My bike wants to go faster than I do...

[magictime]

So I just went out for my first ride on my new bike, along the local towpath, and was experimenting with different gears trying to find the right cadence. I don't have the confidence to ride fast - or the inclination, really - and don't think the towpath would be the right place to do so anyway. But I want to get a bit of a workout if I can; this is supposed to be my chance to do some cardio a few times a week.

In higher gears, I find I'm getting into a pattern of pedal and cruise, pedal and cruise, so that I don't pick up more speed than want to. So, lower gear it is. That makes sense. But then I still feel that I'm having to choose between riding/pedalling ever faster in order to keep feeling resistance in the pedals, or stopping pedalling now and then till I slow down.

This is all very much first impressions, but does anyone have any tips on how I find the right gear/technique to ride and pedal at a sustained, steady pace?

 

[ColinJ]

I don't know how you will get a good workout on a towpath, without riding at an antisocial speed, and you say that you don't want to do that anyway!

The best way of riding slowly but still getting that effort in is to ride up hills. Or into conveniently monstrous headwinds ...

 

[goody]

Try and find some quiet roads to ride on, some hills would be good if you want a workout.

 

[JtB]

In my experience towpaths are a very leisurely form of cycling, you need to get out on the roads, preferably where there are some good gradients and start increasing your distances.

 

[magictime]

Yeah, I did a little bit of riding on (quiet) roads to get to the towpath and back, but I really need to build up my confidence before I do much more than the bare minimum - both in terms of feeling properly in control of the bike at somewhat higher speeds, and in terms of 'road sense'. I haven't driven in maybe 23 years, more or less since I passed my test, so that doesn't help.

I suppose 'towpath' and 'hills' aren't entirely mutually exclusive, though, when I have lock flights like the Bingley Five Rise within a few miles.

Anyway, I'm not going to beat myself up too much if I'm only cycling in a fairly leisurely way to begin with - for now I just want to get comfortable with the basics.

 

[slowmotion]

The best way of riding slowly but still getting that effort in is to ride up hills. Or into conveniently monstrous headwinds ...

...or keep the brakes partially on.....

 

[ColinJ]

...or keep the brakes partially on.....

Deliberately, or even ... accidentally!

 

[DaveReading]

 

[coffeejo]

If you don't want to ride on the roads but still want a workout, have you considered getting a turbo trainer for fitness and then you can save the tow path for pleasure and leisure?

 

[magictime]

Well, this is all really helpful guys, thanks.

So is my problem that it's simply not possible to keep below, say, 10mph while pedalling continuously (on the flat), even in a low gear, and so maintaining any sort of cadence is going to mean either riding somewhere I can go faster, or finding a long gradual incline?

 

[raleighnut]

Well, this is all really helpful guys, thanks.

So is my problem that it's simply not possible to keep below, say, 10mph while pedalling continuously (on the flat), even in a low gear, and so maintaining any sort of cadence is going to mean either riding somewhere I can go faster, or finding a long gradual incline?

Yep, is there an old railway line nearby that has been converted into a cycleway.

 

[magictime]

If you don't want to ride on the roads but still want a workout, have you considered getting a turbo trainer for fitness and then you can save the tow path for pleasure and leisure?

Missed this one when I made my last post. What you're suggesting makes a lot of sense, but (1) it's yet more expense on top of the recent outlay on the bike and assorted kit, and (2) it's a bit depressing to conclude that I need to separate out the fun bit of cycling from the exercise bit. If I'd decided to start walking or running instead, I wouldn't be having to buy a treadmill as well as doing the real thing outdoors!

 

[magictime]

Yep, is there an old railway line nearby that has been converted into a cycleway.

The Spen Valley Greenway is fairly nearby, but isn't any traffic-free route going to be shared with pedestrians and therefore about the same as the towpath in terms of appropriate speeds?

 

[coffeejo]

Missed this one when I made my last post. What you're suggesting makes a lot of sense, but (1) it's yet more expense on top of the recent outlay on the bike and assorted kit, and (2) it's a bit depressing to conclude that I need to separate out the fun bit of cycling from the exercise bit. If I'd decided to start walking or running instead, I wouldn't be having to buy a treadmill as well as doing the real thing outdoors!

It's only depressing if you want to use a shared path for your workout.

 

[Tin Pot]

So I just went out for my first ride on my new bike, along the local towpath, and was experimenting with different gears trying to find the right cadence. I don't have the confidence to ride fast - or the inclination, really - and don't think the towpath would be the right place to do so anyway. But I want to get a bit of a workout if I can; this is supposed to be my chance to do some cardio a few times a week.

In higher gears, I find I'm getting into a pattern of pedal and cruise, pedal and cruise, so that I don't pick up more speed than want to. So, lower gear it is. That makes sense. But then I still feel that I'm having to choose between riding/pedalling ever faster in order to keep feeling resistance in the pedals, or stopping pedalling now and then till I slow down.

This is all very much first impressions, but does anyone have any tips on how I find the right gear/technique to ride and pedal at a sustained, steady pace?

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