Good point, maybe a side in that case. Nothing worse for a newbie than struggling back into a headwind on every ride.
Increasing speed & Overall pace
- Thread starter cyclenovice
- Start date
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Good point, maybe a side in that case. Nothing worse for a newbie than struggling back into a headwind on every ride.
Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
I'm still relatively new to this cycling lark (returnee after a 15 year hiatus) and have learnt a few things the hard way.
1) Don't go hell-for-leather early doors. You'll burn out and turn into a puddle of goo. Slow and steady is better (and less embarrassing)
2) If at all possible, try and go outbound in a headwind and inbound in a tail wind.
3) Find a pace that's comfy and well within yourself. Use a lower gear than you think you need - it really does help.
4) Allow yourself recovery time between each ride. It's more fun when you don't ache all over.
5) Speed and pace comes with fitness. I started cycling again mid-August, and it's only been in the last couple of weeks that I've been knocking serious time (like 10, 15 minutes) off the routes that I normally do without even thinking about it.
6) Just go out and enjoy the great outdoors.
1) Don't go hell-for-leather early doors. You'll burn out and turn into a puddle of goo. Slow and steady is better (and less embarrassing)
2) If at all possible, try and go outbound in a headwind and inbound in a tail wind.
3) Find a pace that's comfy and well within yourself. Use a lower gear than you think you need - it really does help.
4) Allow yourself recovery time between each ride. It's more fun when you don't ache all over.
5) Speed and pace comes with fitness. I started cycling again mid-August, and it's only been in the last couple of weeks that I've been knocking serious time (like 10, 15 minutes) off the routes that I normally do without even thinking about it.
6) Just go out and enjoy the great outdoors.
Firestorm
Veteran
- Location
- Southend on Sea
As many have said, just riding the bike will improve your fitness.
but if you want to feel like you are training for speed as well , try some r
shorter rides with sections in where to go a lot faster than usual. It will get you used to going faster.
Its referred to as interval training and there is loads of stuff about it on the net , so you could have a nose around and see what suits you
but if you want to feel like you are training for speed as well , try some r
shorter rides with sections in where to go a lot faster than usual. It will get you used to going faster.
Its referred to as interval training and there is loads of stuff about it on the net , so you could have a nose around and see what suits you
russellchapman
Regular
Most important is to enjoy your riding, don't worry too much about times. Push outside your comfort zone every few rides. There is a hill that intimidates you? Keep doing it till it gets easier. Then do some fun rides before you take on the next challenge. If you ride for fun first, motivation to improve will never be a problem
marzjennings
Legendary Member
- Location
- Houston, Texas, USA
Pootingly about in a comfortable gear, just spinning merrily at some arbitrary cadence is going to do bog all for increasing speed. It may make you fitter, but if your goal is to get quicker then there will be some pain and suffering. Intervals, as mentioned, are pretty useful in building speed/power.
Just found this video and the guys makes some sense. Ignore the stuff about watts, pay attention to the stuff about focused timed and repeated efforts.
Just found this video and the guys makes some sense. Ignore the stuff about watts, pay attention to the stuff about focused timed and repeated efforts.
S-Express
Guest
As I said earlier
dim
Guest
- Location
- Cambridge UK
you need to mix thing up ....
do some spinning (above 80 RPM) .... do some sprints (do loads of these .... ) ..... do hills .... on some days, grind at a lower cadence but a smaller cog ... this will build muscle but don't mess your knees up
that's what I have done and it's worked for me ... I am more of a spinner than a grinder, but many people who pedal at a lower cadence in a smaller cog have passed me
you will find out soon enough where you fit in ..... if you are crap at sprinting/short distances, aim to do longer slower rides ... i.e. if you are not fast, go far
do some spinning (above 80 RPM) .... do some sprints (do loads of these .... ) ..... do hills .... on some days, grind at a lower cadence but a smaller cog ... this will build muscle but don't mess your knees up
that's what I have done and it's worked for me ... I am more of a spinner than a grinder, but many people who pedal at a lower cadence in a smaller cog have passed me
you will find out soon enough where you fit in ..... if you are crap at sprinting/short distances, aim to do longer slower rides ... i.e. if you are not fast, go far
Slick
Guru
Lots of good advice, as usual. I tried to find an answer to your question myself not that long ago and got much the same response, which I still keep in mind on my commutes, but I would also add the real difference I found is going out with someone a good bit stronger than me with motivation in spades and who can cajole me off the flat and onto the hills. That brought on my biggest improvement since I started this and now my plan is just to hang on to this guys coat tails for as long as possible.
I'd suggest taking things steadily. @cyclenovice you don't say how far or fast you are riding now, so I'd largely say any advice thus far is just speculation. It may well be that you are riding 100mi at 40mph already in which case you aren't likely to see much improvement.
Generally speed and endurance come with time in the saddle up to a point, beyond that you need some training. If you aren't already then I'd suggest getting comfortable riding for a couple of hours at a stretch, then some form of structured plan, British Cycling have some on their website to give you an idea of where to get started (https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/knowledge/training-plans).
As already suggested, joining a club may help too. But I'd be wary of trying to do too much too soon, winter is a good opportunity to build a solid level of fitness from which to build on in spring.
Generally speed and endurance come with time in the saddle up to a point, beyond that you need some training. If you aren't already then I'd suggest getting comfortable riding for a couple of hours at a stretch, then some form of structured plan, British Cycling have some on their website to give you an idea of where to get started (https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/knowledge/training-plans).
As already suggested, joining a club may help too. But I'd be wary of trying to do too much too soon, winter is a good opportunity to build a solid level of fitness from which to build on in spring.
Boon 51
Veteran
- Location
- Deal. Kent.
Try and find some local to ride with can help as well, not just a bike club? 
CycleD
Regular
Speed will come naturally and over time you wont notice the gain in it unless you use Strava or a speedometer. A few basic things like having your seat at the right height and finding the right gear for you would be ideal. Dare I say Lycra is good too as it decreases drag from the wind but will only give you a slight advantage. Ride within a group or with a friend if possible. Don't rush it, enjoy it.
Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
Seeings that velocity = distance / time, something as basic as a watch will do if your rides, like most of mine, are over a fixed distance. 
Hell, since I started off mid-August, I've knocked the best part of 15 minutes from each of my two most-used rides
Hell, since I started off mid-August, I've knocked the best part of 15 minutes from each of my two most-used rides
ayceejay
Guru
- Location
- Rural Quebec
In any given new year the sales of exercise equipment and gym membership rockets - come March eBay reaps the benefit. The problem is that if you view your new exercise as a penance or punishment for being too fat or too slow it will be torture and you won't stick it. On the other hand if you find an exercise that you enjoy because it makes you feel good (yes Fnaar that too) then it becomes part of your life and you will always find time for it. If cycling does this for you you will ride your bike a lot and you will get fitter and faster with ti if the bug really gets you and you want to take it more seriously then you can work out a training plan.
GuyBoden
Guru
- Location
- Warrington
