help!!!!!!!!!!! (please)

[UNBALANCEDWIFE]

My husband, 53, weighs over 14 stone, wants to climb Mont Ventoux for his 55th birthday. I want to be a supportive wife (even though I can't ride a bike. No, no, I mean I really can't ride a bike. No balance, fall off). I would really appreciate any information on fitness regimes that he could start off with so that by the time he's at the foot of this monster, he isn't likely to have a heart attack - let alone by the time he's half way up.

He isn't any novice since for three years he's ridden around 600 miles across France on his hols, in steaming heat, doing around 40 miles and more a day but he's out of practice now and fatter than ever. It worries me that in encouraging this dream I might just be setting myself up to be a widow...

 

[Chrisz]

Well, he's got 2 years in which to get fit - shouldn't be a problem at all

Tell him to get out on his bike lots between now and then and worry about a more structured regimen 3 - 6 months before the Mt

 

[akaAndrew]

Fret not. That's plenty of time to get into shape. If he takes it slowly and steadily, does what he can without pushing himself then the fitness will come. The best advice I can give is to ride as often as possible, even if it's only 10 mile. Get the body used to riding. Once he's comfortable at a certain mileage than up it by 10% and repeat.

 

[Big Jack Brass]

If you can handle the jokey military theme there's a book called Boot Camp: The Sergeant's Fitness and Nutrition Program which has a very useful approach to improving fitness. The idea is to start at a level appropriate to yourself (Can't do a press-up? Start from your knees instead of toes. Can't manage that? Lean against the stairs. Still no? Lean against the wall and "press-up" from it) using your local environment rather than any specialist fitness gear. The link goes to Amazon and you'll notice that the book is out-of-print, but easily and cheaply available secondhand.

There are many such guides of course, and I don't doubt that there are many better ones, but I found this particular course of stretching, exercise and nutrition advice much easier to follow and stick to than the usual diets and plans.

 

[fossyant]

How far away is work. Commuting everyday will go some way to shedding that weight and getting the fitness up. What area do you live in - might help if you live somewhere with lots of hills, especially long ones..........

 

[Fab Foodie]

Plenty of time to build up. Need to loose the excess pork. need to do Ventoux when it's not 100F, so pick a cooler time of year or go early in the morning. ventoux on a calm hot summers day is unhealthy (This I know from bitter experience), but I'm going back!

It's a worthy goal. Just start getting back into it slowly, try to ride about 3 times per week using a weekend day to go a bit further. Find a riding buddy if possible, it really helps. Don't try to go fast and hard especially now it's getting colder, use the winter months to build up some base fitness. Practice hills... a lot, learn good efficient climbing technique, set some goals for the summer, charity ride etc. Most of all enjoy. Clubs can be very good too.

 

[Scoosh]

UNBALANCEDWIFE and to CycleChat

There's lots of goodgreat advice on here - much of it from people who have 'been there, done that', so keep asking questions, keep encouraging the man and maybe even get him to join CycleChat

There are also a number of ladies who are 'not in the first flush of youth' , who had never ridden a bike before .... who have started and find themselves actually enjoying it . Wanna join them ? Recumbent trike ?





Then you could join your husband going up Mt Ventoux - make it a family affair - and to make sure he's OK !

 

[HLaB]

Welcome to the forum, yer hubby will be grand.

I met a Dutch woman once whose job was to teach adult women to cycle in Holland; I wonder if the UK has anything similar?

 

[ASC1951]

It worries me that in encouraging this dream I might just be setting myself up to be a widow...

As the others say, he has plenty of time to get in shape. I've done it three times at a slightly greater age and although I'm not 'over 14st', I'm not three stone under it, either.

IME losing weight (through reduced food and drink) will be as important as getting the training miles in.

Oh, and get him insured.

 

[montage]

Break it down into mini goals - get him into the local cycling club, convince him to try out the time trials. Get him on here!

Losing weight will benefit him to no end aswell, less weight = less work to do. So put him on a brilliant diet and into a cycling club The rest will take care of itself

 

[FootSore]

I agree with montage.

Two years is far too long for a training plan. It will be impossible to maintain a focus for that long.

Suggest picking some smaller events between now and then. Either sportives, TTs, or even a self imposed challenge. e.g. Cycle to somewhere specific or via a certain route. Then build to this challenge over 3-4 months. Assess the outcome and repeat. Even marathon training is only 12-16 weeks on most programs - but generally they assume you can run a bit already.

This will give him something to target and some specifc training needs to focus on.

I would also suggest you consider something you can both build together - any chance of hill walking - I'm not talking Gortex and Sticks. Just getting out for a walk, up hills. Would allow you to see him more, get fitter yourself and will help develop power in the legs. Generating new muscle at that age will be tough.

Good luck and enjoy it.

 

[jimboalee]

Is he well insured?

Mind you, it could be pronounced "Death by misadventure" and you won't get a penny.

 

[jimboalee]

What I can say in seriousness is:-

Get him a gym membership for Christmas.
Maybe some Personal Trainer sessions tailored to the task ahead.

Climbing up a hill is based on power to weight ratio. Time trials is a different sport.

If you can, find a gym with a 'Stepmill'. Not a stair climbing machine, these aren't good enough. A Stepmill is a four foot high downward moving escalator. Pure torture. Builds big glutes and quads though.

Then get him on the bike machine and blast the 'hills' programs.

A weekly hilly 'real' bike ride throughout the last four months leading up to the event which should be about 75% the distance of the event. He must concentrate on pulling the pedal up round the back more than pushing the front pedal down.

Back at the gym, he should be doing deadlifts, hyperextensions and leg press.
Lots of crunches for the abs, and a few forward lateral raises for the shoulders.

 

[palinurus]

Climbing up a hill is based on power to weight ratio. Time trials is a different sport.

But something like taking part in TTs (or sportives or Audaxes or club runs etc) may serve as useful interim goals.

 

[jimboalee]

But something like taking part in TTs (or sportives or Audaxes or club runs etc) may serve as useful interim goals.

There are not many places in the UK ( I presume the OP is in the UK ) where a cyclist can ride with their hands on the hoods or tops, giving 300+ Watts for 1 solid hour, standing up on the pedals occasionally and retain momentum when sitting back down on the saddle.

The gym bike is just the ticket.

I did say "A weekly hilly 'real' bike ride", which could be an Audax ride. This is where Midlands Mesh and DIYs come into their own because they can be done anytime.
The Audax season starts in November. A Brevet 1000 ( 10 x 100km ) and a Randonneur 500 ( 1 x 100 + 2 x 200 ) can be gained in the 09/10 season.

The OP's hubby is planning to climb a bugger of a hill.
TT's are based on aerodynamics and inertia in a 'tuck' riding position. Climbing is based on power and rythym at probably less than 10kmh for this gent.

If he wants to try a TT, thats up to him.
I would train in a more upright position with frequent 'out of the saddle' power intervals.