Enthusiastic newbie, group ride knocked my confidence

webmonkey1975

Hi

I started riding around Bolton/Rivington/Lancashire last August on my Raleigh SilverBlade. Even took a day off to go to coedllandeglla. I've done 75 miles to Southport and back, Over Rivington tops up to Entwiste, Haigh Hall to Blackburn and back via Tockholes, plenty of miles and a few decent climbs, I think. So I was pretty happy with my fitness.

I've always rode alone, and was never at all worried when the road bikes zipped past me. But I noticed in December that I was feeling a little less motivated to get out, and I had put it down to having run out of places and goals that I wanted to ride to.

Because I've struggled to keep up with road bikes, I decided to contact a local mountain bike group, and turned up for an easy trail ride around Rivington. I was hoping that I could pick up a few new trails and make some new cycling buddies.

Trouble is I just couldn't keep up! Downhill or Uphill - It was shocking. The route they took didn't seem at all technical, and even though it was snowing and I was a bit uncomfortable with the bike slipping a touch under me, they didn't seem to be riding hard, and I felt really disappointed and expected better of myself.

I should probably post this in fitness, but essentially:

After we did a quick roll downhill to the reservoir, we started back up to the top barn, and half way up a pretty easy gradient, I started really blowing hard. I had to stop and started sweating and my head was spinning.

The guys waited for me, and were all really good about it, but at the end of the next section we agreed I needed to drop out, and work on my fitness.

I can't explain what happened, and I have a few thoughts:

1. Those couple of weekends when I skipped my Ride, and a few mince pies really undid me?
2. The cold weather, or maybe too many layers, or a combination of both messed me up?
3. Roads are completely different to trails?
4. Even though it didn't feel like the groups pace was fast, I was pushing harder than I'm used to?

I'm not going to give up - I'm going to ride that route again this weekend, and keep doing it until I can tear it up without thinking about it. But I'd really like to understand what happened to me last week.

Thanks for any advice

wmorgs

HI Mate,
I was in the same boat a few years ago, really struggled with group pace.
I stuck with it and now within 3/4mths of 1/2 rides a week i seem to stay with them.
Pace a little fast for me i feel knackered but but it ill get easier.

webmonkey1975

Thanks, I guess I've got my motivation back, with a new goal to work at

cooldad

Find a friendlier (smaller) group.

We pick up lots of newbies via here and Facebook.

Simple really, you finish a ride with the people you start with.

I quite enjoy it as I get lonely trailing along at the back, being both old and unfit.

But it is totally different to riding on road. And to me a lot harder. But a million times more fun as well.

webmonkey1975

Thanks.

I really don't blame the group at all, I'd fully expected to be able to reach the pike and was really looking forward to it.

I think I really wanted to understand whether it was that solo riding had given me a false confidence in my fitness level.

Ber Nard

webmonkey1975 wrote:

I can't explain what happened, and I have a few thoughts:

1. Those couple of weekends when I skipped my Ride, and a few mince pies really undid me?
2. The cold weather, or maybe too many layers, or a combination of both messed me up?
3. Roads are completely different to trails?
4. Even though it didn't feel like the groups pace was fast, I was pushing harder than I'm used to?

Or you were having a bad day. Happens to everyone; you've trained well, you're bang up for it but, on the day, your legs and lungs just don't want to know.

Don't dwell on it, just try again. You never know, next time you might be flying.

The Rookie

2 weeks off and/or a mild viral infection can both leave me struggling a bit, the other problem is when you ride solo you often tend to ease off a bit and not work as hard as you could (should?).

Going uphill, gear selection is key, you should be trying to keep your legs spinning at circ80-90rpm (not the circa 50rpm many use 'naturally') as it's much more efficient, even though it feels strange at first, you should also be using those rpms on the flat obviously, in fact going uphill should involve no more effort than on the flat, you just select the right gear to keep your legs spinning and the effort the same.

The Silverblade was always going to struggle against more modern bikes, you have thinner tyres (and the ones on their are probably old and hard?) and no front suspension (those will help on certain terrain, not on others...on bumpy trails it wll fatigue you faster), narrower gear range as well, downhill you'd be struggling for braking especially with wet rims. That said your bike is probably about 12-12.5Kg which is lighter than many mid range modern bikes.
(comments assuming your is like this one http://rentonbikes.com/free-ads/raleigh ... bike_15133)

njee20

Obviously none of us were there, and no one knows you, so it's pure speculation on what the cause is/was. Maybe it was you having an off day, maybe you're just not fit enough, maybe that group you chose was actually a fast group. So many variables. No need for it to get you down, we all started somewhere.

Go and ride the route again, but I'd have no qualms trying a different group in a couple of weeks and seeing how you get on.

poah

crap group - I go out with a group every so often and while I can do the flat and DH I struggle with fitness on the uphills and they wait for everyone either up or down.

cooldad

Not necessarily crap, just different. Comparing njee20's group of racing snakes to my regular bunch of pudgy wastrels, we'd each probably find it quite frustrating to ride with the other.
We tend to chat more than we actually ride, but I reckon both lots are having fun. Just pick a group that suits.

webmonkey1975

Thanks for the replies

I'd hate for anyone in the group I rode with to read this and think I'm criticising them,
they did really short intervals and waited for me each time.

They were really nice guys, and I hope to meet them again for another go.

njee20

Not necessarily crap, just different. Comparing njee20's group of racing snakes to my regular bunch of pudgy wastrels, we'd each probably find it quite frustrating to ride with the other.
We tend to chat more than we actually ride, but I reckon both lots are having fun. Just pick a group that suits.

We all wait for each other, but I wouldn't invite someone out on the ride who I didn't think would be in the ball park speed wise! We all chat, take the piss out of each other, mess about etc, we're just fit enough to do so whilst riding along (at immense pace ;-) ).

Wholly agree though that it's different, not crap!

Thanks for the replies

I'd hate for anyone in the group I rode with to read this and think I'm criticising them,
they did really short intervals and waited for me each time.

They were really nice guys, and I hope to meet them again for another go.

In the mean time I would try and find another group, see how you get on!

rockmonkeysc

Riding even long distances on road doesn't give you the fittness for off road where you are working against higher resistance. Although speeds are mucg lower you are working different muscles.
You can't ask more of a group than to wait occasionally but its worth remembering that it's when you stop that you really get cold so if they spent a lot of time waiting they would suffer and just riding slowly isn't much better.

mcnultycop

I'm fat and recovering from an injury, I'll come and have a blast round Gisburn or Lee if you fancy it. Up will be slow and down won't fast be either until I get back into the swing of things.

stubs

I think Ber Nard has it. I had a bad day last sunday my legs just wouldnt do what they were told and I had to stop on every climb and just jump off and walk for a 100 yards to get some feeling back. Didnt help that we were in snow and slush as that really sucks the energy. If your going for a big ride on a sunday have a ride thursday and stay off bike friday and sat. It takes a couple of days for your muscles to recover especially when your not a teenager anymore.

webmonkey1975

mcnultycop wrote:

I'll come and have a blast round Gisburn or Lee if you fancy it.

That sound great, thank you I'll pm you my contact details! Thanks for the offer, looking forward to it.

I went out on the same route today and although I got up it, i still found it very tough.

I think it's the different terrain that I need to train for, because I went on the road to the village green and it felt quite comfortable again.

I'm going doing it again tomorrow on a bike with suspension, and see how that feels.

njee20

stubs wrote:

I think Ber Nard has it. I had a bad day last sunday my legs just wouldnt do what they were told and I had to stop on every climb and just jump off and walk for a 100 yards to get some feeling back. Didnt help that we were in snow and slush as that really sucks the energy. If your going for a big ride on a sunday have a ride thursday and stay off bike friday and sat. It takes a couple of days for your muscles to recover especially when your not a teenager anymore.

Often better to gently spin the legs out, rather than do nothing, which can make your legs feel heavy and sluggish.

stubs

njee20 wrote:

stubs wrote:

I think Ber Nard has it. I had a bad day last sunday my legs just wouldnt do what they were told and I had to stop on every climb and just jump off and walk for a 100 yards to get some feeling back. Didnt help that we were in snow and slush as that really sucks the energy. If your going for a big ride on a sunday have a ride thursday and stay off bike friday and sat. It takes a couple of days for your muscles to recover especially when your not a teenager anymore.

Often better to gently spin the legs out, rather than do nothing, which can make your legs feel heavy and sluggish.

Maybe if your young and mega fit. I however am a fat wheezy half centurion and need 2 days to recover

I am finding 25 years of playing Rugby and 40 years + of falling off bikes is really catching up with me during winter and I am looking at Turbo trainers thinking hmm not a bad idea. Kill me kill me now

njee20

In not talking anything strenuous, 20 minutes soft pedalling. You will feel better for it.

The Rookie

stubs wrote:

Kill me kill me now

I sure will, I hate static training, it's just so boring......I'd rather be cold and wet!

I'm with Njee, a quick spin at light loads is great for getting ready for a longer ride, better than not riding at all.

rockmonkeysc

I agree with njee, complete rest isn't as good as a gentle half hour ride to help legs recover.

The Rookie

Likewise I find a light spinny ride after a long ride means they hurt less the next day.

Craig24

If anyone in here fancies getting a group ride together at Rivington or Lee Quarry I'm up for it. Or even Clayton Vale.

I started two topics in the MTB rides section but not had much luck!

Night rides in the week could be good fun!

viewtopic.php?f=10014&t=12999274
viewtopic.php?f=10014&t=13003603

webmonkey1975

Sure, any time.

I'll be at Rivington Saturday morning, trying to get up that little slope without spitting my lungs out
adding a night ride mid week might sort me out!

RobJ20

I'm up for night rides around Rivington, i was up there last night.

webmonkey1975

Update:

I've got up there twice this month.
Wind in my face today, but the snow was pretty, stopped a few times to take some pictures. (and catch my breath)

https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10959317_10152571573941277_3219865501950185282_n.jpg?oh=cfd0b686c1ecfc839819a781469dd6e3&oe=557F2E32

https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10997444_10152571573936277_3164074240289353011_n.jpg?oh=655b61d83013922cf69649640e4db16e&oe=557EA702

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10152451_10152571573946277_8192026911024597836_n.jpg?oh=86ef1101d183915c71140be5daad43da&oe=557EA899&__gda__=1435275238_dd27b78f14b500d3ac6df42f059f8d0e

And here's the route profile I took
http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/882954773

flashpaul

I do that ride quite a lot and I am probably a member of the club you went out with
I am an average rider speed wise.
Barn to pike takes me about 20mins