Mountain Bike Racing - How many base miles are you logging

Well it's into winter now and were all just trying to keep are legs in shape. How many base miles are you logging?

As of the 13th, 20hours/week between riding and lifting. Going to tucson for training camp.

as of right now... close to zero. Its really effing cold. I've gone for a couple mtb rides on the showshoe trails, but thats it.
But I don't start racing until mid march, and I don't care about racing until June. So it's all good.

Not nearly enough. I'm only getting 30-60 minutes on the spin bike at the gym, mostly 3 times a week. I really wanted to pick it up this year but, as fate would have it, I have a life outside of the gym/riding.:o

I'm hoping for at least 10 to 12 hours a week between riding, spin class, and the gym. I'm doing mostly cardio and riding right now to help me get rid of some of the extra weight I have put on. I also purchased a computrainer recently so I really think that will help break up the monotony of being stuck on a trainer for hours at a time.

I'm getting 6-10hrs a week with long hilly routes. My racing starts February 2 with a 12hr solo race then pretty much every 2 weeks after that till may.

As of the 13th, 20hours/week between riding and lifting. Going to tucson for training camp.

as of right now... close to zero. Its really effing cold. I've gone for a couple mtb rides on the showshoe trails, but thats it.
But I don't start racing until mid march, and I don't care about racing until June. So it's all good.

Training camp? Are you like a pro or something?

Training camp? Are you like a pro or something?

Wouldn't you like to know.


Some of us don't live in Texas where you can ride all year. There's 3 feet of snow on every inch of dirt within 100 miles of me right now. And it's 13˚. Hence, the need to travel for early season base training.

I headed down to Florida for a week last winter, it was nice getting in about 250 miles in somewhat nice weather after freezing my butt off for every ride for months.

These days I feel lucky if I get 2-3 hours/week. I try to get some time on the trainer but I just can't stand it. It's the most boring thing ever.

A question: Would it be better than nothing if I spend 30-40 mins (longest I can stand before I feel like killing myself) on the trainer everyday, or would it be just a waste of time?

These days I feel lucky if I get 2-3 hours/week. I try to get some time on the trainer but I just can't stand it. It's the most boring thing ever.

A question: Would it be better than nothing if I spend 30-40 mins (longest I can stand before I feel like killing myself) on the trainer everyday, or would it be just a waste of time?

I'm no expert, but I don't see how anything that gets the blood pumping for a little while can be considered a waste of time. Better doing that than watching tv.

These days I feel lucky if I get 2-3 hours/week. I try to get some time on the trainer but I just can't stand it. It's the most boring thing ever.

A question: Would it be better than nothing if I spend 30-40 mins (longest I can stand before I feel like killing myself) on the trainer everyday, or would it be just a waste of time?

Kind of a rule of thumb that my coach told me (when I had a coach) is that 40 minutes on the trainer equals one hour on the road. It makes sense if you figure that on the road (or trail) you generally spend about 1/3 of the time coasting or easy pedaling.

I'm putting in about 6 hours a week on the trainer and if I"m lucky I get 2 extra hours on the trail or road. Strength training starts this week so I won't be on the trainer as much, thank God.

I'm putting in about 6 hours a week on the trainer and if I"m lucky I get 2 extra hours on the trail or road. Strength training starts this week so I won't be on the trainer as much, thank God.

I hear ya, trainers suck but are definitely beneficial. Check out the computrainer (http://www.computrainer.com/rm_inc/sales/pricing_ordering.html), I just got one and it really helps break up the monotony. It is a little pricy, but worth it in my opinion.

The weather has been pretty nice lately, mostly in the upper 20's, lower 30's so riding outside hasn't been that bad. We are currently in a heat wave though. Saturday was upper 30's, lower 40's. Sunday was in the 50's. Today is supposed to be upper 60's so I'm taking off work a little early. Tomorrow is supposed to be close to 70, I'll be taking off a little early then as well.

The current weather is going to make it a lot easier to reach my goal of 600 miles for January. :D

ALL your base are belong to us.

I'm no expert, but I don't see how anything that gets the blood pumping for a little while can be considered a waste of time. Better doing that than watching tv.

I have two trainer workouts that I use on a regular basis, both take around 60 minutes. I find that as long as you aren't just slogging it out the whole time, you can ride for a lot longer. That's why I set up specific time intervals, so I have something to pay attention two.

The first workout is a simple 10 minute warmup, 2x15 minute z4 efforts with a few minutes rest in between, and a 10 minute cool down. Simple, yet effective.

The second workout is my favorite. Pyramids. Warm up for 10 minutes, the put the bike in a big/big combo - as far as you want to cross chain. Stick your cadence in the 95-105 range. Every 30 seconds, shift up one gear, until you hit your highest gear (on a mtb, 44/11, on a roadie, 53/12 most likely). At this point, you want to die. Now you get to shift down ONE GEAR AT A TIME, every 30 seconds. They way back towards the easy gears hurts a lot more than the upshifts. Do this 3 or 4 times, cool down, and you're done.
I like this second workout because it gives you a goal every 30 seconds. The mental aspect of the trainer is hardest for me; staying motivated without moving is an issue. When you know you have something to do every 30 seconds, it helps.

ALL your base are belong to us.

You have no chance to survive. Make your time.

My coach told me that trainers offer something other types of training don't, mental strength and I believe it. It takes something special to crank out 2 hours on a trainer.

My strength training started last night and my calves feel like I've never worked out a day in my life....:eek:

I am riding about 15-20 base miles/week here in Tucson, on top of yoga, lifting, and swimming.

you mean hours/week?

Errr... yeah, I mean hours/week not miles/week, doh!

you mean hours/week?

I just bought a twelve week training plan from Hunter Allen on www.trainingpeaks.com. The first week has me doing 12.5 hours of riding. I will also be doing an additional 4 - 5 hours a week at the gym.

Errr... yeah, I mean hours/week not miles/week, doh!

That sounds much, much better. I was wondering how you were able to get by only doing 15 - 20 miles a week.

Errr... yeah, I mean hours/week not miles/week, doh!

I was about to call you a waste of Tucson's warm climate :)

I just got back from riding there, it was fantastic. Right now it is -6 before windchill here in CO.

Yeah, but you are in the mecca of beer.... Mmmmmm..... New Belgium Brewery...... 1554!... Fat Tire!