did i make a mess of alps training?
inaperfectworld
Posts: 219
i'm mid fifties and decicded to go to alps last year before i thought it might be too late to start. i'm really only a leisure/touring cyclist, but found it less hard than i expected using a low gear of about 26" (rear big sprocket slightly larger than front if it was a 27" wheel).
this year i went again and it felt to be much, much tougher, mainly towards the end and of the climbs but i felt as though i was pushing on the pedals much more than last year and i generally felt to be working very much harder and tiring more easily. the climbs were basically similar (alp dhuez, galibier 2008 vs madeleine, roseland, iseran 2009);
last year i went in early sept and had done 1,500miles in the 8 months before going, and about 30 to 60 miles weekly during june and july . i did a tour of 5 days about 4 weeks in early august and then very little: just 3 rides of 20 to 30 miles.
this time i had done about 2,500 miles in the 8 months before and 50 to 70 miles weekly in june and july. i did a similar tour of 5 days 1st week of august and then 50, 70 and 100 miles in the 3 weeks before i planned to go.
unfortunately i then had a medical problem and had to cancel trip and was so enraged i thought i'll get myself even fitter and out of anger and fury i rode 12 days out of 14 like a man possessed pushing as hard as i could for 1 to 2 hour rides. i was unable to do any riding in the 10 days before going on the rearranged trip.
i can't say i have much idea of training, i don't have a heart monitor just assume that to get fit riding hard is going to make you fitter and faster and give you stamina. but my experience makes me think i did too much aggressive riding too close to going; also the hotel owner in france, an enthusiastic cyclist asked me about the mileage i'd done and if i'd been doing hard riding for some minutes and then slackening off during rides (i think that is what he asked me). i didn't really know what he was talking about but it made me think i'd not trained myself very well.
so what would be the way to train a middle aged uncompetetive bloke for these long tiring climbs?
this year i went again and it felt to be much, much tougher, mainly towards the end and of the climbs but i felt as though i was pushing on the pedals much more than last year and i generally felt to be working very much harder and tiring more easily. the climbs were basically similar (alp dhuez, galibier 2008 vs madeleine, roseland, iseran 2009);
last year i went in early sept and had done 1,500miles in the 8 months before going, and about 30 to 60 miles weekly during june and july . i did a tour of 5 days about 4 weeks in early august and then very little: just 3 rides of 20 to 30 miles.
this time i had done about 2,500 miles in the 8 months before and 50 to 70 miles weekly in june and july. i did a similar tour of 5 days 1st week of august and then 50, 70 and 100 miles in the 3 weeks before i planned to go.
unfortunately i then had a medical problem and had to cancel trip and was so enraged i thought i'll get myself even fitter and out of anger and fury i rode 12 days out of 14 like a man possessed pushing as hard as i could for 1 to 2 hour rides. i was unable to do any riding in the 10 days before going on the rearranged trip.
i can't say i have much idea of training, i don't have a heart monitor just assume that to get fit riding hard is going to make you fitter and faster and give you stamina. but my experience makes me think i did too much aggressive riding too close to going; also the hotel owner in france, an enthusiastic cyclist asked me about the mileage i'd done and if i'd been doing hard riding for some minutes and then slackening off during rides (i think that is what he asked me). i didn't really know what he was talking about but it made me think i'd not trained myself very well.
so what would be the way to train a middle aged uncompetetive bloke for these long tiring climbs?
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Comments
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My own personal experience in teh Alps has been a slow but steady one, with low gears similar to yours. training has consisted of longer distances at a steady but not too slow speed and quite a number of 2 x 20 minute sessions (on teh turbo) at an effort I can only just sustain for the 2 periods (with about 5-10 mins rest in between). Once spring arrives I practice riding up the nearby hills ina similar manner (but they only take about 10-15 minutes to do so I do several repeats) . This got me ready for AlpeDhuez etc which I did non-stop without any problems in under 2 hours. For a fat nearly 50 year old i was more than satisfied.
yes you probably did too much too close. We oldies need longer recovery times amongst other things -and teh French man was talking about interval training - riding a bit too fast for a short while and slowing down a bit in between. the average speed is often similar but your heart and muscles have had to work harder and adapt prior to the next session.
hope you get some helpful answers here.0
