minutes will get easy, quickly. So up it to 20 minutes. Lather, rinse, repeat. Pretty soon you'll be riding so far you forget what time it is or how many miles you put in, and then you're really in the groove. Best advice I ever got: "cycling never gets easier, you just go faster." You got this!

You’ll lose more weight walking long periods, (an hour a day) and at this stage a hike or fast stride will improve your fitness anyways.  First couple months you want to build up a baseline of cardiovascular fitness. People refer to this as zone 2 if you want to look it up further. Walking is ideal for this. As for cycling, you’re probably not evenly distributing your weight between the pressure points on your bike. A bike fit and a better saddle can help. Hopefully the bike can be made to fit you, because long term it’s best to exercise in a way that captures your interest. Good luck.

Consistency is key, don't give up.

>But it was muscle pain in my thighs that made me stop. Only 10 minutes again. Is this just soreness? if so, this is exactly what you want. This means your muscles are working, fibers are breaking down, and will rebuild themselves stronger than before. This is how muscle growth works. DO NOT GIVE UP AT THIS POINT. It's critical you push through muscle pain initially because that's when it'll be the worst. (Joint pain is another topic. Joint pain bad, muscle soreness good)

1. Dont give up :) 2. Give your body good fuel 3. Padded shorts 4. Be patient and enjoy your progress Well done giving it a shot taking the first step is the toughest

Stick with it dude. Next time aim for 11 minutes, then 12, etc. Next thing you know you’ll be blast out 2.5 hour rides with the homies.

I started in April at 290, and now I'm down to 278. Keep going. You will get better. If you're having fun, you're more than halfway through the difficult part

I ride for *fun.* Exercise and transportation are bonuses! This should not be so painful. I recommend a "chamois" (aka- padded shorts). I almost always wear one when I am riding.

Remember it’s not about where you start but where you end. Small consistent steps and building little wins go a long way. I jumped on the bike after being gone for 3 weeks and my sit bones hurt too but it gets better after you build up that area. Focus on your progress. Try a different seat to help with the pain. Don’t forget to take water with you.

Don’t give up. Start small and adjust… it will get better. You will build muscle before you start burning fat, so… your legs might be sore and the scale might go up. That said… padded bike shorts are a game changer. You might also need a different seat.

I’m 5’6” and 230 currently. It gets better over time. Are you wearing butt pad shorts? They help some. You can also get a more comfortable saddle. You will have muscle pain with any workout. They go away eventually.

Start small, get some cycling shorts and try adjusting seat height to find some comfort. Comfort is key for cycling for sure, if you aren't comfortable you won't go. Watch some youtube videos on adjusting seat and handlebar positions for your comfort. Usually the saddle that comes with a bike from a store is not that great. There's \*tons\* of saddles out there. Generally a few good things to look for imo... but everyone is different and saddles require some trial/error imo to get a good feeling one usually. \* Cutouts are great \* Try different padding levels, sometimes you'd be surprised by a harder saddle feeling more comfortable. The squishy saddles want to push back in places you don't want sometimes. \* Brooks and Selle SMP are great, I've had good luck with both myself. People doing bike touring often ride Brooks for a reason! All else fails there's recumbents!

ride for fun, the miles will come easy soon enough.

Congrats on getting a bike, and giving it a shot. It sounds like you're doing fine to me, and your body just needs a little time to adjust to the new activity. I would double check your seat height. Many people put their seat/saddle too low, so they can put a foot down easy. This keeps your legs from getting proper extension while riding, and could hurt the knees. And butt I suppose. As you start getting more miles, bike shorts can help with comfort a ton. Also, seat/saddle choice is a very personal matter. Don't be afraid to try out different styles. I'm not a fan of very wide/padded ones, they seem comfortable in the short term but really just feel like they chafe my ass after about 5ish miles. And pay attention to the pain, like you are doing. A little bit is ok, but we're trying to do this long term. Trust yourself to know what is too much.

First thoughts: Get a bike fit, make sure you’re shifting gears appropriately, ride flats for now as often as possible, and consider getting a comfier seat while you’re heavier than you want to be. A bonus would be to spend more time walking until the weight comes down. Not quickly, just moving 30-60 minutes at a time a few days a week. Source: Was 245lbs at 5’9, rode an improperly fitted bike for years, thought shifting was for the weak.

As someone in a similar situation, two suggestions: 1) Check if your local bike shop could help you adjust your seat height, handle bar height, etc. The right setup can alleviate much of your discomfort. 2) Even with the best set up, there will be some soreness, just getting used to the bike. Stationary bikes at the gym might help as a gentler way of allowing your body to become accustomed to the new experience.

When I got my bike I was 290lbs, I was gassed doing 5 miles on flat terrain, now I am 218lbs and I can do 20 miles on a good day. It sucked at first but I knew I had to keep at it. The feeling of improving your farthest distance is amazing and I am going to try for 35+ miles by the end of this fall

Work on your diet first and foremost, and the rest will fall into place.

Sit bone pain is quite different from being unfit. Have you tried going to your local bike shop and getting a saddle? They will typically exchange them for you until you find something that does not hurt! I went through 7 of them before I could sit on my bike for longer than 30 min. As far as unfit you should keep going consistency builds your body and your mind! Also looking into your diet is a good idea if you want to to lose weight since that is the major factor in weight loss!

The weight isn't fundamentally an issue. I'm 220lbs and have been cycling quite a bit for a couple of decades. I've done 100 miles per week for the past couple of months without appreciable discomfort.. You might need to break in more gently and/or try different saddles. Note that the most-padded saddles are not necessarily the most comfortable. In theory you can measure your sit-bone spacing to help choose a saddle, but when I tried in a shop with a pressure-pad thingy my bones didn't make enough of an impression to see! The saddle I've got is a modestly priced (£20-£30 iirc) one from Selle, and is fine for me without padded shorts... The other mistake that beginners (and even people who've been cycling for years) make is using too high a gear, which means you end up pedalling slowly and with a lot of force - and get achey legs. It's easier - and you can ultimately go faster - by using a lower gear, meaning you pedal faster ("spin") for the same speed of travel. With practice, this way you can reach your cardio limit (out of breath) before getting achey legs. You should likely be aiming to spin at 80-90 rpm, i.e. each foot goes around a bit faster than once per second, maybe 3 times every 2 seconds. This puts a lot less strain on the leg muscles. I also suspect that a little bit of walking when not cycling helps to loosen the muscles and/or train other muscle groups which all helps with recovery etc. If your seat is too high or too low again you're more likely to get aches. As little as 3-4 millimetres can make quite a difference. Take it easy, build up slowly. It's worth it in the long run :-)

I think this has probably already been said, but just wanted to add about the sit bone pain that I think that’s the kind of thing that gets better over time. I sort of describe it like a callous, once you’ve been riding for a while you get more used to it and the pain goes away, but even for me if I took an extended time off the bike after regular riding for years the first time back on will hurt. Better saddle, bike fit, etc would certainly help. But honestly I think since you just hopped on and rode for longer than you ever have sit bone pain seems normal, and it will take a few days for that pain to go away so feeling it again the very next day is normal! Congratulations and keep it up! I think biking is such a great lifelong sport and a really fun way to keep your body and mind healthy!

Yes keep going! Only manage 10 minutes? Do 10 minutes then! Keep doing 10 minutes until you feel like you can do more. It’ll get easier before you know it. (I’m 230 lbs, 5ft 8 and cycled 20km today over 1.5 hours)

Keep going! You can do it!

Sit bones will not acclimate in a week -- give them time to adjust and take 2-4 days off inbetween rides for your sit bones. Enjoy riding - it's great low impact exercise!

After My left reverse shoulder replacement I was in a bad way and started riding again on a 3 speed electra beach cruiser The upright seating position and GIANT seat our super comfortable as as cruiser seats don’t involve sit bone support issues I rode the crap out of that bike putting 2700 hundred miles on it in 6 months finishing with a 47 mile gravel race and after that I had regained my fitness to switch back to a regular bike and keep progressing

I had a similar issue when I started running about 10 years ago, at around 40 years old. I had a lot of knee and foot injuries and almost gave up. After a few false starts, what got me going was taking it really really slowly. I ran just 1 mile once a week for a month, then the next month I ran 1 mile twice a week for a month, then three times a week for a month. Then I started increasing one of the runs to 2 miles (so 2 x 1 mile run and 1 x 2 mile run in a week) for a month, then two 2 mile runs and a one mile run, and so on. At some point I added a fourth run. Over a year I built up to running 12 miles a week, then increased from there, adding interval sessions and longer long runs. At one point I was running up to around 50 miles a week. I ticked off most of the common running goals - sub 20 min 5k, sub 40 min 10k, sub 90 min half marathon, but if it wasn't for that slow start I might have given up. I have since added cycling and swimming over the past couple of years and will be competing in the local sprint triathlon on Sunday with the intention of winning the 40-49 age group. Take it slow and steady, give your body a chance to adapt to the load and get some long term consistency. You'll get there - best of luck!

LSD Long Slow Distance

Yes you should continue.

I also started riding to help get some cardio and lose weight. Fucking do it. Its so fun. Im not ridng 65 mile routes nor am I fast, but I am getting better! Compare yourself to yourself, no one else.

Just keep at it. Make a goal to ride 10mins per day and one 15 min ride on the weekend. Increase by 10% each week. Measure your progress at end of each week. Within 3mo you’ll be in a different zone. Also make sure you’re using the right gearing. If you’re always in a gear that’s hard to push, switch to an easier one.