Cycling Goa... frustrating variability in performance capabilities
05-12-05, 07:24 AM
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Cycling Goa... frustrating variability in performance capabilities
www.johnthemap.co.uk/pages/goa/goamap.html
This is my stomping ground. I do between 10 and 25 miles a day, dodging cows, buffalo, sheep, pigs, chickens, women carrying loads of hay on their head that are so much bigger than the woman it would seem to defy the laws of physics, busses that run me off the road, etc. over roads that are potholed and bumpy but who cares cause the scenery is great.
Today I did about 5 miles. It was a struggle. Its been getting hotter... but still, today was pathetic. I slept okay last night. I ate about 45 minutes before riding, cause I had a mediocre breakfast. Oh yeah, you can't ride in the mid-day heat, so its either morning or night... otherwise its 100F+. Which I don't enjoy. Its about 85F when I go out to ride at about 4-5pm.
Three days ago I did a 25 mile round trip ride down to the tip of Mobor from Benaulim. I loved it all the way. Getting back was a snap. It took about an hour and a half travel time. Something like that. I swam and relaxed at mobor, so I dunno exactly.
Anyway, the point of the thread is... my performance seems to vary HUGELY. One day I can go 20 miles and I'm loving it. I've never cycled for distance daily. Usually in Atlanta it was just to get where I was going. Here its for distance. And the distance I can go, and the amount of work that involves is so unpredictable that its frustrating.
Is this normal?
I'm trying to get base miles in. I didn't do any cycling for about two months before coming to Goa, because I was doing construction constantly to pay for moving here. My goal is to bicycle the 400km or so from Manali to Lei in August. So I need to be training hard... but sometimes it seems like its not helping. Does this happen to you guys?
How long after a hard ride do you need to recover to full capacity? After I ride hard, I do a shorter easier ride the next day to recover... but I don't seem to be progressing like I should.
Any thoughts are appreciated.
This is my stomping ground. I do between 10 and 25 miles a day, dodging cows, buffalo, sheep, pigs, chickens, women carrying loads of hay on their head that are so much bigger than the woman it would seem to defy the laws of physics, busses that run me off the road, etc. over roads that are potholed and bumpy but who cares cause the scenery is great.
Today I did about 5 miles. It was a struggle. Its been getting hotter... but still, today was pathetic. I slept okay last night. I ate about 45 minutes before riding, cause I had a mediocre breakfast. Oh yeah, you can't ride in the mid-day heat, so its either morning or night... otherwise its 100F+. Which I don't enjoy. Its about 85F when I go out to ride at about 4-5pm.
Three days ago I did a 25 mile round trip ride down to the tip of Mobor from Benaulim. I loved it all the way. Getting back was a snap. It took about an hour and a half travel time. Something like that. I swam and relaxed at mobor, so I dunno exactly.
Anyway, the point of the thread is... my performance seems to vary HUGELY. One day I can go 20 miles and I'm loving it. I've never cycled for distance daily. Usually in Atlanta it was just to get where I was going. Here its for distance. And the distance I can go, and the amount of work that involves is so unpredictable that its frustrating.
Is this normal?
I'm trying to get base miles in. I didn't do any cycling for about two months before coming to Goa, because I was doing construction constantly to pay for moving here. My goal is to bicycle the 400km or so from Manali to Lei in August. So I need to be training hard... but sometimes it seems like its not helping. Does this happen to you guys?
How long after a hard ride do you need to recover to full capacity? After I ride hard, I do a shorter easier ride the next day to recover... but I don't seem to be progressing like I should.
Any thoughts are appreciated.
05-12-05, 07:29 AM
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Stegosaurus
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Oh yeah, I bike on a single speed "piece of crap." Its like a mountain bike without suspension. I think it weighs 40 pounds. And I've been cycling at least 5 days a week for about a month.
05-12-05, 11:10 AM
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Wow its amazing to see a post about Goa. I live in the US, but grew up in Bombay and hence, visited Goa fairly often as a kid. Its a small world.
Sorry no meaningful insight about you performance issue (I'm a newbie and still pondering what road bike to purchase).
Ride on brother!
Sorry no meaningful insight about you performance issue (I'm a newbie and still pondering what road bike to purchase).
Ride on brother!
05-12-05, 11:56 AM
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You know... I am the Lance Armstrong of South Goa. Noone has ever passed me! (Except today when I was dragging ass a little kid did... ARG!) I smoke all these Indian potsers (they ride for transportation, and so they go slow) ! I even pass some scooters. MUHAHAHA! I am the king of the road! Except for... scooters, motorcycles, rickshaws, cars, trucks, busses, cows, buffalo and sheep. Other than that... I rule! I am by far the best cyclist in South Goa. They crap their pants when I jump off the stairs into the sand in Benaulim.
05-13-05, 02:28 AM
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What are doing down there?
Looks like a cool place to visit?
Looks like a cool place to visit?
05-13-05, 02:47 AM
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I'm training! For riding 400km above 10-15K feet.
Well, that and... its a relaxing place to work on a software project. Yes, its the most relaxing place to visit that I've ever, ever been.
Now answer my question!
Well, that and... its a relaxing place to work on a software project. Yes, its the most relaxing place to visit that I've ever, ever been.
Now answer my question!
05-13-05, 03:05 AM
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Just out of curiosity, when you say some days it's a struggle... howso? I mean, do you just completely get out of breath and are sucking wind like mad? Or do your legs just start burning at the slightest amount of exertion? If it makes you feel any better, I commute 15 miles to and from work (usually just one way, I bus in and ride home) and I've noticed my average speed varies greatly from night to night. 12.8 one day, 14.2 the next, 13.5 the next, 15.3 today. It's just like some days I can NOT seem to get up to any good speed and get a nice rhythm going. I'd say what you're experiencing is at least somewhat normal and may very well have a lot to do with relative humidity, temperature, diet, biorthythms(?), amount of sleep, etc... you get the idea. I say don't sweat it and try to enjoy the ride as much as possible. Looks absolutely beautiful over there.
05-13-05, 03:17 AM
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Its my legs. I never get out of breath, unless I balls to the wall sprint. This might have to do wth the gearing on the bike... I dunno. But its always my legs. They burn like hell and won't seem to get "warmed up."
I stretch before riding... usually in the pool. My hamstrings tighten up and cause back pain otherwise. And then again after... again, usually in the pool.
I stretch before riding... usually in the pool. My hamstrings tighten up and cause back pain otherwise. And then again after... again, usually in the pool.
05-13-05, 03:29 AM
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Yup... I get the same way and I ride a geared bike... so I don't think you're experiencing anything abnormal. I really think our bodies just aren't up to snuff some days, ya know? They're just not in the "mood" for heavy physical activity. I'm sure someone here has some sort of medical insight into the reasoning but it's not me. 
05-13-05, 08:33 AM
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Today 25km was no problem. I think maybe doing 40km was overwork, and then as I am on a diet, I didn't eat enough to properly recover? I guess its better to mostly be consistent on the miles you put in daily, rather than going balls to the wall and taking several days to recover?
Or at this point in my training, since I'm not going very far a.k.a. out of shape, does it not really matter... as long as I get the miles in?
Someone... move to performance forum?
Or at this point in my training, since I'm not going very far a.k.a. out of shape, does it not really matter... as long as I get the miles in?
Someone... move to performance forum?
05-13-05, 10:09 AM
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I dont see any water bottle cages on the bike - are you sure you are drinking enough while you are riding. I would turn those bar ends down to use in head winds.
05-13-05, 01:13 PM
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Physical performance varies with any number of variables including variations in diet, sleeping habits, etc.
Personal trainers usually encourage keeping diaries to determine what those affecting factors are. Slept too late? Had too much to drink the previous evening? Insufficient breakfast that morning? It could be a number of factors affecting your performance.
I can do a ride and maintain a constant 160-170 heartbeats per minute. On another day doing the same ride, I just can't seem to get energy or intensity to exceed 150.
It happens but its good to know when its happening so that you know when to back off on your intensty levels.
Personal trainers usually encourage keeping diaries to determine what those affecting factors are. Slept too late? Had too much to drink the previous evening? Insufficient breakfast that morning? It could be a number of factors affecting your performance.
I can do a ride and maintain a constant 160-170 heartbeats per minute. On another day doing the same ride, I just can't seem to get energy or intensity to exceed 150.
It happens but its good to know when its happening so that you know when to back off on your intensty levels.
