Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Seeing Improvement

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November
06-10-09, 02:19 PM
Been riding this season on a single-speed roadbike buildup. I have been having trouble with one hill in particular every time I go out. I made it up and over that beeyotch today by changing one thing: my breathing. During my ride today I made a conscious effort to BREATHE deeply and imagine the oxygen filling my bloodstream. As I approached the hill I took huge gulps of air and continued that right up the hill. I was a little in shock that I was able to make it. I haven't even made it up that hill on my geared bike, so I was pretty excited.

Details:
rider weight: 280 lbs
gearing: 42t front x 17t rear
pre-flight meal: two hotdogs with pickles & mustard/mayo/horseradish sauce (eaten 2-1/2 hours earlier) and a big glass of OJ. And some pretzels. There might have been some M&Ms, I'm not sure. I think I blacked out. In my defense I didn't think I was riding today so I went a little nuts, but it was my best ride so far!

I still get psyched when I think about riding and these little improvements keep me going.

Tom Stormcrowe
06-10-09, 02:37 PM
OUtstanding!
Caincando1
06-11-09, 10:09 AM
Breathing technique is very important and often over looked.

jboyd
06-11-09, 10:18 AM
Are you sure it was not the mustard/mayo/horseradish sauce and M&Ms? ;)
Brando_T.
06-11-09, 10:32 AM
Give credit where credit is due: the M&Ms.
CliftonGK1
06-11-09, 11:34 AM
Right on!

I've been riding single and fixed more this season, and managed to do some amazing things (they're amazing to me, at least) by really concentrating on the bottom and upswing portions of the pedal stroke. Even a slow grind up a 2.25 mile climb feels like spinning if you concentrate on even power application throughout the entire pedal stroke.
Wogster
06-11-09, 05:54 PM
Been riding this season on a single-speed roadbike buildup. I have been having trouble with one hill in particular every time I go out. I made it up and over that beeyotch today by changing one thing: my breathing. During my ride today I made a conscious effort to BREATHE deeply and imagine the oxygen filling my bloodstream. As I approached the hill I took huge gulps of air and continued that right up the hill. I was a little in shock that I was able to make it. I haven't even made it up that hill on my geared bike, so I was pretty excited.

Details:
rider weight: 280 lbs
gearing: 42t front x 17t rear
pre-flight meal: two hotdogs with pickles & mustard/mayo/horseradish sauce (eaten 2-1/2 hours earlier) and a big glass of OJ. And some pretzels. There might have been some M&Ms, I'm not sure. I think I blacked out. In my defense I didn't think I was riding today so I went a little nuts, but it was my best ride so far!

I still get psyched when I think about riding and these little improvements keep me going.

It's a normal progression with hills, the more times you ride up a particular hill, the smaller it gets :D Breathing helps, adequate fueling helps to. If your tired and hungry it's a lot harder to ride then if your either or neither.

This reply is starting to look like a bunch of cliches. I will go now...