Fifty Plus (50+) - Wish I had got more rides in over the winter.

Trying to get fitness back and gradually been upping distance and severity of hills. Did this trip last week and chickened out for the hill and took a longer detour round to miss it. Couldn't do that again so High and over here I come.

I have a problem with my garmin in that it switches off but decided to fit it so I could see elevation and speed. Funny thing is that although it kept switching off- It did record the whole ride.

http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj566/VolKS47/Cycling/Untitled.jpg

Those peaks at 15% hurt. Got to the top and it was breather time- I needed it. So looks like a few more hills have to be done to get the legs in----And I was using the TCR with the triple--I needed it

It is recorded in metric so the distance was only about 30 miles and the climb total climb was about 1500ft. Those are metres recorded for height.

We need a few Brits to join the 50+ers on Strava. It would give us an air of sophistication that we just lack at the moment (j/k everyone!)

[I]So, we're supposed to feel sorry for a recent retiree who is whining:cry: about the rides he didn't do prior to retirement? And he's not fit enough to consume all his new-found spare time with riding? Yeah, that's really, really rough.:p

I tried to ride every day I could this winter even when it was s lot colder than I like. Still I just started to feel good about riding in march. Yesterday was a great ride and now they are predicting rain for Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and I have a century planned for saturday.

I think this coming winter I'll take my commuter/kid carrier bike and strap it to a trainer. The chances of it getting used are slim so its the best choice. That way I can just setup my computer for movies in front of the trainer and still get my 1 1/2 hours a day cycling in when its too cold for real cycling.

[I]So, we're supposed to feel sorry for a recent retiree who is whining:cry: about the rides he didn't do prior to retirement? And he's not fit enough to consume all his new-found spare time with riding? Yeah, that's really, really rough.:p

Trainers are obviously not available in the UK.:D

Wanna ride in the winter? Two words: Mountain bike

Wanna ride in the winter? Two words: Mountain bike

Been there -done that. Good fun but I am a bit fragile for the Downhills now. And I have lost my co-rider on the Tandem so it is also harder. Still get out when the occasion arises- but this winter cut out almost all riding.

Plus you guys had rough winter, didn't you?

Plus you guys had rough winter, didn't you?

Not too bad but it was windy and COLD. Too much Ice for road riding and imagine being up on top of the hills with no shelter and a cold wind. Not enjoyable. But a couple of winters ago with plenty of snow and you didn't notice the cold. And just imagine this terrain in winter
http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj566/VolKS47/Cycling/WindoverHill.jpg

Nothing to stop the wind. Ouch.

Been there -done that. Good fun but I am a bit fragile for the Downhills now. And I have lost my co-rider on the Tandem so it is also harder. Still get out when the occasion arises- but this winter cut out almost all riding.

If I remember you had other things to which you needed to attend this winter. Every now and again I go through a winter where I can't or didn't ride as much as I wanted of should have. I just remind myself that spring allows for rebirth.... of me and damn near everything else.

If it makes you feel better, here's a shot of the hill I must ride to get back home after any ride that starts at my house. It tops out at 17% and averages 14%. While it's less than a mile, there are days when I look at the hill coming up and don't want to go home.

Really missed my rides for 4 weeks when I was recovering for Carpal Tunnel and Trigger Finger release(both right hand) in January, but without the surgery, there is no way I'm be riding the new roadie. As it is, I have still shake out my left hand and will likely get Carpal Tunnel release for that hand next winter. Maybe instead of step-ups(what I did to keep up my aerobic conditioning) during recovery, I'll invest in a trainer...doc had said I could've got on right away if I used a stationary or trainer.

Stapfam,

If you have the place to set it up, I recommend getting a trainer to maintain your cycling fitness over the winter. I was amazed at how my cycling fitness improved this past winter by riding regularly indoors on a trainer.