Road Cycling - 1 year later - I Still Suck.
07-26-10, 07:04 PM
#101
Century bound
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Mesa Arizona
Posts: 2,262
Bikes: Felt AR4 and Cannondale hybrid
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
I am pushing 70 and do 1200 miles per month on average. I did a century last Friday just cause we got a cooler day and I felt good to just ride. Did 70 miles today Took the weekend off cycling and only did a 3 mile run.
you gotta put more in iffen you wanna get more out.
https://connect.garmin.com/activity/41531106
you gotta put more in iffen you wanna get more out.
https://connect.garmin.com/activity/41531106
07-26-10, 07:05 PM
#103
Tete de Couch
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: West Linn OR
Posts: 1,488
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Thats right. 1 year later, 1400 miles of thrashing my body to its limits and not much improvement. I've also put 6000 miles on an ebike in 4 years although there's no long extended cardio on that bike. Just max speed sprints on top of motor power on an 80 lb bike with no sweating. On the road bike, I can hit 30mph just like any other average cyclist. Holding 20mph for like 8 miles with the wind will drain me. So I'm just like all the other average cyclists I see going 17-19 mph. I say its all genes. You either have it, or you don't!!!
An Ebike, like you have a motor? That so doesn't count at all.
07-26-10, 08:08 PM
#104
Senior Member
Enjoy your time in the saddle. Simplify your life. I've caught myself in the same trap you have several times. The reality is Neither you nor I will be Lance Armstrong. So just go out there and enjoy each mile and be thankful your alive. You really are lucky to be alive.
07-26-10, 08:18 PM
#106
Bicyclist
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 344
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Having a motor is no different then drafting everyone in a big pack. You get a speed boost. I get a lot of people that call me a cheater. My reply is always: Then what to you call drafting? I've never ridden in a pack but I've drafted like single riders before and am amazed how much easier it is to pedal.
07-26-10, 08:23 PM
#108
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 28,387
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Having a motor is no different then drafting everyone in a big pack. You get a speed boost. I get a lot of people that call me a cheater. My reply is always: Then what to you call drafting? I've never ridden in a pack but I've drafted like single riders before and am amazed how much easier it is to pedal.
07-26-10, 08:30 PM
#110
Peloton Shelter Dog
07-26-10, 08:35 PM
#112
Señor Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 3,744
Bikes: 2018 Lynskey R380 Ti | 2011 Hampsten Travelissimo Gran Paradiso Ti | 2001 De Rosa Neo Primato - Batik Del Monte, Genius | 1991 Eddy Merckx - Motorola, TSX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 36 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 14 Times
in
7 Posts
Fixed for the 41.
07-26-10, 08:42 PM
#113
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: South
Posts: 415
Bikes: Had a Surly Cross Check - was totaled in recent accident. Sadly now just a Fuji Crosstown as a backup bike.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm a new rider - for a month - also a clydesdale - 320lbs and falling - and I've ridden 70 miles a week like clock work - so 48 x 70 = 3360 miles - I imagine you need to ride more to get really fast 
(I took 48 weeks instead of 52 for invariable bad weather and sick days 
) Bike store owner said I've ridden alot more than he thought I would
Of Course my average speed is 12 mph - up and down hills around here. . . 7 mph up - 25 down. . . . over and over and over. . .
At least do 10 a day - it doesn't take that long - and you'll more than double your annual miles. . .
O and I don't have a bike motor other than my heart and 2 legs. . .
(I took 48 weeks instead of 52 for invariable bad weather and sick days ) Bike store owner said I've ridden alot more than he thought I would Of Course my average speed is 12 mph - up and down hills around here. . . 7 mph up - 25 down. . . . over and over and over. . .
At least do 10 a day - it doesn't take that long - and you'll more than double your annual miles. . .
O and I don't have a bike motor other than my heart and 2 legs. . .
07-26-10, 08:44 PM
#114
Senior Member
Longest thread by a troll this week, but it's only Monday.
07-26-10, 08:53 PM
#117
Boom.
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Pittsburgh -> Cleveland -> San Francisco
Posts: 2,523
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Having a motor is no different then drafting everyone in a big pack. You get a speed boost. I get a lot of people that call me a cheater. My reply is always: Then what to you call drafting? I've never ridden in a pack but I've drafted like single riders before and am amazed how much easier it is to pedal.
07-26-10, 09:25 PM
#119
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: South Australia
Posts: 212
Bikes: Aegis Aro Svelte
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If you have no upper body strength and can only bench 80-90 lbs, then start working out hard 4 days a week. Eat well with plenty of protein. I would not be surprised if a young 20 year old male could get up to 160-180 lbs in 8 weeks(32 times building muscle & 32 times practicing technique) versus the average dude with no technique and not doing anything functional that would be bench press specific muscles.
The fair comparison would be if you did interval training and hill climbs for a true 30 minutes(4) times a week for 8 weeks.
Most people would show a huge gain in fitness with that output.
There are 3 basic types of riding distance, high intensity, and sprinting.
In order to improve these you need to specifically do them. Currently you are doing none of them riding constant pace for 17 miles.
The primary improvement you will see will be weight loss and a slow increase in overall fitness. You will see the benefits in hill climbs over time.
Stop reading/thinking about the fitness of people who race unless you plan on racing.
You sound like you lack motivation, not genetics. Try riding with a partner, who will force you to ride harder.
07-26-10, 09:33 PM
#120
Tete de Couch
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: West Linn OR
Posts: 1,488
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Having a motor is no different then drafting everyone in a big pack. You get a speed boost. I get a lot of people that call me a cheater. My reply is always: Then what to you call drafting? I've never ridden in a pack but I've drafted like single riders before and am amazed how much easier it is to pedal.
How tall are you and how much do you weigh? I'm thinking you couldn't pedal up a hill if you had to....
07-26-10, 09:35 PM
#122
Boom.
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Pittsburgh -> Cleveland -> San Francisco
Posts: 2,523
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
07-26-10, 10:11 PM
#125
Mostly Harmless
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: At Large
Posts: 56,725
Bikes: Have two wheels
Mentioned: 169 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13786 Post(s)
Liked 4,627 Times
in
2,542 Posts