Training Routes?
- Thread starter Adasta
- Start date
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WychwoodTrev
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Wychwoods Oxfordshire
I have about 5 main training routes so I dont get bored plus they are a way of getting outofthat big hard climb if I am not in the mood,tired legs that day. My first route is a 10 miler which is basicly 5 miles of climbing then back home. My next route is a 15 miler with a killer climb 2 miles in. the next 15 I can combine parts of the 2 previous and either do the killer or miss it out. Then I have a allmost flat 14 miler for recovery rides. And a 30 miler for weekends which usses parts of all my routes
Madcyclist
New Member
- Location
- Bucks
Maybe I'm just fortunate living in the Chiltern hills, I haven't got any set routes such a variety of roads I can use that have very little traffic as flat or as hilly as I feel like on the day.
On the downside, I occasionally lack motivation, unable to decide which way to go. Maybe I need to decide on some regular routes for such occasions.
On the downside, I occasionally lack motivation, unable to decide which way to go. Maybe I need to decide on some regular routes for such occasions.
Angelfishsolo
A Velocipedian
- Location
- Cwmbach, South Wales
Five. Three of them are off road routes, one is a mixture of road and trail and one is all road.
brockers
Senior Member
- Location
- hollowed out volcano
If I'm actually training for a specific event, I'll have a variety all starting out more or less the same way. Depending on what my goals are, and listening to my body, I'll either do an all out but largely unstructured 25 mile dash on main roads; a nasty, brutish, and shortish 35 miler with a couple of ascents of the North Downs for L4/threshold work; a faster, flatter 50 mile L3 ride down to near Brands Hatch, or an LSD number taking in the sights of the pretty Kent villages.
If I'm not training for anything specific (which is more the case these days), I just ride my bike with no particular plan in mind and see where I end up. And then invariably run out of energy and struggle back home with a filling station Ginsters pasty, mars bars and cans of coke to assist!
If I'm not training for anything specific (which is more the case these days), I just ride my bike with no particular plan in mind and see where I end up. And then invariably run out of energy and struggle back home with a filling station Ginsters pasty, mars bars and cans of coke to assist!
lulubel
Über Member
- Location
- Malaga, Spain
I have 2 main routes at the moment - I'm still exploring, so hope to add to that - with extra bits I can add on the beginning or end, or extra loops I can do part way round, or short cuts to get home quicker if I need a shorter ride.
I have my work commute at 15.5 miles each way as my shortest route which is also fairly flat, then a simple circuit of Surrey Hills at 30 miles (1100 ft climbing), a 47 mile circuit of Surrey Hills (2100ft), a 57 mile circuit including Pitch Hill, Leith Hill, Box Hill and Ranmore Common (3200ft) and a 67 mile circuit which has Leith Hill from both sides (4100ft).
They all set off in the same direction so I have about 8 miles at the beginning to warm up and decide which I want to do (my condition, time available and weather determined).
They all set off in the same direction so I have about 8 miles at the beginning to warm up and decide which I want to do (my condition, time available and weather determined).
Fiona N
Veteran
I don't have routes as such just 'directions'. I think 'today I'll head out north' and depending on the weather, how I feel, time etc. just add bits on until I've done what I wanted. Like Madcyclist says, I'm lucky in where I live in South Lakes where there is an abundance of back roads linking the villages together so it's pretty easy to modify any route to be longer, shorter, hillier or easier as I feel like.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
If I just want a quick ride, a favourite short loop is to ride along the Calder Valley Cycleway to Mytholmroyd (to avoid the busy A646), ascend 'the longest continuous gradient in England' ...
... turn left at Blackstone Edge reservoir and do a very rapid 1.75 mile descent on the A58, then bear left onto a network of lovely undulating hilltop lanes, leading to a rapid descent back to Mytholmroyd, and return home on the Cycleway. 18.3 miles with about 1,600 ft of climbing, some fine views, and fun descents. Not too much traffic if busy times are avoided.
Doing routes the other way round is often a good way of extending your 'repertiore' but I don't like that one in reverse because I'd be climbing for 1.75 miles on the busy A58. Vehicles would be overtaking going about 50 mph faster than me, whereas descending it, I almost keep up with the cars.
When planning routes, I look for quiet roads, challenging hills and good scenery. Sometimes, it is necessary to use busy roads, but I prefer to keep them to a minimum.
I have about 4 or 5 favourite local routes, most of which are also good reversed so I'd say that I have about 8 routes that I use over and over again, ranging from the one above to ones that are about 3 times the distance with 3 times the climbing.
... turn left at Blackstone Edge reservoir and do a very rapid 1.75 mile descent on the A58, then bear left onto a network of lovely undulating hilltop lanes, leading to a rapid descent back to Mytholmroyd, and return home on the Cycleway. 18.3 miles with about 1,600 ft of climbing, some fine views, and fun descents. Not too much traffic if busy times are avoided.
Doing routes the other way round is often a good way of extending your 'repertiore' but I don't like that one in reverse because I'd be climbing for 1.75 miles on the busy A58. Vehicles would be overtaking going about 50 mph faster than me, whereas descending it, I almost keep up with the cars.
When planning routes, I look for quiet roads, challenging hills and good scenery. Sometimes, it is necessary to use busy roads, but I prefer to keep them to a minimum.
I have about 4 or 5 favourite local routes, most of which are also good reversed so I'd say that I have about 8 routes that I use over and over again, ranging from the one above to ones that are about 3 times the distance with 3 times the climbing.
Holy Warrior
Active Member
- Location
- West Yorkshire
What sort of routes are suitible for a beginner like me? I should be able to get out at least 3 times a week, so maybe three routes of varying length and difficulty?
I do live in quite a hilly area, no drags as such just short steep hills. I have also recently switched to a road bike from a mountain one and I am finding hills tough, very tough in fact. This is something I definately need to work on before I attempt the coast to coast next year.
Should I just go out for an easy ride for as long as is comfortable and see how far that is as a benchmark?
I do live in quite a hilly area, no drags as such just short steep hills. I have also recently switched to a road bike from a mountain one and I am finding hills tough, very tough in fact. This is something I definately need to work on before I attempt the coast to coast next year.
Should I just go out for an easy ride for as long as is comfortable and see how far that is as a benchmark?
Melonfish
Evil Genius in training.
- Location
- Warrington, UK
bikeroutetoaster.com
make your own routes up using that, it'll tell you elevation details and you can program speed in so it'll tell you how long you'll take. i use it for my routes.
ed: no affiliation btw just a happy user.
make your own routes up using that, it'll tell you elevation details and you can program speed in so it'll tell you how long you'll take. i use it for my routes.
ed: no affiliation btw just a happy user.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
I've got quite a few, and tend to add bits on.
Useful for judging fitness.
I have a few flat routes that follow 50% of the same route, then extend.
Hilly routes vary, but again I have a number I'll follow.
The 'routes' are usually under 2 hours though.
Useful for judging fitness.
I have a few flat routes that follow 50% of the same route, then extend.
Hilly routes vary, but again I have a number I'll follow.
The 'routes' are usually under 2 hours though.
Holy Warrior
Active Member
- Location
- West Yorkshire
Cheers Melonfish! What sort of routes should I create though? Like should I look to have variation in Hilly/ flat, Short/ Long? Or just go out for as far as I can, as long as I can until I get up to say 20/30 mile routes? Then take it from there?
