PDA

View Full Version : Speed Addiction ??



milkbone
09-16-2008, 06:33 PM
Just wondering...and I'm sure I'm not the only one...but it seems for the past few weeks, even if I plan to go on a longer ride at a decent pace, I get out on my bike and basically say to myself, "Nah...not today...I want to go for speed!"

So, I end up shortening my planned distance and maxing out on my speed. Its like I have an addiction to see how fast, for how long....

I really want to be adding distance to my riding, but the past few weeks it's just speed, speed, speed....


One of my non-cycling friends (but into working out like it's his own addiction too) says that he thinks it's just my body's way of telling me what to work on...like food cravings or something I guess..

Just wondering...
:rolleyes:

Jiffer
09-16-2008, 07:58 PM
Well, I can't say I've had that problem yet. But now that I'm done training for and completing my century, I'm more focused on speed. I did a 30 mile club ride on Saturday and I pushed hard to get the best time I could ... which I did. I killed my previous fastest. It was awesome! :D And then I did a ride two days later that I wanted to do as fast as possible as well, but I had nothing left after the previous ride. :(

If you truly want to work on endurance for longer rides, schedule yourself for a century or metric or whatever is a long distance for you, and then you'll HAVE to do some longer rides at a pace you can sustain for a longer period in order to train for it.

Just a thought.

arielmoon
09-17-2008, 07:27 AM
I have a need for speed too! :D

However, I am training for my first century so my theory is to try to maintain speed over distance. This means I am forcing myself to spin more and mash less because for me, mashing = speed :D

I am very new to all this but I would have to think that mixing things up between speed sets/ rides and longer slower spins/ rides is still going to be beneficial

bmccasland
09-17-2008, 08:47 AM
My only good speed is down hill, with a tailwind. :cool:

Uncooperative lungs do not let me ride hard and fast very long. I even try to remember to spin, but the difference between "with air" and "without" can be rather dramatic.

But Speed? I Likes it!