biking and the time / space continuum

[mimitabby]

How can you ride 100 miles?
Especially if you feel stressed out and tired after 10?

I think i can answer this question today; partially, because I think about it a lot.

The weekend before the RSVP I did two rides, 39 and 26 miles... on both of these rides, I felt kind of stressed to get done, tired even. How can i do 100+80 next weekend, I can barely finish these rides!
That went through my head again and again.

Make space for the ride... this is the biggest part.

if you are going to be riding 20 miles, give yourself 3 hours if you are certain you can finish it in two. give yourself LOTS of time. If you get done early, great.
But here's what happens to me again and again. Like most of you, i do most of the house chores on the weekend and i do the most of my riding then too.
So there's nothing leisurely about a 40 mile ride when you know you have to go home and do laundry, shopping, etc when you're done.
You have to somehow schedule it so that your reward for finishing is NOT a bunch more work.

So when you do a 50+ mile ride, you just DON'T have time to do all that other junk. If you try, you're going to feel miserable.

Get all that stuff done the night before! Have hubby/kids/maid do it for you.
Or plan to NOT do it...
This outlook has made a big difference for me. When we do a big ride like the RSVP, i know that all i have to do that day is ride, eat, sleep. it is so freeing.

I hope this helps someone. Please feel free to add to this thread if you think I'm on to something.

[Geonz]

You're so right.

When I plan things with a significant margin for error, then I'm starting with a "head start," *not* starting out behind. It's totally mental - and totally important.

I have this model of myself as *not* being able to keep up directly with things... whether it's valid or not doesn't matter. However, if I think I'm ahead and whatever the "thing" is (whether it's cyclists or my to do list - works for both ) is somehwhere behind and gaining, I'm often able to focus and accomplish great things.
(That was one of my other clues that no, I really *was* improving... I was out riding by myself because I *knew* I couldn't keep up with that night's group even though they had *said* I wouldn't have any trouble...and then I realized they were behind me... and I knew I would not be able to keep up with them when they caught me and that would be really embarrassing because they would expect me to... and the next time I looked back, the gap had widened... oh, yea, but that didn't count because I was just starting... I realized if I even wanted to say hi to those folks I was going to have to SLOW DOWN and let them catch me... and that made my grin so wide and my head was so big they wouldn't be *able* to pass me... between that and the endorphins...)
... but now I need to tackle this stack of papers that I'm behind on ... which is why I'm postponing getting to it...
... no, I'm ahead ... really... somehow )

[Haudlady]

Yeah, this all sounds about right (er, except for that part about "letting someone catch up"... I'm not at that stage yet!).

I'm all about lists. I like to make "To Do" lists, with little check boxes so I can mark it off when I'm done... I always put silly things on there (like "eat breakfast") so I can check lots of stuff off! Anyway, I put the bike ride on there, and I know it's a priority. If other things don't happen, it's OKAY!!!

It really helps that my husband is a cyclist, and doesn't question my choices! Oh, and we keep the house "passably" clean - when the in-laws are coming over we both bust out the vaccuum and broom...

[DrBee]

You've hit the nail on the head! I always have running in the back of my mind while I'm riding that I have to be home by a certain time so that I can such and such done, etc.

[SadieKate]

Or plan to NOT do it...

We have perfected this technique.

[Cassandra_Cain]

lol @ plan not to do it

I remember what helped me do a long ride, (the longest I've done is 100 miles), was a combination of

a) enough training,

b) thinking of it in little segments (like the next 5 miles and not 95 to go!)

c) getting into a rhythm, something comfortable and easy to maintain

d) as was said, just being in the right state of mind - maybe it is zen or something along those lines where you just hone in on a goal

[Geonz]

I lose the lists, alas. I forget that I made them, and I can't remember all the stuff to do when I'm trying to make the list. I just found (I'm moving my office) a 2001 weekly calender from when I just started the job. I had since forgotten I could print them out... I'll try that again...

If I'm really waxing zen then it's not about a goal, it's just about this right now pedal stroke and fully experiencing it (which is a lot *easier* if you can't remember lists )

I'm *really* almost to the bottom of the desk... hmmm.... let me set the watch timer for those 4 minute intervals (that's about my attention span for organizing ) We're having visitors tomorrow...