Unprepared for Climbing Ride: Help!

[Starfish]

OK ladies, I need some advice & encouragement. I am training for a climbing ride on August 5th.

But, I have not been on my bike for a week, and the week before that was spotty. (Some life circumstances hit that took more time and energy than I anticipated.)

This Saturday, I am doing an organized ride as a training ride. It will be 80 miles with 6200' climbing, a good 4 hour drive from home.

The longest ride this year was 70 miles/3500'. The most climbing this year was 5100' over 40 miles (20 miles up, 20 down).

So, in 5 days I will do my longest ride of the year and my most climbing ride ever. I have been off the bike for a week and spotty the week before that.

I need to train for the August ride, and I am signed up for this weekend's ride, and I'm meeting a friend there, so I need to go, although I'm not enthusiastic. And the day before the ride promises to be very exhausting, in a non-physical way due to some circumstances.

Question: What do I do in the next five days? Ride light to stay "rested?" Do some intervals to "open things up?" I'm tired and busy this week.

Help!! Thanks in advance!!

[Fredwina]

I, personally, would take it easy. You're not going to be able to build strength in a week. as you said "life bees that way sometimes"

[anakiwa]

Do some easy riding to get your confidence up, eat as well as you can, and get enough sleep. If you try to ride too hard in the next few days, you'll have less this weekend.

Good luck!

[Zen]

I'm tired and busy this week.

Rest.
Eat your complex carbs, stay away from simple sugars.

Given your circumstances your biggest obstacle may be mental. Try some visualization techniques.

[Blueberry]

I'd ride however much you want to ride. If riding helps you deal with life's stresses, then I would do it for the first couple of days of the week. Thursday and Friday either take off or do a recovery ride.

If you've got a good base, 2 weeks off the bike will not significantly impact your riding ability. Ride your ride, and you'll be fine!

CA

[mimitabby]

and ride your OWN ride. If you're trying to keep up with So and So, it's likely that you're going to be miserable. Ride at your own speed and you CAN do it. If it gets bad anywhere you can always walk. And take lots of breaks.

[maillotpois]

So you've had a couple of recovery weeks - you may find you feel better on Saturday than if you'd been pushing it the last few weeks! Rest well, ride light and eat and drink well. Don't sweat it and then next week when this ride's behind you, push harder on your training for the August ride.

[RoadRaven]

At this time of the year, because I work full days and do school drop-offs/pick-ups I have no light before or after work.
Making myself get on the spin bike before work is sometimes a chore, and consequently some of my weeks between races have been with little or no rides between...

And yet, some of my best personal performances have been after a forced low km week... so treat this as a legitimate taper, and then pace yourself.

Try not to set unrealistic expectations... specific training for improving hill climbing is 5-8 weeks of focused hill reps and hilly rides. Just pace yourself and complete.

Life happens and gets in the way of our plans, but luckily with a bike you can easily reset your goals.

Best of luck for the ride and don't forget to ENJOY it!

[IFjane]

and ride your OWN ride. If you're trying to keep up with So and So, it's likely that you're going to be miserable. Ride at your own speed and you CAN do it. If it gets bad anywhere you can always walk. And take lots of breaks.

mimi, you are SOOO right! This is my biggest problem on rides - I try to keep up with someone who is faster, or my head messes with me and I psyche myself into some sort of funk and then get frustrated and angry because I can't ride the way others are riding.

Take mimi's advice and ride your OWN ride. You will be much happier, and you WILL do it!

[Batbike]

Relating to this thread ...

I too had not been on bike in a couple weeks and prior to that I was riding, but not very well and without much purpose ... just riding. So, when I finally got back on bike, I rode with a very strong and very fast group on very hilly ride and got dropped completely off the back -- humble experience. I was down on myself for being such a lousy cyclist until I realized that I need to be thankful I could ride the ride at all. I did not keep with the group, but I rode well for someone in my position -- a rec cyclist with LIFE that gets in way of cycling, not a life of cycling. I realized I could improve my cycling by creating goals for the time I had on the bike, and YES, the goal may be just to ride easy and enjoy the scenery, or it could be hill climbs ... whatever. It is my life and my bike and I want to enjoy it as I go. Hopefully I will enjoy the limited time I have on the bike, improve because that is fun and good for the ego, and learn to pick my groups rides a little better. All good!!

[Veronica]

Definitely ride at your own pace. Enjoy the views.

V.

[IFjane]

Hi Bat! Speaking of climbing - have you ever climbed up Rt. 56 to the Tye River Gap? We did that last Saturday.....what a relentless monster that is! I had to bury my head and just grind it out in my granny gear....yeesh.

[Batbike]

Hi Bat! Speaking of climbing - have you ever climbed up Rt. 56 to the Tye River Gap? We did that last Saturday.....what a relentless monster that is! I had to bury my head and just grind it out in my granny gear....yeesh.

IFjane -- can't say I have! Based on your description, I probably won't be doing it anytime soon!

[IFjane]

IFjane -- can't say I have! Based on your description, I probably won't be doing it anytime soon!

I haven't done Thunder Ridge, but I have a feeling it is not a lot different from that. Maybe steeper. So I imagine you could do it! I could never get into a rhythm Saturday because the grade kept changing...we climbed 4600 ft. in about 26 miles...

[Starfish]

Thanks, everyone. I'm not so much worried about keeping up...I have gotten pretty good at riding my own rides. Sleep is just not happening this week, but you are all right...I can eat well and get into a better mental space. I appreciate your support. Thanks again!