What can I do to get faster
06-02-07, 08:20 PM
#26
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Originally Posted by waterrockets
Goat? Oreos man. Oreos. 
Spill the Blood of Many an Oreo on the Alter of the One-Minute Interval, in the Name of the Lord High Priest WaterRockets
what kind of blood does an oreo have? red? does it bleed white? Dodger blue?
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-Fyodor Dostoevsky's Grand Inquisitor
06-03-07, 01:17 AM
#27
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Originally Posted by smoke
a larger guy with bigger leg muscles will be able to produce more power, which will more than overcome the drag caused by his larger area. this is why you generally don't see climbers being great time trialists; they don't have the large muscles of the time trial experts.
It doesn't take a lot of leg strength to spin the pedals with high power.
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06-03-07, 01:22 AM
#28
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Originally Posted by 2Tired2Shift
Don't worry about speed your first year - just ride and have fun. I would advise taking that computer off your bike - it's too easy to get hung up on speed, avg. speed and such. I've been riding (on and off) for a number of years and do not even own a computer. I keep track of time and effort.
Also, all else being equal, lighter = faster.
Also, all else being equal, lighter = faster.
06-03-07, 05:50 AM
#29
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Originally Posted by johnny99
"All other things are equal" is a silly argument. Are you talking about total power output or power to weight ratio? Those cannot possibly both be equal if 2 cyclists have different weights. If you're talking about equal power-to-weight ratios, then I would bet on the big guy on a flat road every time.
Simple question: What kind of builds do the (recent) hour-record holders have? Do they have the extra upper-body mass of the sprinters? I bet they don't.
06-03-07, 03:35 PM
#30
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Welcome to the fraternity. Being dropped by another rider can be inspiring, humbling, humiliating, and all of the above at the same time. You don't know if the guy on the MTB was a local racer doing something different, an MTB'r doing intervals, someone who's been commuting for 20 years and has legs of iron, or just someone who's faster than you.
Going faster on a bike is a goal, but there are other fun things to do on/with a bike. Figure out what YOU enjoy doing. Then set some goals, doesn't really matter what they are, but write them down and post it someplace where you'll see it daily (sounds corny but it works).
A reasonable goal at this stage may be to pick a local charity ride/distance event (there are plenty that don't have a big pledge amount) and focus your training on completing the event. Then pick the next one with the goal of bettering your time on the first one. Another goal is to start participating in a regular group ride (many local clubs and bike shops run these). Start riding with one of the slower groups, see how you do. Then set a goal of being able to ride comfortably with the next fastest group by the end of the season. Or you may discover that some other aspect of cycling tickles your fancy - could be long distance rides (radoneuring), or touring. Whatever it is, this will give you a focus to your riding beyond just getting faster. It'll be getting faster with a purpose [ride 100 miles in under 6 hrs, ride 200 km, ride across the country, or bragging rights on the local club ride].
Once you have some goals, there are a wealth of training plans and suggestions out there on how to meet those goals better and still have fun while doing it. Plenty of links in these forums and on the net. 'Cause without fun, you'll start asking yourself (or your SO will start asking YOU) why you're killing yourself on the d*mn bike when you could be doing something less stressful. [As someone a bit older, my response is biking is healthier than golf, cheaper than a sports car, and safer than a mistress!
]
Going faster on a bike is a goal, but there are other fun things to do on/with a bike. Figure out what YOU enjoy doing. Then set some goals, doesn't really matter what they are, but write them down and post it someplace where you'll see it daily (sounds corny but it works).
A reasonable goal at this stage may be to pick a local charity ride/distance event (there are plenty that don't have a big pledge amount) and focus your training on completing the event. Then pick the next one with the goal of bettering your time on the first one. Another goal is to start participating in a regular group ride (many local clubs and bike shops run these). Start riding with one of the slower groups, see how you do. Then set a goal of being able to ride comfortably with the next fastest group by the end of the season. Or you may discover that some other aspect of cycling tickles your fancy - could be long distance rides (radoneuring), or touring. Whatever it is, this will give you a focus to your riding beyond just getting faster. It'll be getting faster with a purpose [ride 100 miles in under 6 hrs, ride 200 km, ride across the country, or bragging rights on the local club ride].
Once you have some goals, there are a wealth of training plans and suggestions out there on how to meet those goals better and still have fun while doing it. Plenty of links in these forums and on the net. 'Cause without fun, you'll start asking yourself (or your SO will start asking YOU) why you're killing yourself on the d*mn bike when you could be doing something less stressful. [As someone a bit older, my response is biking is healthier than golf, cheaper than a sports car, and safer than a mistress!
]
06-03-07, 04:05 PM
#31
I like beans
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If you want to go faster, then go faster. What I mean is listen to the guys that suggested intervals (start easy at first) because that will get your high speed up there.
But I think that you need to add at least one tempo ride to your workout a week. That's where you bring your HR to right below threshold (where you start wheezing if you don't have a HR monitor or know what your threshold is) and hold it there for a while. Start with holding it for like 10 minutes and do it about 2-3 times during that ride with plenty of recovery time in between.
Another thing is that if you haven't been cycling, your legs build fitness over years, so you have plenty of time to get your cycling legs. Ever seen a master's race? Those guys fly and many of them don't have the time to train as hard as some of the younger guys, but they've got experienced legs.
But I think that you need to add at least one tempo ride to your workout a week. That's where you bring your HR to right below threshold (where you start wheezing if you don't have a HR monitor or know what your threshold is) and hold it there for a while. Start with holding it for like 10 minutes and do it about 2-3 times during that ride with plenty of recovery time in between.
Another thing is that if you haven't been cycling, your legs build fitness over years, so you have plenty of time to get your cycling legs. Ever seen a master's race? Those guys fly and many of them don't have the time to train as hard as some of the younger guys, but they've got experienced legs.
06-03-07, 04:31 PM
#32
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Originally Posted by ks1g
Welcome to the fraternity. Being dropped by another rider can be inspiring, humbling, humiliating, and all of the above at the same time. You don't know if the guy on the MTB was a local racer doing something different, an MTB'r doing intervals, someone who's been commuting for 20 years and has legs of iron, or just someone who's faster than you.
Going faster on a bike is a goal, but there are other fun things to do on/with a bike. Figure out what YOU enjoy doing. Then set some goals, doesn't really matter what they are, but write them down and post it someplace where you'll see it daily (sounds corny but it works).
A reasonable goal at this stage may be to pick a local charity ride/distance event (there are plenty that don't have a big pledge amount) and focus your training on completing the event. Then pick the next one with the goal of bettering your time on the first one. Another goal is to start participating in a regular group ride (many local clubs and bike shops run these). Start riding with one of the slower groups, see how you do. Then set a goal of being able to ride comfortably with the next fastest group by the end of the season. Or you may discover that some other aspect of cycling tickles your fancy - could be long distance rides (radoneuring), or touring. Whatever it is, this will give you a focus to your riding beyond just getting faster. It'll be getting faster with a purpose [ride 100 miles in under 6 hrs, ride 200 km, ride across the country, or bragging rights on the local club ride].
Once you have some goals, there are a wealth of training plans and suggestions out there on how to meet those goals better and still have fun while doing it. Plenty of links in these forums and on the net. 'Cause without fun, you'll start asking yourself (or your SO will start asking YOU) why you're killing yourself on the d*mn bike when you could be doing something less stressful. [As someone a bit older, my response is biking is healthier than golf, cheaper than a sports car, and safer than a mistress!]
Going faster on a bike is a goal, but there are other fun things to do on/with a bike. Figure out what YOU enjoy doing. Then set some goals, doesn't really matter what they are, but write them down and post it someplace where you'll see it daily (sounds corny but it works).
A reasonable goal at this stage may be to pick a local charity ride/distance event (there are plenty that don't have a big pledge amount) and focus your training on completing the event. Then pick the next one with the goal of bettering your time on the first one. Another goal is to start participating in a regular group ride (many local clubs and bike shops run these). Start riding with one of the slower groups, see how you do. Then set a goal of being able to ride comfortably with the next fastest group by the end of the season. Or you may discover that some other aspect of cycling tickles your fancy - could be long distance rides (radoneuring), or touring. Whatever it is, this will give you a focus to your riding beyond just getting faster. It'll be getting faster with a purpose [ride 100 miles in under 6 hrs, ride 200 km, ride across the country, or bragging rights on the local club ride].
Once you have some goals, there are a wealth of training plans and suggestions out there on how to meet those goals better and still have fun while doing it. Plenty of links in these forums and on the net. 'Cause without fun, you'll start asking yourself (or your SO will start asking YOU) why you're killing yourself on the d*mn bike when you could be doing something less stressful. [As someone a bit older, my response is biking is healthier than golf, cheaper than a sports car, and safer than a mistress!
]Setting goals is exactly what I need to be doing.
06-03-07, 04:32 PM
#33
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yes, ignore average speed completely. Its just a novelty measurement, its only meant to be an afterthought, not a training tool. To get faster you need to ride the majority of the time at a moderate to easy pace, this will build endurance. You also need to build your strength by doing hill climb repeats, or doing a few intervals.
