I broke out the old 12 speed this week and rode twice around the development. That's a whopping five miles, took about fifteen minutes. When I clumsily dismounted in the driveway my quads felt like jelly. Granted it's a POS, yard sale bike and the roads have some kinda long inclines, but damn it, I workout. What's the deal? Are you guys genetically different or have a little special help in those water bottles? My friend, who's probably 80 lbs overweight, goes on 40 mile rides over hilly terrain most weekends. I run him into the ground every week on the basketball court. On a bike ride I'd probably have to fake a mechanical problem at the first bar or ice cream stand we passed.
Anyway, congratulations to you people who go out and ride 50 miles on a Sunday and actually enjoy it. I'd need a Harley, like my "Wild Hog" buddies, to pull that off.
__________________ 'I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. ' ~Frank Sinatra
WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher,
smarter, faster and better looking than most people.
__________________
"It's what you've got inside that matters. The details and technological things will take you only so far. You still have to pedal the bike. Some people are always looking for the magic secret. There's no secret. Just bust your ass." -Dave Zabriskie
training for one thing doesn't give you endurance for another. A surprise to all of us, and everytime it happens. Jumping rope was my last surprise - how do those out of shape girls do it for five minutes and more at a time? Alwyn Cosgrove wrote on this recently.
Some things translate, most notably- running hills. Hill repeats on foot mimic climbing on a bike, that's why if you're training for both, you'll rarely see hill repeats for both disciplines in the plan for the same week.
Otherwise, every new activity makes me feel out of shape. Wait, cycling makes me feel out of shape, too . dammit.
Just keep riding. We all started a block at a time. I was sure I was going to die.
__________________
From Aoife: You're just being a brat. You want to have a nice perfect body with no work. So do the rest of us. Too bad there's that reality thing, huh. I mean, come on...
chainringrrl.blogspot.com
Added an extra 1.5 miles tonight. My ass hurts worse than my legs so I must be making progress.
__________________ 'I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. ' ~Frank Sinatra
WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher,
smarter, faster and better looking than most people.
Location: Philly on one side, Pittsburgh on another, the Green Between...
Posts: 5,857
Bill
Get in on the club rides out of the high school...there are speeds and rides for everyone, and they are very welcoming. Join the Harrisburg Bike Club to get info on dates and times. You will improve VERY quickly and learn A LOT from people who have been riding for a long time.
If your bike is hurting you, take it to a local bike shop and make sure it fits you well, the seat is appropriate for your size, gender, and style of riding, and that the bike is at least in good repair. If this is a no-name, X-mart bike, you may get ribbed a bit about the bike not being worth much--but till you're ready to make riding a serious part of your workout and/or lifestyle, just take it. Just be aware that cheap, department-store bikes can break down a lot more than quality bikes, and sometimes are hard to fix, because they use poor-quality, out-of-spec components. You won't care if you only ride 3-4 times per month; you'll care heaps if you ride three or four times a week and keep coming up with flats or other problems.
If your bike is hurting you, take it to a local bike shop and make sure it fits you well, the seat is appropriate for your size, gender, and style of riding, and that the bike is at least in good repair. If this is a no-name, X-mart bike, you may get ribbed a bit about the bike not being worth much--but till you're ready to make riding a serious part of your workout and/or lifestyle, just take it. Just be aware that cheap, department-store bikes can break down a lot more than quality bikes, and sometimes are hard to fix, because they use poor-quality, out-of-spec components. You won't care if you only ride 3-4 times per month; you'll care heaps if you ride three or four times a week and keep coming up with flats or other problems.
I think the point of this thread was regarding bike conditioning, not necessarily bike fit. But good points still...
E
__________________
"It's what you've got inside that matters. The details and technological things will take you only so far. You still have to pedal the bike. Some people are always looking for the magic secret. There's no secret. Just bust your ass." -Dave Zabriskie
You real bikers amaze me
. dammit. 
Linear Mode
