Increasing your mileage/endurance

[Rob500]

Hi Zomboid. Welcome to the forum. Congrats on getting on your bike. Keep motivated and keep up the good work.

40+ miles is doable. If I was able to build up to it then anybody can. I'm a leisure rider rather than a 'racer' and there always has to be a tea & cake stop.

If you want to build up your distance on the cycle paths why don't you give the Lagan & Lough paths a try? You can access both from the Waterfront area. The Lough run goes up to Jordanstown. The Lagan run goes down to Lisburn.

 

[zomboid]

Cheers Rob, I've seen a path just before you get to central, goes along the lagan...didn't know if that was part of the paths...i'd be coming from ravenhill road direction

 

[zomboid]

Also - just out of interest, i know i'll get over my ass being a bit sore for a while - however, my triceps are feeling it today too... is that normal? lol

 

[MattHB]

Don't forget to learn about body fuelling. I get to 1hr45 and start to run out of energy. Refuel properly and I can do 4 hrs. Some people use up their energy reserves faster than others so remember to listen to your body.

 

[Rob500]

Cheers Rob, I've seen a path just before you get to central, goes along the lagan...didn't know if that was part of the paths...i'd be coming from ravenhill road direction

If you're going over the bridge from the Ravenhill Rd side towards Central then the National Cycle Network Route 9 can be accessed just beside those waterside appartments.

 

[Rob500]

- however, my triceps are feeling it today too... is that normal? lol

Not sure zomboid. Are you holding on for grim death?

 

[cyberknight]

Riding in a group you will be able to ride a lot further and faster,as others have said contact the club and see how they run things.
Just a quick example..
Yesterday i went out for a circuit of 24 miles and i was fecked,i was giving it the beans but on a club run of similar pace i can ride 3 times that distance and feel fresher but hungrier because of the drafting effect and motivation +banter from the other riders.

 

[zomboid]

Not sure zomboid. Are you holding on for grim death?

i possibly was, few times people and their dogs got in the way. like seriously, letting dogs just wander about with no control of them - it's annoying.

re: network 9 - were does that go? might have a look at it next weekend

 

[Rahul Sapariya]

Hi,
I'm looking to be able to join a cycle club but i realise when they go cycling as a group they do say 40mile treks.

At present I'm trying to increase my mileage. When motivated, i'll cycle to & from work. My work is about 3&1/2 miles from home.
Today i did roughly 12miles cycling a towpath and back. My legs were feeling it when i got off my bike,and my arms (at times i was cycling against the wind)
Also a bit of background on me - i'd say i'm not the fittest. the 12mile cycle today took me about 1hr&1/2 i do need to lose weight and i've lost a stone since last october but i'd say i've a few still to go.
was just looking advice as to how long it takes really (or how long should i realistically be looking) for it to take to be able to do a 40mile cycle

any help is appreciated,thanks!

I haven't read anyone elses comments because I'm too lazy. First things first, it's good you are honest about yourself. If you can do 12 miles, you can 40 miles...fact. The reason you can do 40 miles is because you don't have to go 20 odd mph, you can go at something like 10-12 mph and do it. If you are looking at a nice training regieme, I'd suggest you find a hill that is about 3 miles from your house and cycle there and up the hill, stop once you have reached the top, have a drink and then cycle down the hill (or freewheel). Keep doing this atleast once every week, I do this 3-4 times a week at 5am (soon to be 4am) because then you don't really have to worry about cars, you just cycle at your own pace but try to do the hills the best you can and try to push yourself to the limit up the hills. Cycling to and from work is great for building up your stamina, muscles and helps to tone them up.

If you are looking for more immediate results, I'd suggest buying a fixed gear. The reason I suggest this is because you have to pedal no matter what so it will force you to pedal up a hill all the time and you have to pedal down a hill, I cycle up hills on my fixed

Hope this helps.

 

[Ian H]

Also - just out of interest, i know i'll get over my ass being a bit sore for a while - however, my triceps are feeling it today too... is that normal? lol

Triceps do some work if you're riding correctly with arms slightly bent.

 

[Rob500]

re: network 9 - were does that go? might have a look at it next weekend

If you get on it at those appartments and follow its path (with the river on your left), you will come out at the junction of Ormeau Rd - Stranmillis Embankment. Cross over at the lights and follow the cycle lane on Stranmillis Embankment. Follow on round the back of (or go directly down) Lockview Rd. Pass by Cutter's Wharf and at the Boat House/Club on the left go into the car parking area and join the cycle path to Lisburn. The path from here to Lisburn is about 11 miles. I think it's about another 3 miles from the town to the Boat Club. Of course, you don't have to cycle all the way to Lisburn. You can always stop for a welcome cuppa at the Lock Keepers Inn.

 

[zomboid]

Triceps do some work if you're riding correctly with arms slightly bent.

cool, i think at times i was straining...going uphill too. haven't been cycling in about 3months so could've been a bit heavy on them

 

[zomboid]

If you get on it at those appartments and follow its path (with the river on your left), you will come out at the junction of Ormeau Rd - Stranmillis Embankment. Cross over at the lights and follow the cycle lane on Stranmillis Embankment. Follow on round the back of (or go directly down) Lockview Rd. Pass by Cutter's Wharf and at the Boat House/Club on the left go into the car parking area and join the cycle path to Lisburn. The path from here to Lisburn is about 11 miles. I think it's about another 3 miles from the town to the Boat Club. Of course, you don't have to cycle all the way to Lisburn. You can always stop for a welcome cuppa at the Lock Keepers Inn.

cool, thanks!

looking to build up mileage and explore a bit of belfast. wanted to do the comber greenway completely but part of it is under construction so i'll have to wait a couple of weeks.

 

[ShaunGo5]

Focus on the journey and not the destination (miles). I am in my 3rd season having moved from a hybrid to a road bike last season. There are a lot of factors that can dictate your mileage beyond your weight (Good on you for losing 1st). The weight of your frame, the fit of your saddle and leg position, the gears you consistently ride in, how much water are you carrying, are you carrying it in bottles & cages on your frame or a pack on your back. For me, I started doing 6 mile rides, and towards the end of my first season I had shed 20 +/- pounds, put of a lot of leg muscle, my rides were up to 2.5 hours 25-30 miles. I use a 1lit camelback, and 2 12 ounce bottles in cages. Make sure you use all your gears. If you only peddle in high gears with fast cadence but no resistance, you're literally spinning your wheels. Use your gears like a craftsman uses their toolkit. Different gears for different terrains.