Bike Forums - Why is this getting harder?

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- - Why is this getting harder? (https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/657081-why-getting-harder.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by KiddSisko (Post 11014308)

Hmm. Different topic than what I first thought.

Haha I see what you did there.

Fellow noob here--- shouldn't the OP fix his brake position? Won't that wear down his brake pad?

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazerzxr (Post 11015491)

Sounds like over training. why would you aim for 19mph? Ignor speed and concentrate on effort, dont ride flat out everywhere or you will end up slower thanyou were...

Well, my uncle rides a LOT and I asked him for advice-- He said that in his opinion, often the difference between a monotonous workout and a very effective one is just that little bit of extra "umph". A lot of new riders can get complacent while riding and just sort of "coast along" at a pace that's not that difficult.

That being said, I tried to avoid the monotony and pick up the pace just a tad.. The first couple times I did this, I noticed that my OVERALL average pace was ~19 mph (usually ~17 mph for the first half and ~21 mph for the second) so I've used that as a benchmark for improvement.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpha_bravo (Post 11015494)

Definitely sounds like a lack of rest is to blame. However, remember that good cycling form is a finicky thing. You can be doing the same training at the same intensity, feel great, and one day it just leaves you. It's one of those ebb and flow type things. The more you ride the more you'll recognize when you're coming into form (for whatever reason) and when you're going out of it. Just stick with it and stay patient. If it wasn't for the bad days we wouldn't be able to appreciate the good ones.

That's EXACTLY how it feels! Thanks for the great insight!

Quote:

Originally Posted by cshell (Post 11017042)

facetious

Main Entry: fa·ce·tious
Pronunciation: \fə-ˈsē-shəs\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle French facetieux, from facetie jest, from Latin facetia
Date: 1599

1 : joking or jesting often inappropriately : waggish <just being facetious>
2 : meant to be humorous or funny : not serious <a facetious remark> synonyms see witty

— fa·ce·tious·ly adverb
— fa·ce·tious·ness noun

:lol:

I thought that might be the case but I'm not familiar with this forum so I wasn't sure who was being a smart guy and who wasn't. :p

Quote:

Originally Posted by DScott (Post 11017227)

Besides the fact that it's a new thing for your body to get used to, I'm guessing it's the fatigue from shift change. That, and I also think it' due to inexperience with pacing while riding.

Get more rest, and slow down a bit on the ride.

What is a good pace to shoot for? Keep in mind that I don't have any SERIOUS hills to work with, and I mostly stay in the larger front chain-ring for 75% of the ride.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honu (Post 11018161)

Fellow noob here--- shouldn't the OP fix his brake position? Won't that wear down his brake pad?

Yes, that's an easy fix. I did it right before I typed this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickpocket293 (Post 11014015)

Upon further inspection, I've realized that one rear brake pad is rubbing on the rim a little.. Not much, it still spins freely, but a little.

This one can make a HUGE difference.

Every year my dad likes to go on this early spring 30 mile bike ride, but getting there involves taking off the front tire of the bikes to fit them in his minivan. He always likes to brag about how we can "just throw the bikes in the car", which isn't nearly as nice as it sounds (as it a whole procedure to get them in and out), but that's a whole 'nother story.

My brother is the kind of doesn't complain or seem to notice if things on his bike are wrong...

Some years my brother keeps up with us great without to much effort.

Other years he really struggles, he's covered in sweat, we have to constantly wait for him and he's completely exhausted by the end of the ride.

One of these years, we even did a conditioning ride a week before the actual ride to make sure he would be able to keep up. And he had been taking spinning classes that winter. He was almost *faster* than me, lol.

A week later we went on the ride. Somehow, he was in the 2nd category. Drenched in sweat, struggling to keep up, completely exhausted...this time he made it like 5 miles before it became obvious.

Know what the difference was?

Brake pad was intermittently rubbing against the front wheel. THAT was the difference between "didn't have trouble keeping up" and "we had to stop and wait for him". I think that was the difference the other years, to.