PDA

View Full Version : Riding 2x a week - what does it do?


Jisch
October 7th, 2003, 03:08 PM
I have a little loop I can ride from my office at lunch time. I do it when I can't get out to ride after work AND when the temperature is reasonable outside. There's no shower facilities here so I can't stink too bad :P

The loop is 70% road riding. The remaining 30% is in the woods on double track up a wicked steep hill with rolly basalt blocks all over the place. Its definitely a hike a bike up, the descent is wicked fun and scary, but over entirely too quickly.

During the spring I started keeping track of my average speeds to do the loop. I figured since its a measured ride its a good indication of my relative fitness level. Here's what I have:

Date Avg Speed
4/1 7.4
4/2 8.0
4/25 9.0
4/30 9.4
5/12 9.7
then summer hit - after work rides
10/7 11.7

During the summer I've been doing two or three rides a week. I think some of the increase in speed is pure fitness, but a certain amount of it is downhill speed. I definitely rode a lot faster down the hill today than I ever had before. I'm a lot more comfortable on the HH100x than I was in the spring.

John

knucklebuste
October 7th, 2003, 03:50 PM
Well, I've noticed one thing. You gotta ride constantly to keep up fitness. I haven't ridden in a week and I feel like dog shite. I get home at 6pm and it's dark. WTF. However, my H.I.D storm arrives this week and I'm psyched about that. However I ride about 4 times a week for 2-3 hours a pop all summer and every time I hop back on the bike, it's like starting over. I fail to ever see any improvements. I don't let it get to me though. Well my technique for technical stuff has improved greatly as well as my ability to pick lines quickly and accurately upon fast descents, but as far as stamina and overall speed, I fail to ever see or feel any improvements. Maybee I just ask too much of myslef. But point #1, you gotta really beat the hell out of yourself to stay in shape. It's a lifes battle, all in order to not have the HSG (Homer Simpson Gut) or dreaded BH (Belt Hanger) at 40 years of age. Not gonna happen.
Knuck