Training rides, training for rides, preparing for training rides, equipment for training, and training routines.
8
votes
9answers
6k views
What should I be doing a week before a long distance bike ride?
I have a 50 mile bike ride in 1 week. I have been training for a while and I am trying to figure out, at this point, if I should be:
Training hard, doing a few long bike rides to get prepared
...
6
votes
2answers
135 views
Improving metabolic efficiency
I'm doing road cycling, on hills, over long distances.
Typically at the moment, I'll do two 30-40 mile evening rides in just under 2 hours. Generally either 50ft per mile climb or 100ft per mile ...
8
votes
5answers
261 views
Training fasted: just about weight loss?
Preparing for a 100mile ride in August I was thinking of following a training plan which came in a "Sportive Guide" given away with Cycling Plus magazine this month.
Some of the days on the plan ...
28
votes
11answers
1k views
Ride with someone who is less trained
Barbie and Ken both love to ride the bike. Ken is a strong guy who likes to ride 60km as fast as possible, enjoys of getting to the edge of his strength. Barbie is more relaxed, likes to enjoy the ...
21
votes
9answers
12k views
What is the best breakfast right before cycling?
Sometimes I feel I will faint when I am cycling in the morning. I usually don't have this problem after lunch.
My breakfast is rich in carbohydrates, but maybe I'm eating too much or missing some ...
12
votes
8answers
884 views
How can I pedal in circles?
I couple of years ago I switched from using a normal pedal to using a clipless pedal. It takes a little while to get used to. Now, to be able to use it optimally I need to learn how to pedal in ...
0
votes
2answers
63 views
Recovery from surgery, and want to race in November
I'm six months after a double ankle joint fusion surgery. Both my surgeon and my physio have suggested cycling. I have a wind trainer and have plinked my road bike on it and being working on my ...
14
votes
7answers
3k views
Does spin class prepare you for a long bike ride?
I need to train for an upcoming bike ride and i wanted to see if attending a spin class 1-2 times a week (45 min course) would be appropriate way to prepare for a long bike ride (50 - 75 miles)
23
votes
14answers
3k views
I wish to get fit, therefore should I have a heavy bike?
A lot of people seem take up cycling to get fit, and they'll talk about how light their bikes are.
However, as I understand it, a heavy bike uses more energy to pedal it. Should someone that wished ...
2
votes
4answers
101 views
Minor hamstring pull, can I keep going at easy pace?
I'm 53 and for the past year have been pushing it slightly. Have always been careful to not push it too hard, but yesterday I got a mild pull in my right hamstring. Just a slight soreness right ...
10
votes
5answers
3k views
How much to eat and drink during a 50km ride?
I want to try a 50 km ride for the first time, to be completed continuously one morning.
The most I've even done before is an 18 km (70 minute) each way commute (out in the morning and back in the ...
5
votes
3answers
249 views
3x increase in endurence in 3 months?
I am currently using a hybrid bike, 10kg of weight(quite light for the category I've head) and my longest ride has been 65km at an average of 18km/h in a mostly flat terrain.
In this ride for many ...
1
vote
3answers
796 views
Is my interval training routine effective for mountain bike training?
During these winter months I am currently attending the gym 3 times a week. On each of the days I start my training on an exercise bike with the following:
5 minute warm up
30 minutes, 1 minute ...
5
votes
4answers
581 views
Is it better to breathe through your nose or mouth when cycling?
I just watched the 'Road to Glory' documentary about Team Sky. I noticed when they were warming up on their Turbos, some of them had cotton wool up their noses.
Is this because it's better to ...
4
votes
6answers
263 views
How should I train for a century while still commuting by bike to work?
I'm going to start training for a May gravel century at the end of March. This is my first century. I plan to follow this training schedule here: http://www.kintera.org/htmlcontent.asp?cid=54755. My ...
9
votes
5answers
3k views
How do I maximize my upper body workout from riding?
I often hear people say “your bike is a whole-body gym”. I know my upper body workout will never be close to the workout my legs get, but so long as I’m a bike commuter, I figure I ought to get as ...
11
votes
5answers
526 views
What's the cheapest way to get into training with power?
I used to train with a stopwatch, and later on, heart-rate. Both required relatively inexpensive tools.
Now I'm interested in training with power (measuring the watts produced) and I'm finding that ...
14
votes
3answers
528 views
Attacked by birds
I have been having some problems being attacked by several red-winged blackbirds when I am riding. It seems to be the same birds because I am only having this problem in certain areas. I have talked ...
3
votes
3answers
467 views
Which parameters should I track with bicycle computer so I can analyze changes in my riding?
I'm building Arduino-based bicycle computer with GPS at my free time as a hobby project.
So I have to find out which parameters of ride will be useful to track to see a progress (or any changes) in ...
2
votes
2answers
684 views
How accurate are indoor trainer power meters?
I recently got a Tacx Flow trainer, this being the first time using a power meter. For about 10 years, however, I have been doing monthly "uphill time trials," whereby I put the time into that formula ...
3
votes
2answers
229 views
How do I taper for a century+ ride?
I am doing a 210km (130 mile) ride on Sunday. I assume it'd help me to taper but I'm not sure about the most effective method.
How much should I ride in the last 3-4 days before the ride? My current ...
4
votes
5answers
2k views
Couch to Century
Due to injury I've got to take a little time off from biking. My physical therapist recommended doing a "couch to marathon" program when I'm feeling better to get me back into the swing of things. ...
0
votes
1answer
139 views
Time trial improvement from new bike
I can average 21.7mph for a 20 mile time trial (00:55:15), on my 2001 Rockhopper with 1.25" fatboy slicks, no lock out on shock. My bike weighs 25.25 lbs. I'm planning on buying a Cervelo 2012 r3, ...
1
vote
3answers
108 views
Effective use of heart rate monitor
I have a Garmin Edge 500 with hear rate monitor, which I use while riding. Now I have all this hear rate data which I don't know how to apply. Can anyone point out how I should use this data for ...
2
votes
2answers
130 views
Advice for increasing endurance [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How can I improve my stamina?
I would like to improve my endurance while bicycling.
I'm especially interested in increasing my endurance while going up a slope (since ...
4
votes
2answers
330 views
What are the pros and cons of a Turbo Trainer over Training Rollers?
For the winter, I'm looking to get either a Turbo Trainer (like this one) or Training Rollers (like these)
What are the pros and cons of each?
I don't think I like the idea of not being able to turn ...
8
votes
3answers
387 views
Effective breathing for efficient cycling
It seems silly to say I don't know how to breathe, but I don't. When doing weights, I know you exhale when you do the work part of the rep. In Yoga similarly breathe out on the stretch. Rock ...
11
votes
4answers
361 views
How can somebody with Type I diabetes keep blood sugar levels acceptable during and after a multi-hour ride?
I recently upgraded my bike to a Merckx EMX1 and started doing some serious riding. I am riding 50–70km(30–45 miles once a week usually including a second cat climb and sometimes one or ...
7
votes
9answers
1k views
Effective 'equipment minimal' leg strength training for cycling?'
What are the most effective 'no equipment' (bodyweight only) or 'equipment minimal' strength exercises for cyclists? There's a lot of info out there about core strength, so I'm working on that. ...
4
votes
2answers
343 views
Should I use a road bike or track bike on my rollers or trainer?
I have a road bike with a triple, a track bike with a high gear ratio. Which should I use on my trainer for use with training videos? Should I use a geared bike, freewheel single speed or fixed ...
5
votes
2answers
280 views
Recommended inexpensive heart-rate monitors?
Since I last used a heart rate monitor (about eight years ago), wrist-watch only monitors seem to have increased in popularity (based on the offerings at Amazon)
update apparently these watches come ...
10
votes
3answers
423 views
What is a good way to learn how to ride a bike on rollers?
After seeing a few questions about rollers pop-up, such as this one, it has spiked my interest in these things again.
So how do you learn how to ride on rollers? How long does it take you to get the ...
16
votes
3answers
293 views
How much do you need to concentrate when using rollers?
I'm consider getting bicycle rollers for use over winter, and I expect after the initial newness has worn off it might become boring. Can I realistically watch a DVD while using rollers? Or do they ...
1
vote
3answers
852 views
Online turbo / spinning resources
Where can I find free online spinning or turbo classes? Ideally videos, but just audio or even an annotated playlist would do.
3
votes
4answers
286 views
Book Recommendation: Training
I am curious if anyone has any interesting books (preferred) or blogs on training for cycling.
Right now I ride for a couple hours twice a week, I have a short 15 min commute to work and I ride for ...
6
votes
3answers
427 views
Simple plain English explanation of VO2 MAX
What is VO2 MAX and how is a measurement taken? By how much can VO2 MAX be increased in the average person?
4
votes
3answers
344 views
Is it normal to wear out the rear tire with in a few months when using a trainer?
Early this year I attached my bicycle to a trainer, around the December time frame of 2011. The rear tire and inner tuber where shot by March of 2012. Riding about 24 Miles per week. Is this normal ...
13
votes
3answers
4k views
How do bicycle power meters work?
What exactly are they measuring? How do they measure it? What are the implications of the different approaches on accuracy / speed of getting a good measure?
It would be helpful if someone could ...
6
votes
3answers
394 views
How can one estimate drag for a bicycle?
I am curious how to estimate drag for a bicycle. This has two different framings:
Find the amount of power required to ride at a certain speed. That is, when one is traveling at a constant speed, ...
1
vote
1answer
144 views
What's a good setup for an experienced but rusty cyclist training for his first triathlon?
I've got my first (sprint) triathlon coming up at the end of July. I need a bike to train and race on. I'm comfortable on both road and MTB style bikes, but haven't ridden on either in several years. ...
5
votes
5answers
337 views
Train cycling legs for a long walking trek
Cycling is my sport. I'm training for a multi-day ride (four days). Each day will we be hard riding but not too long. The week before the event however I'm going on a four day trek with a 20kg ...
3
votes
7answers
5k views
Most Crucial Gear/ Accessories for a (Road) Cycling Beginner?
Some background information on myself before I get to the question:
I've decided to get in to cycling both as a hobby and because I need the activity. (Though I'm honestly driven more by the former - ...
2
votes
2answers
275 views
How to train for a long tour?
Recently my interest was piqued with a very long tour: http://tourdivide.org/
Being time constrained by an 8 hour job, how does one train for a ride that will require 160 kilometers (100 miles) per ...
6
votes
3answers
742 views
What are the most effective exercises to improve stamina and speed on my cycle to/from work?
I have just turned 40 and despite running many marathons in my younger days I'm finding it hard to get fitter again after too many years at a desk. I have a reasonable racing bike which I use for my ...
15
votes
2answers
3k views
What exercise should I do in the gym to assist with hill-climbing?
I have a few events coming up this year which have a fair amount of climbing (one is over a hundred miles with about 6500ft of ascent - that's an average of just over 1% for the entire distance). ...
5
votes
2answers
249 views
Suggestions of a good video on intermediate Mountain Biking skills: getting up (and down) 1' obstacles
I'm looking for a good training video on intermediate mountain biking skills.
(I've been mt biking for about 12 years and I'd like to improve my skills.)
I'm looking for a video that really breaks ...
3
votes
4answers
774 views
How to warm up / stretch and cool down?
I'm starting to ride again after a couple of years of not doing any sports at all. I dimly remember some stretching exercises back from school, but I don't know if I'm doing it right at all.
Instead ...
7
votes
4answers
1k views
How can I improve my stamina?
Generally I'm doing a lot of sports, (volleyball, hiking, soccer, swimming, etc.) and while hiking I have no problem to do 3000 meters or more in a day (uphill ;)) but when I go mountain-biking I have ...
-2
votes
2answers
727 views
Is training by heart rate really a good thing? [closed]
I'm a 44 year-old male, fast-recreational cyclist -- about 6,000 miles/yr. -- who has used a heart rate monitor on and off for nearly 15 years. Quite honestly, I find it kind of aggravating, as it ...
14
votes
4answers
1k views
Should I buy a PVC or aluminum roller?
I'm currently trying to choose between the CycleOps PVC roller and the CycleOps Aluminum roller. How big of a difference is there between them? I don't really care about riding the roller outdoors, so ...
