Fifty Plus (50+) - Time to start "Hutting my bode-ie"

Apologies to Paul Sherwen... I just love the way he says that :)

Yes, I am opening the suitcase of pain.

I'm well into this experiment so far; 2 years down and 3 months into me 3rd year of dragging this fat couch potato body off of the couch and into some semblance of health.
It's gone pretty well but I feel that I've settled into a groove, a plateau and I believe that, now, I have enough fitness to start pushing a little harder.
So, now, when I find myself bogging down a little, I don't shift down and spin a little easier.
No, I shift up, stand up and honk that bike.
It's true, standing on the pedals is hard work and it hurts.

And it feels good.

It's funny, too, how -once you sit back down- your legs are trembling and sore but they actually do get rested and comfortable again as you roll along.
I also find that, I stand and accelerate so that I can shift up to the big ring and spin a good 80-90rpms.
More and more, I leave it on the big ring as much as I can and just shift up and down in the back as needed. On the flats (or false flats). Uphill, it's still mostly the granny.

Of course, even there, it depends. I used to climb the hill to my house, sitting and using the granny.
Now I'm standing and powering my way up that hill out of the saddle. At the top I am ready to sit, believe me, but I'm climbing it out of the saddle with a lower heart rate than I used to have a year ago in the saddle.

In fact, one of the nice things inAscent, is that you can color code your route on a map, keyed to your HR (or grade or speed or whatevere). I'm seeing places where the time I spend in the red is getting smaller and fewer far between. And, as I push harder and my body responds, I expect that trend to continue.

I love my bike! And I love the changes I'm seeing and the way I feel.

You are progressing well, grasshopper.:thumb: Keep it up. But pace yourself. If you go for too much too soon, you may take a big step backwards.

I love reading these stories! I started riding about 3 years ago, and I can also happily look back at the progress I have made, and lots more to be made. The best part is it just keeps being more fun all the time!

You are progressing well, grasshopper.:thumb: Keep it up. But pace yourself. If you go for too much too soon, you may take a big step backwards.

Thanks, my master ;)

Yes, I am careful enough that I end up muscle sore but that's it.

Climb Old La Honda and return to Woodside via Highway 84. Post Ascent data. You are ready for this.

Climb Old La Honda and return to Woodside via Highway 84. Post Ascent data. You are ready for this.

I am? :eek:
I don't know about that... gosh, how many stops would I need to make, I wonder?

Plateaus are a natural thing - I find that sometimes I need to back off a little to break through a plateau whether or not it's weight loose or performance gain. You may have read people say they do better than they have ever done on a certain ride or hill after having taken one or two days off. It's true.
I only push all out two days a week, the other days are used focusing on either strength or endurance with a few rest days and/or recovery ride days.

Mix it up - you will do better for it.

I too have made a transition this year, from riding solo and in Z-3, to training and racing at age 55. I have learned the valuable lesson of a recovery ride once every week. Last night's ride was mostly done in the small ring and even going up hills I kept the HR under 135 and averaged only 16.9 for 22 miles. When I got off the bike it felt as if I didn't even ride. What a beautiful evening it was and today I'm ready for tonight's fast group ride and the hammering my body will be subjected to.:love:

Pushing to the next level takes many different forms for different people. Sounds like you're finding the niche that will work for you. Progress in one's fitness and abilities isn't supposed to be possible for older folks (so the ageist thinking goes). Glad you're a living example of continued growth and development.

Climb Old La Honda and return to Woodside via Highway 84. Post Ascent data. You are ready for this.

For those of us not familiar with that ride, can you post a profile of it?

Here is a screen shot from Ascent from a previous ride. Old La Honda is the benchmark climb in the area. It is one of the most beautiful climbs through the redwoods in the area and features 3.2 mile length with an average 7.2% grade with switchbacks at 15 to 25%.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/OLH.jpg

Somehow I knew it would be painful to see that. You sure this is for biking and not for mountain climbing? ;)

Somehow I knew it would be painful to see that. You sure this is for biking and not for mountain climbing? ;)

Many of the cyclists with whom we ride do repeats up OLH. Since we are talking about breaking through plateaus, it strikes me one way to do it is to elevate your game to a new level by attacking new hills. Once you are able to climb OLH or similar terrain, you do it again and again.:)

SKT could do hill repeats on hills that are closer to his house in preparation for climbing an OLH type of climb.:thumb:

^^ Are you just naturally mean or what? :thumb:

^^ Are you just naturally mean or what? :thumb:

Hey...I think SKT is one of the many success stories here. I am trying to elevate his game a bit..;)

:thumb: I know how you feel!

One of our goals is to ride OLH with you & VeloDiva on the tandems.

Maybe after the Sept. Beat the Clock TT?

What's life without a tasty challenge? :D

Hey...I think SKT is one of the many success stories here. I am trying to elevate his game a bit..;)

Well, I do appreciate that.

In my own small way, if I can inspire someone to just get out there and do it, I'm a happy guy.
I'm a very happy guy that I was the first one I could inspire - and continue to inspire.

As long as I can continue to just do a little more than I did before, that's a victory.
Sure, I get a little envious of what some of you can do but I'll get there eventually.

Or not.

The joy is in the journey...

I did do the first mile of Sharp Park Road twice during lunch a few weeks ago.
It was hard the second time up, yeah, but not quite as hard as I thought it would be.

But, OLH? You are naturally mean :lol:

Well, I do appreciate that.

In my own small way, if I can inspire someone to just get out there and do it, I'm a happy guy.
I'm a very happy guy that I was the first one I could inspire - and continue to inspire.

As long as I can continue to just do a little more than I did before, that's a victory.
Sure, I get a little envious of what some of you can do but I'll get there eventually.

Or not.

The joy is in the journey...

I did do the first mile of Sharp Park Road twice during lunch a few weeks ago.
It was hard the second time up, yeah, but not quite as hard as I thought it would be.

But, OLH? You are naturally mean :lol:

Is this the seed of another BF group ride? :D

I like that sig line, RR. :D

I like that sig line, RR. :D

Thanks -- it was sent by a friend and I adopted it immediately. :D

I like yours as well. It's relevant on several levels.

Have to agree that SKT is a success story on this forum. But for those of us at mature years that are just starting- there are problems to overcome. The sig line that says it all for most of us is D.G's-

50% physical and 90% mental. SKT is one of the successes.


It's OK for those of us that are used to Physical exercise but even their day comes. I had a lay off exercise for 10 years while I raised a family- Then started riding in 1990. It came hard- a residual fitness to work on- no excessive weight to lose- But no money for a decent bike and little time to carry out the exercise. Gradually I got fitter- got better bikes and then it was time to set the targets and achieve. Did it up to 99 but then medical problems hit. So back to square 3 (I still had the bike and enthusiasm) But it was hard for a few years.

There is no way I can get back to the fitness I had in 99. But I did a couple of rides that proved I could do them in 03-04-05-06 and 07. Not at the pace I could have done them but these were hard rides that I took great pleasure in watching the 25 year old lads with latest machinery fail on. It was not my fitness that got me through those rides- It was the mental aspect.

As I said, SKT is one of the successes. All he has to do now is get the physical side of his rides above 50% and he will be flying. The mental aspect to be able to do his rides with his problems and still beat his wife up the hills on her "new" Giant is already above 90%

This thread is why the 50+ Forum is so good.

One of our goals is to ride OLH with you & VeloDiva on the tandems.

Maybe after the Sept. Beat the Clock TT?

What's life without a tasty challenge? :D

That is a great idea.