Training tips

[Slower than you]

hi all

I'm trying to build up for an approx 60 mile ride in about 4 months.

I have downloaded Strava and think I have seen some improvement with 3 rides a week (although only on ride 7). I have tried to do one long ride and two shorter ones. did just over 15 miles in an hour which was a real improvement.

Can anyone recommend a good training plan or where to look for one?

Also, is a cadence monitor really needed? At the moment, I just get distance and speed on the app.

Thanks

 

[Citius]

In all honesty, you don't need a 'training plan' - at the point you are at, you just need to keep riding regularly.

 

[Slower than you]

I hear that. Will keep doing what I am. But are there any ideas on how to improve overall, ie what I should be aiming for in the short term to meet longer term goals?

 

[Joshua Plumtree]

What other long term goals do you have, apart from the 60 mile ride?If you're able to work your way up to a couple of 30 mile rides a week, that should be more than adequate to complete a 60 miler on the day.

 

[Slower than you]

Besides the ride, just want to improve overall general fitness a lot as know I should be doing more...

 

[vickster]

Besides the ride, just want to improve overall general fitness a lot as know I should be doing more...

Ride a lot more to improve bike fitness, maybe add in another exercise for fitness such as swimming, running, fast walking, another sport

Walk upstairs rather than taking the lift

Lose any weight, give up booze, stop smoking if you do

60 miles on a warm April day after 4 months of regular winter cycling should be straightforward, just make sure you ride similar terrain to that of the 60 miler, don't just ride to and from work in flat London, find some decent hills if there are hills in the ride

You could join a club and go out on their mid week and Sunday runs

 

[Tin Pot]

hi all

I'm trying to build up for an approx 60 mile ride in about 4 months.

I have downloaded Strava and think I have seen some improvement with 3 rides a week (although only on ride 7). I have tried to do one long ride and two shorter ones. did just over 15 miles in an hour which was a real improvement.

Can anyone recommend a good training plan or where to look for one?

Also, is a cadence monitor really needed? At the moment, I just get distance and speed on the app.

Thanks

After your hour ride at 15mph how did you feel?

If you keeled over, then you've got some work to do. If it felt hard but you were okay after a breather, you can probably do 4hrs with a bit of fuel and someone to talk to.

 

[adamangler]

I think if you are doing 1 or 2 hour rides and managing say 20-30 miles then you should be able to do 60 miles with nothing more than determination to finish, the key things to do would be build up to 4 hour rides to get your arse used to the saddle. If its a hilly 60 practice on hilly routes so you get used to riding at threshold or short hard max efforts.

 

[Montydog]

......having only started cycling last August i dd a 60 mile event towrds the end of Sept....went out 2 to 4 times a week riding upto 40 mile in one go....cut out alot of rubbish from diet and ate heathy......rode a mixture of flat and hills but still not great on the hills so work to be done on them

am sure if you keep building up mileage and time on bike with rest days you will be ok

 

[Slower than you]

Thanks all for the tips helping point in right direction.

Seems my 14 mile has become a lot easier and now as my base ride without too much effort but haven't gone further yet. This evening was pretty cold, Google says 2 degrees outside. But my layers were right, 3 of them plus a windstopper for the top! Only my toes felt it a bit. my diet isn't bad anyway but trying to be a bit better and also trying to be regular on the bike - annoyingly a few nights this week after work was pouring which stopped me. Also still adjusting to the gears being on the breaks but getting easier. I more remember them being on the bike frame... I'm also trying to vary the rides a bit between hills, flat etc.

This evening my bike sounded a little squeaky. Where the right places to oil besides the chain?

Woke up to a layer of snow. Lol.

 

[Slower than you]

I'm slowly improving, managed to do 23 miles last night. Problem is, I always go at night late after work so time restricted and tired... On the way up tho

 

[Tin Pot]

I'm slowly improving, managed to do 23 miles last night. Problem is, I always go at night late after work so time restricted and tired... On the way up tho

Good for you.

Have you found any interesting/hilly routes?

In the cold I'd rather find an hour or two of hill climbing protected by trees, than here hours on the flat.

 

[Montydog]

every little helps

 

[Slower than you]

At night doing mostly main roads and Regent's Park circuit coz want to avoid anywhere too remote due to weather and dark.

Need to really explore a bit more but in time I guess

Sunday's have done a bit more adventurous but nothing grand yet...

 

[vickster]

Plenty of hills in north London and not exactly what you'd call remote