hHow am I doing...?

S2driveruk

Had a cateye on the bike for a few months and work has been hellish so not had as much seat time as I wanted but so far 230 miles @average of 14.5mph.

Anyone know if thats good/bad/indifferent . just looking for a reasonable benchmark of performance. its lifted nicely over the last month or so as I have been able to get a couple of rides and a total of 30-40miles per week in.

Also, anyone know what is the single best way to boost overall endurance on steeper climbs? I could go all day on rolling terrain but i fade (in my opinion) far too rapidly on the steeper stuff.

Cheers
David

Mettan

Hi Dave - 14.5 avg is about right for a new Road rider ~ 3-4 months regular riding - a good start - after another 6 months of regular riding, you might see your avgs incrase to ~ 16 mph over rolling terrain - after another 12 months (from now) you might see your avgs increase to ~ 17 mph.

Regards steeper hills - just ride them regularly - nobody fly's up + 12 %, so it's just a case of spinning up - regular (hard) riding will see your cardio fitness and power increase markedly.

S2driveruk

thanks Mettan, almost feels like i am two clicks too short on the gears so the cadence drops away :oops:

Am definately carrying a good stone more than i would like too so as that comes off i hope everything will go in the right direction performance wise.

Mettan

S2driveruk wrote:

thanks Mettan, almost feels like i am two clicks too short on the gears so the cadence drops away :oops:

Am definately carrying a good stone more than i would like too so as that comes off i hope everything will go in the right direction performance wise.

Yep, weight loss is important - I've lost over 3.5 stone in 2.5 years through regular riding/eating less - definately helps when going uphill - I'm now around 10 stone 7.

S2driveruk

3.5stone....blimey :shock: what sort of weekly miles are you doing to scrub that off? Thats mighty impressive!

Mettan

I put the weight on through a weight-lifting/gym phase (from 11.5 stone up to 14.2 stone) and lots of pizza eating etc etc - I'm now back to a more typical weight - currently only do around 80-100 miles a week (meniscus injuries).

S2driveruk

So just thought i'd update this thread...upped the miles to 490 since the original post and included more hilly stuff and ave is up to 16.8mph which i'm pretty chuffed about.

Also managed to complete my first 40miler at the weekend, so definately what you put in does pay back, i felt ok and could have continued for another 10-15 happily but ran out of time.

Really getting into it now, actually pretty annoyed its going to be dark, wet and cold in a month or two, probably end up going backwards again :roll:

David

x8swift9x

Great working keeping it up. I know how you feel about the winter period, this is going to be my 2nd as a road rider. But I have purchased enough warm gear now to keep my out on my bike

nickcuk

Find some way to get out. The easiest things to cope with (in my experience) are:

1) the dark
2) the cold
3) rain

in that order. Even 1) and 2) at the same time is easy to overcome so keep motivated !

idreamoftailwinds

With regards to you speed, you may find that you will maintain a 17mph ave for a while, your next goal will be the 20mph ave, just keep riding, try some Fartlek training to inc your speed. I sprint for a count of 20 then rest for a count of 60 (or until I can breath again, which ever is later) and repeat, try doing this on your rides; It also breaks your ride up.

dexradio

Interesting comments above.

I've piled on several "stone" in weight in the last few years, I was primarily a runner with a Marathon time of 3.29, but always liked the bike and in the past I've used it to supplement my running. Following an injury and having stopped training, I had lost all motivation for training and just piled the weight on. Its been like that for about 3 years now.

I'm back on my bike (Trek FX7.7 Hybrid) now and really enjoying it. In the last month I've done 327 miles with an average speed of 14mph, carrying about 5 stone more then I should. I've lost a stone already so that's good news and my eating habits are now, proper amounts of proper foods (mostly). I work from home most of the time, so I have invented my "virtual" commute during the week and either go out first thing in the morning or early evening to get my bike ride in.

I also have a Trek Madone Road Bike, and was averaging 20mph on a 25 mile ride previously, when I was fit. I realise that the differences in my Hybrid and Road Bike will have some contribution to this of course. And thats a great motivation to lose the weight, as I compare my ability now(or lack of it) to when I was fit. Weight is definitely your enemy, but I guess as I drag my excess bulk around on the bike with me, its helping me build up leg strength so that as I lose weight, hopefully that leg strength will stay with me and benefit me, as will the weight loss. Or is that too simplistic a view to take?

Anyway, all good fun, and I guess just by doing it regularly, I'll improve.

Dex.

Pross

On the weight gain I've piled on 4 stone over the 13 years since I stopped cycling regularly (was 10 stone 10lbs at 6' 1"). Combined with the extra age, loss of leg strength and generally lower fitness it is really making it hard work to get back into serious cycling. In my head I'm still a lightweight 23 year old so I get frustrated when I can barely get up the smallest of hills! :shock: