MAK

I'm 59 and I've been "back to riding" for about four years. I'm a shrinking clyde (265 down to 220) and a diabetic. I started with a hybrid which, was a mistake, and then after a year bought an entry level road bike. I was riding once or twice a week and was frustrated because I had little stamina and no speed. Doing 15 mph was my limit and not sustainable for very long. On 20-30 mile rides an average of 12.5 mph was my norm. During the winter I spun at the Y, but didn't see or feel much of a carryover. As a result, I stuck to C level club rides and never tried a B ride. I blamed the bikes and the perscription drugs I was taking. I enjoyed riding but was becoming more and more frustrated.

Each year I rode more than the previous year and this year I decided to ride as frequently as possible. I've been riding about 100 miles a week and a few times as much as 160 a week. Suddenly everything has "clicked". When I say suddenly I mean literally one week I was my old self riding my bike and the next I was a cyclist. I'm doing 50 and 60 mile rides without killing myself and my speed, for me, is amazing. I'm cruising at 16-18 mph and B rides are little problem. In the past I'd approach small hills and long gradual inclines and I'd tense up with dread and ride in single digits. Now, I'm still not a hill lover but don't dread them anymore. Where I would be doing 5 or 6 mph I'm now doing 12 mph or more and reaching the top without needing oxygen. I haven't been in my small ring (my Felt is a triple) since May.

What caused all or most of this...RIDING, RIDING, RIDING.

A lot of advice is given on this forum, some ridiculous and some self serving but the one I frequently read was that the best way to get better is to ride. In my case it's the truest and best advice on BF. Many thanks.

haimtoeg

Well done, pretty soon you'll be doing pcad level mileage.

MAK

Sorry, pcad level milage is...?

Barese Rider

Compulsive mileage !

kr32

Is that possible?

Walter

Good job! As a flat lander I can definitely feel you when you talk about tensing up before hills. I just spent 6 days in NE Texas and rode hills all of the time I could. Not enough time for major physiological changes but, I'm hoping, enough to gain some psychological benefit.

PCad is a "frequent" poster here who rides lots and lots of miles.

kgabike

Allegedly. We're still waiting on the videos for confirmation of every mile. If it's not on tape, it didn't happen, right?

Walter

Good point. Good for the goose type of thing here, I say.

Ih8lucky13

Mak Great job.

dna59

To the OP this is soo true. When I 1st began riding I couldn't do much miles much less keep up w/ anyone. However since I've been riding about 4-5 times for the week i can now actually keep up w/ the groups and even pull them along.

Panic

Thanks for posting. I'm only 47, but its been a rough year, job was killing me, High Blood pressure, gained 20 lbs, stressed, exhausted, pneumonia. Quit my job, stress better. I got my mileage up to 100 miles a week for a couple of weeks, but had to cut back, was just worn out - remembered that I had pneumonia only 3 months ago. Now about 60 miles a week, but looking to boost it up 10 miles a week for the next few weeks and see how that goes.

Grumpy McTrumpy

I believe this forum is administered by someone who has a major success story of this kind.