Looking for feedback / advice - Am I pushing too hard

highlander777

Hi

Me

43
Weight = 14st
Done spinning 1 or 2 times a week

Got a New bike back in Sept, so only been riding about 4 months

Started off doing an hour. been going well

Went for a bike ride with some guys who do Triathlon. We ended up doing 2hrs 10 mins!!.

Had my garmin hooked up. My average heart rate was 149, peaking at 189. After the race, had a bad headache and went for a lie down,

Am I pushing my body too much !!

CarleyB

Did you drink enough fluids whilst riding and after?

ShutUpLegs

How red was your face?

CarleyB

ShutUpLegs wrote:

How red was your face?

How is that relevant?

unixnerd

You need enough carbs in your body a few hours before a stint like that. Any maybe a banana or similar once an hour during training. Also, you give your weight but not your height.

It's not not just the time you were out but the effort you were putting in, average speed is one measure of this although it can be affected by how hilly / windy the ride was too.

jibberjim

highlander777 wrote:

Had my garmin hooked up. My average heart rate was 149, peaking at 189. After the race, had a bad headache and went for a lie down,

Am I pushing my body too much !!

Probably not no... sounds like a good ride. Keep doing it - if you have actual health worries talk to your doctor, but riding your bike is generally a good idea.

highlander777

thanks for the replies.

In line comments.

1. 6FT
2. Not red faced
3. Prior to ride. Had a smoothy. Milk, OATS, raspberries, blueberries
4. Had an energy drink during ride + one gel pack
5. Burnt 1332 cals according to the Garmin
6. distance 48km
7. some nasty hills, hence my heart rate going up to 189
8 very windy

badly_dubbed

doesnt sound like a brutal shift IMO

maybe you just need a bit more riding?

keep it up and itll feel easier...but hurt just the same lol

pilot_pete

Sounds like dehydration to me. How much liquid was your energy drink? Did you sweat a lot during the ride?

I was out for 3hrs 10 minutes today, covering 43 miles in very hilly terrain. I went from sweating like a pig on the uphills to chilly as hell on the downs or when I stopped! I drank 1.5 litres; 750ml Gatorade and 750ml water. Protein shake with 500ml water when I got home and I was only just still hydrated adequately (pee starting to darken).

I have experienced a headache after a ride and it is usually fluid intake, but perhaps your helmet was tight once you had warmed up and your head swelled? It can also be due to craning your neck, which for an hour hasn't bothered you, but for over two it has.

I find I have to be very disciplined in the winter to keep drinking enough fluid as the cold seems to reduce my desire to drink. In the summer I drink buckets as I am a heavy sweater. Everyone is different and I know guys who don't sweat much, or drink much! They seem to perform just fine and I would assume they aren't too dehydrated when they get home or they would do something about it!

Hope this helps.

PP

Buckled_Rims

highlander777 wrote:

thanks for the replies.

In line comments.

5. Burnt 1332 cals according to the Garmin

That's approx 600 cals per hour which is fairly low in my opinion so I doubt you burnt your energy reserves out. A hard ride might start at 750 cals per hour (or more for an unfit person).

Most rides under an hour I don't drink anything, no matter what speed. 2 hour rides I usually have about 400 ml of water. Over 3 hours then it depends on weather and hills but usually have both cages filled with water.

I agree it might be dehydration, but also neck strain as you're not used to it. Take it easier and just build up more slowly. Most rides

night_porter

If your Garmin is giving you the right distance and time then your average speed was about 13.2mph for the whole trip.

I would guess that this would be quite hard for a beginner but give yourself a few months of riding routes like this and you will be pushing 16mph and thinking how leisurely this ride was.

As you said you have only ridden an hour before and then you are riding with people who compete in Triathlons. It's gonna be (a bit) tougher but worth it in the long run as your fitness level WILL increase. Enjoy!

meanredspider

A HR of 189 is pretty high but everyone is different. My max (at 43) was 183 but I don't get to that on the bike. I'd agree with everyone that dehydration etc was probably the cause. Also agree that just putting the miles in is the way to go. If the headaches persist, however, you should probably talk to your doc.

springtide9

I would probably put it down to dehydration. If it was me - that's exactly what it would be.
Also, I think we all loose fluids at different rates (and can depend hugely if you've got your clothing right for the temperature)

Apart from taking on fluids as you cycle, remember to be hydrated before you set off.

Pross

The headache was probably dehydration, the rest was probably down to you suddenly doubling your previous efforts whilst riding with more experience riders although 48km in just over two hours doesn't suggest it was pushing too hard. Probably just a lack of cycling fitness which is unsurprising given you are new to it and had been off the bike with the weather.

what brakes

Just sounds like your not used to doing that amount of cycling! i had to lay down after doing 70 odd miler on sat morning! i regulary ride 100milers at the weekend and a couple of 30-50 milers in the week! but i havent been on bike for awhile!

Keep at it and keep doing the mileage after awhile your system will be used to the endurance and you will feel fine, well that if you dont push it everytime your out like me! but hey thats how you get fitter and faster!