Denton
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,898
|
Post by Denton on May 17, 2013 10:43:00 GMT
I tend to go on a bike ride 4-5 times a week not overly far at the moment as this weather is destroying any routine I can get but lots of hills in and out of my village so they make up for the lack of distance, Only really do it because I can't run anymore so this is the next best thing
|
|
|
Post by Andrewlang on May 17, 2013 10:59:23 GMT
You could create your own route using the link I posted earlier - routes.bikehub.co.uk/ Or try the opening this map of the national cycle route network - www.opencyclemap.org/ - for a bit of inspiration. Andrew
|
|
|
Post by kdwyellow on May 17, 2013 18:19:09 GMT
I find the many bike related apps on smartphones offer quite a lot of good accurate info for a rider who is measuring their improvement. I started out using map my ride then moved onto Endomondo and finally I delved into the dangerous world of Strava which opens up a whole world of competition amongst commuters and serious riders and anyone else on 2 wheels.
I've now bought a Garmin 500 GPS unit with a cadence/ speed sensor and a heart rate monitor.
I tend to average about 18/20 mph when I do a two hour ride on my own and riding in a group makes things much easier as you can draft behind the lead rider hence my good showing at Norwich where 3 of us shared the work.
|
|
Denton
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,898
|
Post by Denton on May 17, 2013 19:44:50 GMT
I've been using this www.walkjogrun.net/ fairly decent I'm doing either 5 mile bike rides or 10 atm, as I get into a routine where I think i'll start doing the 10 mile one every day the weather becomes impossible to cycle in
|
|
|
Post by warren62 on May 17, 2013 20:05:12 GMT
Did about 10 miles tonight along the busway , knackered .
How about forming a cufc cycle association and affiliate to the football club?
|
|
|
Post by kdwyellow on May 18, 2013 8:41:13 GMT
I'm already in a team with sponsors and affiliates to commit to. Whilst most of the team aspire to greatness I just turn up and race when I can. I don't have enough time to commit to the training that would go in to improving my results. I have one more full season to go before I end up in the Veterans category. I'd quite like to do the national XC series just once but there's a lot of travel involved in that and I don't know if I could do it.
On the subject of off road trails, I'm doing a race in Huntingdon in a few weeks at Hinchingbrooke. Wasn't aware that there were trails there. Anyone know anything about it? I've done races before where you end up riding on courses that have been purpose prepared for that day and they are really hard work as the course is usually just cut through a day before the race.
Shouldam Warren near Kings Lynn has some excellent trails if anyone is ever up that way.
|
|
cambcam
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,590
|
Post by cambcam on May 18, 2013 13:41:53 GMT
Thinking about this for a bit, I reckon I'm more fairweather and less hardcore - a spring to autumn kinda person with the odd winter ride on a crisp sunny day. Recreational, non-competitive but like to the heart pumping and get a move on. This is a site that works for me and might tempt a few others into having a bash at something:- www.bike-events.comThose sort of events look great to ride with partners/families etc and would probably give strugglers a bit of a lift. I'm really being teased by the thought of doing a '100' somewhere, just for the sense of achievement I think. There is also the Cambridge Big Bike Ride www.cambridge-news.co.uk/The-Big-Bike-Ride which might be fun, I'm definitely in for the Silver Ride - 100km, but the Gold Ride - 100 miles is winking too but the 23rd June is maybe a bit too close. Sneaky, how did you find the 100 miler? And Warren, fair play to you, keep at it, give one of those events a whirl!
|
|
|
Post by sneakyfate on May 20, 2013 23:30:50 GMT
Sneaky, how did you find the 100 miler? Sorry, slow reply, been out of the country. I haven't done the 100-miler yet, it's on August 4th! Unless you mean, how did I find out it was happening - that was via two diferent groups I subscribe to - one is cycling related, but the other, surprisingly, was parkrun, who organise the 5km runs (i.e. on legs, not wheels) at Milton Country Park every Saturday morning.
|
|
cambcam
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,590
|
Post by cambcam on May 21, 2013 10:56:34 GMT
Sorry, I meant previously. You mentioned in an earlier post you'd done 100 miles in one day on a couple of occasions, I wondered how you got on with those, physically and mentally?
I'm seriously tempted by a '100', just as a one-off, as a sort of personal challenge I guess. As mentioned, I've been using the guided busway for my recreational stuff, but blasting up and down there in the sunshine, nice and flat with a silky smooth surface is perhaps poor preparation for the real world of a road 100.
I did the round trip at the weekend (approx 25 miles) in 1hr 21mins, but that was really getting a move on and bloody hard work - and definitely moving away from the fun it's supposed to be. So, whilst the fitness is reasonable, I've got concerns about the length of time in the saddle on a 100 (about 8 hrs I'd imagine) - the backside, backache, the effect of the vibration on the wrists, shoulders, the sort of issues you don't notice on a smooth surface for a shorter time. I had a cartlidge knee op a few years ago so I am fearful an endurance event could well expose any weaknesses like that too.
I suppose there are no short cuts from getting out on the road and putting some practise miles in, but was wondering how those that have done/are doing distance events have got on and would be grateful for any tips - even if it is don't do it!
Cheers, Cam
|
|
|
Post by kdwyellow on May 21, 2013 13:25:17 GMT
Organised 100 mile rides will have feed stations on the route so mentally it's often worth breaking the ride down into three parts. Riding in a group makes a massive difference. The Wiggle rides for instance are well attended so there is always another rider on the horizon for you to aim at. If you build up your training so you can comfortably ride 40 miles on your own then it's surprising how achieve able 100 can be.
I've done a couple and I didn't find the time in the saddle a problem. It's worth investing in some decent shorts though and have a look at some of the chamois creams on the market that help with chaffing.
|
|
Denton
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,898
|
Post by Denton on May 21, 2013 13:50:49 GMT
Reckon June is far to early next year however I might give it a go
|
|
|
Post by ChrisVessey on May 21, 2013 15:07:22 GMT
I did a 40 mile stint this morning on the various canals and waterways from mine in Leeds through to Wakefield and back, stopping after 20 miles for half an hour for something to eat, drink and rest. At times the terrain was tricky on some of tracks but that's just how i like it, a nice challenge.
One i do fancy doing is the full length of the Leeds/Liverpool Canal, which is 142 miles, over two days with a stopover in between. 71 miles per day should be do-able and would be quite fun to do.
I've also wistfully thought i'd love to cycle from my house to the Abbey for a game (147 miles by road.. longer by a cycle route - 178 miles) for charity, maybe the youth trust, which i reckon i could hammer out in three days.
Maybe one day...
|
|
imp566
Cult hero
Posts: 16,058
Member is Online
|
Post by imp566 on May 21, 2013 15:14:26 GMT
I've also wistfully thought i'd love to cycle from my house to the Abbey for a game (147 miles by road.. longer by a cycle route - 178 miles) for charity, maybe the youth trust, which i reckon i could hammer out in three days. Maybe one day... Sounds like a great idea - you could rely on me to pop a shilling in the fund! ;-)
|
|
|
Post by sneakyfate on May 25, 2013 20:29:02 GMT
Sorry, don't look on this social chat bit of the forum all that often. My previous 100-milers were very much a "touring" thing rather than what is best described as a "Sportive", i.e. a semi-serious race, which is the impression I get about the London 100. The first time was on the tandem with my wife when we took a slightly circuitous route home from visiting my mum in Oxfordshire - it took ages! The second time was a 50-mile charity ride which an Aussie friend said was too wussy, so we should cycle it there and back. It turned out to be a cold wet day, and she gave up after the 50 miles. I and a friend soldiered on, but he wasn't a regular cyclist and bailed out just short of 80 miles when we passed close to his home! I carried on and eventually completed the 100 miles, but again it wasn't quick. My wife and I also did 90+ miles on the tandem in Southern Poland with full camping gear on board because our gear was wet and we were desperate to get to my relatives house, so we arrived in the dark about 9pm. Today I did my first proper training ride for the London 100 - 54 miles in just over 4 hours, which wasn't bad given it was the first one and there was a beast of a wind for much of the way - and I also ran 5km at Milton parkrun before starting
|
|
belly77
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,722
|
Post by belly77 on May 26, 2013 18:11:20 GMT
I try and cycle to a couple of games a season. It's a 44 mile trip for me. I find getting to Cambridge fairly easy but the ride home is a bit of a chore. Would love to cycle to an away game next season. Maybe we could all go on mass?
I cycled the back routes and some of the Tour de France route last weekend. They are going to have sort some of the roads out round here, pot holes everywhere.
|
|