My First 100k Ride

VTech

Well, finally I did a 100k ride today;
http://app.strava.com/activities/59230872

I went with the Redditch cycle club and finally managed the big numbers. I know it wasn't fast but still, 100k is 100k.
I was going well and felt comfortable to the 80k mark but the last 20 hurt, the last 5 really hurt, not sure I would feel like knocking one of these out on a weekly basis but glad its over.

supermurph09

Well done, the ironic thing is that when you go faster you'll be sat in the saddle less and probably won't hurt as much! Also, did you stop for over an hour? Getting going again must have been hard and maybe didn't help!

Keep it up!

tlw1

he went to the pub

VTech

We had a stop at Wellesbourne Airfield cafe.
Cup of tea and sandwich.
Getting going again was an issue, it hurt for a few km but soon got going. The main issue was the final 20k, it really started to hurt and I was nearly thinking of dropping out but mustered enough to get home, very chuffed I did it.

Jon_1976

Well done!

Not surprised you found it painful with an average cadence of 60. I'd be on crutches if I did that.

supermurph09

^^^^^^^I mentioned the cadence before, it looks like you are pushing too hard a gear??

elderone

well done vtech,cracking ride.Also think super murph is right about the cadence.Kudos

VTech

What should I be looking at ?

CambsNewbie

VTech wrote:

What should I be looking at ?

Whatever feels right and comfortable to YOU

elderone

Not an expert but around 90 seems the ball park.Plus as you start getting more and more tired spinning a lower gear will help lower the fatique level.
I use a hrm and it clearly indicates when im pushing a higher gear with an elevated heart rate.

Grill

CambsNewbie wrote:

VTech wrote:

What should I be looking at ?

Whatever feels right and comfortable to YOU

Minimum 80 is where you should start and once you have that established you'll be able to find what works best.

VTech

CambsNewbie wrote:

VTech wrote:

What should I be looking at ?

Whatever feels right and comfortable to YOU

I think the problem is that I'm not really comfortable. My upper neck and between my shoulders ache as well as my knees. I was out of the saddle more than the norm but I do feel I'm in the wrong gear too often as well.

supermurph09

everyone is different and of course the terrain makes a huge difference but given the pains you mentioned why not give it a try. You bought the new chainset, so you have more range than before??

Grill

Pain in the knees along with a lot of time out of the saddle is indicative of pushing too big a gear. Start with a 20 miler and aim for 80. It takes some practice and getting used to, but you'll be surprised by how easily you adapt and how much fresher you feel.

CambsNewbie

VTech wrote:

CambsNewbie wrote:

VTech wrote:

What should I be looking at ?

Whatever feels right and comfortable to YOU

I think the problem is that I'm not really comfortable. My upper neck and between my shoulders ache as well as my knees. I was out of the saddle more than the norm but I do feel I'm in the wrong gear too often as well.

But the ache in your neck and shoulders isn't down to cadence is it? That's just being on the bike longer than normal.

I'm no expert and frustratingly finding it hard to get out on my bike this year.. But I think cadence is like a running style. You have a style thats best for you. Michael Johnson would never have been taught to run like he did, and no doubt early in his career had coaches trying to tell him to run differently. But he still became a world champion, multiple Olympic gold medalist and world record holder. I think the same applies to cycling styles. I don't have a particularly high cadence. I've tried cycling at a higher cadence but it just doesn't feel right to me and it becomes all I think about when I am cycling.

And congrats on the 100km.

Jon_1976

VTech wrote:

CambsNewbie wrote:

VTech wrote:

What should I be looking at ?

Whatever feels right and comfortable to YOU

I think the problem is that I'm not really comfortable. My upper neck and between my shoulders ache as well as my knees. I was out of the saddle more than the norm but I do feel I'm in the wrong gear too often as well.

The hardest thing is to learn to smooth out your pedalling technique at high cadence so you're not bouncing out of the saddle. I practiced this a lot as I've got a gammy left knee and prolonged seated low cadence work is pretty painful for me. As Grill said, 80 should be a minimum but its different for everyone. For me, anything below 85 feels like mashing. 90-95 seems to be my ideal, I have no problem staying at 97-100 for long periods if my legs are feeling tired but its not very efficient (for me).

itboffin

Yep nice work keep it up and as others have said ride what's comfortable to you. It gets marginally better so im told

eddiefiola

Congrats, broke my 100k virginity today too http://app.strava.com/activities/59181371

Bruised my feet underneath something chronic, guess i have the cleats too far back, using mtb shoes and spds so I think I'll invest in some road shoes and pedals before the next one.

Congrats again!

Mikey41

Well done

It won't feel as bad next time, but I agree with the others, bring your cadence up a bit, it's far better.

BobScarle

VTec. Well done on the ride. It is a notable milestone and quite an achievement.

I have sent you a PM about further rides.

sungod

VTech wrote:

What should I be looking at ?

i'd aim for 70 minimum, grinding up long hills isn't so good for the knees, drop to lower gear, consider doing some specific training, hill repeats for instance, not fun but it works

developing leg speed+power takes time and training, 80s should be easy enough, 90-100+ needs more application

benefits of higher cadence are reduced strain on knees etc., it does increase load on heart/lungs a bit, but these recover from overload much faster than legs, so it can help if you're trying to keep up with a group and find you struggle on accelerations

Kieran_Burns

I've actually been concentrating on lower gears and higher cadence on all my 'climbs' recently. It's frustrating with the speed loss at the moment but I know it's good training and definitely saving my knees!

Jon_1976

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I've actually been concentrating on lower gears and higher cadence on all my 'climbs' recently. It's frustrating with the speed loss at the moment but I know it's good training and definitely saving my knees!

Same here, I'd rather have the feeling my lungs are about to pop rather than grinding my knee caps into dust.

VTech

I'm going to try and get a few rides done this week at higher cadence.

paultheparaglider

Congratulations. A good milestone to achieve (or should that be kilometre stone?).

I've found 2 things about my own riding. If you keep doing the longer rides they definitely get easier, but it doesn't take much of a break to get back to square one. Secondly, my cadence has naturally risen the more miles I've clocked up. As others have said, it can be good to practise at a higher cadence because it both encourages a smooth pedalling technique and also makes it much easier on the joints.

Anyway, you deserve to give yourself a pat on the back for getting from where you were when you just recently started out to where you are now.

VTech

Thank you, I feel incredibly chuffed with myself, I know may people do this weekly but still, im overjoyed.
I will try and get a few 50-60k rides in over the next few weeks, im actually really enjoying the cycling.

Grill

VTech wrote:

Thank you, I feel incredibly chuffed with myself, I know may people do this weekly but still, im overjoyed.
I will try and get a few 50-60k rides in over the next few weeks, im actually really enjoying the cycling.

This is the most important thing you've ever posted.

thefd

CambsNewbie wrote:

But I think cadence is like a running style. You have a style thats best for you. Michael Johnson would never have been taught to run like he did, and no doubt early in his career had coaches trying to tell him to run differently. But he still became a world champion, multiple Olympic gold medalist and world record holder. I think the same applies to cycling styles.

So there you go VTech - you may soon be the cycling equivalent to Michael Johnson!!!

TDF next year, Olympics in 2016!!

VTech

TheFD wrote:

CambsNewbie wrote:

But I think cadence is like a running style. You have a style thats best for you. Michael Johnson would never have been taught to run like he did, and no doubt early in his career had coaches trying to tell him to run differently. But he still became a world champion, multiple Olympic gold medalist and world record holder. I think the same applies to cycling styles.

So there you go VTech - you may soon be the cycling equivalent to Michael Johnson!!!

TDF next year, Olympics in 2016!!

If im alive in 2016 ill be happy
TBH, I could set a goal of being 13st7lb by the time the TDF starts next year, maybe thats a goal worth having ?

Grill

If it's important to you then it's a goal worth having.

thefd

Grill wrote:

If it's important to you then it's a goal worth having.

Which goal are we talking...

VTech wrote:

If im alive in 2016 ill be happy
TBH, I could set a goal of being 13st7lb by the time the TDF starts next year, maybe thats a goal worth having ?

Being alive in 2016? Or weighing 13st 7lb for TDF next year?

Go for both!!