Carbon Unit

I had a nasty surgery a year ago and have been off the bike for more than a year. In January 2010, I started lightly on the trainer and for the past few months have been doing club rides.

I have been making great progress and in general am much faster than before the surgery. I have been happy with my progress except for today.

I started off riding with a group of about forty. At the beginning, I was hanging with the group and could keep up with the fastest riders. However, at about the fourteen mile mark, I started to run out of gas. I was pushing harder and harder to keep up and if it wasn't for a few red lights, I would have been dropped. My average heart rate was going up and my average speed was going down. By the end of the ride, my butt was kicked and I was exhausted.

I am not sure if better nutrition or consuming more calories during the ride would have made a difference. It was only a 30 mile ride.

Any suggestions on how I can increase my endurance?

DScott

Patience, LT intervals (like 2x20), and good recovery?

colombo357

You're just not yet up to par with the faster riders. You were working hard while they were warming up.

Ride hills during the week. Steep ones. And stay above 10mph.

Carbon Unit

Thanks, some good advice. I will do intervals one day a week and hill climbing one day a week. I think this will improve my performance on group rides.