Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Stronger after more miles

Okay, this was a new one for me. I was riding a route I ride pretty regularly now. At about the 10 mile mark there is a short but steep climb. Normally make it up about 1/2 way before I have to drop down to granny gear. This past time I decided to extend my normal ride to 60 miles so I circled around and did this climb again, at about the 50 mile mark. At this point my legs are still feeling strong but tired, you know the feeling. The difference was this time I rode up the hill seated as normal but this time in the big ring in front (and largest in back). I would say that my perceived effort was about equal on both climbs.

It really shocked me that my legs seemed stronger with 40 more miles on them. Could it just be that my body was more warmed up or maybe it was psychological?

Adrenaline flowing? Pumped from the excitement of riding ? :D

I say warmed up! I do a climb near home 3 miels long. I do it 3 times, the first is a bear and the second is a breeze. 3rd I'm geting tired but that's after I lifted the pace for the second climb.

On a flat ride, 42 miles, it takes me 7 miles before I even feel riding. Rest of the ride is cool but the first few are always a bummer!:D

I think man more rides could do longer distances except they 'think' they are tired when the 5 mile drag hits. Little do they know at mile 20, after a warm up, they will be rolling on the river!:p

Yup, probably takes you longer to get warmed up. Like Beanz said, I'm a 6-8 mile warmup guy. To the point where my morning commute is now extended to nearly 11 miles because I feel better doing that amount than I do if I go straight to work (3 miles). It's cool, and it sucks all at the same time. :D

yeah as others have said it takes me a while to get warmed up. I know for a fact my avg speed in my first 5 miles is quite a bit slower than mile 6-25. after about 5 miles my legs feel nice and loose and the power just flows smoothly. It's funny because when i first started riding I would feel "tired" after about 5 miles of riding, but then one day i just pushed it and doubled to 10 and was like hey, the last 5 were way easier and then i just started adding more and more miles. trying out a 30 mile ride this weekend to see how that feels.

A long warm up time does make sense, I was kind of thinking that way anyway. I have noticed that the more I get used to longer distances the longer it takes me to get into a good rhythm.

I say warmed up! I do a climb near home 3 miels long. I do it 3 times, the first is a bear and the second is a breeze. 3rd I'm geting tired but that's after I lifted the pace for the second climb.

On a flat ride, 42 miles, it takes me 7 miles before I even feel riding. Rest of the ride is cool but the first few are always a bummer!:D

I think man more rides could do longer distances except they 'think' they are tired when the 5 mile drag hits. Little do they know at mile 20, after a warm up, they will be rolling on the river!:p

On both my commute and my ride to church the biggest climb, and the only BIG climb, is less than a mile and a half into the trip. The joys of living in a river valley.....

Ive started bumping up to the third ring on the front this week, so some stronger, some better unconcious pacing as I know what is coming up, I think.