I need to go faster!
#26
On a Mission from God
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Thibodaux, LA
Posts: 2,010
Bikes: '10 Surly LHT, Rat-rod Klunker, '82 Peugeot PH12 Centennial
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
3 Posts
I'm gonna be the one to say it:
Get an e-bike. Then you can be faster without actually having to work for it.
Get an e-bike. Then you can be faster without actually having to work for it.
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times
in
6,054 Posts
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,744
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3230 Post(s)
Liked 3,868 Times
in
1,439 Posts
#31
Arizona Dessert
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: AZ
Posts: 15,030
Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix, Lemond Poprad. Retired: Jamis Sputnik, Centurion LeMans Fixed, Diamond Back ascent ex
Mentioned: 76 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5345 Post(s)
Liked 2,169 Times
in
1,288 Posts
It's more important what you do in the transition time before you leave and after you get home.
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Boston, ma
Posts: 123
Bikes: 2011 Surly Cross Check
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Boston, ma
Posts: 123
Bikes: 2011 Surly Cross Check
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You just need a really good peloton. OR you could load up your panniers with weights. Either way.
#35
Banned
Consider A Velomobile.. a fully faired tadpole trike, An HPV for the Street.
example : https://www.bluevelo.com/quest_velomobile.html
example : https://www.bluevelo.com/quest_velomobile.html
Last edited by fietsbob; 06-21-11 at 07:38 PM.
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: eastern Massachusetts
Posts: 994
Bikes: Rans V-Rex
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#37
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Schlumpf high speed drive for the bottom bracket (250% gear range), and an electric assist. You'll get there in just twenty minutes! :-)
#38
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
FWIW, came across this thread. Thought about it, as my commute times, despite my fitness getting better post knee surgery, have leveled out. I climb and descend both ways.
So this morning, on a whim, I decided that instead of my normal riding on the hoods, I'd stay in the drops the whole way. Not easy for me, I do have some back issues, but my bike's bars are relatively high for a road bike (it's really a touring model anyways).
So, in the drops, I took a full minute off my best time (22 something compared to 23 something). My gps only calculates my actual movement.
I certainly felt like I worked harder, although I won't know until I review the data. I am such a nerd.
So this morning, on a whim, I decided that instead of my normal riding on the hoods, I'd stay in the drops the whole way. Not easy for me, I do have some back issues, but my bike's bars are relatively high for a road bike (it's really a touring model anyways).
So, in the drops, I took a full minute off my best time (22 something compared to 23 something). My gps only calculates my actual movement.
I certainly felt like I worked harder, although I won't know until I review the data. I am such a nerd.
#39
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 1,214
Bikes: 2010 GT Tachyon 3.0
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 45 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Yeah my bike is probably too small, I'm starting to think. I want a longer distance from seat to handlebars, and I want drop bars. I'm going to have the bike shop fit me on a Trek with drop bars in March, and then order a Trek Portland to match; I'm sure they charge for fitting, but I'll have them waive the charge (look, I'm going to put down a 100% deposit on a brand new $1700 bicycle to be ordered; you are going to fit me properly and you're not charging me for the fitting, end of story).
I see people staying down in the drops all the time, when going slow around 10mph ... they're working hard. Nutjobs. I want drops because I can't stay up when going 30mph ... it's too hard; once I break 22 and want to accelerate fast down a hill, or break 15 and want to accelerate or maintain on level ground, I need to go down. With my flat bars, it's awkward; drop bars for me.
I see people staying down in the drops all the time, when going slow around 10mph ... they're working hard. Nutjobs. I want drops because I can't stay up when going 30mph ... it's too hard; once I break 22 and want to accelerate fast down a hill, or break 15 and want to accelerate or maintain on level ground, I need to go down. With my flat bars, it's awkward; drop bars for me.
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Gainesville, FL
Posts: 101
Bikes: Schwin Twin, Rayleigh sports (1968), Bianchi (dont know year or type), Green fixed - built to my own desires, Cannondale CAAD9, Schwinn ss build, Fugi something-or-other.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
SO OP, it has been about a month. Have you gotten faster? If not may I suggest two things:
1. Start training with intervals. Sprint for 1 min, face-paced ride for 1 m, relaxed for 1 min, repeat.
2. lift weights.
No one really discusses lifting on bikeforums, but as an aged athlete I know it was crucial to bringing my times down in track. Of course this means you cant take the easy way out and just buy a new product - which one solve the problem anyway.
1. Start training with intervals. Sprint for 1 min, face-paced ride for 1 m, relaxed for 1 min, repeat.
2. lift weights.
No one really discusses lifting on bikeforums, but as an aged athlete I know it was crucial to bringing my times down in track. Of course this means you cant take the easy way out and just buy a new product - which one solve the problem anyway.
#41
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 1,214
Bikes: 2010 GT Tachyon 3.0
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 45 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
No, I haven't gotten faster. I went from 2-3 days a week to every single day; tripled my mileage; and lengthened my route a bit. An hour to go 8.5 miles...
I haven't been doing Yoga that frequently at all, and my legs become sore ... when I do bother, it's notably better. Also I walk up the stairs ... after 2 floors it hurts, but my stamina is excellent.
My stamina seems to have gotten better not because the muscles don't fatigue, but rather because I feel what used to be mind-erasing pain and pretty much ignore it. Of course it's a deterrent; when I ride, I ride up hills in higher gears, but only at 10-12mph where I used to go 4-6mph in first gear. On a good day, I can just blast up those hills, get myself moving, go up 2 more gears, and roll along at 15mph easy. On level ground, I just ride casually ... basically I don't put in any effort because I'm sore. I could, but screw that.
But, a lot of that seems to be tendon pain or whatever ... if I stretch out, do yoga, the like, it's ... a little rough, given that it takes muscles and those muscles are currently quite abused. Still, the next day, I'm much better off... hell, 5 minutes later I'm much better off.
The other thing is no rest on weekends (I do errands), so I'm basically always on my bike. o_o The past 2 Saturdays have comprised 11 mile trips to the MVA for driver's license renewal, which then turned into 30 mile trips all over the damn place. Yesterday, I went about 30 miles because I had to go to UPS to get a package after work. My normal commute is 18 miles round trip.
As for buying a new product, I think a nicer bike will decrease my time by maybe 1%. It may also decrease fatigue or such, because it'll be sized properly and I'm also aiming for a posture that I find more comfortable; that just lets me ride longer and more frequently, not necessarily faster. Again, minimal effect; it's just nicer.
I haven't been doing Yoga that frequently at all, and my legs become sore ... when I do bother, it's notably better. Also I walk up the stairs ... after 2 floors it hurts, but my stamina is excellent.
My stamina seems to have gotten better not because the muscles don't fatigue, but rather because I feel what used to be mind-erasing pain and pretty much ignore it. Of course it's a deterrent; when I ride, I ride up hills in higher gears, but only at 10-12mph where I used to go 4-6mph in first gear. On a good day, I can just blast up those hills, get myself moving, go up 2 more gears, and roll along at 15mph easy. On level ground, I just ride casually ... basically I don't put in any effort because I'm sore. I could, but screw that.
But, a lot of that seems to be tendon pain or whatever ... if I stretch out, do yoga, the like, it's ... a little rough, given that it takes muscles and those muscles are currently quite abused. Still, the next day, I'm much better off... hell, 5 minutes later I'm much better off.
The other thing is no rest on weekends (I do errands), so I'm basically always on my bike. o_o The past 2 Saturdays have comprised 11 mile trips to the MVA for driver's license renewal, which then turned into 30 mile trips all over the damn place. Yesterday, I went about 30 miles because I had to go to UPS to get a package after work. My normal commute is 18 miles round trip.
As for buying a new product, I think a nicer bike will decrease my time by maybe 1%. It may also decrease fatigue or such, because it'll be sized properly and I'm also aiming for a posture that I find more comfortable; that just lets me ride longer and more frequently, not necessarily faster. Again, minimal effect; it's just nicer.
#46
Newbie
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 32
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If you're not taking a day off and continue to ride that ammount of miles, I'd probably say back off a bit on the intensity. Purposely make some of the rides less intense to let your legs recover.
#47
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 101
Bikes: Fuji Nevada - winter/bad weather ... 80's Nishiki Prestige ... 80's Basso Gap
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I go a lot faster when I leave later - in other words I have to go fast or be late for work. So leave later and put yer hammer down!
#48
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I think getting to work as fast on a bike as it takes you in a car is pretty damn good. I can get to work (17 miles with some big hills) in 30 minutes in my truck. It takes me an hour and 20 minutes on the bike.
#50
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 1,214
Bikes: 2010 GT Tachyon 3.0
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 45 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Best time was 40 minutes, which is what it takes in my car; but that's a 7 mile route. My bike can go places where roads don't lay.