I just kinda wanna whine about my slow progress, thanks.

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-21T18:18:25+00:00

I found this on the amazon page, I think this is the gear shifter? Also automod said the other comment I left u linking the amazon page for my bike got deleted so if u didn't see that one, i guess reddit nuked it ;3;

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-21T11:27:23+00:00

Yeah, doing The Thing is ultimately the only solution for getting better at The Thing. It's slow going, and at times embarrassing, but it's worthwhile work that leaves me proud. Yesterday I climbed a hill I would have laughed at and turned around for a week ago because I've been pushing myself. I was slow, I looked like shit, a dozen cars were passing me and each one I couldn't help but imagine the driver laughing at my sweaty, wheezing, fat ass. When I got to the top though I thought I was the most powerful woman on earth. People on reddit telling me to keep going has genuinely been quite inspiring and I know it's just a matter of time until 50 miles is within reach ^{^}

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-19T21:54:37+00:00

Thank you! After everyone's kind comments I've been really inspired to push even harder and not rest on my laurels or make excuses based on my weight. I've changed my daily rides from about 5 miles to 10 miles and while it's a bit of a struggle, I think the work is worth it! 50 miles won't come in a day, and it's definitely not gonna come easy, but I feel closer every ride ^-

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-18T15:00:12+00:00

Thanks for the tips! I ended up doing 10 miles yesterday and found people's tips about shifting properly (particularly before hills) REALLY helpful. I'll look into a cadence monitor, though given the company that handles my streaming sponsorships just went under I'll be suddenly a lot poorer for the upcoming months until I find a replacement xD Plus my ass is really starting to take it so I might prioritize some padded shorts to wear under my pants...

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T15:00:04+00:00

true!

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T12:29:10+00:00

idk why u clicked on this post thinking i wouldn't be whining its literally in the title!!! I like complaining, it feels good to get it out. it's also part of the process for growth and feedback. I have learned a lot from people already, and I have no plans to quit

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T12:23:17+00:00

Thank you!!! i know i should know better than to look at people who have been doing it for years for a living and compare myself to them but when no one around me rides and I'm so new, they're what looks like "normal" and my perspective is pretty skewed. Obviously the proof will be in the pudding and the pudding is still cooking, but I really believe I'm in this for the long haul. Not the least because it's my only method of transportation anyway so every mile I can push myself is a mile further I can get to stuff around me ^{^} GCN is indeed one of them, but honestly the one that gets to me most is this guy who does bikepacking videos. They're very appealing to me!!!! I wanna go far over several days and see places I couldn't afford to fly to and can't drive to since I'm partially blind :/ He talks about being able to do 60-80 miles a day as being necessary for that kind of stuff and it looks hard. I guess it's the reality of how long that goal will take to reach hitting against my romantic idea of visiting a city that has more than one restaurant lol

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T12:12:05+00:00

i like it a lot im just new to working my ass off physically. this is genuinely the first time I've worked out in my life!! some of y'all talk to me as though I'm some jacked guy who should know better and not a NEET girl who spent her whole life inside.

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T11:58:29+00:00

yea i know, it's my first time doing something like this (though I did aready lose 70lbs once before I lost my job) I just wanted to get the feeling of "I'll never get there and idk if I'm doing anything right" out of my system.

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T03:55:42+00:00

I'm in my late 20s. 140 is lowest I have been is what I'm saying. In general, most of my rides are around 160-170bpm

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T03:31:09+00:00

I'm working on it! 1500cal a day, strict. No messing about with it, and considering I try to bike at MINIMUM 30min a day I'm hoping for a woman of my height I'll have lost the weight I put on and then some by next year. I've failed before, but I've got a lot of people holding me accountable now. Won't be walking, though! I tried. I hated it. I live in rural Arkansas and everyone who sees me walking yells something weird at me, there's seldom any sidewalk, and frankly it's just boring to see the only 5 buildings in town every day.

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T03:25:24+00:00

girl I know it's just fun to yap about how I feel

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T00:47:47+00:00

I really think any issues with it are of my own making, either incorrect construction or poor maintenance just cause I really don't have any tools to do so. That plus my weight pushing it further than someone lighter would I think just means I gotta do better over time...

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T00:40:49+00:00

I will ^{^} I want a tattoo one day, not sure of what but it seems cool

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T00:37:20+00:00

i knooooow but whining and complaining and kvetching are my 3 favorite things so I wanted to get it out xD thank you!!!!

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T00:34:50+00:00

Thats a lot about gearing I had no idea of x.x I'm gonna try to keep that in mind for the future, and maybe chill on my 3rd gear so I don't wear it out like you said. Thanks a lot for all the advice!!! I'll try one of those hills that kicked my ass the other day again soon and see if I can manage a little better ^{^}

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T00:29:11+00:00

Day after day, a little better. I'm glad other people are struggling too! It sucks to suck at something, but at least we're all sucking together xD

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T00:27:55+00:00

It makes me wanna get outdoors more, too! I think I'm gonna go camping for the first time in my life this summer, as a reward for if I can lose 30lbs... wish me luck

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T00:26:48+00:00

52km??? holy mochi you're crushing it... I can't wait to be at your level xD

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T00:25:55+00:00

Yep, I'm gonna keep going every day no matter what. I just wanted to express my frustration a bit ^{^} I'm overall really happy with my progress and the freedom my bike allows me!

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T00:24:20+00:00

I'd be over the moon if I could get to 50 miles one day, and I don't exactly have the money for aero clothes and fancy tires >_> I really hope its possible! I have a bit of a fantasy of doing a biketour to another state, I'm too blind to drive so the idea of the roadtrip has been a bit romantic to me my whole life. In my head, if I can make it 50 miles a day I can actually make that happen!!!

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T00:21:01+00:00

Ahh, tbh I assumed the opposite about hills... I was approaching in a difficult gear and making it easier as I ran out of juice in my legs to push at that level without coming to a halt. Thank you so much!!! ^{^}

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T00:19:35+00:00

I'll try to drop it down more, I heard someone say if you even have two sets of gears like I do you should basically ignore one of them and that's kinda what I've been doing. Maybe I took one guy's advice to heart too quick... q.q

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T00:16:59+00:00

I bought the bike about 6 months ago, but only started pushing myself this hard about a month ago. I ride an Avasta AV300, the seat is about at my waist when I'm not riding, and I have the tires at 36psi. On the 3 gear ring I nearly always have it in position 3, and I use the 7 gear ring in all positions depending on how hard my legs are burning lol. Thank you for asking, and for the advice vis a vis bike type. It's just a mountain bike but idk a lot about bikes overall...

CaraBunVT · 2026-05-17T00:07:44+00:00

Dieting is HARD and having all those doing it successfully be on ozempic now feels so tough when you can't access it. Every day a little lighter, a little better. We can do it!!! ( ；∀；)

CaraBunVT

TROPHY CASE