The Cycling Thread

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

I use the heart monitor for two reasons. Firstly was to protect myself when I first started training again, my dad had heart attacks at my age so didn't want to overdo it and secondly as a 'speedo' to how hard I'm actually working as opposed to how hard it feels, as I'm naturally lazy. After being dropped on Sunday I tried to keep it going at over 140 but that was a struggle, it felt really hard as my legs had simply had enough, whereas earlier I was hitting 160+ on the climbs with relative ease. 140 should have been a nice aerobic workout for me. Maybe I need to man up a bit

Yes it is a valid reason for having a HR monitor, but if you're having a heart attack, I don't think you'll be able to predict it on the HR monitor.

But keeping an eye on you HR is a good thing and if its raised in the morning, or you can't raise it at the begining of a ride, its a sign that maybe you're overtraining? But its very complex matter.

Perhaps I ought to make sure I keep my HR down a bit, as yesterday average of 163 leaves me feeling a bit burnt out today.

Just after I'd done that last hill, I got overtaken by a lad from our place on his Boardman, which left me a bit demoralised, as he was 2-3 mph faster and he left me for dead. But I don't know how far or how hard he'd been riding. But there again he's about 20years younger than me

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by maviczap

Perhaps I ought to make sure I keep my HR down a bit, as yesterday average of 163 leaves me feeling a bit burnt out today.

Yeah I can imagine. I'd never have that kind of average on a road ride (or any ride truth be told) or I'd never get home! Even a very hard session in spin only sees an average in the range 155-158 and I'm wasted after that. Kind of underlines the point of folks being different.

Sunday's ride was the first back to back comparison of a ride since I came back to cycling. 12 months ago I was dropped off the back on the climb out of B-y-C never to see the group again till the car park in Bala. I was towed home by Big Al at 11mph that day. This Sunday I was dropped by the fast group and had to battle the headwind alone, caught between the two groups but still managed 15 mins off the previous year's time despite the headwind. Progress

[maviczap]

Thats sort of where I am at the moment, after 13 years off since I stopped racing, its going to take a few years to get back to somewhere near what I was like.

I know my fitness is improving, as I'm able to climb in the big ring, even though its only a compact 50t. But last year I was only using a 48t.

Once the weather warms up I'll be out on the Wilier and i was riding 53t easily in July.

So a few more long gentle rides, rather than TT pace should help

[fizzwheel]

Yesterdays average was 152bpm for me. I've been pushing myself quite hard though. I've hit 191 bpm max before on a ride, but that was riding up a b*stard steep hill whilst racing the two guys I was out for a training ride with. We all got a bit carried away and then before we knew it we were all racing and attacking each other, Interval training for the road me thinks.

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Yesterdays average was 152bpm for me. I've been pushing myself quite hard though. I've hit 191 bpm max before on a ride, but that was riding up a b*stard steep hill whilst racing the two guys I was out for a training ride with. We all got a bit carried away and then before we knew it we were all racing and attacking each other, Interval training for the road me thinks.

Its always the same when riding with other guys, it always turns into a race

[Luckypants]

That usually ends up with me being handed my ass on a plate. I think your idea of a gentle ride is very different to mine!

Fizz, 191!






Note to self - must try harder!

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

That usually ends up with me being handed my ass on a plate. I think your idea of a gentle ride is very different to mine!

I think you'd still give me a good kicking in the hills

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Fizz, 191!

That was properly on the limit, felt sick afterwards, dizzy and could see stars.

I'll be 38 this year, not sure what my theoretical max is though.

I wouldnt ride like that with strangers, but with the two lads I cycle with, its got to be a bit of a game one night a week we race each other home. I'm not as fit as the other two at the moment, but because I know them well I sit in their wheels till I see them tiring. One guy has a psychological problem with a climb and struggles to get up it, so I wait till we get to that bit and attack him. The other guy has a problem with a different climb so again I sit in and then I attack him as well. Its a bit sneaky, but we have a good laugh about it, they know I am going to do it and it ends up a good guage of our fitness / spurs us on to push ourselves harder.

Got out on the roadbike for the first time in ages yesterday. Got herself to drop me and the bike off in work yesterday morning so I could pedal the journey home. 31Ks (just over 19 miles) which prob isn't much to some of you guys! But was my first stint in the saddle in a good while. Really enjoyed the cycle - kept off the main roads and stuck to country roads (fair share of potholes though). All going well until I hit a patch of spilt diesel at the entrance to my estate. Down I go and now I have a juicy bit of roadrash up my right leg! Lid did its job though as I bounced it off the ground but the head is just fine. Still ugly, but fine! Bike is scuffed along the handlebar and brake lever but mostly it did okay. Was immaculate before that but whaddya gonna do...hope to be back in the saddle in a few days but not till the oul rash has healed up a bit....

[maviczap]

Ouch, I feel you're pain.