gauging progress

[Lynne]

"Wow. Hope you can change a flat really fast, and never, ever have an off day or bonk - or at the very least hope you can find more tolerant riding companions. Or ride alone so no one else can inconvenience you."

No, my experience was hiking. On a climb, folks who were told they had to complete the training hikes or they would not make summit. They did less than half the training hikes, didn't complete the most difficult final training hike and went on the climb anyway. They had to stop frequently on exposed areas and it was difficult at best to stop and wait with them (very cold, you end up shivering a LOT). It was frustrating that some of us who'd worked hard for the climb were the ones freezing our buns off only because those folks were not considerate and didn't do the work for the climb.

I don't want to be that "guy" on the bike, but sounds like this is very different. Not like you have to stop and change a shoe or anything while hiking. I would hope others would just TELL me if I'm not at the level yet, but I'm not sure how it works with cycling...it would suck if EVERYONE had to wait for me only because I'm not in condition for the ride, do you understand?

[jobob]

Ah, I see where you're coming from.

If you join in on a club ride, generally they tell you from the outset the average speed and expected difficulty of the ride (most clubs post rides on their website and/or in the monthly newsletter, along with some kind of rating with regards to avg speed and amt of climbing).

Most clubs suggest that at the beginning you choose club rides that might (on paper) seem a little easy to you, in order to give yourself a chance to become familiar with the rating system and to lessen the possibility that you'll inadvertently join in on a ride that's over your ability at the time.

And most club ride listings include email or phone number for the ride leaders so you can ask them questions about the ride to see if it's within your ability.

On the other hand, if you're going on an impromptu ride with a bunch of friends, then hopefully they'll understand that you're a beginner and they won't try to hammer you into the ground

So all in all, I don't think it's the same sort of situation as you had with the mtn climbing.

Plus, seems to me you already have the sense not to be 'that guy' on a bike

[CorsairMac]

ROFL Jobob - not that I mean to steal any thunder on this thread but Homer Simpson??....That was JUST too hilarious to let pass!

[jobob]

"Doughnuts..... auuuuggghhh"

You'd think with all this obsessing about junk food I'd be a blimp, but I've managed to *loose* about 7 pounds in the last 3 weeks.

How, you may ask?

Well, in honor of Jo's Midlife Crisis I thought it was high time to get braces.

Yep, 45 years old, teetering on the brink of menopause, I get freakin' braces. Just on my lower teeth, but it's enought to make chewing uncomfortable and eating has become tedious. Most junk food is pretty much out the window for the duration (about 12 months with any luck). I'm trying to eat properly, and making sure I take my vitamins, but I'm eating so slowly and carefully that my total intake has gone down a lot. Next time I go to my orthodontist I'll tell her she might want to consider marketing braces as a sure-fire diet plan

Straying marginally back to the topic at hand, the hardest adjustment has been getting enough to eat while I'm riding ! Ordinarily I'd pack some payday bars & bagels, but caramel and nuts are at the very top of the 'don't even think about it' list, and basically anything chewy is out the window. So it's back to bananas . I've actually gotten to the point where I can deal with soft bagels again, but I have to tear off tiny bits and swig lots of water so I can mush them as much as chew them (ewwww sorry). So I'm relying a lot more on the energy drinks (Cytomax) and gels like Clif Shots & Gu to make sure I get enough in me so I don't bonk.

I came precariously close to bonking on a 65 mile ride Lee & I went on last week - it was nearly dead flat but we hit a bit of headwind, and I didn't realize until nearly too late that I wasn't eating enough. So I'm packing the Cytomax and the gels now. Bleah.

[Lynne]

Thanks for all the tips...the nutrition sections were great. I'm gonna try this strawberries and cream power bar, goo-like stuff this weekend...hehe...hope it's good! I never did like Gatoraid, but so many people use it, I guess I will try some of the new flavors. And I never thought about how hard it would be to open a bar while on a bike. And peanut butter on bagels...yum! I think I'm getting hungry....

BTW, I see a lot of women posting that they ride at least 4 days a week...how the heck do you do that, especially in the winter with the short days??? I just kind of figured that during the winter you have only two days a week to try and get in rides?

[CorsairMac]

Jobob - have you tried the Luna Bars? I don't recall them as being too very chewy - and they are thinner so it might be easier for you to bite into. Congrats on your braces (I think?) btw - if its what you want you go girl!

Lynne - have you tried watering down the Gatorade? I could never really tolerate it either until my dad (distance runner) suggested watering it down 1/2-1/2 or even 1/3-2/3 (water to Gatorade ratio). I was able to tolerate it better then. Now of course I can't drink it due to the sugar. There is a sugar-free replacement drink made by Alacar (read Emer-Gen-C) called Electrolyte. You can get it in health food stores - its an electrolyte replacement drink without any sugar and just a mild lemon-lime taste that you mix with water or juice. I mix it in my water bottles and it works for me really well! That and Clif Bars.

[MightyMitre]

Hi Lynne - welcome to the world of cycling.

To answer the question 'Am I fit enough?' then as Jobob suggested a few rides with you local club will soon be able to answer that question.

The world of cycling, in my experience in UK & Italy I have met some of the most wonderful people. I've been given banana's by strangers when I've looked like I was going to bonk. I've had cheers of encouragement from bystanders when doing long cycle-sportif courses in the mountains and been offered pushes from my tired clubmates when I recently tried my hand at mtb riding.

I think the phrase 'What goes round, comes round ' is a good one. It's very sensible to make sure you're physically up to a challenge before embarking but at the same time I've found people are always willing to wait or give you a helping hand.

If, on the other hand you're strong and you come across someone who's having a hard time then why not give them a shout of encouragement. I know they'll appreciate it.

PS - Never actually done a road race. My experience is in cycle-sportifs, which although timed are only actually 'raced' by a small minority of super-fit, semi pro's. The rest of us are usually happy just to cross the finish line.

[Dogmama]

Most group rides post the level of difficulty - the ride length, approximate speed and types of hills. AND sometimes people misjudge their preparedness. As a newbie, you may not know the route, unlike hiking.

The best thing you can do is arrive prepared. Know how to change a flat, bring extra food and enough water. Tell the leader that you are OK being dropped (e.g., left behind). If you start to get tired, turn around! As long as the leader isn't expecting you at rest stops, you'll be fine.

Riding with people who are better than you will make you stronger (or will expand your vocabulary ). Sometimes I like to ride with the 3% body fat, testosterone laden young lads just to see how far I can get. I always tell the leader that I expect to be dropped & it's OK.

There is no such thing as being humiliated as long as you're upright. And if you crash, make sure it's spectacular so that people will talk about it for months <joke!!>.

[Lynne]

You guys just crack me up! Thanks for all the encouragement and advice. It sounds quite a bit different (and generally friendly) than a climbing experience can be (although don't get me wrong, there are some great hikes/climbs with nice folks, too).

I will try the gatorade/water mix, thanks for the tip. I know water just won't cut it as I get into longer and longer rides.

And yes, my flat tire changing lesson is coming up soon!! Meantime, I'm taking that same paved trail by myself tomorrow...my first solo ride and I'm planning on doing the full 40 miles. Let's just say my cell phone will be close at hand....also, there are lots of houses along the route, so we'll see how I do!

Again, this is a great forum and I'm learning tons. It's so fun to have a new sport to try and I just can't wait to do Cycle Oregon...but it's nice to have plenty of time to get ready and a site to come to to learn how not be an inconsiderate idiot on a bike ;-)

[han-grrl]

Ride your ride! that is what i always say. i am not sure what it is about our human nature that we need to compare ourselves to everyone else. fitness is relative. i am not fast compared to some of my female friends, but cripes i am in the bEST SHAPe i have ever been. the most important thing is to enjoy what you are doing. never mind everyone else. if you can't keep up with someone, who cares? of course, keep trying to improve, but don't ride for the sole purpose of trying to beat someone else's time. ride to improve your own.

a friend of mine was racing solo at a 24 hour event and he so wanted to beat another friend. but this other friend had more experience, and he kist kept following and focusing on what this other guy was doing. he ended up breaking his bike and not being able to finish his race, because he was basically not racing his own race.

my two cents (as always)

Cheery happy!

Han

[wgtngrl]

Lynne, if anyone is mean to you or gets pissy with you for not being as fast as them suggest to them:

that they ride in circles around you so they don't get too far ahead;
that they ride all the way to the top, then back down to where you are, then back to the top, then back...;
to chill out and enjoy the scenery!

Couldn't agree with han-grrl more - ride your ride. Are you loving it? Then don't worry about other people. I've been riding for 4 years (over that time a mixture of cross country, road and downhill). There is always someone faster, more skilled, slower, or who falls off more than you. I've been lucky enough to ride with great people who will always wait for me if I'm slower. Recently I've found some people who I'm faster than (this is a real first!) and I don't mind waiting for them - I just do my serious training on days that I'm not riding with them.

If you really want to know where you stand in the grander scheme, enter some races (but if it's similar to how it is here, only the madcore tend to enter, so it can be a little disheartening...).

Welcome to the wonderful world of riding!