Newbie question - hills or miles????

[DelB]

Ok, so I bought my first ever road bike recently at the ripe old age of 46. I used to be really into mountain biking, but had a bad 'off' six years ago and broke my wrist. Subsequently sold both my bikes and took up golf instead!

Anyway, have been out three times in the last week and a bit (young family and busy job mean riding time is at a premium) and have found a local figure of eight route which I enjoy. Have also done a few turbo sessions in between rides and am slowly feeling the benefit. The route I've been doing is exactly 13 miles long and has 831 feet of climbing. I did it on Friday in 57 minutes.

I'm wondering now whether I should continue to try and improve on the route I've been doing or if I should seek out a flatter but longer route to get some decent miles in my legs?

Would greatly appreciate advice from anyone who is/has been in a similar position.

Cheers all. :-)

 

[Gravity Aided]

Time is always at a premium. I think it would be wise to alternate flat and climbing rides, though it looks pretty hilly around Edinburgh, just going by the topographical maps and pictures, but I live in the flatter part of the States. But it helps to get both types of riding, climbing and flatter rides, in order to build both strength and endurance.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

I think at the moment the most important thing is just getting out there and enjoying it. I have a mate who 18months ago bought himself a really nice bike and more gear than the LBS stocks but he doesn't use it, he struggles for time, all of the time !

Keep it regular, keep a smile on your face that in parts turns to a grimace and soon your legs will tell you what to do and where to go next.

 

[sarah.b]

Ok, so I bought my first ever road bike recently at the ripe old age of 46. I used to be really into mountain biking, but had a bad 'off' six years ago and broke my wrist. Subsequently sold both my bikes and took up golf instead!

Anyway, have been out three times in the last week and a bit (young family and busy job mean riding time is at a premium) and have found a local figure of eight route which I enjoy. Have also done a few turbo sessions in between rides and am slowly feeling the benefit. The route I've been doing is exactly 13 miles long and has 831 feet of climbing. I did it on Friday in 57 minutes.

I'm wondering now whether I should continue to try and improve on the route I've been doing or if I should seek out a flatter but longer route to get some decent miles in my legs?

Would greatly appreciate advice from anyone who is/has been in a similar position.

Cheers all. :-)

Ok, so I bought my first ever road bike recently at the ripe old age of 46. I used to be really into mountain biking, but had a bad 'off' six years ago and broke my wrist. Subsequently sold both my bikes and took up golf instead!

Anyway, have been out three times in the last week and a bit (young family and busy job mean riding time is at a premium) and have found a local figure of eight route which I enjoy. Have also done a few turbo sessions in between rides and am slowly feeling the benefit. The route I've been doing is exactly 13 miles long and has 831 feet of climbing. I did it on Friday in 57 minutes.

I'm wondering now whether I should continue to try and improve on the route I've been doing or if I should seek out a flatter but longer route to get some decent miles in my legs?

Would greatly appreciate advice from anyone who is/has been in a similar position.

Cheers all. :-)

 

[sarah.b]

Hi

Thats great, and I do long trips most of the time but just lately I thought I should be pushing myself a little more so am trying to go on more testing routes and am feeling great doing a bit of both ! The experts tell us to push ourselves sometimes so do a bit of both !! Good luck
p.s. have always loved just cycling as far as I feel like to doing on the day !

 

[Ladytrucker]

I would love to cycle for miles on the flat but unfortunately i am in a very hilly area and my regular 11 mile route is littered with hills 495 feet today. I try to get out as often as possible and do feel like i am progressing well after just a few months. I think we are lucky having the hills to work at.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I don't have too much choice really - I live up the side of a hill surrounded by hills that are surrounded by bigger hills.

I tend to pick my routes on some subconscious whimsical basis sort of 'ah...I'll go there today via x and back via y'.

I honestly don't think it matters at this stage what you do; just go and enjoy your f-o-8 (although that could get boring) and whatever else you fancy.

 

[Chutzpah]

Go out and enjoy riding! You'll improve by osmosis.

Although saying that, some variety in your riding will be good, both for your general fitness and for some different routes. But you can use your 13 mile loop as a benchmark to gauge your improvement (which trust me, you'll achieve if you just keep turning those pedals)

 

[DelB]

Thanks, all, for your replies. Very much appreciated.

 

[Andrew 14]

I find that to get good at climbing hills you need to climb them and not avoid them for me the biggest buzz is getting up a good steep or long hill

 

[SWSteve]

re: climbing hills as @Andrew 14 has said - you need to climb them.

There's a great sense of achievement when you make it to the top of that hill and realise you've done it. All that sweating, changing gear at the right time to make the most of the lay of the hill and shouting 'Earn that Blue Jersey you wuse' becomes worth it.

 

[Chutzpah]

Yup, just try getting up it, it doesn't matter how far you get just try. Each time you're likely to get a bit further until one day you'll get all the way up it!

 

[DelB]

Well, put the bike in the back of the car at lunchtime today and drove down to Musselburgh. Did a nice coastal loop of 26.3 miles with 395 feet of climbing. At an hour and thirty eight minutes, I won't be breaking any land-speed records anytime soon, but it was a glorious day and I'm really pleased to have ridden so far. :-)

 

[Gravity Aided]

I live here. Wind, sometimes incredible, makes up for the lack of hills in some spots.

 

[Globalti]

57 minutes for 13 hilly miles isn't too shabby at all especially if you've only been playing golf. *spits*

A mix of fast and flat and slow and hilly is the best recipe for fitness. It would really help if you could link up with someone of your age who pushes you a bit.