I think its been nearly a decade since i cycled anywhere, its also about time i started some exercise. Im thinking about taking it up again.
Any tips for easing back into it? cant just go for it or ill hurt like hell and give up, also having suffered collapsed lungs in the past i want to take it really easy to start with.
A mate has offered me his old bike for £50-60, could use a new sprocket but other than that seems good. Just need to find a cheap helmet i guess, and some shoes i can actually cycle in, my massive vans are going to be awkward i think.
Anyway, any advice would be appreciated.
ive found that my astroturf football trainers are awesomely grippy for cycling in. theyre 30 quid nike efforts with round bits on the base.
also DMR V8 pedals c£25 are commonly regarded as pretty grippy.
only other advice is JFDI. started cycling to work and back (3.5miles e/w) and you dont hardly notice the effort, but you see results in about 2 weeks.
Matt
Id be careful with that older bike. If the cassette is slightly too far gone, then the only way to make it work properly and not slip will be to change the chainrings and chain too. This will then start to put you in new budget bike territory.
As for pedals, DMR V8s are grippy (Ive got a hole in my shin to prove it!) but they are high maintenance. You can get Wellgo sealed pedals which are the same design as the old DMR pedals.
Consider going new, and picking one of these.
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/rock-09-32681
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/boulder-09-32648
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/m-trax-ht-10-09-32499
These are very budget bikes, and wont stand up to abuse but should be enough to see if you like it or not.
If you dont, you wont be throwing as much away as you potentially could be with the older bike.