Are you improving?
05-30-10 | 02:34 PM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: Vista,CA
Bikes: Tommaso Aggraziato,Schwinn Varsity TT Custom
My strategy has been to ride increasingly harder routes,recently started a 20 mile loop that has some long stretches of climbing.In the next week or 2 i'm going to ride this route into one of my other loops that should boost it to about 60 miles with tons of climbing.
Anyway all the climbing and keeping the pace hard,translates into some higher speeds on flat,for me.
Anyway all the climbing and keeping the pace hard,translates into some higher speeds on flat,for me.
05-30-10 | 02:39 PM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 771
Likes: 0
yeahhhh, a couple of months ago i'd just about sit in on the sunday A rides, now i sit comfortably upfront for long turns, go off the front (or try) on most climbs, contest the sprints and usually try to get away in the last 15 or so miles.
then again, i am young so i improve fairly quickly with training.
then again, i am young so i improve fairly quickly with training.
05-30-10 | 02:56 PM
#28
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,235
Likes: 92
From: San Diego
When I first started riding in March I couldn't do 6 miles without killing myself. I was increasing my distance every day without pushing myself until I decided to change it around and just keep the daily the distance the same (12-15mi) but push myself hard. So I changed my regimen to riding 5 days a week for 12-15mi a day but pushing myself hard the entire time. Recently I decided to see if I could do 30mi at an easy pace and when I did it I was amazed at how easy it was.
05-30-10 | 07:17 PM
#29
Has coddling tendencies.
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,360
Likes: 59
From: Topanga Canyon
Bikes: 2008 Blue RC8 w/ '09 Rival
In addition to all the cardio and muscle building benefits from riding through the local mountains, I'm getting smarter about how to approach and complete a ride that includes lots of climbing. To my surprise, I'd say half of it is mental. Knowing what to expect in terms of the levels of pain and discomfort, and how to recover and relax as the miles tic away are crucial.
05-30-10 | 07:35 PM
#30
Mostly Harmless
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 58,815
Likes: 6,191
From: Adrift
Bikes: Have two wheels
Yeah, I'm improving. I have nowhere to go but up.
I've been doing short, but intense, morning rides lately to build muscle and get my wind back. Weekends are for longer endurance-building rides.
I've been doing short, but intense, morning rides lately to build muscle and get my wind back. Weekends are for longer endurance-building rides.
05-30-10 | 09:32 PM
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 231
Likes: 3
From: northern Indiana
Bikes: Peugeots: 1980 pkn10, 1982 psv10; LeMond alp d'huez; Austro Daimler Vent Noir; Specialized Allez steel dbl
I've done 203 miles in six riding days within the last fifteen days. Every day i ride, it doesn't seem necessarily easier but i can tell i'm getting faster.
05-30-10 | 09:39 PM
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,300
Likes: 6
From: Elkridge, MD
Bikes: 2012 Guru Praemio R - 2001 Jamis Ventura - 1990 Specialized Hard Rock (with original tires) - 2012 Trek Cobias
I think I am improving compared to last year but I can't quantify it.
Possible reasons:
- Some weight loss
- Started earlier in the year
- More commuting miles, and longer ones.
- A new bike
Probably the combination of all of these factors. I think I will get my answer in two weeks when I do my MS Bike Ride.
Possible reasons:
- Some weight loss
- Started earlier in the year
- More commuting miles, and longer ones.
- A new bike
Probably the combination of all of these factors. I think I will get my answer in two weeks when I do my MS Bike Ride.
05-30-10 | 09:44 PM
#35
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 2
Incremental training, preferably on a dedicated training plan is the best way to go. Probably virtually nobody here on BF does it, but for people with a running background (me), the effects are clear and obvious.
Training "casually" usually gets you up to where your hard comfort zone is. Pushing yourself out of that area takes repeated hard work, with a lot of time spent doing rides in intensity zones that you don't think you can do and don't want to do. But with the right plan, you'll have the knowledge that you've got the preparation to hack it, and you'll be able to do it.
Training "casually" usually gets you up to where your hard comfort zone is. Pushing yourself out of that area takes repeated hard work, with a lot of time spent doing rides in intensity zones that you don't think you can do and don't want to do. But with the right plan, you'll have the knowledge that you've got the preparation to hack it, and you'll be able to do it.
05-31-10 | 06:32 AM
#36
Playing with the traffic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
From: Sydo, 'Straya
Bikes: 2009 Colnago Primavera, Campy Chorus 11 speed, 1986 Colnago Master, C-Record, 2008 Surly LHT, 1930's Malvern Star 3-speed.
I was. Got horrible tonsillitus about 7 weeks ago and am in a world of suck. Now looking forward to re-covering and trying not to gain weight.
05-31-10 | 08:52 AM
#37
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 9,458
Likes: 16
From: Colorado
Bikes: Something Canadian, something Italian, something American, and something German
06-01-10 | 06:42 PM
#38
Mostly Harmless
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 58,815
Likes: 6,191
From: Adrift
Bikes: Have two wheels
.5 mph faster average on my short route - 2 mph faster than when I started. Starts with a shortish 8% grade hill, then steady 2-3% for the remaining 2 miles. It's mostly rolling after that.
06-01-10 | 06:56 PM
#39
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 27,266
Likes: 152
From: YEG
Bikes: See my sig...
Considering that in January of '09 I could not swing a leg over a bike or even manage a short ride on the Twenty I am doing spectacularly well.
Am getting stronger as each day and week passes and even though I may never be able to ride at 100% am getting in longer rides and getting faster.
Am getting stronger as each day and week passes and even though I may never be able to ride at 100% am getting in longer rides and getting faster.
06-01-10 | 07:09 PM
#40
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,404
Likes: 1
From: RVA
I might contribute some thoughts I've gained over the past 5 years with biking and other athletics: be patient; diligent and courageous. in the absence of a focused plan, just keep at it. over time one can pick up new strengths if even only by accident. if you completely surrender yourself to the sport the sport will provide guidance. fear not the dark down weak painful days because they will pass and you will emerge with surprising strength and speed. I live for those surprising days. I used to plan for them, but now I take them as they come and enjoy the surprise and take advantage of them by going full bore holding nothing back. last night was not one of those nights but I persevered knowing another magical ride is on a nearby horizon. my stats for the night ride that eneded at midnight are piss poor but, like I said, a better ride is just around the next bend in the road ... 
42 miles
28.7 max
13 avrg
3 hrs 14 min saddle time
42 miles
28.7 max
13 avrg
3 hrs 14 min saddle time
06-01-10 | 08:56 PM
#42
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
I've had a rip roaring start, so I've been improving very rapidly, but feel a plateau coming on... I will probably reduce my mileage next week and let my legs really rest again, and then pick it back up and see what that did for them. Tonight's ride was 37 miles 20.75 average with the most hills I've ever done in a ride. A few local ex pros were pulling us Bs along for quite a ride! It was at my VERY limit. I'm hoping that by the end of next month, that ride is easier for me.
06-01-10 | 10:18 PM
#43
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 27,266
Likes: 152
From: YEG
Bikes: See my sig...
Been building up a lot of increased strength in the good leg while doing my best to keep the left as strong as possible... picked my daughter up from school today on the extra bike.
The bike weighs 50 pounds, she weighs 45, and I had all her gear and a little of mine and we averaged 18 kmh in pre-rush hour traffic with a little headwind... I can feel this in my right leg as it does most of the hard work.
Rode the extra cycle through the winter as well so what I missed in distance was made up for in the loads I was moving.
Now that it is nice and I can take out the road bike and summer rides my speed has been really good on the flats and have been able to pace cars on short stretches where I can get up a good spin, hills can kill me, and headwinds are never any fun.
The bike weighs 50 pounds, she weighs 45, and I had all her gear and a little of mine and we averaged 18 kmh in pre-rush hour traffic with a little headwind... I can feel this in my right leg as it does most of the hard work.
Rode the extra cycle through the winter as well so what I missed in distance was made up for in the loads I was moving.
Now that it is nice and I can take out the road bike and summer rides my speed has been really good on the flats and have been able to pace cars on short stretches where I can get up a good spin, hills can kill me, and headwinds are never any fun.
06-02-10 | 08:00 AM
#45
Fax Transport Specialist
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,001
Likes: 727
From: chicago burbs
Bikes: '17 giant propel, '07 fuji cross pro, '10 gary fisher x-caliber
I ride 3.5 miles of surface streets to reach a paved MUP and do laps usually. I used some rollers a bit over the winter so i didn't completely lose my gains from the previous year, but I started this spring at 15-16 miles in one hour, last night was a PB with 30 miles at 18.5mph. I'm tempted to clear the computer when I arrive and shut it off when I leave to throw out the stops/starts for traffic and street crossings. A flatter route with fewer moving obstacles might help, the 32mm cross tires probably aren't doing me any favors. Working towards a 20mph solo average.
06-02-10 | 08:12 AM
#46
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
From: Tuscaloosa, AL
I'm definitely improving. I did a route in December that I was calling "very hilly" and it almost killed me. Now I don't even consider that ride "really riding", it's just the route home I take. There was another hill last year that I was deep into my granny gear to make it up. I rode up it last week in my middle cog. Still a tough hill, but I never thought of dropping down to the granny gear.
The biggest change is now I look for hills whereas last year I was looking to avoid hills.
Now I just need to lose weight
The biggest change is now I look for hills whereas last year I was looking to avoid hills.
Now I just need to lose weight
06-02-10 | 08:18 AM
#47
Thread Starter
Still can't climb
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 23,024
Likes: 6
From: Limey in Taiwan
i think i've stopped improving this week
__________________
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
06-02-10 | 08:40 AM
#48
Peripheral Visionary
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 5
From: Jax, FL
I am definitely improving. Less and less problems with motorists. Enjoying my rides more by not pushing my self too hard while knowing when to slow down and speed up. Being more cautious in traffic. Being more friendly to people around me (motorists, cyclists, peds). I might even be faster, but my speed indicator is at a bike shop waiting to be bought hopelessly. Realizing that cycling trends are not that important.
06-02-10 | 12:24 PM
#50
Thread Starter
Still can't climb
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 23,024
Likes: 6
From: Limey in Taiwan
i think unless you have all those fancy computers and power meters, you can only go by how you feel on a known route. today i went up a hill and didn't even breath hard but a month ago i was heaving up a lung.
__________________
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack