Too much - too soon ?

[s7ephanie]

Have been trying to cycle a bit every day, although had a day off here and there after a particulrly long ride, yesterday i did 2 hours but i try and do at least 1 hour a day. Just went to go out, and got only about 100 meters up the road and felt that i just couldn't do it !!!! IOn the shorter rides i tend to go as fast as i can (used to take hour and half - now just under an hour) longer rides are just poodling about really: Am i trying to do too much too soon ? have been riding about a month i think

 

[Spinney]

You DO need some rest time regularly planned in to training...

(but not as much as I sometimes claim )

 

[Mo1959]

Have been trying to cycle a bit every day, although had a day off here and there after a particulrly long ride, yesterday i did 2 hours but i try and do at least 1 hour a day. Just went to go out, and got only about 100 meters up the road and felt that i just couldn't do it !!!! IOn the shorter rides i tend to go as fast as i can (used to take hour and half - now just under an hour) longer rides are just poodling about really: Am i trying to do too much too soon ? have been riding about a month i think

If you're already having rides where you are trying to go as fast as you can after just a month, I would say you are maybe overdoing it. The first few months you shouldn't really be worrying about speeds/times and concentrate on gradually just building up your time in the saddle. This should give you a good base level of fitness.

By all means, maybe have a few short bursts during a ride or do the odd hill a bit harder but nothing drastic at this stage. Sounds like your body was just telling you it wanted an easy/rest day.

 

[biggs682]

i always prefer to enjoy my rides more than worry about speeds

 

[Mile195]

Doesn't matter how long you've been riding. We all have "off" days. Make sure you're eating properly and drinking sufficient fluids (if all you drink is tea and coffee that doesn't count - Caffeine is a diuretic!). Even if you're only slightly dehydrated you'll feel lethargic and your legs will feel like lead!

But yes, I echo the other sentiments about building up gradually. Slow and steady wins the race, as they say.

 

[jonny jeez]

Hi.

Its hard to tell as I cant comment on your style of riding. You mention giving it some wellie, but its hard to know how to define that.

I guess my advice would be two fold.

First, perhaps give yourself a break until you "miss" the bike. The good weather will help you miss it more.

I find this is often an issue with commuting, it turns an enjoyable thing into something too functional and a bit of a bore.

Secondly...and this will definitely cure the issue in a heartbeat, find a (or some) mates to ride with. Make an event of each ride, meet for cake and tea, ride to a coffee shop, drink, chat, eat more cake (you can see how cake forms an intrinsic part of my hardcore training regime), then ride home for another chat, farewells and promises of a longer ride next time.

Riding with friends (new or old) is a fantastic way to put miles under your wheels.

J

 

[s7ephanie]

Hi.

Its hard to tell as I cant comment on your style of riding. You mention giving it some wellie, but its hard to know how to define that.

I guess my advice would be two fold.

First, perhaps give yourself a break until you "miss" the bike. The good weather will help you miss it more.

I find this is often an issue with commuting, it turns an enjoyable thing into something too functional and a bit of a bore.

Secondly...and this will definitely cure the issue in a heartbeat, find a (or some) mates to ride with. Make an event of each ride, meet for cake and tea, ride to a coffee shop, drink, chat, eat more cake (you can see how cake forms an intrinsic part of my hardcore training regime), then ride home for another chat, farewells and promises of a longer ride next time.

Riding with friends (new or old) is a fantastic way to put miles under your wheels.

J

wish i could, but i'm Billy No Mates :-( its very rurual here, all french farmers and lots of cows) the only english people i know are all too old or too ill to ride a bike !!! Have planned a lovely route for tomorrow ending at a chateau, will pack lots of water and nibbles (should be approx 50km return trip) ps i've already eaten all the cake

 

[AndyPeace]

Have been trying to cycle a bit every day, although had a day off here and there after a particulrly long ride, yesterday i did 2 hours but i try and do at least 1 hour a day. Just went to go out, and got only about 100 meters up the road and felt that i just couldn't do it !!!! IOn the shorter rides i tend to go as fast as i can (used to take hour and half - now just under an hour) longer rides are just poodling about really: Am i trying to do too much too soon ? have been riding about a month i think

Your body knows best and will advise you when your asking too much of it! Listen to it! As Mo said, the early days of cycling are just about getting miles in, as long as your turning the crank, speed is not important...fitness is the goal, speed will come as a by-product

 

[Ern1e]

wish i could, but i'm Billy No Mates :-( its very rurual here, all french farmers and lots of cows) the only english people i know are all too old or too ill to ride a bike !!! Have planned a lovely route for tomorrow ending at a chateau, will pack lots of water and nibbles (should be approx 50km return trip) ps i've already eaten all the cake

I know before I said go girl go but now I think it's time to slow down a bit girl ! and also buy more cake lol.

 

[doog]

Have been trying to cycle a bit every day, although had a day off here and there after a particulrly long ride, yesterday i did 2 hours but i try and do at least 1 hour a day. Just went to go out, and got only about 100 meters up the road and felt that i just couldn't do it !!!! IOn the shorter rides i tend to go as fast as i can (used to take hour and half - now just under an hour) longer rides are just poodling about really: Am i trying to do too much too soon ? have been riding about a month i think

Felt like that today so didnt even get on the bike, however you can ride through it and it does get easier as your ride progresses.

 

[Risex4]

a) What @Mile195 said about off days.

b) Felt you couldn't do it physically or mentally? I mean was your body knackered to the point that the legs just ached and hurt when you tried to put pressure down, or your just felt to yourself I cant push it? I'm a "performance orientated" cyclist as well in that I generally go out to push myself to improve, but looking for improvement day in-day out will fatigue you as well. You simply can't improve yourself every single time you get in the saddle (for a variety of reasons) and pushing yourself every time you are on the bike takes its toll on the noggin as well as the legs; you have to just go out and spin sometimes!

 

[boydj]

You DO need some rest time regularly planned in to training...

(but not as much as I sometimes claim )

This is true - if you are cycling every day, you need to have some really easy days to allow your body some recovery time. The occasional day off will help give your body a chance to recover and build on the training you have been doing. It also helps to keep you mentally fresh so that your cycling doesn't become a 'chore'.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

wish i could, but i'm Billy No Mates :-( its very rurual here, all french farmers and lots of cows) the only english people i know are all too old or too ill to ride a bike !!! Have planned a lovely route for tomorrow ending at a chateau, will pack lots of water and nibbles (should be approx 50km return trip) ps i've already eaten all the cake

Wot? Aiming for the next Olympics, are we?
Take it easy!
How hot is it in your neck of the woods at the moment? Heat is energy draining - for me anyway.

 

[jonny jeez]

i've already eaten all the cake

you can never eat ALL the cake, trust me I've tried.

In the absence of mates, I think you have the right idea...but....now...bear with me here, there is another way to help motivate yourself if you are riding alone... I know many people thing this a dirty word...so I'll whisper...have you tried Strava?

 

[themosquitoking]

When i'm out on my own i always finds it helps to think of myself as someone like Kiriyienka pulling along the whole peloton.