Hello T&N


I am in the process of adjusting my nutrition while on the bike. I have been a dormant bike potato while addressing other avenues of a healthy lifestyle. Which means that I am trying to adjust to the differences. Last real ride was in 2010, and was a 200k. Since than I have mostly only been able to complete rides which took no longer than an hour.

While my current activities include walking the dog 2-5 miles daily, riding to the sauna eight miles round trip, and grabbing groceries with a three mile trip. I have recently started to have more time to explore the limits of my base with a 27 mile loop, and a 10 mile tangent to the sauna, and I have been swimming after both rides and do most days of the week. I also do core work at least 4 days a week. The purpose for my moderate training program is to establish a base fit which allows me to go dancing after my next century.

I added a cadence censor to my event bike and have also recently learned that I can maintain these rides in the 80-100 range. Which is the dilemma I have found myself in. The last time I worked up the miles. I had a very harsh push from a friend who took me from commuting to a metric century and that worked through determination only. Now though it is a new game and I am trying to find the place to start where the rule of ten percent is applied. Because I jumped from 12-15 miles to 27 miles without an issue.

The dilemma is can I just jump and try for a 40 mile, to test the waters? On the other hand is this about the spot where moderation is a better road travelled?


Thanks for you time

You might be able to jump to 40 miles ... but it might be better to take it a little bit slower.

10% would put you at 30 miles ... you could probably do that quite easily, so maybe go for 35 miles instead.

That's a good suggestion Machka

I also think I found another alternative with the route I did today. Which was a 22 mile loop with a 1000 ft of climbing in it. I felt good afterwards and was able to ride to the store for groceries afterwards. Think I will try a flattish 33 miles tomorrow and see how that goes. I'm also working on fit issues with numb hands, and making small adjustments to fix that.

Thanks for the suggestion, and I'll follow up after the ride tomorrow.

No, rather: The question is: Why would you want to?

While there is nothing wrong with a 40mile ride, you have to ask yourself why you should. You clearly have a well thought out and carefully planned fitness routine that appears to be working reasonably well.

Assuming that your goal is overall health and fitness: Will a 40 mile ride contribute to that goal or take resources away from it? Do you want to do the 40 mile'r for yourself or to impress somebody, keep up with the Jone's or to keep somebody (besides yourself) happy?

Conversely, exercise needs to have some kind of fun and/or reward. If the 40 mile'r (or century) does that for you, Go For It!

And, congratulations on your well thought out training regimen and your commitment to it.

Thanks George

The primary reason I am wanting to jump is I enjoy being a bike potato and the scenery of long rides. What I am not wanting to do is jump so high for fun, that I derail the whole thing. I have a fairly flat 30 miler I am going to try and see how I feel afterwards.

The hardest part for me is patience, which is why I like your post. My self-determination and willingness to be last will see me through any distance. Now I just want to build the base to allow to ride a metric century before the end of the summer with out discomfort at the end.

Thanks

Can you? Yes, based upon you having done 200K in 2010.

Legs have memory.

Should you? Only you can answer that.