Furthest bike ride i've managed - 11.5 miles

[Leah]

Today I went out with a friend for a ride, thought we would stick to our usual 7 miles. But no, she wanted to stay out for longer so we ended up doing 11.5 miles!

Thats the furthest i've been and I have to say i'm feeling pretty broken now i'm home. Everything is ok apart from my back and my stomach. My stomach is really hurting, like the top part below the ribs. What have I done?

We were cycling next to the trent and there were some god awful headwinds which we could never seem to use to our advantage, and as my bike is so old it's got stuck in the second to highest gear possible, so all the time I was facing a headwind and in a high gear.

What can I do to help my stomach muscles now? A warm bath?

What did I do wrong or are my core muscles just so crap this was too much?

 

[ManiaMuse]

We were cycling next to the trent and there were some god awful headwinds which we could never seem to use to our advantage, and as my bike is so old it's got stuck in the second to highest gear possible, so all the time I was facing a headwind and in a high gear.

What did I do wrong or are my core muscles just so crap this was too much?

There's your problem. Might not directly affect your core muscles but if you are having to put a lot of effort down through the pedals then that could lead to excessive upper body movement or tensing up. That might explain some of it if you're not used to riding much.

Also would be worth checking that your saddle height is correct.

Anyway gears are there to make your life easier. Take it down to the shop or get someone with a bit of mechanic know how to have a look at it. You never know, there might be a quick fix and there's no point in having gears if you can't use them!

 

[Scotmitchy]

There's your problem. Might not directly affect your core muscles but if you are having to put a lot of effort down through the pedals then that could lead to excessive upper body movement or tensing up. That might explain some of it if you're not used to riding much.

Also would be worth checking that your saddle height is correct.

Anyway gears are there to make your life easier. Take it down to the shop or get someone with a bit of mechanic know how to have a look at it. You never know, there might be a quick fix and there's no point in having gears if you can't use them!

my biggest cycle to date has been 25 miles, and for the last 10 or so of them I could feel those self same muscles, up just under the ribs in the middle, hurting.

I would love to know the solution too.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

I would NOT have liked to ride today with stuck gears. As you say there were some godawful headwinds out there today. Don't underestimate the impact those winds will have had.

Had to go into town but wanted a ride so took a 25 mile detour on a bike with plenty of gears..OK there were plenty of long hills but my legs are aching, I was even grinding in low gears pushing against the winds. I've just got up from a nap, went to bed at 5pm just after football had finished - I rarely sleep during the days!

I won't say I hated it but I didn't enjoy today's ride nearly as much as I would have done and made myself continue instead of turning back half way which would have been a nice tailwind descent. So well done for doing your furthest ride on a day like today but if you want to enjoy your rides on less windy days - get those gears fixed! It'll be well worth it!

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

I've just seen your other thread about your aims....

I know you say you can't afford new but maybe it is time to think about picking up at least a second-hand working road bike - doesn't have to be anything too fancy. Perhaps go to a few bike shops, try a few bikes for size and get an idea of the size bike you are looking for (you'll need to do that anyway when you do come to buying a new bike so you'll not be wasting their time...you'll know which bike shop is the most helpful!)

You can then use that info to maybe pick up a basic 2nd hand road bike with working gears that will make your rides, and training for your charity ride, SO much more comfortable and give you so much more incentive.

I've been riding more and complaining less last week all through something as daft as a no-frills £14.99 stem that's 20mm shorter than the stock one that came with my bike. That 20mm difference in hand position has been so noticeable it's given me one less excuse to take the long way home.

Mountain bikes are an absolute pig to ride on the road - even new ones with fully working gears!

 

[Leah]

Thanks Tiger, i'm going to ask people to keep an eye out for me, and i'll go try some bikes out at the shop.

 

[cyberknight]

Also check freecycle network they do have bikes for free but you have to be quick to grab one when it comes up.

In what way is your gear stuck? if you posted a few piccies or a description some one on here might bw able to suggest how to fix it .

The wind has been very rough round here as well close to Burton upon Trent as well, i had a twinge of back ache after 2 days of battling against the wind and i decided to spin rather than struggle.
Core stomach exercise is important not just for cycling but in everything you do so it might be worth doing some,best to get some one to show you or look up proper technique as a description is liable to be misinformed and if done wrong can be ineffective and even aggravate the problem.

 

[Jacqui]

Mine might be going free to good owner by this time next week !


I am doing the London to Paris on a hybrid but soon learned there are hybrids and hybrids so did got for a better more expensive bike for the ride than I started training on .

The wind is just awful and seems like we have had wind most of the summer . Between Wednesday and Saturday I am hoping for calm dry weather but like everyone has said it is good to get out in all weathers .


One of my first longish rides was on a foul day along the canal and I was muddy from head to foot but was good experience .

Not sure about the muscles on the longer rides I seem to ache in a different spot each time as it is way beyond anything I have ever attempted before .

Am going down to London tom and set off wed at 6am so bike and bag packed I think .

Hope you are feelingbetter and get the bike sorted out.

 

[Randochap]

I'm a marathon cyclist now in recovery after a serious injury, so I can relate to feeling muscles once taken for granted.

Agree that a functioning road bike (need not be a full-on racing bike, a hybrid will help) will improve your ride, but so will patient and proper training, including sufficient recovery time -- which is what it seems you need now. Time to do some "horizontal training."

Don't neglect (gentle) stretching, after workouts.

Core work is important for cyclists, as cycling doesn't do much for those muscles. Your core muscles support you on the bike and aid power transfer. Bike fit is critical to distance cycling. You'll never endure longer distances with poor sizing and/or position.

See my bike fit page on VeloWeb and here's some training tips and book reviews on cycling longevity.

Also agree that you should seek the advice of a friendly LBS, to tune your gears and advise on alternatives to MTB.

 

[Bigsharn]

I think the longest ride I managed was my house, to York, to Selby and back, 42 miles and it got to the point where I could literally walk no longer because of the pain. I kid you not, the next time I did it I took a 2L bottle of water, used road tyres instead for the trail and managed it without an issue.

As has been said, make sure your saddle is the right height and that your gears are all working otherwise it's just murder going up and down hills.

 

[Leah]

Well I went out for a short ride today to work, which was stupid as the wind was so strong I was nearly blown over and had to ask my OH to fetch the car for me at the end of the shift.

Stomach ache has gone, bums a bit sore lol, but i've found today that immediately I felt my saddle was too low, I was having to move my body out of the way when my leg came to the top of the pedal. I was moving so much left and right to get out of the way of my legs I think I have really given my stomach and back a work out as I was twisting - so not the way to do it!

I'm keeping an eye out for a lighter bike, preferably a road bike but anything is better than I have, and my friend is going to look at the gears for me between now and then

 

[Randochap]

i've found today that immediately I felt my saddle was too low, I was having to move my body out of the way when my leg came to the top of the pedal. I was moving so much left and right to get out of the way of my legs I think I have really given my stomach and back a work out as I was twisting - so not the way to do it!

Yes, that sounds like a foot or more too low, Leah. Use the basic instructions on VeloWeb "Bike Fit" page to get you in the ball park. You'll notice an immediate big improvement. And, as I said earlier, make sure to take some time to recover after a hard ride, otherwise you'll be taking one step forwards and 2 back.