Hi,

Well its been 3 months since I started riding again
and note that I have ramped it up very steadily such
that the first months would barely seem to count.

However I think I have reached my typical weekly mileage,
about 100. Like my running I get to a good mileage, and
then try to improve speed. For running 3 or 4 days of a
week was good. Currently on the bike I do 5 or 6, I'm
not sure that will pan out to be the case in the long run.

I have made my bike faster, reducing rolling resistance,
but have improved by at least a gear or two on hills and
into headwinds. Downhill and with tailwinds I've got the
wrong bike to push it a lot, I just have to take it easy.

There is definitely some way to still go, I expect for the
next 3 months I'll see the biggest improvement, but can
see improvements with the current regime up to a year.

rgds, sreten.

I try to exercise every other day with a rest day in between. Level of effort going in varies and it might be gentle or hard. Currently that is at the gym as it is too wet and windy over here in Hailsham to get on the bike unless I have too much clothing on to feel comfortable.And there is that thing called the cold that keeps me indoors aswell.

But 3 months and the body should have adjusted to the bike by now. WHEN-or should that be if- the better weather arrives you will be ready for longer and faster trips so just like your running keep doing enough and often without overdoing it.

You're way ahead of me. Good work!

Way to go. I hope to do as well.

Congratulations! I need some inspiration to start riding again.

thank you, robert.

Sreten, that's pretty impressive!

But what about the bike? Why is it not good for downhills and tailwinds?

Hi,

Its a budget folder, 20" wheels, I've got it running sweetly with new tyres etc,
but I have no inclination to ride it non-handed, and if I can't do that, I don't
trust it at high speed. Even if I did it doesn't have the gearing for pushing
downhill or with a good tailwind. Realistically I can spin up to 16mph for
extended periods at the moment, but can easily far exceed that downhill,
and get up to about 19mph on the flat with tailwinds for shorter periods.

I ride along the english south coast and depending on the wind one
way can be very easy compared to the other, too easy with strong
winds for how fast my bike will go. I coast a lot on the easy direction.

Anyway I fixed that by buying a bike that is geared to go much faster.
Shortly i will have a folding utility bike and a proper (budget) road bike.
(Upgraded tyres and pedals and some mudguards ordered so far.)

Plan is to alternate them on rides and push more on the faster bike.

The east route is essentially speed restricted, the west route much
less so. I'm tending to think I should do an easy day, a pushing
day and a day off in rotation, awkward to fit into a weekly habit.

rgds, sreten.