Road Cycling

[grudas]

That's a reasonable pace, with a reasonable bit of elevation and a very high ave HR. I would have thought you could easy do 50-80k if you just slow things up a little, ride more Z2?

My HR has always been high to be honest, compared to runs on zwift etc it’s still around that.

It’s very hard for me to ride z2 anywhere outdoors, where ever I turn, there’s a climb which quickly bumps it up.

My vo2max is quite low too, slowly getting out of “poor” but not great still and I believe that kills my efficiency hence the increased avg hr.

I’m sorta hoping over the next 5-6 months it’ll slowly drop as my cardiovascular fitness improves.

Zwift, outdoor rides etc have dropped already over the last few weeks so I’m heading in the right direction.

Think I was too focused on heavy lifting for many years and completely abandoned anything cardiovascular which has resulted in my body being quite inefficient..

It also makes me wonder if my really bad hospital stay last year did a lot more damage than I thought. I nearly died there due to infection and while I feel good now, I also wonder what the real impact was and how much it hit my fitness. I was out of everything for 6 months before I was able to pick up a dumbbell.

 

[AndyCr15]

It’s very hard for me to ride z2 anywhere outdoors, where ever I turn, there’s a climb which quickly bumps it up.

The ride you link is maybe just a little lumpy. My point is what you might determine a 'climb' (165ft over 7 mins) near the beginning, your HR reaches over 180, cadence touches 110 and you ave 13.6mph. I'm saying... just go a little slower

I think when I started I was consumed by my speed and what others might think. Even perhaps trying to justify if I had a slower ride, somewhere in the title maybe, but these days, I don't care. It's not a race. I know I'm slower than most, that's fine. (This morning perhaps a good example, I did 32 miles, but averaged only 14.2 mph for the whole ride... but also ave only 116bpm HR )

**EDIT** Also, Merry Chrimbo everyone!

 

[grudas]

The ride you link is maybe just a little lumpy. My point is what you might determine a 'climb' (165ft over 7 mins) near the beginning, your HR reaches over 180, cadence touches 110 and you ave 13.6mph. I'm saying... just go a little slower

I think when I started I was consumed by my speed and what others might think. Even perhaps trying to justify if I had a slower ride, somewhere in the title maybe, but these days, I don't care. It's not a race. I know I'm slower than most, that's fine. (This morning perhaps a good example, I did 32 miles, but averaged only 14.2 mph for the whole ride... but also ave only 116bpm HR )

**EDIT** Also, Merry Chrimbo everyone!

Haha yeah they’re not proper climb but for heavy me they feel like that.

I’ve noticed that in a high cadence cyclist in general, to be real with you I’m not chasing any numbers at all. Don’t even have average etc speed on my computer, just cycle to what I feel “comfortable” and that’s it. Even if my heart rate seems to show as me working hard.

Garmin watch has adjusted over the time and my max hr is at 197 so all in, heart rate zone wise I spent most of it in “tempo” which I don’t think is bad. But yeah z2 is no go for me currently. Zwift for example is the only way I can control zones properly.

I think as I get used to it and get comfier pushing near 90kg up climbs, I’ll be fine and will end up working “less” and able to cycle further.

My Christmas all! Was hoping to get out for a ride but no time…

3D printed this storage bottle





Fits :

Two tpu tubes
Chain link
Two tire levers
Extra Alenkey
Patches
Rubber gloves
4 cable ties - never know
Multi-tool with chain breaker etc.

Prefer this combo over saddle bag.

 

[AndyCr15]

But yeah z2 is no go for me currently.

Again, and I'll leave it here after this as something isn't aligning, you're saying you couldn't put less effort in, I'm saying the numbers suggest you could, that was all. (I'm not saying Z2 all the way! Just, you could simply put less effort in and go further/longer)

You are right about 'as you get fitter, it will be easier to put less effort in' though, so keep it up and it will soon be easier. Although, judging by your last few posts, you may well fall into that saying of 'cycling doesn't get easier, you just get faster!'

 

[grudas]

Again, and I'll leave it here after this as something isn't aligning, you're saying you couldn't put less effort in, I'm saying the numbers suggest you could, that was all. (I'm not saying Z2 all the way! Just, you could simply put less effort in and go further/longer)

You are right about 'as you get fitter, it will be easier to put less effort in' though, so keep it up and it will soon be easier. Although, judging by your last few posts, you may well fall into that saying of 'cycling doesn't get easier, you just get faster!'

no I get what you’re say effort wise but I’ve done some super easy zwift rides and my hr quickly jumps out of z2 and sits in z3 for example. Going up those “bumps” I’d probably stop moving forward if I tried to stay in lower zone as my hr seems to jump quickly. My view is that once I’m actually reasonably fit on a bike, I’ll be able to control my pace better. Currently everything feels like hard work.

Then again, everyone is different really so your hr vs my hr can’t be compared. Zones can but number wise it’s pointless. I’ve seen some younger guys pump out 220+ max with no issues.

We’ll have to see, currently I enjoy tracking my progress and it’s good to see the numbers moving in the right direction.

 

[AndyCr15]

Going up those “bumps” I’d probably stop moving forward if I tried to stay in lower zone as my hr seems to jump quickly.

You won't, but as I said, something isn't lining up here, so I'll leave it.

Then again, everyone is different really so your hr vs my hr can’t be compared.

To be clear, I'm not. I'm looking at your cadence and speed on these inclines.

 

[Martynt74]

Got out for an hour to sweat out some excess toxins.

Absolutely freezing today. Mesh fronted shoes are not welcome!

 

[grudas]

You won't, but as I said, something isn't lining up here, so I'll leave it.

To be clear, I'm not. I'm looking at your cadence and speed on these inclines

Yeah, I feel comfortable at higher cadance, not a fan of the “grinding” at lower cadance. Recently did a workout on zwift which tried to keep me in the 50s and 60s and struggled big time.

Anyway, how many KOMs have you got on Strava? Only way to see who pedals harder

 

[AndyCr15]

Anyway, how many KOMs have you got on Strava? Only way to see who pedals harder

Ha ha, you understand my point was 'you pedal harder than you need to, pedal less hard and go further instead, that's what I do', so then a competition about who pedals harder again shows we're not aligned in our thinking

 

[grudas]

Ha ha, you understand my point was 'you pedal harder than you need to, pedal less hard and go further instead, that's what I do', so then a competition about who pedals harder again shows we're not aligned in our thinking

I totally can go further, I’ve just not been brave enough to try really. A few years back we did an Ocuk ride, I jumped from my 24 mile daily commute to 100 mile ride with everyone else and was fine.

I just need a robopacer in front of me to tell me what’s going on

 

[bastic]

Merry Xmas everyone

Been a while ;D

need to get few more rides until end of the year...planned 100k route around london - flat as pancacke and might just do that on my gravel bike...

maybe Last Kent ride of the year over weekend

 

[AndyCr15]

I’m sorta aiming to get to a point where 50K feels comfortable

I totally can go further, I’ve just not been brave enough to try really. ... I jumped from my 24 mile daily commute to 100 mile ride

I give up, I shouldn't have tried to offer any advice. My apologies. You can now ride 100 miles. Good luck.

 

[grudas]

I give up, I shouldn't have tried to offer any advice. My apologies. You can now ride 100 miles. Good luck.

Ah there’s a difference between feeling comfortable and able to do it.

Few weeks back 20k was tough now I’m fine just jumping on the bike and doing it.

It’s okay, I appreciate you trying haha.

 

[AndyCr15]

Ah there’s a difference between feeling comfortable and able to do it.

I know, hence the attempt to give some advice.

Anyway, let's move on, keep it up and you'll soon be there.

 

[grudas]

I know, hence the attempt to give some advice.

Anyway, let's move on, keep it up and you'll soon be there.

Advice taken and something I’ll try to apply in a zwift ride soon to see if I can learn and pace my self more. May just set a z2 erg for an hour, see what it “feels” like.

 

[bastic]

well it might be the end of the year on a bike for me
most distance for me in a year to date

Distance	6,020.1 km
Elev Gain	28,810 m
Time	250h 44m

longest ride was 216.8km

happy NY all ;D
I hope new year will bring you all new bikes

 

[Vandle]

Anyone doing the Festive 500? I attempt it every year but too much booze usually derails me and I’ve yet to complete it. Not so this year, 81km to go tomorrow and planning on doing the zwift games 2024 epic to get me over the line. Just need to resist going to the pub to watch the finale of the test match this afternoon.

 

[AndyCr15]

Anyone doing the Festive 500?

The logistics of it are always what gets in the way for me. Work/travel/family.

I remember two years ago Xmas Eve was Saturday and I'd done 280km by Tuesday and then my Di2 broke (staying at my mum's, with no other options) and my one decent shot at it was gone

Maybe next year I'll take some days holiday, specifically to complete it.

 

[PikeyPriest]

Anyone doing the Festive 500? I attempt it every year but too much booze usually derails me and I’ve yet to complete it. Not so this year, 81km to go tomorrow and planning on doing the zwift games 2024 epic to get me over the line. Just need to resist going to the pub to watch the finale of the test match this afternoon.

I don’t think it will ever work for me. With the family events I struggle to do 2-3 1 hour rides for the 2 weeks of Xmas/new year. It’s a shame as the group rides on Zwift do look appealing and likely to be supportive.

 

[Vandle]

Aye difficult this time of year but that’s what makes it a challenge. More so if you have a winter in December, gladly we don’t but on the flip side riding outdoors after 9am gets a bit much.
I miscalculated earlier and actually have 85km to do, so knocking off the zwift games route which I’ve not done before won’t be enough on its own. Better off with a pace partner ride with coco that nets you 39 km/h and barely pushes you above 200w with very little climbing so better for time efficiency.
The zwift group rides are very supportive but they always are anyway, regardless of the goal.