Training & Nutrition - Newbie, 50+, clydesdale with a few questions

Hi

I just started to get into road cycling this year. A typical week is two or three thirty miles commutes (15 each way) and a Saturday morning group ride of around 50 miles.

Question #1

Today, on the group ride, we were averaging 22 m.p.h, and our distance was to be 65 miles, instead of the usual 50, and I blew up the last 8 miles - big time.

I know that more seat time will help me improve my endurance and technique, but today, when I blew up, the muscles between my shoulder blades were burning.

Any suggestion where this came from? It was getting to be a challenge for me to maintain my pace before I expired. I managed to finish, but could only pedal around 15 m.p.h the last eight miles with an incredible burning in my back muscles and the legs weren't doing so good either.

Heartrate is typically around 158-162 in the group and jumps to 170+ when pulling the group. Cadence between 85 to 90.

Question #2

What are you guys putting in your bottles. I started with Gatorade mix and I want to try something else. I started with the Gatorade because I really sweated during my first big rides and wanted to replace my electrolites. Looking for something to give me energy and endurance.

Thanks

Canflyboy

If you can average 22mph for 55 miles at 55 years old you should be giving us advice.

I use Accelerade at half strength.

The 22m.p.h. average was not typical for our group. We usually aim for the 19-21 range, but some faster riders showed up and pulled us along. I should mention also, that where I live are NO hills. The land is as flat as a pancake for hundreds of miles and whereas us flatlanders might have to fight off more headwinds, this past Saturday morning had very little wind, hence the combination of faster riders and no wind gave us the higher than usual (for me) average.

I can only maintain our average for just over two hours (50 miles) anything more, for me is like hitting a wall. The muscle pain between the shoulders was harsh and I wonder if it was lactic acid induced or perhaps poor technique.

Thanks

Hi

I just started to get into road cycling this year. A typical week is two or three thirty miles commutes (15 each way) and a Saturday morning group ride of around 50 miles.

Question #1

Today, on the group ride, we were averaging 22 m.p.h, and our distance was to be 65 miles, instead of the usual 50, and I blew up the last 8 miles - big time.

I know that more seat time will help me improve my endurance and technique, but today, when I blew up, the muscles between my shoulder blades were burning.

Any suggestion where this came from? It was getting to be a challenge for me to maintain my pace before I expired. I managed to finish, but could only pedal around 15 m.p.h the last eight miles with an incredible burning in my back muscles and the legs weren't doing so good either.

Heartrate is typically around 158-162 in the group and jumps to 170+ when pulling the group. Cadence between 85 to 90.

Question #2

What are you guys putting in your bottles. I started with Gatorade mix and I want to try something else. I started with the Gatorade because I really sweated during my first big rides and wanted to replace my electrolites. Looking for something to give me energy and endurance.

Thanks

Canflyboy

#1 When you start working extra hard and your legs are dying, it's really common to put in a lot of upper body (you can see this if you watch the pros race). That can do a number on your back. I'd also suggest the best bike fit you can find

#2 Gatorade is a soft drink pretending to be a serious sports drink. You have lots of options for real hydration drinks, and you need to find the one that works for your stomach and how you ride. Go to your local bike shop (or look in bike catalogs or websites or REI) and try some and see how they work.

I started to use cytomax, not bad. I usually use accelerade but mixing is annoying, I buy ready to drink cytomax because I can get them for 70cent per bottle.

Plus, 22mph average is pretty damn good..