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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2013 18:38:50 GMT
As a bit of a novice iv only been getting in 10 to 20 mile rides once or twice a week since August ,I noticed that my fitness levels were improving ,I even rode a few longer rides now an again and was asked by a freind who rides regularly on his carbon specialize roubaix if I wanted to join him on 45 mile ride taking in a 7 mile climb and other steep hills ,which I don't do a lot of. Well I was doing well on.my triban getting up the steep climbs and keeping up with my mate who I suspected was really holding back a bit and wasn't really puffing much.then the last 500m to the summit he suddenly asked if we should Sprint that bit.I didn't really have iron.me and he left me standing ,a good 200 m in front. On the decent we flew down although my mate got quite ahead,I was cautiously braking a bit round the bends and was overtaken by 2 ,id like to think seasoned pros ,although with effort i kept up for a while they disapeard ahead of me.my mate was waiting at bottom and had only been waiting a minute or so he said.by the 40 mile mark we had one more big hill to climb.I gave up halfway buggered. An it was too steep to get going again.I had to walk a bit..my mate jhad gone up on the big ring still waiting again ha.overall I enjoyed the ride but found it a humbling experience too and realized that at 43 I'm not as fit as I.thought i was.
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Post by Whitestar1 on May 19, 2013 19:05:52 GMT
I wouldn't ride with him again. He isn't your friend. Sprint to the peak when it was clear that you where struggling, he just needed someone to beat up on.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2013 20:37:50 GMT
A bit dicky of him to fly on up the hills. Not doing much for your confidence or to make you want to join a group in future.
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Post by martin122 on May 19, 2013 20:43:09 GMT
just keep putting the miles in gilesashley and you will get there, forget about speed and just build the miles even if its little just keep cycling we have all been there when we started out and it does get easier, I still struggle sometimes with hills and my motto is you can have the best carbon bike and the most expensive bike but it will only go as fast as you can peddle happy cycling and more importantly enjoy cycling its great fun andgets you fit
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2013 20:54:11 GMT
just keep putting the miles in gilesashley and you will get there, forget about speed and just build the miles even if its little just keep cycling we have all been there when we started out and it does get easier, I still struggle sometimes with hills and my motto is you can have the best carbon bike and the most expensive bike but it will only go as fast as you can peddle happy cycling and more importantly enjoy cycling its great fun andgets you fit Well said, mate. We all need time to find our feet in whatever we do in life. A strong will and desire to improve is all that is required in many situations.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2013 21:05:48 GMT
Im having the same problems Giles, try not to get too disheartened. Ive only really been riding since march and have missed a few weeks riding in that time due to work/injury, so not long really. My colleague who rides a lot is younger and fitter than me and when I see his times on strava, I get totally disheartened and feel like Im never going to get there.
One main thing I think is to enjoy your riding and try and gain encouragement from how you find your rides. Try doing a regular ride and see if you get faster on it, or if you find it easier. I look at my strava times and see that I am definitely doing better, even though it doesnt feel it sometimes.
Recently we did a charity ride at work. We're all Sky engineers so should all be reasonably fit. I was pleasantly surprised at how much fitter/quicker I was than most of the other guys riding, that did a heck of a lot for my confidence. Even had a blast downhill with my mate who does it all the time and mostly kept up!
Keep at it dude, you'll get there
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2013 21:14:13 GMT
I wouldn't worry too much about age with regards to cycling. Put the miles in and you'll become as fit as a fiddle.
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panda
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Post by panda on May 19, 2013 21:26:30 GMT
I wouldn't worry about it. I am in a similar position to you, happy at the 20 mile mark, a bit knackered on the climbs, but my friends are about the same as me.
This morning, I was on a 20 mile run with one friend and a lady on a Specialized came from no where and passed us climbing up a hill. My friend looked at her as she went passed and asked her where she was hiding the motor! We all chuckled and then we kept in touch with her for most of the way, until we started chatting again!
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2013 21:46:04 GMT
thanks for replies everyone. just want to add that i realise that putting in more miles and tackling a few more hills can only improve my fitness. i was gutted that i had to get off my bike up that last steep climb but at same time pretty chuffed i did the ride up to the cat an fiddle pub {peak district way if anyone knows it.}its not really dis heartened me just made made me more eager to ride more and go up there again sometime. my mate was probably showing off a bit but i didnt mind so much cos it was a good way of gauging my level of fitness.martin122 is right its the peddaling power not the bike.cheers everyone.
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Post by Big Brother on May 19, 2013 22:05:44 GMT
I can empathise completely gilesashley.
Since first buying my T3 it has unfortunately spent far too long sitting, unused in the garage. At the back of my mind I knew I needed to get out and ride to build up my fitness and get some weight lost. Due to weather and work commitments this was not possible. I was itching to get out there and felt a great deal of frustration.
Take this weekend for example. Heavy downpour for the vast majority of Saturday - no ride. Got up this morning, warm and dry weather, had prior commitments. Returned home mid afternoon, cut the grass and had a tidy up in the garden. Before I knew it, it was tea time and the majority of the day gone. Made the effort, got the shorts, base layer and jersey on and announced to the family amidst hoots of mirth that I was going out for an evening ride.
Decent padded shorts, clipless pedals and SPD shoes and I was off up the road. Some time ago I would have struggled on the initial part of my ride (uphill, uphill then uphill!) This time, even with lack of riding I eased up. Rewarded by a nice downhill section, hitting 30 mph. In short, a very satisfying ride up and down local hills. Returned home feeling totally revitalised and planning my next ride out. In short....... I loved it.
It's hard for many of us to find time to get out and ride. When you do though, you feel on top of the world. I can't think of many sports that give you that buzz and feeling of well being.
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2013 7:49:47 GMT
i was gutted that i had to get off my bike up that last steep climb but at same time pretty chuffed i did the ride up to the cat an fiddle pub {peak district way if anyone knows it.} Cat and fiddle pub? second highest pub in England? Well Done mate! I take my hat off to you.
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Post by hurstd2013 on May 20, 2013 17:14:03 GMT
Everything's relative! The ride over the Cat and Fiddle would be a major achievement for a lot of people. I thought I was bowling along nicely yesterday when I was overtaken by a group of whippet-limbed 20-30 year olds like I was standing still - no problem - I did one of my regular hilly circuits faster than ever before - I was a winner on my own terms - probably comically slow by the clubmen's terms - who cares? Carry on - sod the rest. (Can you say 'sod' on a public forum?)
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2013 20:19:25 GMT
For me and the OH, we just pootle about, getting fitter and fitter. We're nowhere near group riding level, we love each other's company and encourage each other up some of the more taxing hills. From time to time I form a breakaway and sprint ahead to steal the stage Cav style, only to wait for OH at top of climb as I catch my breath and thighs recover... Lovely.
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Post by clayhead on May 20, 2013 20:27:06 GMT
GIles when I first started out cycling 9 months ago I struggled to do a couple of miles, yesterday I managed a 50 miles charity run with 800 other cyclists. It was a great experience, and I did it in judt over 3 hours, something that I thought would have been impossible just a few short months ago. I was left for dead by some of the guys on their dream bikes, some more expensive than my car! But I caught and passed a couple of them on the hills(smug grin) I even came across another T3, the first I've seen on the road. Talking of the Cat and fiddle,there is a cycle challenge in October that starts in Stoke and takes in the 7mile climb to the C&F, not a easy ride Im told, 55 miles in total taking in some other tough climbs, something to train for maybe as you are not to far away in Crewe.. Enjoy your cycling. Ps Sean Kelly is again riding it.
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2013 20:36:55 GMT
For me and the OH, we just pootle about, getting fitter and fitter. We're nowhere near group riding level, we love each other's company and encourage each other up some of the more taxing hills. From time to time I form a breakaway and sprint ahead to steal the stage Cav style, only to wait for OH at top of climb as I catch my breath and thighs recover... Lovely. That must be cool riding with the missus dude! Sounds like you have a great time together. I do all my riding alone as only two mates who also ride and they are light years ahead of me in fitness
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