When a new route is JUST beyond comfort zone
#1
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When a new route is JUST beyond comfort zone
Rode my bike to the grocery store today.
I'm getting much more comfortable at red lights being in traffic. Feels normal already.
Even found a dead end route where I bypass a blocker guard rail to avoid the nastiest part of traffic.
5 miles round trip. 15 mins. each way. Perfect
BUT.......there are two different 12% hills (peak).
One stretch is .2 miles and it kicked my ass.
One the return trip there is a .6 mile hill (12% max)
I even had to stand up and pedal for a bit.
Killer workout.
A bit too killer.
I like it, but it was past the threshold of pleasant challenge.
It was a legit workout ride. I will now veg for the rest of the afternoon, spent.
But, it's hard to blend that with running an errand (vanity ride)
I need to find a way to moderate this, so I keep doing it, and not quit.
I'm getting much more comfortable at red lights being in traffic. Feels normal already.
Even found a dead end route where I bypass a blocker guard rail to avoid the nastiest part of traffic.
5 miles round trip. 15 mins. each way. Perfect
BUT.......there are two different 12% hills (peak).
One stretch is .2 miles and it kicked my ass.
One the return trip there is a .6 mile hill (12% max)
I even had to stand up and pedal for a bit.
Killer workout.
A bit too killer.
I like it, but it was past the threshold of pleasant challenge.
It was a legit workout ride. I will now veg for the rest of the afternoon, spent.
But, it's hard to blend that with running an errand (vanity ride)
I need to find a way to moderate this, so I keep doing it, and not quit.
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#2
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Cool story bro! Keep us up to date if there are any further bulletins.
#3
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Aren't you the one that does 20min HIIT rides? What you describe should be easy.
...or is that another one of the illogical posters on here? Tough to keep you guys straight.
...or is that another one of the illogical posters on here? Tough to keep you guys straight.
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Try it a few more times before giving up and you'll find that it'll quickly come into your comfort zone!
Or have a look and see if there's a slightly longer flatter route - I find that once the steeper hills fatigue my legs then I'm done whether that was at the first or last mile.
Or have a look and see if there's a slightly longer flatter route - I find that once the steeper hills fatigue my legs then I'm done whether that was at the first or last mile.
#5
LBKA (formerly punkncat)
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It's been a while since I have done it, but our closest grocery is right at 3 miles away with a pretty steep "gully" on the road leading to it. I found an alternate route that is probably a mile and some farther, but also much flatter. In my own case on the off occasion that I would go by bike getting there wasn't nearly the issue as getting back (that way) with the load. Traffic is a whole other issue though.
#6
Banned.
You don't really need to stand in a very short 12% climb unless don't have low enough gears.
Some more experienced riders would stand the entire 0.2 mile to sprint to the top. Sprinting (not usually an all-out sprint) on short, steep climbs may actually feel easier than taking it slow and long. But only works if you have the power for it and quite used to standing.
Some more experienced riders would stand the entire 0.2 mile to sprint to the top. Sprinting (not usually an all-out sprint) on short, steep climbs may actually feel easier than taking it slow and long. But only works if you have the power for it and quite used to standing.
#7
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...are you the guy who advocates for tying an old car battery onto your rear rack, for a better workout ? I would just ditch the car battery, until your conditioning improves.
...are you the guy who advocates for tying an old car battery onto your rear rack, for a better workout ? I would just ditch the car battery, until your conditioning improves.
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#8
Banned.
Obviously, don't do it. If you can't find long climbs that are nearby, the best way to train for climbs is indoor training on the trainer. Don't load your bike to make it heavier.
#9
Newbie
Happened to me yesterday..in my area they ripped up the train tracks years ago and slowly covered it in crushed stone..It goes through forest and fields...you can go for 100 miles. Not me..but somebody can if they want to. Any hoo, I miscalculated an intersection point and ended up having to ride further than I thought before I could turn to head back..I encountered a few upgrades I wasn't ready for..l laughed..I cried..I pedalled home..I'll go back..it waits for me..some day..It will be mine
Last edited by Quesnel; 08-29-22 at 08:45 PM.
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Edit: I guess I saved it for just this sort of occasion.
Last edited by indyfabz; 08-29-22 at 08:53 PM.
#11
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...yup. Definitely ditch the battery. You can thank me later.
...yup. Definitely ditch the battery. You can thank me later.
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#12
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#13
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That's how you expand your comfort zone! It's a good thing, but I know how it can feel when you over-extend yourself. The first time I tried my longest ride (of the geezer era, so far...), I had some back and breathing issues, and ended up asking my wife for a lift home. Since then, I've completed it three times, all on days when I felt good. So maybe wait until a day when you're feeling good to tackle it again. You'll be fine!
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Sometimes I think bf is full of imbeciles...And then I remember that all of those posts come from the same three people. They just keep changing their socks.
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Where are you at?
There are a couple of "warm up" rides to try up in Portland.
RondePDX
Five different rides. They're all pretty short. About 50 miles or so. They should be a breeze.
Hardly any segments greater than 20%.
After doing all five of the Portland rides, go back to your 5 mile commute, and it will feel like nothing.
Oh, it has been a few years since I commuted in Portland. I think my commute was about 5 miles, but it started with about 1.5 miles of straight up a hill. There was never a day that was too cold. The ride would always warm me up!!!
There are a couple of "warm up" rides to try up in Portland.
RondePDX
Five different rides. They're all pretty short. About 50 miles or so. They should be a breeze.
Hardly any segments greater than 20%.
After doing all five of the Portland rides, go back to your 5 mile commute, and it will feel like nothing.
Oh, it has been a few years since I commuted in Portland. I think my commute was about 5 miles, but it started with about 1.5 miles of straight up a hill. There was never a day that was too cold. The ride would always warm me up!!!
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#17
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Why is this guy being allowed to use BF as his personal blog?
There really needs to be a limit on starting threads.
This guy is getting exhausted after a 5 mile ride with a couple of hills on it. Last week it was 3.5 miles. Does every ride get its own thread?
BTW, he's also starting thread after thread about his lane changes.
There really needs to be a limit on starting threads.
This guy is getting exhausted after a 5 mile ride with a couple of hills on it. Last week it was 3.5 miles. Does every ride get its own thread?
BTW, he's also starting thread after thread about his lane changes.
Last edited by livedarklions; 08-30-22 at 04:51 AM.
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Why is this guy being allowed to use BF as his personal blog?
There really needs to be a limit on starting threads.
This guy is getting exhausted after a 5 mile ride with a couple of hills on it. Last week it was 3.5 miles. Does every ride get its own thread?
BTW, he's also starting thread after thread about his lane changes.
There really needs to be a limit on starting threads.
This guy is getting exhausted after a 5 mile ride with a couple of hills on it. Last week it was 3.5 miles. Does every ride get its own thread?
BTW, he's also starting thread after thread about his lane changes.
https://www.bikeforums.net/blogger-s-forum/
#20
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Why is this guy being allowed to use BF as his personal blog?
There really needs to be a limit on starting threads.
This guy is getting exhausted after a 5 mile ride with a couple of hills on it. Last week it was 3.5 miles. Does every ride get its own thread?
BTW, he's also starting thread after thread about his lane changes.
There really needs to be a limit on starting threads.
This guy is getting exhausted after a 5 mile ride with a couple of hills on it. Last week it was 3.5 miles. Does every ride get its own thread?
BTW, he's also starting thread after thread about his lane changes.
#21
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I read some of these stupid threads because I can feel superior to the posters ..... and then I feel bad about that, and then I realize that the posters are probably as good or better on bikes and also intellectually as myself, but just acting {Slowed} in order to get attention on message boards .... which is sort of pathetic, and I know, because .... here I am.
I am not required to read Any thread, and I can see who posted it, and I Know certain posters only fling waste matter .... but also that the responses can be sort of cruelly amusing.
As you well know, @livedarklions, because you are one of the most prominent respondents.
I am not required to read Any thread, and I can see who posted it, and I Know certain posters only fling waste matter .... but also that the responses can be sort of cruelly amusing.
As you well know, @livedarklions, because you are one of the most prominent respondents.
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#23
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I do think it's very weird that he's allowed to start three or four threads in a day, which he often does. And I think the proliferation of these redundant threads is generally having a bad effect on the forums that my ignoring him isn't going to fix.
You don't need to read my comments on his threads either, so can we avoid the infinite regression issue?
#24
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Dude ... you are single-handedly keeping his threads alive. Don't feed the trolls.
Report him to the Mods, I guess. I would but they don't like me .... seems they think I have anti-social tendencies or something.
Report him to the Mods, I guess. I would but they don't like me .... seems they think I have anti-social tendencies or something.
#25
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No way, no how am I doing a grocery store run on a bike. Nope, not gonna do it.
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