Discussion
i have been riding for about 2 years now. road rides at the weekend are typically 40 - 60 miles. mtb at the weekend are typically 20 - 25 miles. rides last 2 - 3 hours. have commuted every day since september 2011 doing a 15 mile round trip. live on the edge of the chilterns so rides are always hilly, even to work. i have built up good pace and stamina and typically get bored before i get tired. have done lots of 100+ miles rides eg to dartmoor, lymington, sportives etc. i am strong on hills and typically average 18 - 19mph on 50 mile road rides, depending on terrain.
i have a 27 mile route that i use to test my overall fitness / any improvements etc and over the last year the ave speed has remained constant. however recently (ie the last month or 2) i have noticed my legs feel weak. i am slower into work, cannot get the pace up and my average speed over the 27 miles has dropped by 1mph.
my diet hasn't changed, lifestyle hasn't changed that i can think of. christmas was not indulgent, so no excuses there. my weight fluctuates between 12 stone 3 and 12 stone 6 (currently 12 stone 5)
what is wrong? am i just getting old? (i hit 40 last year). any (serious) views / suggestions please?
i have a 27 mile route that i use to test my overall fitness / any improvements etc and over the last year the ave speed has remained constant. however recently (ie the last month or 2) i have noticed my legs feel weak. i am slower into work, cannot get the pace up and my average speed over the 27 miles has dropped by 1mph.
my diet hasn't changed, lifestyle hasn't changed that i can think of. christmas was not indulgent, so no excuses there. my weight fluctuates between 12 stone 3 and 12 stone 6 (currently 12 stone 5)
what is wrong? am i just getting old? (i hit 40 last year). any (serious) views / suggestions please?
Rob_T said:
i have been riding for about 2 years now. road rides at the weekend are typically 40 - 60 miles. mtb at the weekend are typically 20 - 25 miles. rides last 2 - 3 hours. have commuted every day since september 2011 doing a 15 mile round trip. live on the edge of the chilterns so rides are always hilly, even to work. i have built up good pace and stamina and typically get bored before i get tired. have done lots of 100+ miles rides eg to dartmoor, lymington, sportives etc. i am strong on hills and typically average 18 - 19mph on 50 mile road rides, depending on terrain.
i have a 27 mile route that i use to test my overall fitness / any improvements etc and over the last year the ave speed has remained constant. however recently (ie the last month or 2) i have noticed my legs feel weak. i am slower into work, cannot get the pace up and my average speed over the 27 miles has dropped by 1mph.
my diet hasn't changed, lifestyle hasn't changed that i can think of. christmas was not indulgent, so no excuses there. my weight fluctuates between 12 stone 3 and 12 stone 6 (currently 12 stone 5)
what is wrong? am i just getting old? (i hit 40 last year). any (serious) views / suggestions please?
It's cold.i have a 27 mile route that i use to test my overall fitness / any improvements etc and over the last year the ave speed has remained constant. however recently (ie the last month or 2) i have noticed my legs feel weak. i am slower into work, cannot get the pace up and my average speed over the 27 miles has dropped by 1mph.
my diet hasn't changed, lifestyle hasn't changed that i can think of. christmas was not indulgent, so no excuses there. my weight fluctuates between 12 stone 3 and 12 stone 6 (currently 12 stone 5)
what is wrong? am i just getting old? (i hit 40 last year). any (serious) views / suggestions please?
I found an article last year which says that for a rider similar to yourself it's perfectly reasonable to drop several mph off your average due to a combination of road conditions, weather, heavier more restrictive riding gear and the effect that cooler air has on the respitory system.
Is your training quite "static" in it's variation? Are you just getting a bit stuck in a rut of doing the same thing? It certainly helps to mix it up a bit.
I'm always a bit slower in winter, but it's a good time to build core fitness. Try working to a heart rate to develop aerobic capacity, ready for the summer...?
I'm always a bit slower in winter, but it's a good time to build core fitness. Try working to a heart rate to develop aerobic capacity, ready for the summer...?
okgo said:
What the fungle said, that will be the reason. You only have to look at TT times to see that the winter is MUCH slower than the summer due to some of the reasons he mentioned, but also cold air is a lot more dense than warm, so that has a big effect too.
Perfect...that's been added to my book of excuses, to go alongside "it was my first time doing that route" and "I swear there was a headwind no matter what direction I was riding". 
okgo said:
I wasn't actually joking. It makes a big difference to TT times.
I know. But the - quick Google - ~2% difference in density between 0 deg C and 20 deg C will make far less difference to my commute time than, say, stopping at one traffic light.Having said that - 1.27kg/m3... If I stop all that air filling up my frame it'll make it lighter. I need to vacuum it out and seal the tubes...
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