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I feel I'm on my way

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I feel I'm on my way

Old 04-05-08, 07:56 PM
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I feel I'm on my way

I am new to road bikes, I started with a mountain bike a few years ago, then went to a hybrid last year because I was tired of fixing flats from goat heads (stickers) & now I bought a road bike.

About two months ago I bought a 07 Specialized Roubaix with CF fork & seat stay. I've been able to ride it a few times to work, I carpool with the wife to her work then ride the 7 miles to my work. Then when the weather has been nice I've been able to ride home the 25 miles but I've only done that 3 times so far.

I've done the 25 miles 3 times, a 35 mile ride, last weekend 50 miles & this Friday was one of the 25 mile rides.
Today I decided to bump it up so I road to the LBS that I bought the bike from so I could have them adjust the rear derailer & the round trip was 65 miles.

There was winds from 15-20 mph which I HATE WIND but at least I didn't hit the bad stuff until I was almost to the LBS but it does take a toll on you.

I had two 24oz water bottles that I drank, then filled them up & drank them on the way back. Ate a peanut butter sandwich at the LBS and had one power bar & 5 fig newton bars on the trip. When I got home I drank a big glass of chocolate milk and ate some trail mix.

Just wondering if I'm pushing it to much or the rides I've done are O.K? I'm also trying to learn about eating because it sounds like that is as important.

This last trip my legs were sore, my arse (maybe my sit bones) got sore, which I haven't had before and my shoulders were sore but they are better. I don't know if it was because of the wind, but this ride is a lot harder on me then the 50 mile ride I did.

I'm 47 yrs old so I'm not a spring chicken, but I feel I'm in pretty good shape since I go to the gym regularly.
I have a century planned for June 1st so I'm trying to build myself up for that ride.

Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated.


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Old 04-05-08, 08:02 PM
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Originally Posted by w2brdbkr
Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated.
Purple text is gay.
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Old 04-05-08, 08:05 PM
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Any helpful suggestions on my part could be construed as Aiding and Abetting a Fred, for which I could be subject to Road Nazi Retribution.

Welcome to Road Cycling. Enjoy!
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Old 04-05-08, 08:33 PM
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Sounds like you are doling exactly the right things. If your butt continues to get sore, try adjusting the saddle position and height some. But do very small increments
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Old 04-05-08, 08:36 PM
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you're doing great....just keep riding and having fun.
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Old 04-05-08, 08:39 PM
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Your butt always gets sore when you hop back on the bike after a layoff, its like a guitar players fret fingers, gotta toughen it up. The mileage seems fine, as long as you pace yourself (i'm guessing you aren't in this to race) your body will be fine. You eat and drink. Sounds good to me. Keep enjoying the ride!
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Old 04-05-08, 10:45 PM
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I couldn't get past the length and color of the post so I didn't read any of it.

I'll stick with basics - if you said you are riding your bike...good. If something hurts - either it will go away with more mileage or search for the cure using the search function. I'll bet there's a thread or two about it.

Gear - yes you are riding crap. Yes you need to upgrade as soon as possible. If you don't your bike will melt. Just make sure you pick SRAMangnolo Redcord Ace and all will be well.

Welcome and steer clear of the smug a holes that seem to infultrate this place.
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Old 04-05-08, 11:59 PM
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I have no comment for the OP other than: For the love of god, why do you live 25 miles from work?
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Old 04-06-08, 12:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Psimet2001
Welcome and steer clear of the smug a holes that seem to infultrate this place.
Infiltrate, just sayin'... I couldn't focus on the purple text also.
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Old 04-06-08, 06:46 AM
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when you're riding on sore legs, try to spin a high cadence at an easy effort. you'll recover more quickly. my guess is that into the wind you were pushing too big a gear and you fried your guads.
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Old 04-06-08, 07:11 AM
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Sounds like a great progression, I doubt your pusing it to much. You were sore because you hadn't spent that much time on the bike yet. Next time you ride 65 miles you will be less sore. Don't worry all that much about eating, just make sure you eat some while riding, its not to hard.
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Old 04-06-08, 07:18 AM
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OK I'll stick with just the plain old boring "BLACK" letters.

For those with good advice thanks! This morning my legs are a little sore but not bad at all, I will do a short ride today but focus on just spinning.

When I was riding into the head wind I was in my middle sprocket on the lowest gear so I don't think I was trying to push it to hard. I have read a lot about doing more spinning so I've been working on that.

Like I said I'm new at this biking stuff so I'm trying to learn the right habits instead of the wrong ones then having to relearn the right ones.

I've also been working on my pedaling. Trying to pedal all the way around instead of just pushing down like I did on my hybrid.

As for my arse & shoulders I think it was just because of the longer distance & hopefully that will get better with more time on the saddle.

Again thanks, where I live there are a lot of bikers & it is just fun to be out riding. I have a lot of improvement I can do if I want because I was passed by a lot of riders.

No I don't plan on racing, this is just a hobby to keep me in better shape & maybe lose a few pounds while I'm doing it.

Why do I live 25 miles from work? You have to go where the money is.....
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Old 04-06-08, 08:57 AM
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Originally Posted by w2brdbkr
I am new to road bikes, I started with a mountain bike a few years ago, then went to a hybrid last year because I was tired of fixing flats from goat heads (stickers) & now I bought a road bike.

I don't get it. You bought a hybrid and then a road bike because you were getting flats from thorns on your MTB? Mountain bike tires are more durable and less flat prone.
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Old 04-06-08, 08:58 AM
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Originally Posted by dcbikeguy
Purple text is gay.
+1
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Old 04-06-08, 09:20 AM
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Just a note on the "arse" thing: I started throwing in a longer ride ever week and even though I was still riding my usual 20 mile rides, the long rides caused my site bones to feel bruised. I finally tried moving my saddle forward a bit and I concentrated on sitting back in the saddle on one ride and this seemed to help. Then I layed off for several days and got back on the bike Friday only to have the discomfort return again. I finally realized that the shorts I was wearing on that day had very little padding. When I road the next day with my thicker shorts the ride was much more comfortable. I'm 50 and I have very little body fat, so I guess I might need the extra padding.
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Old 04-06-08, 09:54 AM
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Originally Posted by dcbikeguy
Purple text is gay.
+1
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Old 04-06-08, 10:02 AM
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Originally Posted by pagliaci
I don't get it. You bought a hybrid and then a road bike because you were getting flats from thorns on your MTB? Mountain bike tires are more durable and less flat prone.
True, but it's where he was riding that had more thorns & goatheads.

Riding a MTB on the road doesn't make as much sense as a road bike, so since he's wanting to spend more time on the road, he got himself a road bike.

w2brdbkr, I think you're on the right track. Worn-out muscles are no big deal; only worry if you get soreness in your joints, which tends to happen if your fit is off or if you mash in big gears. Keep spinning at a comfortable cadence (for me, it's similar to my running cadence) and you'll be fine.
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Old 04-06-08, 03:21 PM
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Originally Posted by BarracksSi
True, but it's where he was riding that had more thorns & goatheads.

Riding a MTB on the road doesn't make as much sense as a road bike, so since he's wanting to spend more time on the road, he got himself a road bike.
Thank you, yes I was riding the hybrid on the bike paths which are usually between nice weeded fields, so I started riding more on the road.
Originally Posted by BarracksSi
w2brdbkr, I think you're on the right track. Worn-out muscles are no big deal; only worry if you get soreness in your joints, which tends to happen if your fit is off or if you mash in big gears. Keep spinning at a comfortable cadence (for me, it's similar to my running cadence) and you'll be fine.
I called my buddy this morning & we decided to do a slower easy ride. I was surprised I wasn't that sore on the bike, I did notice the arse being a little sore but nothing I couldn't handle.

We did 25 miles & averaged 14mph so I feel that was a good recovery ride. Everything else seemed to be fine & this afternoon I feel really good.

I just wish the weather would be nice this next week so I could ride during the week, but they are calling for cold, snow, & rain so we will see what next weekend brings.
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Old 04-06-08, 03:56 PM
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I'm not any smug ahole. I'm the Head Smug Ahole in Charge around here.

Don't forget it.
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Old 04-06-08, 04:07 PM
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Originally Posted by mrbubbles
I have no comment for the OP other than: For the love of god, why do you live 25 miles from work?

I here ya, who wants to live that close to work? I'm no less than 62 mi.
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Old 04-06-08, 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by patentcad
I'm not any smug ahole. I'm the Head Smug Ahole in Charge around here.

Don't forget it.
I was actually refering to myself.....
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Old 04-06-08, 04:13 PM
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Originally Posted by redirekib
I here ya, who wants to live that close to work? I'm no less than 62 mi.
I'm about 12.5... tenths of a mile..
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Old 04-06-08, 04:28 PM
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FWIW - My commute is 50 miles round trip. I do it by bike 2-3 times a week when weather and scheduling is in my favor.
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Old 04-06-08, 04:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Psimet2001
I was actually refering to myself.....
You aren't half the smug Ahole I am and you know it too.
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Old 04-06-08, 04:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Psimet2001
FWIW - My commute is 50 miles round trip. I do it by bike 2-3 times a week when weather and scheduling is in my favor.
This is my goal this summer as well to be able to ride 1-3 times a week to & from work. Right now the weather is unpredictable so maybe starting next month.
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