Good God, I have let myself go!
Discussion
Right, today I have had a lesson in how the head may remember how fit you used to be, but the muscles soon forget! Used to road race in my late teens, but a knee injury skiing put paid to that. Started mountain biking but let myself go drastically since getting married and having sprogs. As I used to find it easy to get fit after a few weeks off (was a bit of a whippit at around 9.5 stone), I suppose I just got lazy over the last few years, thinking getting back into it would be a doddle. Now 35, 11 stone and after the enduro pro got nicked from the garage, finally got my arse in gear and picked up a shiny trek6700 hardtail today. Took it for a ride round a local 3 mile loop just to see how it felt - seat position etc - and it nearly bloody killed me! Had to stop at the top of the first big rise! (And got a bloody puncture too!) 
So any tip on getting back on track quick as possible with the constraints of having only about 45 minutes each night to sneak out? Laps of said circuit? Its about half road half bumpy chalky bridleway. The road sections are uphill, bridleway steady downhill.
Live right on the south downs so would love to get fit enough by the summer proper to do some miles on that. When I was a nipper all it took was a few days blasting away on the road, somehow methinks it won't be quite as easy (or painless) now I am halfway to seventy
So any tip on getting back on track quick as possible with the constraints of having only about 45 minutes each night to sneak out? Laps of said circuit? Its about half road half bumpy chalky bridleway. The road sections are uphill, bridleway steady downhill.
Live right on the south downs so would love to get fit enough by the summer proper to do some miles on that. When I was a nipper all it took was a few days blasting away on the road, somehow methinks it won't be quite as easy (or painless) now I am halfway to seventy
Indeed, I'm just about to turn 28, started cycling again a few weeks ago after about 6 years off, the first ride around the corner (about 2 miles) nearly killed me! 2 weeks later I did 30 miles in a few hours (on a singlespeed!) and can now cycle 5 miles, play 5-a-side footie for an hour, then cycle another 5 miles home without too much problem.
the problem is the muscles on the tops of your legs.... nothing other than cycle works them any where near as hard. Without those muscles you are always going to have problems, any hill you are having to climb out of the saddle and that means you use 3 times as much energy you would do sitting.
My advise would be to get to the gym while you can and work on leg raises, calf raises... anything that works the muscle in your legs and you will improve a lot faster. Once they are sorted the rest is easy and a lot more fun ! And vary your circuit, you should do 3 miles in about 10 minutes really for an average mountain bike standard
My advise would be to get to the gym while you can and work on leg raises, calf raises... anything that works the muscle in your legs and you will improve a lot faster. Once they are sorted the rest is easy and a lot more fun ! And vary your circuit, you should do 3 miles in about 10 minutes really for an average mountain bike standard
When I read the OP, I thought somebody had posted on my username. 
As a keen cyclist in my teens and early 20s I regularly did some very heavy 60 to 70 mile rides with hill climbs which make the Brecons look like an annoying bump in the road. And then only a few months ago I had my bikes shipped over (having not been in the saddle for about 8 years) and after pumping the tires I set off. Barely a mile later I was wheezing like an asthmatic sumo wrestler.
I'm not overweight but I'm obviously very unfit. Here's to a good summer!
As a keen cyclist in my teens and early 20s I regularly did some very heavy 60 to 70 mile rides with hill climbs which make the Brecons look like an annoying bump in the road. And then only a few months ago I had my bikes shipped over (having not been in the saddle for about 8 years) and after pumping the tires I set off. Barely a mile later I was wheezing like an asthmatic sumo wrestler.
I'm not overweight but I'm obviously very unfit. Here's to a good summer!
mat205125 said:
anniesdad said:
35 years old....11 stone....
don't think there's much wrong there, so I think you just need time in the saddle and you'll soon be up to speed.
+1don't think there's much wrong there, so I think you just need time in the saddle and you'll soon be up to speed.
There is no better way of getting fitter for riding, than by riding.
I find the gym soooo boring. I found this very useful...
Still trying to get down to a decent weight but enjoying every mile.
Edited by Gooby on Wednesday 13th May 10:45
You are still a whippet at 11 stone.
Have you got a heart rate monitor? What's causing you to struggle? Are your legs knackered or are you struggling for breath or is your heart about to rip through your chest?
Obvioulsy cycling is the best way to improve your riding, but a bit more info may help experts to devise a specific method(s) of riding to help YOU.
Have you got a heart rate monitor? What's causing you to struggle? Are your legs knackered or are you struggling for breath or is your heart about to rip through your chest?
Obvioulsy cycling is the best way to improve your riding, but a bit more info may help experts to devise a specific method(s) of riding to help YOU.
11 stone? Jeysus, I'm a fairly muscled 17.5 stone (although still 2-3 stone overweight), but I can manage pretty well on climbs, and I can still rocket past my 10.5 stone mate in top gear, and he is a fitter cyclist than me
It'll take you a long time to regain your strength though, so get out on your bike each night and get pedalling! Keep pushing those climbs until you can do them on your middle ring!
It'll take you a long time to regain your strength though, so get out on your bike each night and get pedalling! Keep pushing those climbs until you can do them on your middle ring!
madbadger said:
tricky69 said:
8< you should do 3 miles in about 10 minutes really for an average mountain bike standard
Really? I'd have said 10 minutes for 3 miles is absolutely flying.On a road bike maybe? or 3km?
actually second thoughts that is gunning it a bit isnt it... maybe 13 minutes more realistic
madbadger said:
tricky69 said:
8< you should do 3 miles in about 10 minutes really for an average mountain bike standard
Really? I'd have said 10 minutes for 3 miles is absolutely flying.On a road bike maybe? or 3km?
Mr E said:
madbadger said:
tricky69 said:
8< you should do 3 miles in about 10 minutes really for an average mountain bike standard
Really? I'd have said 10 minutes for 3 miles is absolutely flying.On a road bike maybe? or 3km?
As for now, I'm pretty much the same as the OP. Used to race in the nationals during my mid to late teens but a bad accident put paid to that. Now 33 I haven't ridden now for about 6 years and I can barely ride a mile without dieing. Really must get back into it though before I get too old.
Cheers Chaps - been out again tonight and while it still nearly killed me, it wasn't as bad. Last nights posting was a bit of a venting at the surprise (shouldnt be really - I am a biologist so should know better) at how bad I had let myself go.
11 stone for me is heavy - at 5'8" even on 300 mile a week road racing and training I never got above 9 and 3/4. All my weight has gone on my belly. I used to fence (queue builders jokes) Epee competitively but gave that up too when the kids were born and just coach kids now. Always managed to run about the staff footy games but clearly my stamina is shot to bits. Its been a big wakeup call and in some ways, I am pleased the old bike got nicked so that I had to buy a new one and then justify its cost by riding it!
I'll give it week on the lap, just to make sure the bike is set up right and my knee isn't going to explode, then I'll start building up. From my house its a 20 minute ride uphill to the South-Downs way and Butser hill/queen Elizabeth country park so eventually I'll aim for that too.
Strangely, BPM stayed around 160/170 which considering in my whippet days it was way over 200 (My coach used to joke I was half Gerbil!
) shows there may be hope yet! I don't think it helps that the route starts on a long steady uphill either.
On a good note the bike seems great. Few adjustments needed on reach/seat pos/angle etc but a massive improvement on my 2001 enduro pro.
11 stone for me is heavy - at 5'8" even on 300 mile a week road racing and training I never got above 9 and 3/4. All my weight has gone on my belly. I used to fence (queue builders jokes) Epee competitively but gave that up too when the kids were born and just coach kids now. Always managed to run about the staff footy games but clearly my stamina is shot to bits. Its been a big wakeup call and in some ways, I am pleased the old bike got nicked so that I had to buy a new one and then justify its cost by riding it!
I'll give it week on the lap, just to make sure the bike is set up right and my knee isn't going to explode, then I'll start building up. From my house its a 20 minute ride uphill to the South-Downs way and Butser hill/queen Elizabeth country park so eventually I'll aim for that too.
Strangely, BPM stayed around 160/170 which considering in my whippet days it was way over 200 (My coach used to joke I was half Gerbil!
) shows there may be hope yet! I don't think it helps that the route starts on a long steady uphill either.On a good note the bike seems great. Few adjustments needed on reach/seat pos/angle etc but a massive improvement on my 2001 enduro pro.
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