How am I doing?
Discussion
This is my 1st time in this section so please be gentle.
I used to ride a bike many years ago when I was a youth but got tempted away by petrol powered in my late teens. Up until then I used to be quite handy on a bike, living on the side of a mountain certainly helped.
I stayed away from cycling for about 12 years then discovered it as a means of commuting without traffic back in 1996. I used to do about 150 miles a week, 12.5 miles each way 6 days a week. That commute used to take me 36 minutes, it was almost always exactly that, really found it difficult to beat that time or to be much slower.
Anyway, fast forward to today. I have not done much cycling for the pat 15 years but I'm trying to get back into it now I am finding the time. I have found a 13 mile route that's mostly flat with a couple of small hills. I try to do this route at least every other day and have slowly but surely been getting faster. I've only been doing it for the past 6 weeks but really am getting addicted again.
I have a trip computer on my road bike that tells me average speed of just over 30kph. Up to now my best time is 42 minutes, when I started it was 45 odd. How do you think I'm doing? I ask because I have been out with a couple of other cyclists, one who thinks him self a keep fit nut and the other 22 years younger who has done a lot of cycling, I kept having to stop and wait for them. I now have a challenge from someone who seems to think will blow me into the weeds. I have never ridden with others so have nothing to compare my performance with. I prefer to compete against the clock with my self at the moment.
On if it makes a difference I'm 46, 5'9" and 82kg.
I used to ride a bike many years ago when I was a youth but got tempted away by petrol powered in my late teens. Up until then I used to be quite handy on a bike, living on the side of a mountain certainly helped.
I stayed away from cycling for about 12 years then discovered it as a means of commuting without traffic back in 1996. I used to do about 150 miles a week, 12.5 miles each way 6 days a week. That commute used to take me 36 minutes, it was almost always exactly that, really found it difficult to beat that time or to be much slower.
Anyway, fast forward to today. I have not done much cycling for the pat 15 years but I'm trying to get back into it now I am finding the time. I have found a 13 mile route that's mostly flat with a couple of small hills. I try to do this route at least every other day and have slowly but surely been getting faster. I've only been doing it for the past 6 weeks but really am getting addicted again.
I have a trip computer on my road bike that tells me average speed of just over 30kph. Up to now my best time is 42 minutes, when I started it was 45 odd. How do you think I'm doing? I ask because I have been out with a couple of other cyclists, one who thinks him self a keep fit nut and the other 22 years younger who has done a lot of cycling, I kept having to stop and wait for them. I now have a challenge from someone who seems to think will blow me into the weeds. I have never ridden with others so have nothing to compare my performance with. I prefer to compete against the clock with my self at the moment.
On if it makes a difference I'm 46, 5'9" and 82kg.
Get Strava (it's free) and use your phone to record your rides. Because it's so widely used, on almost any section of road you'll soon get a good idea where you stand in the grand scheme of things.
You might find you're in the top 50% on some segments, if you're cracking the top 30%, particularly on hills, then you're getting on for the kinds of speeds many in the middle groups in cycling clubs will be at.
You might find you're in the top 50% on some segments, if you're cracking the top 30%, particularly on hills, then you're getting on for the kinds of speeds many in the middle groups in cycling clubs will be at.
Edited by loudlashadjuster on Monday 14th December 14:24
Thanks for the kind words.
Secretly I am really quite pleased with my performance, especially when a 22 year old can't keep up. Truth be told I used to be really tired when I got home after a ride but now it's not so bad. My next step is to include some hills, I have another route which has some killers in it. I've made a deal with my self, when I get my time down to under 40 mins I'm changing to either longer or hillier.
I'm going to download Strava when my wife gets home, she has the apple account and I can't remember the password (reached the age where tecky stuff is beyond me). I am lucky enough to live in rural France so the roads I use are almost deserted so I doubt I'll find anyone to compare with but it might be useful for monitoring my self. I tried map my run but apart from confirming my trip computer on the bike was accurate it did nothing more than run my phone battery down.
Nice to know my speed is acceptable any way. Thanks
Secretly I am really quite pleased with my performance, especially when a 22 year old can't keep up. Truth be told I used to be really tired when I got home after a ride but now it's not so bad. My next step is to include some hills, I have another route which has some killers in it. I've made a deal with my self, when I get my time down to under 40 mins I'm changing to either longer or hillier.
I'm going to download Strava when my wife gets home, she has the apple account and I can't remember the password (reached the age where tecky stuff is beyond me). I am lucky enough to live in rural France so the roads I use are almost deserted so I doubt I'll find anyone to compare with but it might be useful for monitoring my self. I tried map my run but apart from confirming my trip computer on the bike was accurate it did nothing more than run my phone battery down.
Nice to know my speed is acceptable any way. Thanks
Keep it up, you are doing well!
From my own experience, the best way to get better is to ride different routes, different distances, don't always go flat out, and include intervals. I have several favoured routes on my commute, but set all my pbs two years ago. I now don't even try for a pb on them unless it is blowing an absolute gale.
However, there is always someone faster than you. A lot of the joy I get from riding is finding new roads, and when you get up in the morning, knowing you are heading out for a 100 km ride instead of a 65 km puts a completely different feel and approach to a ride.
Strava is great, and if you get into it, you may want to get a Garmin of some kind which will be able to record your heart rate as well as how fast you've gone and where you have been.
From my own experience, the best way to get better is to ride different routes, different distances, don't always go flat out, and include intervals. I have several favoured routes on my commute, but set all my pbs two years ago. I now don't even try for a pb on them unless it is blowing an absolute gale.
However, there is always someone faster than you. A lot of the joy I get from riding is finding new roads, and when you get up in the morning, knowing you are heading out for a 100 km ride instead of a 65 km puts a completely different feel and approach to a ride.
Strava is great, and if you get into it, you may want to get a Garmin of some kind which will be able to record your heart rate as well as how fast you've gone and where you have been.
I might be talking complete rubbish but I think there is quite a bit of muscle memory with cycling. I think you’ve possibly retained a bit from your commuting days as a good starting point.
Well I think that’s what happened to me, 2 years ago I did the RideLondon 100 (in the rain) and after 3 months training having not cycled in 10 years I found myself in shorts, t-shirt and trainers flying past all the carbon/lycra crew. Same again this year, I only rode 400 miles leading up to the 100 and still got around ok.
My point being is that cycling seems to be completely different to other types of exercise, I’ve been out with a range of people including a mate who runs marathons and must weigh 6 stone less than me, he can’t keep up!
Well I think that’s what happened to me, 2 years ago I did the RideLondon 100 (in the rain) and after 3 months training having not cycled in 10 years I found myself in shorts, t-shirt and trainers flying past all the carbon/lycra crew. Same again this year, I only rode 400 miles leading up to the 100 and still got around ok.
My point being is that cycling seems to be completely different to other types of exercise, I’ve been out with a range of people including a mate who runs marathons and must weigh 6 stone less than me, he can’t keep up!
I'm sure there is a lot of muscle memory involved, I've left much younger and fitter people than me behind after just eight outings.
I went out yesterday despite having a bit of a hangover and there being a bit of a breeze and didn't have the best ride but still managed a 43 something. I can live with cold and wet but not wind, hate it. Going to do a different route today, got one with some long inclines planned.
Thanks for all the nice words too, it's appreciated.
I went out yesterday despite having a bit of a hangover and there being a bit of a breeze and didn't have the best ride but still managed a 43 something. I can live with cold and wet but not wind, hate it. Going to do a different route today, got one with some long inclines planned.
Thanks for all the nice words too, it's appreciated.
crossy67 said:
I'm sure there is a lot of muscle memory involved, I've left much younger and fitter people than me behind after just eight outings.
I went out yesterday despite having a bit of a hangover and there being a bit of a breeze and didn't have the best ride but still managed a 43 something. I can live with cold and wet but not wind, hate it. Going to do a different route today, got one with some long inclines planned.
Thanks for all the nice words too, it's appreciated.
Wind is my biggest hate, especially being big. I'm like a giant sail on a bike!I went out yesterday despite having a bit of a hangover and there being a bit of a breeze and didn't have the best ride but still managed a 43 something. I can live with cold and wet but not wind, hate it. Going to do a different route today, got one with some long inclines planned.
Thanks for all the nice words too, it's appreciated.
okgo said:
Always the way. One big reason I don't talk cycling with non cyclists if I can help it, someone always knows a 'serious cyclist' who did ride 100 in 5 hours so must be amazing.
14hrs today - easy......these xflow cranks - so stiff....spining is where its at.......Carbon so last year.....titanium is where it at..... 16hrs yesterday....200 miles tomorrow before lunch..easy... 
Sound like you are doing well, up the mileage otherwise you will just get good at 20 or so miles
Some people progress very quickly, even more so if you put the effort it.
Lots of people speak bulls
t (aka your mate who is into fitness) , the quickest people I know never give it the "I ams" they just silently ride in to the distance, why you try and hang on
I wouldn't read too much into "beating" people on short social rides, the other person probably isn't trying or bothered. I went out with a new cycling group on a short intro ride (20 miles) and one guy would race off into the distance all the time, leaving other riders who were new way behind. I just did a consistent pace so the newbies didn't feel left out. I heard him later say to someone that "he (me) was quite slow", when I wasn't aware it was a race, I was treating it as a social event ! When we did a hilly ride with quick riders , I took great pleasure in beating him up every hill, but then again he could have just been taking it easy that day ...
If you want to race/get quicker join a club, enter races/hill climbs/ time trials, otherwise its just pub hearsay
Some people progress very quickly, even more so if you put the effort it.
Lots of people speak bulls
t (aka your mate who is into fitness) , the quickest people I know never give it the "I ams" they just silently ride in to the distance, why you try and hang onI wouldn't read too much into "beating" people on short social rides, the other person probably isn't trying or bothered. I went out with a new cycling group on a short intro ride (20 miles) and one guy would race off into the distance all the time, leaving other riders who were new way behind. I just did a consistent pace so the newbies didn't feel left out. I heard him later say to someone that "he (me) was quite slow", when I wasn't aware it was a race, I was treating it as a social event ! When we did a hilly ride with quick riders , I took great pleasure in beating him up every hill, but then again he could have just been taking it easy that day ...
If you want to race/get quicker join a club, enter races/hill climbs/ time trials, otherwise its just pub hearsay
TwistingMyMelon said:
I went out with a new cycling group on a short intro ride (20 miles) and one guy would race off into the distance all the time, leaving other riders who were new way behind. I just did a consistent pace so the newbies didn't feel left out. I heard him later say to someone that "he (me) was quite slow", when I wasn't aware it was a race, I was treating it as a social event ! When we did a hilly ride with quick riders , I took great pleasure in beating him up every hill, but then again he could have just been taking it easy that day
That'll be it, or he'd be 'recovering', 'tapering' etc, etc. Hopefully the club will tell him to sod off.The thing is, the billy bullschitters just get found out. A guy that rides with us now and again (probably not too much as he gets so much crap from us!) considers himself a 'pro'. He's a student, funded by his parents in his early 20's and competed (terms should be used lightly - he 'attended') the Tour of Eygyt. Impressed as we all were, it soon became apparent that he couldn't keep a wheel on our training rides ... oh, and it then came out that he's a 3rd Cat. A 3rd Cat pro.
That's fine,
just be aware, you're not gonna get super quick just biking the same route everyday at the same pace.
I try and split my rides to work up, sometimes I'll keep below 130 on HR, for easy rides, sit at 170 for 10 minutes x 2, Power up hills, fartlek anything.
HR monitors are quite cheap (as opposed to power monitors).......
just be aware, you're not gonna get super quick just biking the same route everyday at the same pace.
I try and split my rides to work up, sometimes I'll keep below 130 on HR, for easy rides, sit at 170 for 10 minutes x 2, Power up hills, fartlek anything.
HR monitors are quite cheap (as opposed to power monitors).......
I might have to get me a HR monitor, I do feel it's dropped off a bit lately. I'm off out for a ride in a bit, going to try Strava on a different route. This could be embarrassing, not done this route for a couple of years and it has some very long hills. If you don't hear from me for a few days don't worry, I'm still on my way
Back in one piece. Really feeling those hills though. Not too bad, 18km in 36 mins with an elevation gain of 172m but bugger me am I tired now,
https://www.strava.com/activities/450578478
https://www.strava.com/activities/450578478
Regardless of how you feel now I'd say that you should easily be able to keep up with slower club rides over 50-60km and that this would be one of the best ways of getting faster, quicker. There are no hills on that route though and they are usually the differentiating factor.
Joining a club and being forced to go on unfamiliar routes and tackle climbs you might not otherwise is a great way to stretch the legs and the horizons. Most will insist you do a ride or two in the slowest group first to make sure you have the group skills and speed to keep up, but you may find you quickly need to be going with the slightly faster riders.
Plus, most (not all!) club cyclists seem to be a decent bunch so you can enjoy the social side of group riding too.
Joining a club and being forced to go on unfamiliar routes and tackle climbs you might not otherwise is a great way to stretch the legs and the horizons. Most will insist you do a ride or two in the slowest group first to make sure you have the group skills and speed to keep up, but you may find you quickly need to be going with the slightly faster riders.
Plus, most (not all!) club cyclists seem to be a decent bunch so you can enjoy the social side of group riding too.
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