Novice training - go for distance or time?

[BintanMan]

Morning all,

As a runner, when I started out I always used to go out for a certain amount of time to build my stamina, rather than aiming for a certain distance. After that I pretty much made up my own schedule.

Should I do the same on a bike?

Nick

 

[montage]

If it worked for you whilst running, then why not!

 

[HLaB]

I prefer to build up distance and let time follow (well, in its own good time) but we are all individuals, do whatever suits you best

 

[heliphil]

awkward if time or distance doesn't get you back home!!!!!!!

 

[BintanMan]

awkward if time or distance doesn't get you back home!!!!!!!

Quite right. Nothing more disappointing than getting home and realising you have to find another 5 or 10 minute circuit because you made good time!

I'm more disciplined with time and I think wearing in my butt cheeks on the saddle is going to work better if I increase the time slowly.

Superb weather for a ride today - shame I caught a stomach bug off my kids and can't make it 20 minutes without running back up the stairs

 

[overgeared]

it might be better to switch focus between speed and time depending on the objective of the training. if you're doing low intensity base training then time might be the better choice because the name of the game is volume. but if you're doing higher intensity training to build speed then it can be more motivational to use courses of a set distance - the faster you go the faster you finish and the faster the pain stops - but the faster you get.

 

[BintanMan]

it might be better to switch focus between speed and time depending on the objective of the training. if you're doing low intensity base training then time might be the better choice because the name of the game is volume. but if you're doing higher intensity training to build speed then it can be more motivational to use courses of a set distance - the faster you go the faster you finish and the faster the pain stops - but the faster you get.

I was trying to ascertain what would be best to do from scratch. i.e. zero experience, to build up some initial stamina over a period of (say) 6-8 weeks. I am sure, like running, it takes an initial period to get 'in the saddle' as it were.

I wouldn't go out doing fartlek if I was a novice runner.

 

[GrasB]

First you need to work out what is a reasonable distance for you to cover in a week (on each outing try riding smallish loops until you're tired for a week). You'll want to do about 30% of those miles in one lower intensity chunk, you might want to make this a long recovery ride*, & the rest spread out across the week at higher intensities. Every week try to increase your distance by 10-15% on all rides. This will work for about 10 weeks before you'll need to think about changing your training strategy, by this time you'll also have a much clearer idea of your strengths & weaknesses.


* A general estimate is your ave speed should be at least 20% slower on a flat ride to 40% lower on a hilly ride compared to your high intensity rides.