First ride of the year...
Discussion
and f
k me, I'm unfit. It was just over 17 miles, around 50/50 road/offroad with a few small hills and a couple of steep ones. I had nothing left at all towards the end of the ride, every small incline felt like a mountain. Admittedly I've done nothing over the winter and vegetated most weekends, but its still shocking how much fitness I've lost. It's going to be hard work through the spring
Anyone else finding it hard getting back into it?
k me, I'm unfit. It was just over 17 miles, around 50/50 road/offroad with a few small hills and a couple of steep ones. I had nothing left at all towards the end of the ride, every small incline felt like a mountain. Admittedly I've done nothing over the winter and vegetated most weekends, but its still shocking how much fitness I've lost. It's going to be hard work through the springAnyone else finding it hard getting back into it?
Parrot of Doom said:
The thing to do is, if you can't stand riding in the cold and rain, just shorten your rides. Even if you do only five miles three times a week, it's enough to keep you fit. Just around the local roads.
Stop altogether and you're in a world of pain when you restart.
Tell me about itStop altogether and you're in a world of pain when you restart.
However, it can only get better from here. I thought I was going to be in a bit of a state this morning but feel surprisingly good.
I hadn't been on my GT for well over 2 years, got it out of the shed on Friday, fitted Yogi Junior's WeeRide and we made it about 1/4 mile up the road and back again, didn't want to take him much further for his first ride 
...honest Gov. I had the jelly legs for about 20 minutes after that 
I then took him out again on Sunday for about 4 miles, and although the last 1/2 mile home was a bit of a slog, I felt pretty much fine afterwards and today.
Was great to be back on the bike again
and much more fun than the gym.
...honest Gov. I had the jelly legs for about 20 minutes after that I then took him out again on Sunday for about 4 miles, and although the last 1/2 mile home was a bit of a slog, I felt pretty much fine afterwards and today.
Was great to be back on the bike again
and much more fun than the gym.I found it didn't take much time to get back into chugging around at seven or eight tenths, but as soon as I wanted to push harder - a bit of a sprint up a hill or something - I lacked the elasticity I had when riding regularly.
That and some days you're just not on it. By my own meagre standards I've more or less got back into shape now, but I felt like a sack of the proverbial this morning. Seriously down on the same time last week for no apparent reason. Must just be the sign of a good weekend!
That and some days you're just not on it. By my own meagre standards I've more or less got back into shape now, but I felt like a sack of the proverbial this morning. Seriously down on the same time last week for no apparent reason. Must just be the sign of a good weekend!
I'm going to have to hold my hand up here.
If someone asked, I'd tell them I was a pretty competent, experienced, and (previously) fast, amateur mountain biker. I've raced downhill, done 24hr enduros, ridden over the NYM's in a day, etc etc.
However, this winter, I've lwet myslef down, and am now a slow, wobbly sack of st. changes of jobs/timings/circumstances etc, and my bad attitude, mean I am now a useless sack of st. Its tragic. A completely wasted winter.
I have a PB of 2hrs 20 minutes on the Red route at Dalby done in Summer 09, whilst training for Mountain Mayhem. I'm quite proud of that. It took me and two mates a good 6 months to get down to that time. Its bascially going hell for leather, non-stop. A constant 12 mph, on a very tight, rough undulating course. I went to Dalby 2 weeks ago, first time on my bike properly since probably October.
3 hours in, I was halfway round and heading for the escape route.
AND - I'm fat. Bit of a beer gut going on.
It was genuinely embarassing.
In my old job I used to commute on the bike whenever possible. * miles each way across leeds. 35 minutes, hell for leather, balls out, through the traffic, on and off-road, what a way to wake yourself up on a morning.
clutch went on my car yesterday - so I cam to work on the bus. NEVER again. I am determined to ride in now. Tomorrow is D-day.
I'm 24 FFS. I will lose this belly. and his Summer I will beat my 2hrs 20.
If someone asked, I'd tell them I was a pretty competent, experienced, and (previously) fast, amateur mountain biker. I've raced downhill, done 24hr enduros, ridden over the NYM's in a day, etc etc.
However, this winter, I've lwet myslef down, and am now a slow, wobbly sack of s
t. changes of jobs/timings/circumstances etc, and my bad attitude, mean I am now a useless sack of st. Its tragic. A completely wasted winter. I have a PB of 2hrs 20 minutes on the Red route at Dalby done in Summer 09, whilst training for Mountain Mayhem. I'm quite proud of that. It took me and two mates a good 6 months to get down to that time. Its bascially going hell for leather, non-stop. A constant 12 mph, on a very tight, rough undulating course. I went to Dalby 2 weeks ago, first time on my bike properly since probably October.
3 hours in, I was halfway round and heading for the escape route.
AND - I'm fat. Bit of a beer gut going on.
It was genuinely embarassing.
In my old job I used to commute on the bike whenever possible. * miles each way across leeds. 35 minutes, hell for leather, balls out, through the traffic, on and off-road, what a way to wake yourself up on a morning.
clutch went on my car yesterday - so I cam to work on the bus. NEVER again. I am determined to ride in now. Tomorrow is D-day.
I'm 24 FFS. I will lose this belly. and his Summer I will beat my 2hrs 20.
snotrag said:
In my old job I used to commute on the bike whenever possible. * miles each way across leeds. 35 minutes, hell for leather, balls out, through the traffic, on and off-road, what a way to wake yourself up on a morning.
There's talk of my office relocating (and of course it's possible some day I may simple switch jobs) and I'm dreading having to commute by car all the time. It's not only a lot more fun than driving through suburban gridlock, but also a chance to exercise that I simply wouldn't get otherwise. Even now I'm hardly athletic, but I'd be a humungous wheezing wreck without it as I simply wouldn't have any exercise mid week otherwise!I used to be able to commute by cycle every day. Not far but enough to keep the fitness ticking along.
The office relocated last year and although the distance (by bike) is similar, logistically it's a lot more complicated. So I can now only cycle twice a week. Really miss it on the days I'm driving (except when its p*ssing down!)
The office relocated last year and although the distance (by bike) is similar, logistically it's a lot more complicated. So I can now only cycle twice a week. Really miss it on the days I'm driving (except when its p*ssing down!)
pdV6 said:
The office relocated last year and although the distance (by bike) is similar, logistically it's a lot more complicated. So I can now only cycle twice a week. Really miss it on the days I'm driving (except when its p*ssing down!)
This is the problem I have. The distance across the map is similar to my old job. Where I used to go East Leeds > North Leeds, it was all residential, so an easily picked route down backstreets, cycle paths, parks etc.
Now I have to get to South of Leeds. Involving brownfield development areas, desolate waste grounds, dual carriageways a glut of motorwas to negotiate round and some extremely dodgy council estates. Its going to be much more difficult.
Logistics stopped me from commuting last week, so only an hour off road yesterday to show for the week.
My 7 mile ride home tonight was great though - to my surprise, my legs seem better than before I had the week off. Which was strange because I've been eating crap all week and had a couple of heavy nights over the weekend which can't have helped.
My 7 mile ride home tonight was great though - to my surprise, my legs seem better than before I had the week off. Which was strange because I've been eating crap all week and had a couple of heavy nights over the weekend which can't have helped.
Well I did it... 55 minutes on the clock, which is less than I erpected - and includes a bit of stopping to get the map out, and a few wrong turns. So it might actually be about the same time as it used to be.
Its amazing how it takes soooo much mental effort to get back on your bike, and make the first steps... but that was a piece of piss. And also - its about 1/3rd proper muddy, off-road singletrack, so its actually quite fun!
Its amazing how it takes soooo much mental effort to get back on your bike, and make the first steps... but that was a piece of piss. And also - its about 1/3rd proper muddy, off-road singletrack, so its actually quite fun!
My first commute yesterday since putting the bike away end Nov last year. Bexley to Canary Wharf, forgot how much I hated Shooters Hill! 54mins for my 11.5 mile (43mins best last year, God knows how I managed that). 52mins this morning & my average last year was around 47mins. So a tad rusty but glad to be back on it. Certainly beats the train to Lewisham & then change for the DLR!!!
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff