Explain this...

Secteur
Secteur Posts: 1,971
edited August 2011 in Road beginners
I have a hilly little 18 mile country lane loop that I love to do, usually 3 or 4 times a week, so I know the route intimately. It really is hilly, and I'm still not a fast cyclist, so it takes me 1hr 10mins.

I have noticed that some days I fly around it and arrive home 100% fresh, and other days I suffer badly from the moment I set off, but no matter how fantastic I feel or how badly I'm hurting, my time is always to within a minute of the same time, every time - fastest will be 1hr 9mins, the slowest on a really bad day 1hr 10-11mins.

Tonight I had a headwind, a bad stitch in both kidneys the whole way and my legs felt like I was pedalling through treacle, yet I managed a time only 30 seconds slower than my best.

Weird!

Comments

  • Arghyrou
    Arghyrou Posts: 155
    Headwind (maybe unnoticeable but still as frustrating), lack of motivation maybe from the bordom or the regular route? Not taken a rest recently? or even as simple as heavy gears driven down early in the route.
    I have this on occasion and usually stop, take a break (take on water and food) and then head off again hard usually aiming for specific splits or averages across the course. Really helps...
    Good luck!
  • thiscocks
    thiscocks Posts: 549
    I can't really make big gains on my best times on routes at the moment but can easily be 10min slower on a 45min ride if I feel crap. Sounds like you have a gift for not loosing time!
  • Slow Downcp
    Slow Downcp Posts: 3,041
    On the days you get back home 100% fresh, push harder so you get back feeling the same as on a bad day. I'm guessing you'll be faster
    Carlsberg don't make cycle clothing, but if they did it would probably still not be as good as Assos
  • suzyb
    suzyb Posts: 3,449
    I noticed the opposite today. Felt like I was managing a good pace, keeping the pedals turning instead of stop starting. Yet I was slower than my last ride on that route despite the fact I added an extra climb that day.
    Whippet
  • Secteur
    Secteur Posts: 1,971
    Yes - maybe on my "good days" I'm subconsciously holding back and not pushing as hard as I could...
  • Richa1181
    Richa1181 Posts: 177
    I think headwind and rain bring out that little bit more when cycling, we all love the torture deep down and all fancy ourselves as Jens Voigt when the going gets tough. You're lucky you can do it without losing any time though! Sometimes I have that "why is this so hard" day, and hope that when I look down it's because I'm doing 24mph into a headwind, but more often than not my heart is through the roof and I'm doing 13mph :(
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    My bet is sleep and hydration, massive influence on performance.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • airbusboy
    airbusboy Posts: 231
    If it's a loop then you get a tailwind as well.....

    Regarding the time, worl out times if you averaged 14/15/16/17/18mph... due to the shortness of the route massive gains/losses will not be achieved from riding quicker/slower.

    ATB
    'Ride hard for those who can't.....'
  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    Slow Downcp wrote:
    On the days you get back home 100% fresh, push harder so you get back feeling the same as on a bad day. I'm guessing you'll be faster

    Yepp, totally agree. If you come back feeling 100% fresh then you should have carried on going or worked harder on the ride to see what you could have done.

    I am working on bringing down my TT times but keep ending with enough in the tank to go on and do 30 or 50 mile rides at a decent pace, which I figure shows I haven't got the effort level right (as in high enough) on the TT itself.

    We are a funny bunch, as soon as things get easier, rather than sit back we push more to make it painful again :)
  • Secteur
    Secteur Posts: 1,971
    Bobbinogs wrote:
    We are a funny bunch, as soon as things get easier, rather than sit back we push more to make it painful again :)


    +1 !!!
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    You are not alone. I too do regular loops. Sometimes I head out determined to push hard the whole way round, others I decide it's a recovery ride and start out gently (but that just gets me properly warmed up so I go faster later on) Either way, and regardless of the length of the loop (8, 11, 15, 19 miles) I always get home to find I've only averaged 14.4 mph.

    (In my defence I'm about to be 54, and currently suffering from unexplained anaemia)

    The only time I can go quicker is if I'm being chased by my 22 yr old son; I managed 16mph round the 19 mile loop on Sunday!
  • Secteur
    Secteur Posts: 1,971
    keef66 wrote:
    (In my defence I'm about to be 54, and currently suffering from unexplained anaemia)

    Not been at the EPO then ;-)
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    I was quite excited about the prospect of a blood transfusion and a stock of EPO, but sadly neither has been forthcoming :(
  • navrig
    navrig Posts: 1,352
    Change your route. It may have become a routine and therefore the challenge has gone.

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