Me:
42-year-old male, working offshore on rotation. Married with three kids.
Before this journey started, I’d only cycled sporadically my last ride on the old bike was back in September 2016. I was fairly active with mountain hiking in 2016–2017, but from 2018 onward, I barely exercised at all. My fitness level wasn’t great when I started, and I knew I needed to lose some weight and make a change.
It all kicked off when my job offered to cover the cost of an online personal trainer. I began with the rowing machine, using it four times a week for about three weeks. It got a bit monotonous, so I dug out my old bike and rigged it onto a very outdated Tacx trainer (sorry for the blasphemy!) and pedaled for 30 minutes per session. I managed four sessions before heading back to work.
At work, we have two Wahoo Kickr Bikes. I fiddled with my phone, installed the app, and started with “From the Ground Up – Season 2 Part 1”, which came up as a suggestion. I did a few random workouts that really reignited my motivation, and then I jumped into the 6-week Starter Program, including the mental training modules.
Right after doing the Half Monty test, the plan that followed felt like it was made specifically for me. The workouts hit just the right level challenging, but not overwhelming and it gave me a strong sense of progression right from the start. That early structure and feedback really helped lock in my commitment.
One thing led to another and I ended up buying a new bike (Giant TCR Advanced 2) and a Wahoo Kickr V6, which was waiting for me when I got home. I followed the 6-week plan religiously. After doing my FTP test, I moved on to the 4-week MAP program, which I just completed. I postponed a few workouts along the way to enjoy some good weather and ride outside.
I haven’t committed to a new plan yet because the weather is finally turning nice, and I want to ride outdoors as much as possible. My current goal is to do at least 3 structured workouts per week, ideally 4 or more.
The best part? I’m feeling much better both physically and mentally. It’s been a real transformation, and I’m motivated to keep pushing forward.
