Martinsnos
Über Member
Yes. I think I found that this week. Did turbo, then hybrid, then road bike on 3 consecutive days and my legs were t-i-r-e-d on day 3 but…they seem to have an element of elasticity/‘learning’ in them.
1mph improvement
- Thread starter Martinsnos
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Martinsnos
Über Member
Interesting point.
Martinsnos
Über Member
I’m not sure I can be as technical as you but I will definitely find a good hill and maybe do an up and down as advised earlier.
Martinsnos
Über Member
I wan
I know it sounds daft but I want to achieve it through training and not equipment - it’s just me!!!
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
On the flat it’s power vs. Aerodynamics. Unless you’ve lost substantial weight the aerodynamics will pretty much remain the same. So it’s mostly about how much absolute power you can put out that determines speed. This is why bigger guys mostly go faster as they have more absolute power. On the hills it’s your power to weight that determines speed. This is why the skinny ones disappear up hill as their power to weight ratio is much higher than the big guys.
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
It’s actually easy to execute. Go as hard as you can and monitor progress via Strava as most hills are Strava segments. I monitor HR as well but in terms of effort I just go as hard I can manage. You get a feel for how hard you can do for however many mins the hill takes, without blowing after a few times.
Martinsnos
Über Member
I hadn’t realised this until you said it (although have heard the pundits say so - it just didn’t compute!). Around Bristol where I am there isn’t much that is truly flat, so losing half-a-stone might not be a bad idea!
Martinsnos
Über Member
Great thanks. Good idea re Strava segments thank you. When I look I’m usually half the speed of the top riders, they must be so super fast!!!
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
Doesn‘t matter. I only look at my own times for comparison on Strava. Like you, I’m in my 50’s, and I’m not going to be winning against the best local riders across all ages. Some win the genetic lottery and train, some win the lottery and don’t train, some lose the lottery and train like buggery, some lose the lottery and sit on the couch. Those who win the lottery and pick up biking early probably go into racing. The rest of us enjoy cycling as a past time or become sedentary.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
indeed on the flat i notice fark all difference between me and a ride mate whos maybe 3 stone heavier and even on shallow grades he has the edge, it when we hit double digit inclines he cant hold the wheel
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Martinsnos
Über Member
Ming the Merciless for President - you have a very good way at looking at life. I’ve got a defensive attitude and it is definitely something I need to let go (and get a big dog!).
gbb
Squire
- Location
- Peterborough
As I was averaging 16mph over 50 mile solo rides I found the same, wanted to up the game a bit. What I did was by no means scientific but...
Attack inclines (not long hills obviously ) hit them as hard as possible then I'd ride easy at the top for maybe 1/2 mile to get my breath back and recover, then ride as normal.
Generally, dont hit the ride hard as soon as you get out, ride well within yourself for maybe 5 miles, you get it back and then some at the end of the ride.
Alternatively I'd use a computer, set the display to average speed, then aim maintain a speed above my normal average.
Always head out into the wind, if you push too hard and blow out, theres nothing worse than a head wind when you're overcooked.
I also used commuting to absolutely hammer it, although it was only short rides, but use those to push push as hard as possible.
Over maybe 2 years I upped it from 15 to 16, then 18 mph averages over the 50 miles riding solo. It is quite a quite impressive average...but then just once in a while, some fool
comes alongside and makes it all look so easy 
Tbf, in my case I found while I loved it, the thought of 50 miles hammering myself became a negative and I eased back eventually.
Hard hard work is really the only answer (and do get down on the drops or get tri bars, you instantly cruise 1 mph faster anyway)
Attack inclines (not long hills obviously ) hit them as hard as possible then I'd ride easy at the top for maybe 1/2 mile to get my breath back and recover, then ride as normal.
Generally, dont hit the ride hard as soon as you get out, ride well within yourself for maybe 5 miles, you get it back and then some at the end of the ride.
Alternatively I'd use a computer, set the display to average speed, then aim maintain a speed above my normal average.
Always head out into the wind, if you push too hard and blow out, theres nothing worse than a head wind when you're overcooked.
I also used commuting to absolutely hammer it, although it was only short rides, but use those to push push as hard as possible.
Over maybe 2 years I upped it from 15 to 16, then 18 mph averages over the 50 miles riding solo. It is quite a quite impressive average...but then just once in a while, some fool
comes alongside and makes it all look so easy Tbf, in my case I found while I loved it, the thought of 50 miles hammering myself became a negative and I eased back eventually.
Hard hard work is really the only answer (and do get down on the drops or get tri bars, you instantly cruise 1 mph faster anyway)
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
I have a phrase
“Out for a good time, not out for a good time.“
Means when I’m out on the bike I’m out to enjoy myself, not out to set a good time. Doesn‘t mean you can’t have a bit of fun on a local hill with similar ability mates. See who can get up quickest. But it’s just a bit of fun and your position getting up the hill doesn’t really matter. It shouldn’t be taken seriously.
Martinsnos
Über Member
Yes, the drop bit feels like ‘cheating’ (why am I like that?!).As I was averaging 16mph over 50 mile solo rides I found the same, wanted to up the game a bit. What I did was by no means scientific but...
Attack inclines (not long hills obviously ) hit them as hard as possible then I'd ride easy at the top for maybe 1/2 mile to get my breath back and recover, then ride as normal.
Generally, dont hit the ride hard as soon as you get out, ride well within yourself for maybe 5 miles, you get it back and then some at the end of the ride.
Alternatively I'd use a computer, set the display to average speed, then aim maintain a speed above my normal average.
Always head out into the wind, if you push too hard and blow out, theres nothing worse than a head wind when you're overcooked.
I also used commuting to absolutely hammer it, although it was only short rides, but use those to push push as hard as possible.
Over maybe 2 years I upped it from 15 to 16, then 18 mph averages over the 50 miles riding solo. It is quite a quite impressive average...but then just once in a while, some fool
Tbf, in my case I found while I loved it, the thought of 50 miles hammering myself became a negative and I eased back eventually.
Hard hard work is really the only answer (and do get down on the drops or get tri bars, you instantly cruise 1 mph faster anyway)
Very impressive 50 mile average. I find long rides hard to take, so I understand why you eased back.
Thank you for all the advice.
I was overtaken on a short but very steep climb the other day, the rider flew by but he was a polite young man and said ‘hello’, so in my moment of ‘defeat’ my faith in human nature was restored!!!
Martinsnos
Über Member
These days I very occasionally go for a ‘fun’ ride. I hadn’t really ever done it before (did you know for example that beyond the hedges are fields with cows in? Never even really looked up before!!!).
I think I’ve got a few more years of killing myself and then I’m going to become an expert on cows!
