Two years ago now I picked up an old GT from a yard sale for $12, tore it apart and put it back together to learn about bike mechanics. Then I went out to mountain bike and I couldn't get up the hills. I gave up and gained weight. For the last year I started running, lifting, and lost 30 lbs. But I am bored of it and am starting to feel some injuries.
I decided to get the bike out of the shed and try again. Same issues though. A neighbor took me out to a intermediate trail which is all up hill one way for about two miles (Trumbolt Canyon Whittier, CA ). I made it all the way up but walked my bike most of the way. I committed to riding two days a week for a month (May) and see if I get in shape and actually enjoying mountaining biking. I go up the same two mile hill each time and push myself to go a little farther each time. I just got back....
All this to ask what should I be doing? Am I just not in cycling shape? When should I see results? Should I ride on the road first and then go back to the hills later ? I stopped running so I need to keep up the cardio but now I am just riding for 30 minutes until I can't up the hill any longer. Thanks... :thumb:
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.
I like the part about you challenging yourself by trying to make it a bit further up the hill each time.
How about continuing to attack that hill once a week as a challenge, and a few other days per week stick to something flatter and just get some mileage under your belt? Either on the road or an easier trail.
You could also try some intervals- go out for an easy ride but throw in a few efforts of a couple of minutes or so long at a somewhat higher level. Personally, I do that by feel, my normal riding feels comfortable and my intervals "somewhat hard", I don't bother with power meters or heart rate monitors. Intervals or your nemesis hill should be at most every other day so you can recover. The in between days should be either off or easier rides.
Good luck!
timmyquest
Just do whatever you find most enjoyable. If you don't enjoy hills because you can't get up them yet, then don't do rides that have such big hills. If you really want to get up those hills though, the best way is to do it. I don't think it matters much if you do it on the road or in the dirt. The most important thing is time spent on the bike. I'd say twice a week is not enough personally.
roughbike
Thanks!
twobikes
I started riding reqularly almost two years ago after many years of almost no riding. It took me 300 miles of road riding to get the neck and shoulder strength just to support my head without aches and pains after an hour or so of riding. But, I am also 62 and making a comeback gets harder with more age. I would say to find some ride you can do pretty well now and do it with just a little stretching toward a bigger goal each week. Then be real patient with yourself.
roughbike
Thanks all... What do you think about distance. I am going to take your advice and do the hard hill once a week. I want to get more cardio. How far should I start go... just as long as I can go? I am hoping to start riding to work (about 15 miles) eventually.
SSP
The more you ride, the stronger you'll get.
I'm 55 years old, and started riding when I was 40 to help break an addiction to nicotine. When I first started riding, even small hills would challenge me, and I walked quite a few.
But I kept riding regularly (at least 3 times per week), and within just a few months, I could feel myself getting stronger. I also got better acquainted with the bike and its gearing, and learned how to dose out my efforts on the hills to avoid "blowing up".
Now, 15 years later, I ride 5000+ miles per year (nearly half are commuting miles), and I also race (time
trials, road races, triathlons, etc.).
They say it takes about 3 years of consistent riding to start to reach your real potential as a cyclist...enjoy that time, because that's also when you'll be making the largest gains.
Bottom line...keep turning the pedals, and you WILL get stronger.
mt.andrew
also, try to keep your cadence up on a climb. some people (me as a novice included) would be tempted to shift into the granny gear at the base of a climb. this will rob all of your momentum and kill your overall speed. I went from climbing this one hill at a 9mph average to a 15mph average. the hill is 4.5 miles long
timmyquest
Find a hill and attack it until it doesn't win the fight...then attack it harder thereafter
It doesn't matter how tall or how long or how steep it is, just so long as it is a challenge to you
http://toporoute.com/cgi-bin/getSavedRoute.cgi?routeKey=KWXYKJKVNIWTXJK
Not so much that i got to 44.9mph, but that i climbed the hill that enabled that speed. I was going to take a picture of it but i saw a group of riders coming towards me so i turned around and went down the hill. Full of glee because i just climbed this huge hill and just went the fastest i've ever gone on a bike (with no draft mind you) i was quickly humbled as a group of 10 riders slowly passed me up the next hill.
When the first half of the group got by i stuck to the last guys tire and went halfway up the hill but i was beat and delightfully let them pass me. I have to wonder if i could have hung with them longer if i hadnt lifted that morning. Next time i'm out there i'll grab a pic (which brings up yet another handicap in that i had 8lbs of photo gear on my back :eek: )
After my best week of cycling, i actually rode every day--i tried to tell myself to take a break but i always managed to find an excuse to go on a ride--i have decided to attack Bull Valley. This is a small unincorporated town adjacent to mine. Full of wooded roads and huge houses...and hills, lots and lots of hills.
I'm going to go ride through it, and either die or come out a victor. The last time i tried this i had to turn back at the 5 mile mark which surprisingly (or not) is around the largest/steepest hill that i know if in the county.
I guess to people in the northwest or in the Rockies this would be nothing but I live in the midwest!. My county, McHenry, is the most glaciated county in Illinois, and bull valley is the hilliest "town" (is that a word) that i know of.
So umm, wish me luck :p
I know it aint much in terms of hills, but it's about the best i can give ya in Northern Illinois :(
I ride that hill every day...it's a piece of cake.
pista
Doing hills is probably the best bike exercise you can do. I try to do only hills once a week. I do 17% grade for 1/2 mile and then do a much longer 10% grade. It works. Eventually, your legs get strong enough and your breathing get's the rythem.