New to cycling - 0 to 50 miles

[decosta]

Not to sure if this is the right place for me to post, but if it isn't that please move it.

I'm very new to cycling, I got my bike late last year and went for a ride on it after not riding since I was about 14 (I'm 31).

The bike I got was a Specialized globe disc sport and I like it as it does what I need it to do (at the moment).

What I would like to do is eventually do Ledbury - Cheltenham, 3 times a week, that would be a round trip of around 50 miles a day.

What I try to do now is between 8-12 miles around the ledbury bypass and then build it up 4 miles at a time. That's the problem with living here, to get anywhere you have to tackle some mean hills.

So does anyone have any advice on how to eventually tackle the commute (i.e like a training plan, ie. do 8 miles doing the week and then a 12-16 on weekends, rest, and then repeat)..

I would love to do this as it would save alot on petrol and I should get fitter.

I'm currently doing 8 miles in 40 minutes. (the hills are a killer at the moment).

Anyway, hope to become a good part of this community

 

[decosta]

THis is the training loop I do

http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=11809

This is what I want to do

http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=11810

 

[accountantpete]

If it's hilly then you will need either toeclips or preferably clip-in type pedals which allow you to use a wider range of muscles.This is not an instant cure as they both require the muscles to be trained but will be of long term assistance.

Also making sure that your tyres are pumped up to the correct pressure will make the job easier.

 

[andyfromotley]

hi decosta,

when istarted commuting i used to put the bike in the car and drive over halfway then park up and cycle the rest (about 11 miles). I did this for about 2 months untill i felt the ride was easy, then i took the plunge and just cycled the whole route (24 miles each way. My route was pretty hilly and it was a challenge, but the weeks i had put in on the shorter commutes stood me in good stead.

From my own point of view 48 miles a day is a LOT to commute. it took up three hours of my day and with shift work and overtime needed a lot of planning and comittment. I found it very easy to slip back into using the car for a day or two which then turned into a week or two. I would suggest that routine is the key. Get a routine for all of your kit, washing showering and the like and it is much easier.

I have now moved jobs so i have a 10 mile ew commute which i find much more managable. If you stick to it, with those distances and that terrain you will become very fit pretty quickly. Good luck
Andy

 

[jig-sore]

a very basic and non scientific way of increasing your ride distance...

take a look at your first route (current route). immediately to the left of your route are some nice little grey B roads making up some irregular triangle shapes OR, if you like, nice little extra "loops" to add to your ride. go explore these !!!! and then keep going, adding extra loops on all the time. you can use bikehike to check the millage and not get your self out of your depth.

or...

ride for 10 miles, turn around and ride back... instant 20 mile route, next time ride for 12miles, turn around... instant 24 mile route. use your planned commuter route for this, eventually you will make it all the way and back again.

don't be afraid to explore, i just went out got lost and nearly ended up in Leicester !!!! (live in Rugby) would have been fun if it wasn't for the rain

 

[Garz]

don't be afraid to explore, i just went out got lost and nearly ended up in Leicester !!!! (live in Rugby) would have been fun if it wasn't for the rain :?:

I second this!

I got lost too on one of my planned 30 miler's, added a few miles to the journey which after the ride I felt even better for.

 

[Randochap]

Best is to just ride. Practice pedaling a nice round circle -- rather than mashing on the downstroke. Clipless pedal system will help here.

Sounds like you have the right idea. Just keep extending your range.

Besides having the appropriately low gears, attitude to climbing is almost as important as fitness. That is, see them as a challenge rather than an obstruction.

 

[decosta]

Thanks, what I will do is do the practise one for now (while I have paternity leave/hols), then when I go back, do the route, but break it up into chunks. So then I get used to the route but do small sections.

It sounds stupid, but what i need to do is practise changing a tyre .

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Randochap]

It sounds stupid, but what i need to do is practise changing a tyre .

Not stupid at all. Here you go then.

 

[Banjo]

Thanks, what I will do is do the practise one for now (while I have paternity leave/hols), then when I go back, do the route, but break it up into chunks. So then I get used to the route but do small sections.

It sounds stupid, but what i need to do is practise changing a tyre .

Thanks for the advice.

Not stupid, highly sensible to practice at home instead of on the side of a lonely road in the rain when your late for work Usual advice is to carry a spare tube as well as a repair kit.Quicker on the side of the road to just stick the new tube on then repair the flat one in your lunch break ready as a spare for the ride home.