Originally Posted by
Darth Lefty
I pushed a little harder than usual this morning. I have a presently-vague goal to ride my age, 49, on my birthday, the last day of May. That's about 11 weeks, nearly a quarter. But presently I'm riding to work 1-2 days a week and that's been it, hardly fitness. I haven't tried it in a few years. Last time, with probably better base fitness but no extra preparation or training, I washed out seven or eight miles short. I probably need to be doing an hour a day, most days. Between kid duty, savings time, girls softball, and wife also planning to start up aerobics, it's going to be hard to put in some time every day, or enough time on the available days. I always feel like I'm taking time out of a budget I've allocated to spend on them
Yes, you'll need to be taking longer rides here and there, at least once a week. On that ride, push yourself and the commutes will be recovery rides.
You'll also need to fuel yourself better to avoid washing out. Carby meal the night before helps and more carbs the morning of. Meal stop in the middle of the ride and maybe electrolytes in one of your water bottles.
Originally Posted by
BobbyG
I was going to take a weekend ride this weekend but events and weather conspired so I did 45 minutes on the stationary bike Sunday morning. I'll ride in the rain, snow and cold for commuting, but it's tougher to get motivated when it's just for 'fun'. I've been noticing that more and more on the days I don't ride (mostly Wednesdays, and one or both weekend days) my body feels like it doesn't 'come up to speed.' and I'm not so spry on the stairs or walking in the parking lot or out shopping. And then there's a corresponding lack of mental acuity, or so it seems. Perhaps it's all just late-winter SADS even though there's more sunlight since daylight savings. [...]
Yeah, me too. It just changes the whole feeling of the day.
I'm sick with a cold or something and we got a dusting of snow last night. Still snowing, but I rode anyway. I noticed I never feel worse after a ride, even when I'm sick.
We have a bike club meeting tonight that's around 6 miles across town and I'll probably ride to that as well. We'll see how I feel.
It felt good to do a bike commute this morning, even with the cold & snow. There was no wind, which was a refreshing change from 15+ mph we've had every day for awhile.