First few miles a struggle

[philinmerthyr]

On my last couple of rides I've found the first 5-6 miles a struggle but then got a second breath and felt like I could ride all day.

Does anyone else get this? How can I start feeling as good as the later part of my ride?

 

[Boon 51]

Simples.... Ride more, I'm new to this and only started only 4 months ago but the more you ride the better you get.

Good luck..

 

[vickster]

And warm up properly, especially when it's so darn cold

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Normally takes me a couple of miles to warm up and get into a rhythm. You could try some stretching exercises before you get on the bike, or just take the first few miles slower and in a lower gear until you loosen up.

 

[Lee_M]

dont set off too fast.

you havent warmed up, so youll never feel as good at the start but if you push it itll just depress you.

if you really want to go well from the start youll have to get on the turbo before you go out, like wiggo does

 

[philinmerthyr]

Simples.... Ride more, I'm new to this and only started only 4 months ago but the more you ride the better you get.

Good luck..

Doing my best. Started in October and done 1,300 miles so far.

 

[philinmerthyr]

The lack of warm up makes sense. It's been freezing lately. Thanks for the advice

 

[mark1974]

On my last couple of rides I've found the first 5-6 miles a struggle but then got a second breath and felt like I could ride all day.

Does anyone else get this? How can I start feeling as good as the later part of my ride?

same as here first few miles i feel done in
think its as been said possibly just warming the legs up

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Likewise, I am not at my best till about 10 miles, it is just a matter of warming your muscles up.
Well done on the distance Phil.

 

[ianrauk]

As what others have said, take it easy for first couple/few miles to warm up the muscles before going for it.

 

[Boon 51]

Doing my best. Started in October and done 1,300 miles so far.

I dont think it helps with the colder weather, so roll on the summer..

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I dont think it helps with the colder weather, so roll on the summer..

I think that's a little negative, yea it takes longer to get warm but to be honest apart from my feet I am as warm as I need to be for most of the time, fair enough I am not usually out in sub-zero but around about 0-2C I am out and I am fine, to be honest I am not looking forward to the hot weather, upto April yea fine but May onwards I just hope the fitness I have gained this winter helps with the heat (and no funny jokes about riding in the buff to cool down), though I do plan to be in York in June for N.B.R. mind it will probably rain.

 

[Boon 51]

I think that's a little negative, yea it takes longer to get warm but to be honest apart from my feet I am as warm as I need to be for most of the time, fair enough I am not usually out in sub-zero but around about 0-2C I am out and I am fine, to be honest I am not looking forward to the hot weather, upto April yea fine but May onwards I just hope the fitness I have gained this winter helps with the heat (and no funny jokes about riding in the buff to cool down), though I do plan to be in York in June for N.B.R. mind it will probably rain.

Dont do cold or ride in the rain any more, done all that when I was dispatching for 17 odd years..
Thats why I moved to Spain with 300 days sunshine a year as it warms my old aching/damaged bones .. I'd be crap riding in the cold

 

[RWright]

I think that's a little negative, yea it takes longer to get warm but to be honest apart from my feet I am as warm as I need to be for most of the time, fair enough I am not usually out in sub-zero but around about 0-2C I am out and I am fine, to be honest I am not looking forward to the hot weather, upto April yea fine but May onwards I just hope the fitness I have gained this winter helps with the heat (and no funny jokes about riding in the buff to cool down), though I do plan to be in York in June for N.B.R. mind it will probably rain.

In the summer here it gets very hot, especially from noon until about 4 pm. I try to avoid the sun during that time. I am going to find some more country lanes with a lot of shade for then.

My house is on a hill between two other larger hills, not really long but still a little work just to get out of my neighborhood and onto my routes. I am getting used to having to start out stronger on my rides. I don't like it but I don't see any way to avoid it. It is nice when I roll back in after a long ride. It normally takes me about 2 or 3 miles to get warmed up because of the harder starts.

 

[MattHB]

As said, warm up so you open up your system fully.

Some people seem to suffer more from a failure to do this than others. A friend of mine gets this terribly and he races. It's so bad that if he follows me to the club ride (we live 200 yards away from each other) and I pull my normal pace (I don't seem to suffer so much) he's done in 20 miles or so, even though we have 50 to go. Poor guy will struggle around the rest. Let him warm up though and he's a nightmare!!!