The Weak Link

....but I take it out of my mouth every now and then. I think that is the quote that got Groucho Marx fired from his daytime TV show way back when, for you really old guys out there.

A thread for the rest of us?

There seems to be a lot of angst here about recovery. Is it OK to take a day off? Two days off? Go slower than 28 MPH? Ride less than 40 miles? Skip hill repeats this week because you just don't feel like doing them?

In the Giant bike inner tube Bleb that constitutes our multiverse, I must be in some parallel bubble.

I felt great after my century because I had carbo-loaded like crazy, the course was almost board-flat, and I pushed myself to stay with a group so I got the benefit of the paceline and the company.

I haven't ridden since, partly because of time, and partly because I just haven't felt like it.

Other Things To Do

Yesterday the replacement bike for my son, who got him and his bike trashed in a car accident, arrived from BikesDirect. My daughter and I assembled it together. That was enough bike stuff for me.

I didn't feel like it disrupted my training regimen.

Are all rides training for some future ride?

In response to my other active post about one day events, I've been checking out the websites people have been mentioning. For the longer rides such as RAIN they link up a site called Ultra Marathon Cycling Association or somesuch. They give detailed regimens on training for the really long rides. I can summarize their program as follows: if you have fun on a "training" ride, it sucked.

Now I can understand the push if you race, especially something like RAAM, or if you are one of them weird randonneur fellers. But to me, a bike ride is like landing an airplane: if you can walk away from it, it was a good one.

Why the angst? During my 5C ride, there were a lot of very scenic areas that would have made good pictures, but I was afraid to stop because I would have been shelled forever.

This seems wrong.

My average speed, BTW, was 13.7 MPH. According to the RAIN site, that's plenty fast but I suspect if I ride RAIN I will spend most of my time in desolate solitude.

That's my rant. What think ye?

CbadRider

I think you need to find other riders who feel the same as you. I sometimes ride with a group of "weird randonneur fellers" and they generally fall into two types: those who like to push the pace, keep in a paceline and have minimal rest stops; and the other type who are more interested in a comfortable pace, stop to take photos if the scenery is nice, and plan rest stops around areas where they know they can get pie.

I go my own pace on longer organized rides and don't worry if I get dropped by one group. There has always been another group going more my speed that I can join up with.

BengeBoy 

Well, Mr. Weak Link, I was thinking of the recovery thread while riding to work this morning (10 miles, dark, 43 degrees, light rain). I was thinking about how much I was enjoying the ride to work, and wondering if I have any cycling goals for the next year.

I was thinking of two things I have said in different threads here at different times that summarize my approach to training, but I have never said them in the same thread. So, here they are:

1. I'd like to ride enough so that I feel that I could ride a century any day that I choose to.
2. I never want to ride so hard that I hate my bike the next morning.

And I guess I need to add a third:

3. I need to test number 1 and number 2 by (a) riding a few centuries each year and (b) making sure I go for some challenging rides the day after centuries.

I only rode 2 centuries this year -- but both were "challenging" to me -- one was by myself; the other was 150+ miles. I "tested" my fitness for each by getting up and going for a long-ish ride the next day after each of them.

But I still can't figure out why I am so slow; I think it's because I'm fat.

wobblyoldgeezer

[QUOTE=The Weak Link;11626759.

That's my rant. What think ye?[/QUOTE]

What think I?

I was just reading a book about running, called "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall. I'd recommend it to all who have an interest in staying fit - its about endurance running but has an appeal beyond the avid.

On TWL's subject, it remembers a magnificent Czeck runner of the 50s/60s called Emil Zatopek, who trained to unbelievable extents, long runs through snowy forests after a days drill in the army, and sprints across deep snow filled sports fields, for hours - with his wife on his back! Apparently he ran to exhaustion EVERY time he ran. Other coaches suggested he balance hard with softer in his training, to which he replied

"I already know how to run slow"

I've never been in that camp. As a runner, I trained (not very much) less than I coasted on genetics - born leggy and light, enjoying jog/runs with stops on scenic trails. Still like that with my cycling.

I think there are 2 types - high achievement types who need to set and beat targets, and feelgood types who like the sensation of biking as well as enjoying surroundings and coffee stops!

AzTallRider

I think it boils down to doing what it is you enjoy. For some that includes "over-complicating" (as my wife calls it) cycling with measurement devices, computers, etc. Others enjoy keeping it simple. Some want to enjoy the scenery. Some want to go fast. Some want to be 'one with the bike'. Some really get into the bikes themselves, and it is N+1 that gives them a thrill.

I've always been more of a 'destination' type than a 'journey' type guy, but cycling has helped me to focus a bit more on the 'now', enjoying each ride even if it involves changing a flat at the side of the road, or almost being clobbered by the latest clueless cager. Personally, cycling led me to set goals, a couple of which go beyond cycling. I want to hang with my club's fast group, and every ride is, in one way or another, a training ride, even if it is tooling along slowly. Call it a recovery ride, and a scenic tour is 'training'. :-)

"It's your thang... do what you wanna do."

Rick@OCRR

I don't think we're quite so easy to label. Sometimes I have goals (targets) and train for them, sometimes I just ride to go for a ride.

On some club rides I try to keep up with the fast riders; sometimes successfully, often times not! On other club rides I ride at a much slower "social" pace.

You probably know of my love of double centuries, but even in that context, sometimes I hammer it home, other times I cruise along with friends.

Right now my double century season is over and I plan to spend the weekend mountain biking in the woods.

So my take is that there is lots of variety here, all kinds of riders, and lots of us who do different kinds of riding, all to keep it fresh, keep it fun, and still keep in shape.

Also, ref. OP, Groucho is great! I have several years worth of You Bet Your Life on DVD, complete with the ads for DeSoto cars . . . remember those?

Rick / OCRR

seemunkee

My wife brought this up to me recently asking if I was enjoying my rides or if I just saw them as work. And she had a very good point that when I talk about them I do emphasize speed and other stats without really saying I had a good/fun/nice/scenic ride. My evening rides where I end up following the same roads a lot do seem like work and I use one route as my time trial test to gauge fitness. The longer weekend rides, however, I head out into the country and enjoy farmland scenery. I've been making it a point to tell her about the things that I saw instead of what my mph average was and if I got passed by one of the local group rides.

But I have this double coming up in two weeks and I need to do some hard miles to get ready. So yeah, some rides ARE just training rides for something bigger to come.

Hermes

I like my cigar too....
....but I take it out of my mouth every now and then. I think that is the quote that got Groucho Marx fired from his daytime TV show way back when, for you really old guys out there.

I watched the actual show. I am not sure if I really understood it at the time but for some reason remember the quote and the show.

GROUCHO: "Why do you have so many children? That's a big responsibility and a big burden."

MRS. STORY: "Well, because I love my children and I think that's our purpose here on Earth, and I love my husband."

GROUCHO: "I love my cigar, too, but I take it out of my mouth once in a while."

On the matter of cycling... you need to test positive to HTFU.

cccorlew

I just like to ride my bike. I like the multi-day tours we've done with Adventure cycling. I like centuries and the double centuries. I like my 8 mile daily bike commute. I like doing a time trial (though it's really slow....) I like watching the Garmin tracks in Google Earth. I like keeping track of my miles. I like my fixed gear bike and my commuter and my Roubaix too. I like it all. Almost all...I am not crazy about flats.

DnvrFox

Haven't we had this discussion before - before - before before - before? In fact, ever since I started "bicycling" at age 58 - first on the USENET forums, then on Bicycleforum,.com (since deceased) and since on BFN?

And, yet, we apparently have not resolved this issue.

Maybe we shouldn't even plan on resolving this. However, I did hear that the Hatfields and McCoys have reached some sort of settlement?

And, so, does anyone really care?

I mean, if at 50+ you aren't able to reach your own conclusion(s) on this issue, well . . . . !!

Anyway, I wish I was riding today - beautiful, gorgeous day in Parker, and I am recuperating. But, we are supposed to get some snow and cold weather. Now, that would make me - at least - less jealous!!

Mainly, always be sure you are having fun, no matter how you define it.

ahsposo 

I think you need to up your dosages.

DnvrFox

If you are referring to my post, somehow I missed your point. Sorry!

gcottay

I admire riders who train to a high level but feel no need to emulate them. For me, most rides are training rides, recovery rides, social rides. scenicruises , equipment tests, etc.

Even though he lives up there in evil Phoenix, I think AzTallRider has it about right. Not only is there plenty of room in cycling for all types, we all enjoy great freedom of choice in our riding.

AzTallRider

And I will join a whole lot of other evil Phoenician cyclists invading southern Arizona for the Tour de Tucson next month! Not quite to your neck of the woods, but close.

The Weak Link

I think he was making fun of my massive dosages of psychotropic medications, not yours. You have a perfectly good excuse right now, anyway. No one makes fun of someone recovering from surgery.

Of course we've talked about this many times before, just as we have talked about the best saddle, what bike should I buy for my wife, how do you climb hills, etc. etc. I don't think anyone talks about something new under the LEDs these days.

Given the responses, it still attracts attention. Part of it is my calling to assure the n00bs that they don't have to ride themselves into terminal monkeybutt to get along around here.

Part of it is that it is drop dead gorgeous outside, this is the beginning of a week of staycation, and yet I'm stuck in my office doing admin work. I hate admin work.

AzTallRider

Time for some good training hammerfests, then? I want to see Garmin links!

DnvrFox

Just spent about an hour intermittently walking up and down the street. It is so pretty . . . . Well, a short walk is sure a lot better than nothing, and I am already walking further (farther??) than I could before the surgery on Tuesday!!

I think that is pretty good progress and sure beats falling down the stairs at midnight!!

bjjoondo 

I just ride!! I never set out to "train", LOL, I've given folks grief for letting me know, how great it is that I'm "exersizing", I tell them, pls. don't use the "E-word", I'll have to sell the bike! It's nice that it keeps me for getting any fatter and helps the heart but I really think I ride for the "mental" part of it, ie: I forget about schedules, bills, ect. and even kinda forget about my "Reiter's Syndrome" and other nagging medical problems for a time, (lol, well till I get off the bike for awhile and they all come back!!). It's cool that some of you are stat freaks, racers, etc. and that's your game but for me, it's riding, plain and simple!

PS. to DnvrFox, as the Aussies say: Good on ya Mate, keep it up!

Rick@OCRR

Yes, but this is the first time Groucho Marx was referenced in this discussion!

Rick / OCRR

gcottay

As soon as you cross the Pima County line and so much as appearing to be even thinking of spending the smallest bit of money you are transformed from evil Phoenician to welcome distinguished guest. Unless, of course, you are a legislator.

jppe

Averaging 13.7 mph and finishing the 160 mile RAIN ride would be very honorable-especially if there's a headwind. Of course I have to mention that the year I did it with PAlt I averaged over 21 mph and finished 49th. However I did not stop to take to take any pictures-not sure I saw anything that was picture worthy unless you relish closeups of corn stalks. I was tempted to stop and watch some guys playing golf and was thinking of trading places. And yes-at 13.7 mph it would probably be just you and whatever bugs happen to be in the air that day.

NOS88

Sometimes I just like the feeling of pushing myself as hard as I can - testing my limits. Other times I like to meander along and take in the scenery. Most rides, however, are somewhere in the middle.

I do know that if I go for more than 3 or 4 days without riding, I get cranky and much less fun to be around. So, I think I'll keep (to use the metaphor provided) "smoking the cigar" on a regular basis.

big john

Metric Man

As someone already stated I like to ride enough so that I could do a century tomorrow if I decided to. And I like to ride so for me that's 20 miles or so 5-6 days a week. If I want to do a scenic, take pictures kind of century then I'll do it self supported or with a small group that know my goals.

ZippyThePinhead

I clicked on this thread thinking it was about cigars. I smoke one once in a while. Planning to have one tonight, actually.