Affect of commuting on training

[Dave Carey]

Remember, on hard days go REALLY hard. On easy days go REALLY easy..

I do try to beat my commute PB on almost every ride so I would class those as hard rides.

I personally wouldn't consider a goal of a 100 mile sportive as training as for me, you do some riding regularly and you'll naturally be able to do 100 miles.

So, just keep turning the pedals on the commute and you'll get fitter and increase your endurance too.

Im hoping to amongst other challenges complete my 100 in 2014. After that I'd love to look into the prospect of racing at the lowest level, could do with something competitive.

 

[vickster]

Why not join a club if you want to train? How fast and how hilly are the commutes? I can do my 5 miles in under 20 minutes if the traffic lights are kind and traffic light

 

[Dave Carey]

Why not join a club if you want to train? How fast and how hilly are the commutes? I can do my 5 miles in under 20 minutes if the traffic lights are kind and traffic light

The commute is fairly flat if I get through the lights quickly I can do it between 15-18 minutes.

I have thought about joining a club though whilst im not shy it takes me a while to fit in new places and it seems clubs members are either youngsters starting out getting into racing etc or middle aged people who have been doing it for years, being 27 and a relative newbie im in the middle of those groups. Not sure if there is any truth in that or its just me being a bit paranoid!

 

[vickster]

Form your own group from local CC members. Or look on cyclebuddy for some company

 

[VamP]

I do try to beat my commute PB on almost every ride so I would class those as hard rides.

I'd call it a botched warm up. A hard ride would have a gentle warm up, at least 40 minutes of hard (as hard as you can go) riding, possibly split into two or three sets, finished off with another 15 minute warm down.

Do that twice a week among your other rides, not on back to back days and that should bring you some training adaptations.

 

[DCLane]

I have thought about joining a club though whilst im not shy it takes me a while to fit in new places and it seems clubs members are either youngsters starting out getting into racing etc or middle aged people who have been doing it for years, being 27 and a relative newbie im in the middle of those groups. Not sure if there is any truth in that or its just me being a bit paranoid!

My club's the latter; they're mostly 50+ but that didn't bother me. Since I've joined several more younger members (25-45) have joined.

Why don't you look at several local clubs and get in touch. Commuting each day you should be fit enough to join them. If they're worth joining then they should respond positively and encourage new members *

* my closest club wasn't interested in me joining as I wasn't one of "them". As they're run by my LBS they've lost significant trade too.

 

[Dusty Bin]

* my closest club wasn't interested in me joining as I wasn't one of "them".

vampires?

 

[vickster]

Look into CTC rides? Who cares if they are older than you (less likely to drink blood too)

 

[DCLane]

vampires?

Maybe. Or just plain odd. They're a BC club but don't reply to e-mails or answer their phone. And in the LBS I was told "you wouldn't want to join us"

Look into CTC rides? Who cares if they are older than you (less likely to drink blood too)

Don't worry - I've joined a small but friendly club. The CTC rides were more about cake stops than riding!

 

[vickster]

I was replying to the OP but cool...cake sounds a very good reason to ride with the CTC

 

[subaqua]

Look into CTC rides? Who cares if they are older than you (less likely to drink blood too)

all the CTC rides down here are great, not done a 4* ride yet and not a huge amount of cake just a normal amount

have a google/yahoo for the local groups .

I use my commute as good training as i ride a heavy bike with panniers. when i have to use the roadbike to commute the time differences are amazing for the same effort.

 

[Dave Carey]

I'd call it a botched warm up. A hard ride would have a gentle warm up, at least 40 minutes of hard (as hard as you can go) riding, possibly split into two or three sets, finished off with another 15 minute warm down.

Unfortunately with a commute of 5 miles I havnt got time for 40 minutes of hard. On the weekends but not during the week.

Look into CTC rides? Who cares if they are older than you (less likely to drink blood too)

I dont mind its whether they do... I mean I dont mind that they are older I'd rather not have them try to drink my blood if I can help it though.

 

[Dusty Bin]

Seriously - and I mean no offence by this - the CTC genuinely is a wonderful organisation - but if you are looking to improve your cycling fitness, CTC rides are probably not the way forward.

 

[I like Skol]

Just commute regular and hard, works great for me. As Fossyant already said, us hardcore commuters kick ass on the big distance rides as well

 

[GrasB]

Unfortunately with a commute of 5 miles I havnt got time for 40 minutes of hard. On the weekends but not during the week.

... 'direct' (aka not suicidal) route to work 14.8 miles. Average daily commute miles 59.3 miles.. on the assumption I've commuted to work by car on every possible day of a working week, which I haven't... so that's 59.3 miles is LOW!