Is this normal?
Discussion
Okay, so I learned to ride a bike when I was little. I was then a paperboy but for the last two years walked it because it was easier. So since I was 14 I've ridden a bike once at Center Parcs a few years back. I'm now 24. Or 25. I can't remember.
At the weekend I went out and bought a bike, with the idea that I pop about locally on it and save some fuel. So I popped into Halfords to buy their cheapest offering, (and goodness me, I thought I'd be able to walk in, and buy a bike. No such luck, it's a 45 minute escapade of purchase forms to fill in and a speech about options I didn't want... but that's another rant) got it home, got it assembled and rode it.
Super. Everything worked. Happy.
I have a woods directly behind my house. It's 1.22 miles long, so there and back is about 2.5 miles ish. According to Mapmyride I start off at 86ft (above sea level, I presume) I then have to go up to 91ft, and the other end of the woods is 21ft. The way down is great - top gear all the way! It's coming back that I don't seem to be doing too well on. I can do the lot without stopping, but coming back today I averaged just 7 mph (way back only, way down was nearer 14 mph)
Any tips to get my legs in a better sort of state?
At the weekend I went out and bought a bike, with the idea that I pop about locally on it and save some fuel. So I popped into Halfords to buy their cheapest offering, (and goodness me, I thought I'd be able to walk in, and buy a bike. No such luck, it's a 45 minute escapade of purchase forms to fill in and a speech about options I didn't want... but that's another rant) got it home, got it assembled and rode it.
Super. Everything worked. Happy.
I have a woods directly behind my house. It's 1.22 miles long, so there and back is about 2.5 miles ish. According to Mapmyride I start off at 86ft (above sea level, I presume) I then have to go up to 91ft, and the other end of the woods is 21ft. The way down is great - top gear all the way! It's coming back that I don't seem to be doing too well on. I can do the lot without stopping, but coming back today I averaged just 7 mph (way back only, way down was nearer 14 mph)
Any tips to get my legs in a better sort of state?
I think it's going to be tricky without you providing a bit more detail. What sort of bike have you bought? were you riding on a hard track? was it rough? was it a fairly smooth ride, or could it be described as technically challenging? for reference, i ride a fair amount, but weigh quite a lot too. In my local park i can follow hard packed trails which wind around, and allowing for avoiding dog walkers, and the odd section of thick mud or loose gravel I probably average 12MPH over about 1 1/2 hours worth or ride.
If I go up to cannock and ride the dog and monkey trails, which come out at about 15 miles i will be considerably slower as being a lard-arse it takes me ages to climb parts of the monkey. Probably 8-9MPH
On my road bike on quiet roads I generally aim for 19mph if i'm out for 1 1/2 hours. over the 109miles of the Dun Run the other weekend i averaged about 13MPH.
Does that help?
With regard to your actual question of getting your legs into a better state, it's either spin them faster if you're on a smooth surface like a road, 90RPM plus is normal, or perhaps down to 60RPM for mountain bike trails. the simple guidance is choose an easier gear if your legs are knackered, chose a harder gear if your lungs can't keep up. Other than that, the only answer is to get out there and do more.
If I go up to cannock and ride the dog and monkey trails, which come out at about 15 miles i will be considerably slower as being a lard-arse it takes me ages to climb parts of the monkey. Probably 8-9MPH
On my road bike on quiet roads I generally aim for 19mph if i'm out for 1 1/2 hours. over the 109miles of the Dun Run the other weekend i averaged about 13MPH.
Does that help?
With regard to your actual question of getting your legs into a better state, it's either spin them faster if you're on a smooth surface like a road, 90RPM plus is normal, or perhaps down to 60RPM for mountain bike trails. the simple guidance is choose an easier gear if your legs are knackered, chose a harder gear if your lungs can't keep up. Other than that, the only answer is to get out there and do more.
I forgot two other points - you might want to make sure your riding position is correct, saddle at the right height, not too far forwards or back, and not pointed up or down to make it uncomfortable - this can make a massive difference if you are fighting to keep your arse planted on the seat. Finally, with this being Pistonheads I'm afraid it's probably about time you considered buying another bike.
robpearson said:
I think it's going to be tricky without you providing a bit more detail. What sort of bike have you bought? were you riding on a hard track? was it rough? was it a fairly smooth ride, or could it be described as technically challenging? for reference, i ride a fair amount, but weigh quite a lot too. In my local park i can follow hard packed trails which wind around, and allowing for avoiding dog walkers, and the odd section of thick mud or loose gravel I probably average 12MPH over about 1 1/2 hours worth or ride.
If I go up to cannock and ride the dog and monkey trails, which come out at about 15 miles i will be considerably slower as being a lard-arse it takes me ages to climb parts of the monkey. Probably 8-9MPH
On my road bike on quiet roads I generally aim for 19mph if i'm out for 1 1/2 hours. over the 109miles of the Dun Run the other weekend i averaged about 13MPH.
Does that help?
With regard to your actual question of getting your legs into a better state, it's either spin them faster if you're on a smooth surface like a road, 90RPM plus is normal, or perhaps down to 60RPM for mountain bike trails. the simple guidance is choose an easier gear if your legs are knackered, chose a harder gear if your lungs can't keep up. Other than that, the only answer is to get out there and do more.
Useful reply, thank you If I go up to cannock and ride the dog and monkey trails, which come out at about 15 miles i will be considerably slower as being a lard-arse it takes me ages to climb parts of the monkey. Probably 8-9MPH
On my road bike on quiet roads I generally aim for 19mph if i'm out for 1 1/2 hours. over the 109miles of the Dun Run the other weekend i averaged about 13MPH.
Does that help?
With regard to your actual question of getting your legs into a better state, it's either spin them faster if you're on a smooth surface like a road, 90RPM plus is normal, or perhaps down to 60RPM for mountain bike trails. the simple guidance is choose an easier gear if your legs are knackered, chose a harder gear if your lungs can't keep up. Other than that, the only answer is to get out there and do more.
The track itself is a mud track, and slightly boggy in places. You've got all the usual tree roots and stuff making it not a smooth ride at all, too! The bike is this one : http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/... : the cheapest I could find locally.
I'll keep in mind to spin faster - I'm not unfit, so don't have trouble keeping a high RPM, but when climbing back up it's my legs that really feel it. I'm not out of breath or fatigued when I have to stop, it's just weedy legs!
robpearson said:
I forgot two other points - you might want to make sure your riding position is correct, saddle at the right height, not too far forwards or back, and not pointed up or down to make it uncomfortable - this can make a massive difference if you are fighting to keep your arse planted on the seat. Finayyl, with this being Pistonheads I'm afraid it's probably about time you considered buying another bike.
Will double check all positions.Another bike ain't going to happen! I'm not out for serious riding, just something to get me around the local area on.
What your describing is perfectly normal, cycling uses very specific muscle groups so even if your fit it doesn't mean your legs are strong at cycling.
It takes time and miles to build up the legs, another bike isn't going to help.
I did my first 'proper' bike ride for 5 years on the 1st of Jan this year, I averaged about 12mph, just over 1000ft of climbing, had to walk up 3 hills, and by the end of the ride I had such bad cramp in the legs i couldn't move properly for 10 minutes...
8 Months on, 1500 miles later, I'm now 5kg lighter, and aiming to be able to hit 19mph average over 20-30miles by the end of this summer (with the help of a new road bike)
Stick with it, it will get easier, the first few rides are always the hardest....but soon your be looking forwards to attacking the hills, and ofcourse spending your hard earned £££ on bits of carbon fibre for the bike Oh get your self on Strava or something similar, it lets you record your ride using your phone, and keeps track of progress/training. A great way to motivate your self.
Just for reference, the pro riders on the tour can go up the mountains in the alps at the same speed your currently descending!!
It takes time and miles to build up the legs, another bike isn't going to help.
I did my first 'proper' bike ride for 5 years on the 1st of Jan this year, I averaged about 12mph, just over 1000ft of climbing, had to walk up 3 hills, and by the end of the ride I had such bad cramp in the legs i couldn't move properly for 10 minutes...
8 Months on, 1500 miles later, I'm now 5kg lighter, and aiming to be able to hit 19mph average over 20-30miles by the end of this summer (with the help of a new road bike)
Stick with it, it will get easier, the first few rides are always the hardest....but soon your be looking forwards to attacking the hills, and ofcourse spending your hard earned £££ on bits of carbon fibre for the bike
Oh get your self on Strava or something similar, it lets you record your ride using your phone, and keeps track of progress/training. A great way to motivate your self. Just for reference, the pro riders on the tour can go up the mountains in the alps at the same speed your currently descending!!
Edited by gangzoom on Tuesday 30th July 20:47
gangzoom said:
What your describing is perfectly normal, cycling uses very specific muscle groups so even if your fit it doesn't mean your legs are strong at cycling.
It takes time and miles to build up the legs, another bike isn't going to help.
I did my first 'proper' bike ride for 5 years on the 1st of Jan this year, I averaged about 12mph, just over 1000ft of climbing, had to walk up 3 hills, and by the end of the ride I had such bad cramp in the legs i couldn't move properly for 10 minutes...
8 Months on, 1500 miles later, I'm now 5kg lighter, and aiming to be able to hit 19mph average over 20-30miles by the end of this summer
Stick with it, it will get easier, the first few rides are always the hardest....but soon your be looking forwards to attacking the hills, and ofcourse spending your hard earned £££ on bits of carbon fibre for the bike
Just for reference, the pro riders on the tour can go up the climbs in the alps at the same speed your currently descending!!
Excellent... this gives me hope!It takes time and miles to build up the legs, another bike isn't going to help.
I did my first 'proper' bike ride for 5 years on the 1st of Jan this year, I averaged about 12mph, just over 1000ft of climbing, had to walk up 3 hills, and by the end of the ride I had such bad cramp in the legs i couldn't move properly for 10 minutes...
8 Months on, 1500 miles later, I'm now 5kg lighter, and aiming to be able to hit 19mph average over 20-30miles by the end of this summer
Stick with it, it will get easier, the first few rides are always the hardest....but soon your be looking forwards to attacking the hills, and ofcourse spending your hard earned £££ on bits of carbon fibre for the bike
Just for reference, the pro riders on the tour can go up the climbs in the alps at the same speed your currently descending!!
I've got nothing to do tomorrow, so I might spend the majority of the day out and about
Op, get yourself strava. In a month, you'll be amazed. A year, gobsmacked.
Next week is my years anniversary of cycling. A year ago, the 20 mile round trip to knutsford (basically a flat route) was circa 10.5 mph, and all i could do. Hills would make me need to stop to avoid chundering.
Now, i can do 140 miles at over 15, 65 hilly miles over 14, a 25 mile flattish at 19.5, and my pb at the club 10 is 28 minutes 1 second (21mph?). I've done mow cop's "killer mile" and winnats pass.
Not one single one of them i would have believed 12 months ago, but i've enoyed it all, even in the rain. I've also managed to kick the lamberts, tie my belt 3 notches tighter, and lost near 1.5 stone.
Don't worry about what others can do,in the cycling world it's really common to be dead proud of an achievement and others will piss on your chips. Just enjoy it, measure yourself against you, not other people - unless you find that's better motivation down the line. But definately strava, it stops you cheating yourself into excuses to miss a training session, and sometimes makes you feel brilliant when you come home thinking you did a poor ride, and have a string of personal bests
Next week is my years anniversary of cycling. A year ago, the 20 mile round trip to knutsford (basically a flat route) was circa 10.5 mph, and all i could do. Hills would make me need to stop to avoid chundering.
Now, i can do 140 miles at over 15, 65 hilly miles over 14, a 25 mile flattish at 19.5, and my pb at the club 10 is 28 minutes 1 second (21mph?). I've done mow cop's "killer mile" and winnats pass.
Not one single one of them i would have believed 12 months ago, but i've enoyed it all, even in the rain. I've also managed to kick the lamberts, tie my belt 3 notches tighter, and lost near 1.5 stone.
Don't worry about what others can do,in the cycling world it's really common to be dead proud of an achievement and others will piss on your chips. Just enjoy it, measure yourself against you, not other people - unless you find that's better motivation down the line. But definately strava, it stops you cheating yourself into excuses to miss a training session, and sometimes makes you feel brilliant when you come home thinking you did a poor ride, and have a string of personal bests
gangzoom said:
Just looked the bike you got from Halfords....I have to say a new/better bike is probably going to be needed if you get into this cycling business 
£80. I mean... in its favour it is quite light - and it doesn't have pointless suspension. And it's a whole bike for the price of a tank of petrol. And any bike is better than no bike.
But "good value"... sadly not, not even at that price.
upsidedownmark said:
It's a bike, it has wheels, it doesn't really matter... just get out and ride.
Rule of thumb:
If your legs hurt, use an easier gear
If your lungs hurt, use a harder gear
If neither hurt, try harder
If both hurt that's about right
And it never gets easier, you just get faster. Rule of thumb:
If your legs hurt, use an easier gear
If your lungs hurt, use a harder gear
If neither hurt, try harder
If both hurt that's about right
On a similar note, is it normal to still feel a bit weak and light-headed a good 12 hours after finishing a ride. I got my old MTB out the garage last week for the first time in probably 10 years. Did a shortish ride over the moors one night (9 miles), rode home from work a couple of days later (14 miles) and last night headed for the hills
http://app.strava.com/activities/70954222/embed/f7...
I thought I was fairly fit, as I do a lot of long distance hill walking, but on the bike I can't believe how different it is! I was feeling sick at the top of both climbs! Would I be better easing myself into it a bit with a few more flatish rides
http://app.strava.com/activities/70954222/embed/f7...
I thought I was fairly fit, as I do a lot of long distance hill walking, but on the bike I can't believe how different it is! I was feeling sick at the top of both climbs! Would I be better easing myself into it a bit with a few more flatish rides
Die,
I'm not sure it's that unusual. If you've gone balls out, best to get some protein and carbs within 1/2 hour of getting back, it seems to make the aches less for me.
One thing I have learned is that when you sweat a lot, you get low on salt. Everyone concentrates on energy, but I get well light headed / weird feeling sometimes - normally a salty snack makes it go away.
I'm not sure it's that unusual. If you've gone balls out, best to get some protein and carbs within 1/2 hour of getting back, it seems to make the aches less for me.
One thing I have learned is that when you sweat a lot, you get low on salt. Everyone concentrates on energy, but I get well light headed / weird feeling sometimes - normally a salty snack makes it go away.
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