Originally Posted by
caloso
It's hard to tell what your goals are. Do you want to go faster? Farther? Both?
Farther, I would welcome a faster ride but it's not my goal, my focus is on distance.
Originally Posted by
BlazingPedals
I'm a firm believer in N+1, but no getting a carbon bike will not instantly make you faster or let you ride longer.
If your training plan is to simply ride lots and 'push a little harder each time,' then you probably have no idea what's required to get faster. Which is fine if you just want to ride for enjoyment. If you want to get faster, get a HRM and a book on how to use it. Then develop a training plan. Your current method is not a plan.
Thanks, this thread helped me a great deal to understand that. I genuinely believed that was the case, now I know it's not. I already own a HRM and I'm trying to lower my heart rate as I push myself a little more, however, as mentioned above my goal is endurance, not speed.
Originally Posted by
Gallo
I think your bike is fine as well. Like many have said nothing wrong with getting a new bike if that is what you want.
To build endurance you must simply (or not so simply) push past the point you are right now. Part of it is physical and part of it is mental. The physical part is you simply need to ride more. 1350 miles is great don't get me wrong but you need to invest more saddle time. Work up to your fitness. Go on some shorter rides but at higher intensity. If you are giving out at 40 plan a 45 but go at it slower. Make sure to fuel and hydrate properly. And just as important as the preparation physically prepare yourself mental. Convince yourself I have done the training there is no question it is possible and there is no question I will succeed. Then go out and do it. Train on shorter higher intensity rides for a couple of weeks then go out and do 55. Rinse repeat go for 62. Getting in a group instead of going it alone is a huge help as well
There is a ride we do with 5th graders and take them on a 7 day tour the longest day is 55 miles. Everybody succeeds. How? there is a set plan for training certain mileage and hilly or even mountains routes must be completed. But more important is the factor of installing the belief in these young riders. Before they take the first pedal stroke on the tour they believe they can do it. The support group around them is also key.
I think you are more than 3/4 of the way there now. You have a good bike, you have miles under your belt, you have the desire. You need to push past a couple of barriers and you will be a century rider with ease.
Good luck
Thanks man, I'm planning for a long ride this thursday and I'll try precisely that. Longer, less intense.
Originally Posted by
70sSanO
My wife picked up a newer road bike that came with Alex A Class AKX 2.0 wheels with wire bead Hutchinson tires. The wheels weighed in at around 2400 grams and I was fortunate to find a set of new Fulcrum T's, (still not the lightest wheels but a lot lighter), for less than $100 on ebay. I also swapped out the tires for the Vittoria Rubino Pro tires that she had on her old road bike. She could definitely feel an improvement when she rode. I could feel it just lifting the bike off the ground.
John
This is interesting, but no idea really on how to shop for wheels/tires? Do I need to pay attention only to the size? I have no idea about brands or anything, how do I know if my current set is good or if I swap, how do I know the new one is better?
Originally Posted by
ShortLegCyclist
There's a lot of good advice already in this thread, but I don't think anyone has mentioned the most cost effective one yet.
It sounds like you ride alone -- if so consider finding a riding partner or two, or even a regular riding group. Local Bike Shops often organize such things for their communities.
Riding with other people, especially if they are stronger riders than you are, will improve your endurance and stats for sure, that competitive juice gets flowing and you can trash talk and/or encourage one another on the way.
If you don't have anyone locally you enjoy riding with, then get online and ride segments on Strava or Endomondo or MapMyRide, which is basically like riding with the best riders in your area, just not at the same time. Just don't get yourself hurt trying to win King of Mountain status on your favorite segments.
There is no magic bike that will make you suddenly stronger (barring an electric assist of course) any more than there is a magic golf club that will stop all your shanks and duffs.
I ride alone during the week and with a couple of friends on the weekends (never all three at the same time, though, the only one who is constant is me). There's a big group here in Miami that I want to join, in fact they had a training ride yesterday (sunday) and I wanted to go but I do not have spare tubes and the multi tool yet, so I'll go next month. However the main reason I haven't joined a group yet is because quite frankly I'm afraid I might not be able to keep up with their pace and cause and accident as I slow down or stop. They have a beginners group but still, it doesn't mention on their website how far they ride, only how fast.
I did some tweaking on my bike this weekend and felt slightly more comfortable, so I'm already reaping the benefits of joining this forum. The friend I rode with this saturday is more experienced than I am and told me pretty much the same you guys already told me. He also mentioned that since my bike does not have the greatest of components it might be one or two years before they give in and I need to replace (at my current pace), at that point then I'll be in position to look at a new bike or upgrade the groupset on my current one.
Thanks a lot everyone, lots of great advice here.
D.