Oh my. You have fun with that. I'm gonna continue with my pointless rides through the countryside. At least I know what it will take to be a better bike rider.
Seriously, thanks for the answer on the interval question bc I have read about them a bunch on the board, but had no idea what they are. Right now, I am still in the early stages where I am just fastinated by riding my bike, but in a little while I am sure I will be looking for ways to be better!
When you're just starting out, focus on building base miles for a few months. Once you have these, you can start pushing harder. While you're doing this, here are a few things you can work on that will also help you get better:
Cadence: Learn to spin at a cadence that works well for you. For casual riding, the range I've seen is 80-100 and for higher performance, 90-110 or higher. Over the years I've ended up being most comfortable around 90 rpms for distance riding.
Group skills: If you're interested in riding with groups, it's never too early to start. Beginning group rides will help you learn not only how to ride in a group, but you'll make new friends and there will often be people who can help you with overall riding skills.
Basic bike care: All the little things you can do to keep your bike running in tip-top shape. If you can learn to adjust your brakes and shifting, keep the wheels trued, and proper cleaning and lube of everything, such as the chain, your bike will be more pleasant to ride and it'll save you down time of having to take it to the shop to fix a minor problem.
Edit: And one final thing, there is no such thing as a "pointless ride through the countryside". :mad: I live for countryside rides. :D
Gavush
04-05-08, 12:11 PM
at 10:45 this morning I left town on my mtb and rode over to the trail head over at Montgomery Bell (http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/MontgomeryBell/activities/index.shtml#biking)... went into the left side red trail about 10 yards to confirm that it was too wet to ride.. (and it was) - so, I continued down Jones Creek road and thought I'd see where it went since I haven't been down it very often.... Before I knew it I was in Dickson (next town over) near the Kmart. So... I took hwy 70 back home up some grueling hills. ride was 1 hr 45min.. 20 miles according to google maps. It was around 48 out when I left.. overcast and gloomy.
I did have one guy out doing some yard work call his dog off me. It was a large sized bulldog type thing... I already had my water bottle out when he called it off. "Frenzy! No! "Frenzy! Come!" - naturally, I felt better knowing the dog was named frenzy. I guess Cujo would have been worse...
I feel great about it. It's my first real ride in 9 years or more... on a mtb even. My tires for my road bike should be here next week... got a cateye astrale 8 for it and a saddle wedge with gear to fill it with last week. (Previously all my cycling was with my dad and he always had that stuff with him...) I also picked up a bell alchera that is lightyears ahead of my circa 1995 specialized air wave. I didn't wear it today though because my head would have been too cold...
edit, here's my ride: http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/tn/white-bluff/231475840
(what a neat tool)
wolfpack
04-05-08, 12:27 PM
no riding for me today....rain all day long. will get a metric in tomorrow tho, hopefully.
kenebec
04-05-08, 12:41 PM
Ah any wind here with 45*f hi temp for today is unfrienly //Yes I did ride today down to the deer meadow ,mostly bare trail had fun crashing through the cranular snow about 6"deep in spots on the trail,from the meadow I climbed up through the softwood tree's [shady,with 3' of snow in the old drifts [I could walk around most of the deep snow //once out of the softwood and into the white oak heading for the ridge only little patches of snow again fat 3 mile's round trip./Ken
kenebec
04-05-08, 12:48 PM
LOL I can see that dog![that's funny]/Ken
Velo Vol
04-05-08, 05:42 PM
Yikes. I think a Southeast subforum rule should be no discussing snow after the official start of spring. :eek:
Gavush, that's a good ride for having been out of action for 9 years. If you get up to speed, you should take a ride down to Bucksnort, just because of the name.
wolfpack
04-06-08, 03:07 PM
yes, 43.7mi that included a 10mi unplanned detour. windy, overcast, and a bit chilly.
Velo Vol
04-07-08, 08:30 AM
Sun finally came out on Sunday. :)
38 miles
1 dog bite :mad:
wolfpack
04-07-08, 08:57 AM
dang...you ok after the dog bite?? i had a couple of rottie's after me yesterday as well. i really thought one of them was going to bite me...damn snarling, growling things. too damn bad i didn't have my can of whup ass, or he would've got a face full.
cnickgo
04-07-08, 04:37 PM
Yes! Large section of the team headed out, most split off for an easier route, my ambitious self stuck with a cat1 rider, A rider (my "mentor" i guess) and B rider. Only 21 miles but included was a couple climbs and a speed section in which they droped the hamer! Stayed with for 3/4 the effort before dropping back 100 yards or so. TTed my way back up before we got back into town.
wolfpack
04-07-08, 06:21 PM
nice job cnickgo!!
as for me, 17.7 mi, which included 2 @ 3x1min z6 intervals.
Velo Vol
04-07-08, 10:41 PM
dang...you ok after the dog bite??
Yes, I'm OK.
I was riding a road I've maybe four or five times over the winter--never had a dog problem. I see a dog ahead on the left running toward the road. I was in a rolling area and knew I didn't have enough speed to out-run it. So I slowed down a bit as it ran along in front of me. I yelled at it a few times, not wanting a collision. Then, from nowhere it seemed, two more dogs came up behind me on the right side.
Triple teamed!
Due to the crash threat, I was primarily focused on the dog in the front. But I felt one behind me getting too close for comfort. Suddenly, it nabbed me in the ankle. A few seconds later it tried again, but got my shoe. I managed to pull away shortly thereafter.
A small cut from the first bite; no damage from the second. I survive to ride again!
Porter20
04-08-08, 10:11 AM
Be sure to get a Rabies shot!
cnickgo
04-08-08, 11:38 AM
Velo- Theres a nasty pack around here as well that use gang tactics. Alot of the guys get out of the saddle and allow alot of rocking of the bike, which seems to confuse the dogs or make them a little more cautious.
cnickgo
04-08-08, 05:22 PM
Another ride for me... 21 miles 1500', cut 20mins and increased my average speed by 2mph over the last time I rode that route. 1:18. I hope to get it under an hour before I leave school for the summer.
Porter20
04-08-08, 09:34 PM
I went today for a ride today with a group that I haven't ridden with before. It is the one of the local bike shops faster rides complete with drops. I stayed with the main group for most of the ride, but once we got down to 8 in the lead group, I mistimed my getting back on the end of the pacelines after doing my time at the front & I got left, but caught the group at the next stop sign. It was only my slipup. By the end we only had 4 in the lead group, so I was happy with the ride. 31 miles, 20.2 mph average with a top speed of 42.3; 1800 ft of total climbing. It is by far not the fastest riders in my area (we have crit racing on Tuesday night and a lot of the better riders go there), but it was challenging and I definitely will join them again. I am trying to figure out a riding routine & this would fit in nicely after major miles during the weekend, rest on Monday & then a hard short ride on Tues. Just thinking out loud.
sedges
04-08-08, 10:23 PM
A short late afternoon ride with my favorite riding partner. Irvin is 79 and still riding well. It was cool, damp and breezy to start. Rode the Oconee County, SC side of the Tugaloo River on River Road. An easy 14 miles. Didn't have time for more. The sun was shining as we finished. A beautiful spring day and we ended the ride with big smiles on our faces.
jaxgtr
04-08-08, 10:31 PM
No riding for me. Sick and headache all day. Need to try and get out tomorrow, hopefully weather will have warmed and winds will have decreased.
wolfpack
04-09-08, 05:42 AM
no rides yesterday...rest day before my TT today.
cnickgo
04-09-08, 07:27 PM
no rides yesterday...rest day before my TT today.
Patiently awaiting the results. Ok not so patient!!! Tear that track up.
wolfpack
04-09-08, 10:29 PM
meh...didn't do as well as i wanted. had calf cramping the whole TT time, started too fast...per the PT, i was around 28:20 avg speed of 21.1. preliminary results tomorrow maybe.
jppe
04-10-08, 10:53 AM
Thanks to all for coming out the TT's at Lowes last night. It was great to meet several folks that frequent here. Excellent turnout overall for the first event. The weather certainly could not have been any better. Apologies for the results taking longer than we'd like. Hopefully we can get those posted before too long. Those darn computers!!!
meh...didn't do as well as i wanted. had calf cramping the whole TT time, started too fast...per the PT, i was around 28:20 avg speed of 21.1. preliminary results tomorrow maybe.
Sucks about the cramping:( But now you should be more comfortable and knowledgeable, and I'm positive your next TT is going to be tenfold better.
wolfpack
04-10-08, 03:01 PM
yea, i think i will go back at the end of the month and try again. but, that all depends on how i feel after my Burnsville ride, which is my first A ride this year. i do think i can do better, but it really doesn't matter...TT's are just secondary to anything else i am doing this year and probably anytime.
as for today..........i haven't ridden yet, but will be heading out shortly since it's like 78F here. i'm only supposed to do a short 30min very easy ride today since i have those killer 30s intervals to do tomorrow and Crowder's Mtn on Sunday.
piper_chuck
04-10-08, 04:04 PM
Yes, rode today for the first time in two weeks. Did my 9.5 mile hill loop. It seems the Singulair, Flonaise, and Claritin the doctor told me to take is doing its job. Will ride again tomorrow or Saturday.
wolfpack
04-10-08, 05:17 PM
ok, yes, i did what i was supposed to do....very easy ride - worked on keeping the cadence high and power pretty low...avg cadence=109 :) and i only rode for the 30min i was supposed to.
Velo Vol
04-10-08, 08:45 PM
I dreamed all winter long about having the kind of weather we've had this week. So,
Sunday: yes
Monday: yes
Tuesday: no
Wednesday: yes
Thursday: yes
Alas, it's going to turn nasty again:Monday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Chance of precipitation is 30%.SNOW?!?!?! :crash:
cruzinator
04-11-08, 05:47 PM
I could only get time to do a 13.8 mile ride today. Tomorrow is yet another washout Saturday (i.e., trainer day), but early Sunday morn is lookin' good for a 30-40 miler! :) Just wish I could ride with the late Sun morning group, but alas I gotta do the family consideration thing then.
wolfpack
04-11-08, 06:15 PM
i got in 28mi including 2 sets of 30s zone 6 intervals. windy and 82F:)
norskagent
04-12-08, 10:17 AM
last week, near kitty hawk, n.c.
short connective greenway as part of a nice ~20 mile loop - goes by the wright bros. monument, along the sound, back down the beach road.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jvpro/silkhope003.jpg
JimF22003
04-12-08, 02:51 PM
66 miles around Middleburg. I can't believe I didn't see any other riders out. The day was great!
http://www.mapmyfitness.com/view_route?r=51935728
Alasdair
04-12-08, 02:58 PM
Bad weather today, but I did get a lunch ride in yesterday with part of my ride group. The 3 of us did our Star Fort "loop". ~18 miles. Temps near 80F but a bit gusty with the cold front blowing in. The pollen turned my blue tires green...
jaxgtr
04-12-08, 03:09 PM
32 mile today, had a late start and had no clue it was to get up to 90 and the winds would be 15 mph from the west. Got a little heat stressed toward the end and was doing some serious calf cramping in 4 of the last 6 miles. Really picked a bad route based on the wind direction.
cruzinator
04-12-08, 03:11 PM
Correction, Saturday turned out good after all and I was able to get in 36.5 miles.
cnickgo
04-12-08, 08:42 PM
Horrible TT today. Should be 54 minutes when they get my results correct. Blew up on the first climb and got killed with a headwind. Oh well. I didn't make last place. I just hope I didn't screw my legs for tomorrow. Night y'all.
Velo Vol
04-12-08, 11:24 PM
45 windy miles. At some spots the headwinds kept me as much as 8 mph slower than my normal speed. That isn't very fun.
cc_rider
04-13-08, 02:33 PM
66 miles around Middleburg. I can't believe I didn't see any other riders out. The day was great!
http://www.mapmyfitness.com/view_route?r=51935728
Wanted to be out riding Saturday, but was at the Cherry Blossom Parade and Japanese Street Festival with family and friends. Some heavy rain midday, but it turned nicer after we left.
With the weather cloudy, temperature 20 degrees lower, windy and 40% chance of rain I got out today instead. Kept it simple. W&OD, Vienna to Ashburn, 38 miles.
wolfpack
04-13-08, 07:16 PM
60 miles - Crowder's Mtn metric. Beautiful weather today!
Kostritzer
04-14-08, 06:48 AM
The Crowder's ride (60mi) was nice. I thought it might be cooler than it was, but weather was great and the turnout was good too. Only downside is no lunch afterwards.
wolfpack
04-14-08, 09:35 AM
other downside to the CMM...when i got to the last rest stop on the 60mi route, there was no water or gatorade left, just ice. i filled the bottles up with ice and then stopped at the visitor's center for water.
slowhand
04-14-08, 10:37 AM
It was a good ride! I promise that I did not drink all the water at the last stop!:) My wife took photos at the first stop and snaped wolfpack getting refuled! I'll post later. Nice meeting you, glad you had a good time.
Barry
cnickgo
04-14-08, 02:23 PM
1st road race yesterday! Went off the front after the neutral for 11 miles :) Didn't really mean to, I was just going to pull for my teammate a bit when they didn't close the gap, so I just kept going. Felt awesome to have the moto stop and give me gap times! Murphy's Law kicked in and threw my chain on the climb. Spent the rest of the race by myself. 40 degree weather. Sleet and rain. That sucked. Mild hypothermia waiting for the car with all my clothes to pick up another rider. Had tons of fun :)
wolfpack
04-14-08, 05:43 PM
Good job cnickgo!!
nothing for me today except on the stationary bike at the gym.
cnickgo
04-15-08, 06:04 PM
23 miles today... noticed today I had been spinning in a higher gear than before, comfortably. Saw a wild turkey. Really wanted it for dinner :)
wolfpack
04-15-08, 06:14 PM
20 miles of easy zone 2 spinning. lots of wind.
Porter20
04-15-08, 07:28 PM
Nothing in a week! Can you believe it? Talk about lazy. But it starts tomorrow. At least 30 tomorrow & a metric on Thursday. If I write, I gotta do it.
wolfpack
04-16-08, 07:34 PM
dang. i should've listened and gone to the gym yesterday instead of doing a 20mi z2 ride. that really affected my ride today.
16mi, 9-3x1min zone6 intervals. very hard, legs hurting bad.
Porter20
04-16-08, 08:25 PM
So far so good. I made my 30+ today, at around 20 mph & am still planning on the Metric tomorrow.
wolfpack
04-17-08, 05:59 PM
yes, 19mi zone 2 recovery ride.
Alasdair
04-17-08, 08:22 PM
Quick little 12 mile lunch ride so I could be sure to be ready for a 1PM con-call... call lasted longer than the ride! Yech.