How do you train

[DDH]

Okay, another quesiton girls. If I become a pest or pain, just tell me. I have done many searches and have gone through a lot of information on this forum. Thanks so much by the way, I have learned a lot, but feel like I have so much more to learn.

my question now is, how do you get to the point that you can keep that cadance up? I mean I get out there and get my speed up and peddle and peddle and then I have to rest my legs. I cannot keep up that constant cadance and of course that is what I think is killing my average speed.
I feel like I push, but I don't feel like in a month I have realy gotten any better as far as this goes. My legs just feel tired. I get out and ride and try to ride every other day as I work on my enduarance. I mean my legs get tired easily and I have to slow down, then my feet go to sleep and tingle.
Now I have a problem with my left shoulder that I dont' know what I have done, but it is making my whole arm feel numb.
Now, I know I am whining, or sounds that way, but trust me I am not giving up and I don't care if my arm is numb and my feet tingle and I get tired, I am still going. I road all over town the other day and ended up riding 23 miles.
I rested at my dads in between this, but felt like I accomplised something because I did it, and that is when I did whatever to my shoulder. I noticed it when I got home. I refuse to let this stuff get me down, but it sure is aggrevating.
We have fitted my bike, and checked it over and over. Everything seems to be fine there. I am not having a problem with my seat, my knees were hurting a little right on the top and DH re-adjusted my seat today, just ever so slightly and when I rode this evening it did the trick, so knees didn't hurt.
Am I expecting to much to quickly?
Okay, just tell me to hush and deal with it.
I know I will get this right eventually. LOL
Ecspecially with all the information that is on this forum.

[Bikingmomof3]

I have very little advice due to being new to cycling. I am concerned about the tingling you are feeling. It sounds (I am not a medical professional) as though you are pinching a nerve. I had something similar happen to me-not bike related-actually I have no idea how I did it. After some physical therapy I was fine, but it took a trip to my doctor to discover what the pain was from.
As for cadence, for me, I just practice and practice more. I find my legs are always tired the first few miles, then they are fine. I have a tendency to push myself, so following my advice may not be wise. When I am not on the road I ride my trainer and keep a journal-actually two one for outdoor rides and one for indoor rides (yes, I am anal) about my speed/time/cadence/distance etc. I compete with myself. I also do a lot of exercises for my lower body as well as my upper body. Each day I push myself further than the previous day. There is probably a better method, so I look forward to hearing what more seasoned riders do.

[esther231]

You're like me. Impatient.

Been reading the health board recently after many here mentioned proper eating when I posted my frustration with my progress. So, yesterday, I tried some of the stuff over there.

I usually just grab the water bottle and hop on the bike and go. But last night, I ate a banana first. And some peanut butter. Drank water before I even started. Then hopped on the bike and went.

Happiness. It helped. I felt stronger, went further and wasn't exhausted at the end. I had no idea that eating before or during a ride could be important.

Not a clue about your shoulder. Hope others have some ideas on it. Hope it heals quickly. Gentle stretching might help some. Just a nudge to remember to bend your elbows when you ride.

[Grog]

I am also concerned about your shoulder. Do not overlook this. This looks like a fitting / position problem.

Regarding your legs, just a suggestion: I would suggest spinning in a lower gear. Most beginners use too big a gear ratio when they start. You should be in a gear that's really easy to pedal, just above too easy. To get there, go on the flats, shift to your easiest gear, and slowly shift up from there. Do not go to a gear that feels 'normal', stop way before that (in a much easier gear). Your legs should be spinning at about 90 rotations per minute, or if you prefer three times every two seconds. Yes, that's fast, yes, that's weird, no, you don't feel like you're going anywhere at first. Yet, you are, and you are much less likely to become tired as you get there.

But, yes, also be patient.

And love the ride. Don't make it painful.

[RoadRaven]

Be patient
Remember also that high cadence is not always high speeds

My cadence in a TT is about 80-85 - I push a big gear and that is when I am my fastest - in a big gear at a lower-than-some cadence

One of my sons trains at around 90 and in a race situation or in intervals while training his cadence will lift to well over 100...

Everyone works differently and you need to focus on getting your body used to cycling and then, in a year or so, start really fine-tuning the details...

Just my opinion - I'm not an expert on high cadence or how to do it well. Good luck

[DDH]

Thanks girls. Once again, you always help.
I do love the ride, I guess that is why I still go even though my shoulder is bothering me.
I know the problem with my feet is riding in my tennis shoes, but I can't do anything about that right now.
I wish I could find a flat to train on some, so I could learn to stay more steady. Where I live is hills, hills, hills, some big, some not so big, and some really big and it gets so frustrating because I just get my speed up and get in a rythm and back down I go.
DH keeps telling me hills are good training. Yeah, well they are also frustrating. LOL
We are going on a longer ride today to help train to get our distance up and then after we get home, I think I am going to have to call the doc about my arm, shoulder thing. It's not painful, just really achey like under my shoulder blade and tight on top of my shoulder then runs down and makes my whole arm numb.
I'll have to try the eating thing too, but I really am trying to watch my diet really closely to lose weight and I don't know what are quick snacks for energy but not so fattening or bad for you.