Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Opinions about perceived fitness and data fitness related to ride frequency...

So recently has been weird riding schedule for me due to the Horrible hundred. I have been doing a lot of bridge attacks due to it being flatter than flat here in Jacksonville. So a bridge attack for me is about 8-10 laps (16-20 climbs) on the bridges. I did that 3 times last week and did a standard flat 24 mile ride early Thursday am. I didn't ride again until Sunday due to the horrible Hundred. In the ride i felt great 100+%. I then didn't ride Monday or Tuesday for various reasons nothing to do with recovery etc just life in general. So Wednesday i did a lunch ride with the guys and we were averaging 24 MPH on our 12 mile loop and i could have gone harder and held 26-28 for a good clip. So we rode again Thursday and again i felt good but not super strong (avg. 21 mph)as the day before with plenty of rest. And today again we rode the same loop. And still felt weaker (20.5 avg) than Wednesday and the Horrible Hundred. Is it bad to do rides 3 days back to back like that and not feel 100% or is it better to get to the 100% and then wear it out? Is there a benefit or fault either way?

J.W.

I think you gotta mix it up. Go hard one day, go long another day, recover the next day. Whatever works for you. I tend to ride hard so the max I can do is 4 days in a row then I need a rest day. I tend to change my rides like long and slow, short and fast, medium with hills, or a combo. I don't usually do recovery rides, but I make sure I take days off to rest. Over the years I've learned to read my body to the point where I know when I need to shut it down for a day or so.

You can average 24+ MPH? I have never averaged over 15 MPH. I suck.
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You are averaging 24+ when you DON'T feel superstrong?...Wow, how about posting the Garmin stats on that ride?:D

You are averaging 24+ when you DON'T feel superstrong?...Wow, how about posting the Garmin stats on that ride?:D

Heres the Garmin stats for the 3 days its really strange because the day on it shows that i averaged 20.5 i think but looking at te speedo i was normally at 24 and could ave easily went harder but we were waiting on a rider that was on a MTB that day and got cute and had a flat trying to jump a curb(thats why you see a big dip in the stats. Another rider has a trek speedo that had us right at 24).
Day 2 I was not feeling physically as strong at all and was pushing to keep the same computer average as yesterday.
Adn Day 3 I was really struggling and felt spent for some reason. I guess i need to rest more. Another ting to look at is my max speed.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/19129050
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/19213627
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/19261869

Hehehe! Too many people think looking down at the speed and seeing 25 means they averaged 25. Un uh, no- way , Mmm-mm! The other day a bud and I did a 75 miler. We took turns puling the first half, seeing 20 the entire time. But average was only 18.3.

I know way too many guys that average 26 into the wind but can't hang with me when I average 18 :D

Either way, after a hill climb or hard effort, it always does me good to do a recovery ride. If even a 20 miler at 13-15 mph. The next day, I'm ready to roll!:D

Day 1:......short climb with 3000 ft, somehard eforts/intervals
Day 2:.... ez 20 mile recovery ride
Day 3:....75 miler


OK, so my recovery realxation ride, Imigh thave overdonet he relaxation part!:D
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2521/4115252175_c942b0d595_o.jpg

^^^^^ Now this looks more like my typical ride...

Can't help ya on this one... I'm a commute rider. I ride mostly to-and-from school, and 15 miles or 2 hours (whichever comes first) is pretty much my limit. :D

You can average 24+ MPH? I have never averaged over 15 MPH. I suck.
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Trust me you dont suck! I would say that i average 18-20MPH on average. I ride with some very competative non clydes and they push me all the time. I have to constantly improve to just stay even because of the weight advantage. When i started riding i was easily at 15 MPH AVG.

Day 1:......short climb with 3000 ft, somehard eforts/intervals
Day 2:.... ez 20 mile recovery ride
Day 3:....75 miler


OK, so my recovery realxation ride, Imigh thave overdonet he relaxation part!:D
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2521/4115252175_c942b0d595_o.jpg

Thats classic!!!

is that lake park in huntington beach ?

Do you have a HR monitor? As a data geek, I find it often matches up with how I feel on a ride. When rested and strong I can go with the group and mostly stay out of the red zone, when feeling crappy, I can max my HR in the warm up! I pretty much consider all the other data on my Garmin secondary to HR. If the motor's runnin' good the rest just seems to happen.

Had a great ride this Saturday that seems to show I'm finally shaking some flu/cold thing that's been kickin' my butt the last couple of weekends.

is that lake park in huntington beach ?

Nope! Memorial Park in Upland, right next door to San Antonio Hospital on Foothill Blvd. It's the start of the Tour De Foothills. About a mile from where we started our ride couple months ago.:D

Do you have a HR monitor? As a data geek, I find it often matches up with how I feel on a ride. When rested and strong I can go with the group and mostly stay out of the red zone, when feeling crappy, I can max my HR in the warm up! I pretty much consider all the other data on my Garmin secondary to HR. If the motor's runnin' good the rest just seems to happen.

Had a great ride this Saturday that seems to show I'm finally shaking some flu/cold thing that's been kickin' my butt the last couple of weekends.

Yes, i use my HR monitor and love it! I really only use it and the cadence now that i have it!! I will have to see about that i have never really noticed before.