Bike question

OK, guys and gals here is my question- what in the heck do I do with the gears on my new bike???  How do I know if I need a higher gear?  I am so old I've never owned a bike with gears!  I must say I do miss my coaster brakes.  Although I am doign fine with the hand brakes.  Do I need bike lessons for the retarded? does anyone offer them? Denise

Denise, I've just been learning all of this as well. Thankfully hubby has loads of experience and so does our son-in-law.

Here it is in a nutshell .... lower gears = easier pedaling but more revolutions per distance traveled. To go up hills or inclines ... go to a lower gear so that you can make it easily up the hill.

To go flat or downhill, go to higher gears so that you can pick up speed without pedaling one million revolutions per foot traveled. So, when you need more speed go to a higher gear. When you need to go up an incline or a difficult spot, go to a lower gear to make pedaling easier.

First gear = easiest pedaling and most revolutions for distance traveled.

Seventh gear = most resistant pedaling and used to gain most speed and lowest revolutions pedaled for distance traveled. The *in between* gears are gradients between 1st and 7th.

Also, your bike may need to be tuned from time to time. If you notice *catches* or a feeling of *slipping in the gearing* when pedaling, it's time for a tune-up. Also, you want to check that your seat, handlebars, and wheels are in proper alignment frequently. If anything needs adjusting, you can have a bike savvy friend help out or take it to a bike shop. Tune-ups are usually about $30 or $40.

One more thing, Never use just the left hand brake alone! It goes to the front tire and if the front tire stops while the back tire continues to try to go quickly, you may flip yourself over the handlebars. So, just use the right hand brake or both R & L simultaneously.

Thanks, Shelly!  I thought that is what I was supposed to do with my gears but wasn't sure.  If my nutritionist will just call me back (still stalled- day 15) I can go ride!  I want to ride before the thunderstorms come in this evening. Denise

Denise, don't feel alone! I'm stalled again, too. : ( I was stuck at 208 for what seemed like forever, now I'm stuck at 202 for a week. Sheesh!

I've been exercising a bunch so I keep hoping I'm trading out some fat for some muscle, but I still worry. My body is changing, but the scales aren't!

I've also been reading about women's weight loss for 50 years, or over. THIS website has some good info. I've got to get serious about light weight lifting with multiple repetitions. 

I have talked to my NUT and exercise physiologist.  Both are concerned I was working out too hard- especially when I walked in the park on Saturday.  The NUT and I also decided that I would ditch the lower protein foods like refried beans and replace them with higher protein foods.  That should put be back into a deeper ketosis.  I am just barely in ketosis at this point. As for exercise, I was told that working out too hard only burns carbs and not much fat.  I was told if I can't sing or carry on a conversation easily I am working too hard.  I know I walked too fast on Saturday by that definition.  I am going to try to back off the higher intensity work outs. I am also going to boost my protein intake.  At least having somethign to DO makes it more bearable.  Hang in there, with me, we have to lose at some point.  Our AARP bodies are not happy with us at this point.  But, the fight is ON baby!

No kidding ... The Fight is ON!!! ; )

You know, it all gets SO CONFUSING! There are so many philosophies on the best way to lose weight .... it boggles my mind! I'm getting my new protein goal, plus a little. Getting most all of my fluids and sometimes even more. My dietician team doesn't want us in ketosis or on an Adkins type of program. They have more of an intense type of Weigh****chers approach, in my opinion. We count calories and protein, and carbs, too ... but without heavy restrictions on carbs. We can eat fruits, veggies, and whole grains. However, I can't get in many calories unless they come in a Chike or something similar, and I don't get many carbs either .... just not hungry and *no room in the inn*!

At this point, I'm willing to consider just about anything short of lopping off a leg to get those danged scales to move!!! ; ) Sometimes I wish I had the metabolism of a hummingbird and the weight would just drop over night. Something has happened with menopause. About 4 years ago I went to Weigh****chers .... dropped 50+ pounds almost effortlessly and averaged 3 - 5 lbs. per week (of course I gained it all back later). I joined again last year and did the same thing and lost 3 pounds in a month! Somebody stole my metabolism!!! : 0

Talk to me about ketosis.  Do you use the strips to see if you're in ketosis?  My NUT never talked to me about it. 

Yeah, I have the metabolism of a dead tree sloth!  That would be a nonexistant metabolism.  I paid big bucks in a last ditch attempt to get lean and healthy.  Hopefully I didn't waste my money. 

Denise, I have an automatic bike...it shifts itself because I never learned how to shift a bike.  I love my automatic bike!!!  I would need lessons for the retarded also!  I learned how to drive a stick shift a couple of years ago but would only do so in a jam!  I really have no desire to learn to shift a bike though.  I am just not mechanically or technically inclined.  All my smarts are in language and arts!   Okay, really not so much art as the arts...lol      And Shelly,  208 sucks!!!  I have been stuck there for so long I think the image is burned into the display on my scales!!!!!  Isn't it funny we got stuck on the same number.  I hope I drop to 202 for my next stall...okay 199 would be better!!!!!!!!  

Oh wow, I can't wait to get off of 202 and into the 100's. I hope you get there quickly, too! You're gonna beat me there at my current rate! : )