Lazy, A bit Scared or Just useless.

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Doc333

Knight Of The Realm & All Around Good Guy
Location
Cheshire
In a couple of weeks I will have been cycling for a year, and although I was hoping to get a thousand miles in, it looks like I will fall short by a couple of hundred miles. As some will know I was given the all clear last December after suffering a heart attack, and was given a stent and plenty of med's. I realised I needed to get fitter and so I bought the bike. At 58-year old you can guess how long it took to get to a level where I was confident, but I'm starting to wonder if I would get out more if I had someone to ride with? The area I live has the scariest roads in the world, so trying to find lanes is a chore, especially as they are not well cared for, have pot holes, pebbles, wet leaves etc. It's also tough trying to find a ride that doesn't mean doing alpine climbs (Yes I exaggerate)

So am I looking for reasons not to go out, or do I worry too much about being out on my own for a couple of hours, even though I carry my spray. My longest ride was 37.6 miles and for the last couple of months I've only been averaging between 12 and 20 miles per ride. Today's effort was only 14.3 miles and I'm averaging around 14 miles per hour which seems very slow compared to some. Last week I took a turn which had me trying to get up a vertical wall, and even though my heart was almost out of my chest I got off for the first time and pushed for over a mile. So it can be tough around here, as the A roads are deadly and those that have cycle lanes are even more dangerous as they have never seen a sweeper and its puncture city. The lanes are tight and can be fun or iffy, and the B roads can be fun too but invariably they all lead to climbs which take you away from where you really wanted to be.
 

Roadrider48

Voice of the people
Location
Londonistan
It's only natural to be worried about going distance and using too much effort after a heart attack.
If you enjoy cycling and are medically fit to do so confidence will take over and I'm sure you'll be fine.
Enjoy your biking, don't worry about the speed of other people or get hung up climbing big hills.
Just simply cycle for pleasure, your own pleasure!
Happy cycling.
 

Mugshot

Cracking a solo.
It's an awful lot more than most people have cycled this year so give yourself a pat on the back, if you're looking for somebody to cycle with you could try contacting some local clubs, or you could try this website http://www.cyclingbuddy.com/. Don't forget that you're also already using a website which has members from all over the country, well world actually but we'll stay local for now, it may be worth popping a message in the beginners section or the informal rides section to see if anybody local fancies a spin out with you :thumbsup:
 

Mugshot

Cracking a solo.
Just thought I'd add that you seem to do rides which are a decent distance, 37 miles plus is a good distance and there is nothing "only" about 14 miles, maybe shorter rides more often would help as you wouldn't be out for so long. Also as @Roadrider48 says don't get hung up on average speeds and how that compares to others, they probably don't care how fast you're going so don't worry about how fast they are, unless you're planning on doing some races sometime soon just enjoy your riding and forget about averages and speed.
 

Mrs M

Guru
Location
Aberdeenshire
Don't worry about "targets", or stress out about not quite reaching them.
I agree with previous posts, just have fun on the bike (very nice bike) and congratulate yourself for getting out and doing it.
When I went back to cycling after a bad accident (not bike related) I frequently had to get off and push the bike, now I zoom up them hills! (Sometimes). :bicycle:If you are worried about going too far maybe stay nearer to home but just do some loops so you cycle a distance but near to home? Anyway well done for gettin the bike and gettin out in the first place.
 

ColinJ

Puzzle game procrastinator!
There are a lot of nice roads in Cheshire if you look for them. I have done the Manchester 100 lots of times, plus a couple of 200 km audax rides in Cheshire and the organisers managed to choose some good roads for us. (Yes, there were some busy roads too, but I reckon you could miss out most of them if you studied an OS map and looked for alternatives.)

Having company for some of your rides would be a good idea. There are lots of CycleChat members in Cheshire, Manchester, Stockport etc. and I'm sure that you could find one or two happy to join you. Why not start a thread in the informal rides forum, asking for volunteers?
 

welsh dragon

Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll pass.
As I have said before, its about the enjoyment. Doesn't matter how far or not you go, just enjoy and have fun. Don't think about speed, distance, gradients of hills,nothing. Just have fun. Go out when you want. Go home when you want, and don't give a stuff about anyone else.
 

youngoldbloke

The older I get, the faster I used to be ...
Is there a local club you can join? We are not all racing snakes, and you might be surprised to find others with similar health stories (at 67 I have a total of 5 stents). I organize the 'easier' leisure rides - average 12mph, 20 - 35 miles or so. I try to get out as often as possible otherwise but arranging to meet up with the group is a huge incentive to get up and out. It does take time to get over the stenting - last time It was well over 12 months before I was feeling near 'normal'. Did you attend cardio rehab after your treatment? I found it very helpful, and followed up with phase 4 at a local sports centre.
 

Paul Bromley

Well-Known Member
Location
Stoke on Trent
Hey Matey

You're certainly not useless. At least you have been getting out there.

Are you hung up about the numbers? Did you set heart on doing 1000 in a year so to speak? Doing 20mile a pop is only 10 rides from your target

I'm a year behind you. I had a heart attack and cardiac arrest last December. although I'd been cycling for years. I've given myself a year off the bike, mainly as I've been attending the cardiac rehab gym and I'd promised the wife not to ride. She is a worrier. Problem is cycling can be such a solitary activity

I'm a little south of you in Stoke

Anyway all the best and view the cycling as a lifestyle change and not a target. Enjoy it first then set some goals

One final thought:
Think back to when you woke up in hospital. I bet you didn't think you'd have cycled 800 miles this year did you?

A little game for you. Plot a virtual route across Europe on google maps and see where 800 miles would have taken you!

Paul
 

glasgowcyclist

Charming but somewhat feckless
Location
Scotland
I'm another who says you've nothing to berate yourself about with your cycling. While it isn't about the numbers, 800 miles is bloody good with your medical history.
Take heart(!) from the fact that you would be noticeably less fit/able than you are right now if it weren't for the cycling. Keep doing it.

(I actually prefer cycling alone, it let's me go at my own pace, where I like, when I like.)


GC
 

Dogtrousers

Kilometre nibbler
As noted above, 14mph is decidedly brisk. It's faster than me. Not that it really matters, as I'm faster than some others, and yet others are much faster.
What's the train network like in your area? The roads in my immediate area are unispiring urban yuk, but I can easily get a train to somewhere nicer.
Is there a local CTC group or a club that does easier rides? I'm a member of such a club, and it can be a good motivator to get out for ride on a miserable winter morning.
Is your gearing perhaps a tad high? Maybe something as simple a new cassette could transform your experience of the local hills?
 
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