My first Llandegla experience

steelie600

Well I knew it was gonna be tough as my fitness is crap and in very overweight, but I had to try. I got about 1/2 way up the first big uphill section, where its flattened off and just before it gets steeper. And my legs just wouldnt take no more. So turned round pissed off with myself and came back down again. BUT I did have a brilliant time on the skills area. Did about 6 loops of that, and really enjoyed it!!

Bit narked with myself that im not fit enough to even walk up the big hill at the start, but I always had that in the back of my mind anyway. So will really start pounding the pedals to build up some stamina and strength in my legs from now on. Ralph performed flawlessly except a front valve issue but that was easily sorted before the ride began.

So yeah, a bit of a let down on my part but I still had fun, my bike works really well. I think I like this mtb lark!

phoebian

Glad you had some fun. But next time instead of thinking about where you will stop and turn around, choose a point in the distance to reach. Either take five minutes and crack on or just get off a slowly walk for a little bit. Or even use the granny ring and ride at walking pace.

You will do it next time I am sure! Good luck!

steelie600

Aye I fully intend to! Im gonna pound some road miles to gain some stamina and if I can get to where I was today (base of second big climb) without dying ill sure as heck get up the rest even if I have to walk!!

This sounds like an excuse now, but I lost my momentum at the start and getting going again did for me. Didnt change to granny ring fast enough! lol

But determined I am and I shall succeed!

omegas

steelie600 wrote:

I got about 1/2 way up the first big uphill section, where its flattened off and just before it gets steeper.

There is no big hill at Llandegla its a gentle slope meandering through the forest at the start and flattens out even more as you come out of the forest.

Briggo

Are you on about the very first hill after you come out of the initial trees that goes on and on and on but its quite a subtle incline.

Just ride locally from your house even if its on the road, no need to travel miles to begin the fitness regime.

mcnultycop

The first time I went, and somewhere around the 20 stone mark, I thought that dull wide climb would never end. It does, and it gets a lot more fun at the end of it. It is a long climb but it isn't particularly steep, so it's just a case of plodding along it. It gets easier, 18 stone now and it's not a problem.

steelie600

Cheers for the encouragement guys!! I wont be beaten!! Ive done another 3 miles tonight and im totally broken now! Going for a radox bath n bed me thinks! My legs are on fire it feels like!! But honestly the 3 miles I done tonight were reasonably easy, first 2 I didnt even notice which is an improvement, so I am getting some results!

YeehaaMcgee

omegas wrote:

There is no big hill at Llandegla

Harsh, but I echo that sentiment. There is a bugger of a short climb on the red later on called the "double steep" (if it's still there, I haven't really ridden 'Degla in over a year), which is going to kill you if you struggled with the first ascent.
Oh, and that bit where the black climbs back up to meet the red.

Get riding more, ride up some hills without resorting to spinning. You'll get there eventually.

lesz42

double steep is back, and still steep! black and the new red has steep "climb backs" too

steelie600

Yup done 8 miles in total today on the roads. 3 this morning before work. This was bloody hard going as I was stiff as a board from yesterday and really struggled. And 5 miles just (got in 10 mins ago) which was a breeze upto the 3 mile mark but I wasnt too bad so I pushed on for another of my mile loops and really forced myself to do a fifth. I ache like a good un again and im sweating like a scouser in court. But I gotta force myself, I gotta do it, for my health more than owt!

So thanks for the motivation guys! Ill start another thread soon keeping tabs on my weightloss and performance gains!

fyldesmurf

Congrats on the progress and definitely stick with it, you notice the benefits of being fit in all areas of life you really wouldn't expect to, like social confidence (which was a problem for me) etc, and the feeling when you start overtaking people on the hills (without sounding too horrible) is fantastic

YeehaaMcgee

steelie600 wrote:

Yup done 8 miles in total today on the roads.

I've found that, roughly speaking, a non-stop road ride of the same duration as a mountain bike ride will barely get you fit enough to get round without any effort.
What I mean is, say you're going to ride the Marin trail, which is a roughly 2 hour ride (If memory serves me correctly). 3 if you're taking it easy and stopping for breathers and admiring the scenery etc.
Well, in order to be able to do that kind of ride, and not be blattered at the end, I find that being able to ride for roughly 2 hours, or 3 hours non stop on the road is a good gauge of needed fitness.

Hmm. That made sense in my head but I'm struggling to put it down in any way that makes sense.

steelie600

Nope Im with ya dude!! Basically I need to be able to do 2-3 hours none stop on roads to be able to have enough fitness to enjoy a MTB ride without too much effort and farking myself up in the process!

cooldad

Forget the roads, mind numbingly boring, just find some dirt and ride, around in circles and play if it's not very big. Much more fun, gets you just as fit (although if it's fitness you want, run) and practices useful stuff. Off road also uses different muscles, so they all get a bit of a workout.

Cr3do

I jusy got back from my first to visit to Llandegla, like you I'm a beginner and very unfit and overweight (21st).

I managed to get out of the forest and half way up the 2nd climb, before having to push my bike for 5min, before jumping back on and spinning to where the blue and red routes part, where I took a 5min rest and an enrey gel . It was definitely worth the hard work, had lots of fun on the rest of the trail, was over a bit to quick! I'm sure the experiences would be a lot more fun, when the fitness improves.

Good luck with everything mate

tarbot18

Just keep at it keep going every week even in winter and you ll notice improvements , ive gone from doing llangegla black with parellel universe from 2hrs 6 months ago and walking the odd hill to 1hr 28 last week and i dont walk any of it now.
As above i very rarely get my road bike out now i find the lack of mud ,mortal danger, paralysis, bruising etc just doesnt do it for me like mountain biking.........

YeehaaMcgee

cooldad wrote:

Forget the roads, mind numbingly boring, just find some dirt and ride, around in circles and play if it's not very big. Much more fun, gets you just as fit (although if it's fitness you want, run) and practices useful stuff. Off road also uses different muscles, so they all get a bit of a workout.

I totally agree, but I was referring to his 8 mile road ride. You're going to need to be able to ride much further than that to get your fitness up to a reasonable level.

paul.skibum

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

cooldad wrote:

Forget the roads, mind numbingly boring, just find some dirt and ride, around in circles and play if it's not very big. Much more fun, gets you just as fit (although if it's fitness you want, run) and practices useful stuff. Off road also uses different muscles, so they all get a bit of a workout.

I totally agree, but I was referring to his 8 mile road ride. You're going to need to be able to ride much further than that to get your fitness up to a reasonable level.

But if he doesnt have the fitness to ride further than 8 miles then 8 miles is better than nothing. Someday soon it will be 9 then maybe 10 etc.

Probably better than heading 20-30 miles out away from his house then finding he cant make it back, setting about building a satanic temple by the road side and bringing all the powers of the hells down upon you for your internet advice which led him into the predicament. The second one spells trouble and effort for all sorts of people.

YeehaaMcgee

paul.skibum wrote:

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

cooldad wrote:

Forget the roads, mind numbingly boring, just find some dirt and ride, around in circles and play if it's not very big. Much more fun, gets you just as fit (although if it's fitness you want, run) and practices useful stuff. Off road also uses different muscles, so they all get a bit of a workout.

I totally agree, but I was referring to his 8 mile road ride. You're going to need to be able to ride much further than that to get your fitness up to a reasonable level.

But if he doesnt have the fitness to ride further than 8 miles then 8 miles is better than nothing. Someday soon it will be 9 then maybe 10 etc.

Yes, I know. I was just giving my experience of how some road work equates to mountain biking.

steelie600

paul.skibum wrote:

, setting about building a satanic temple by the road side and bringing all the powers of the hells down upon you for your internet advice which led him into the predicament.

I like this idea!! Has anyone been upset by a keyboard warrior?? Ill set one off in a minute!!

1mancity2

Well done Steelie600, just keep at it and every ride you will get a little bit further/fitter, try and work a little route out around were you live and set a time, then once a week try to better it, don't go mad but having a target will help you focus and above all enjoy yourself.

YeehaaMcgee

steelie600 wrote:

paul.skibum wrote:

, setting about building a satanic temple by the road side and bringing all the powers of the hells down upon you for your internet advice which led him into the predicament.

I like this idea!! Has anyone been upset by a keyboard warrior?? Ill set one off in a minute!!

Please don't - I fell out with Buffy, so she can't protect me any more.

leaflite

Fitness will come in time.
When I first started, I wasnt particularly overweight but I couldnt even make it up the fireroad climb on Follow the Dog at Cannock Chase. Now, I can do that climb at llandegla fairly fast(ie overtaking or keeping pace with everyone I saw), all in one go, without getting out of breath at all. This took about 7 miles/week for a year or two. I would have loved to have ridden more, but other commitments meant that I only had time for a quick 1 hour blast most weekends.