starting to see improvements

[sparty69]

I'm just starting to get out regularly since the bad weather, christmas etc. I went out on yesterday and did 28 miles (should've been 30, but I took a wrong turn ). This took me 2 hours and I did nearly 1500 ft of climbing. The main area that I could see an improvement in, is my hill climbing. I tried getting up the hills that I do regularly in a bigger gear. Albeit just one gear up from usual, I managed every hill in this gear and didn't feel too wasted. When I think back to my first attempts at these hills I can really tell a difference in my fitness levels . This is just the motivation I need to keep pushing myself, that and the fact that I am doing my first sportive in March .

 

[MLC]

I need to get back out ASAP however my C2W voucher dictates otherwise.

What I found with hills (last year!) is that they did not necessarily get any easier however I got up em a bit quicker so any trade of ease was eaten up by the increased speed and the end result was similar.

Having said all that when I was riding in a group that was climbing slightly slower than I normally would I stayed with the pace and you can really feel the difference at the top.

I was amazed when I did London to Southend last summer at the sheer amount of people who were walking bikes up hillls and I was out of the saddle just going up them with not too much a problem. I felt a right hero until someone pointed out that most where not riding regulalrly and for a few it would be their first long ride . Oh well good while it lasted.


Well done it is a lovely feeling when you can approach a hill that previously scared the .... out of you and actually attack it & Good luck with the sportive in March.

 

[sparty69]

I need to get back out ASAP however my C2W voucher dictates otherwise.

What I found with hills (last year!) is that they did not necessarily get any easier however I got up em a bit quicker so any trade of ease was eaten up by the increased speed and the end result was similar.

Having said all that when I was riding in a group that was climbing slightly slower than I normally would I stayed with the pace and you can really feel the difference at the top.

I was amazed when I did London to Southend last summer at the sheer amount of people who were walking bikes up hillls and I was out of the saddle just going up them with not too much a problem. I felt a right hero until someone pointed out that most where not riding regulalrly and for a few it would be their first long ride . Oh well good while it lasted.


Well done it is a lovely feeling when you can approach a hill that previously scared the .... out of you and actually attack it & Good luck with the sportive in March.

Thanks MLC. All words of encouragement gratefully received.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Well done!
It's the magic of the bicycle (man's greatest invention) that a bit of regular effort is readily rewarded.

Keep-it up

 

[iAmiAdam]

It never gets easier, you just get quicker, I'm still knackered at the top of hills, but I'm climbing them in a much bigger gear.

 

[david1701]

don't say that, I want to not be dead when I get home (stupid living at the top of a hill)

 

[ColinJ]

don't say that, I want to not be dead when I get home (stupid living at the top of a hill)

Well, you can always choose to ride slowly even if you are fit enough to ride more quickly!

 

[david1701]

but theres beer at home

can't wait for the summer and that first beer on the grass outside before I put the bike away