how can i improve?

[redrhodie]

Just ride.

[batsheva]

okay-- well some slightly gentle slopes, but they kill me all the same...
i do the I4 pedestrian overpass bridge which is the steepest thing around here also--

and no, i have done zilch exercise at all ever before the bike and i smoke ** per day so am carbon monoxided up which dont help any-- it's like all you nonsmokers cycling half way up Everest - literally--
yeah - my own fault...

i am going out with a group of twice a week bikers on the west orange trail this week- i passed the 'bike police inspection' this week when i met them by accident on the trail and was invited along :-) i have warned them i am a beginner and wont keep up but i will turn around early after i am dropped so we all get back to the car park around the same time-- maybe i will work towards going further each time before i turn around to mark my progress - it feels like i am going backwards right now--

of course the best thing i could do to improve would be to stop smoking, huh?

batsheva

[jobob]

of course the best thing i could do to improve would be to stop smoking, huh?

That could help.

And think of all the money you'd free up for bike stuff.

[batsheva]

just worked out how to get a small sized pic that is not too big in megabytes to upload here--

it is a pic of my hot red bike which i bought six weeks ago--
isn;t it so gorgeous?
i love riding it already.

it is a 47cm cannondale synapse fem triple - alloy with some carbon bits and pieces around it-- ultegra small-reach shifters (although they are still a huge reach for me) and 105 front and rear derailleurs- fairly ordinary cranks and wheels-- will have to stalk ebay for some improvements to those :-)

i know it;s not a $5000 bike, but i love it and it was the best i could afford (well, more than actually!)-- and i think it is limited by its engine (ie. me!) not its components right now!!

[jobob]

It's lovely.

And no fear, many of us get by just fine with sub $5000 bikes.

[missymaya]

Hey bat,
I was like you not too long ago (minus the smoking part). It takes time in the saddle to build your stamina and strength. Even though your riding the flats more than the hills around here, it helps build that base endurance so when you do hit the hills, you can last.Also, remember to take the hills at your pace to where you pushing it, but just enough to where it works you.
West Orange is cool, but if you want hill training, go to Clermont (which I think west orange runs into) but get some miles in first.

[batsheva]

maybe i should check out clermont sometime-- the I4 ped/cycle overpass at lake mary by the seminole/wekiva trail is the biggest 'hill' i have tackled so far... think the flats of the west orange are generally challenging enough though-- but cant get out as much as i want here in orlando cos of the horrid hotness and humidity right now despite being off work always during the day..

however, it has enabled me to lurk on ebay at home in the aircon and get some cool cycle clothing :-)

[margo49]

Glad you have posted pic and on the Getting to Know You thread, Batsheva. You look fabulous and the bike too.
You still thinking of doing that Ride in Israel. Maybe 2009?

[smilingcat]

Hi,

Its a very nice bike with triple crank. 105 group is pretty good. Nothing to sneeze and Ultegra short reach is also very nice. You got a good deal. Enjoy your ride. And don't feel less cause bike isn't worht $5,000. Think of the money saved or money wasted by the pretenders.

Smilingcat

[Torrilin]

What's helping me is just ride. I don't have a super expensive bike (under $400), but it gets me places and I can carry it up and down stairs to my building's indoor parking. For me, it's easier to be motivated if I have a place to go, so I go all sorts of useful places, like grocery shopping. The more weekly miles I get in, the better I do

[batsheva]

Glad you have posted pic and on the Getting to Know You thread, Batsheva. You look fabulous and the bike too.
You still thinking of doing that Ride in Israel. Maybe 2009?

hey margo49--

no i'm not thinking 2009--- thinking 2008--
250 miles/5days from TA through the Negev to Eilat...

have even booked the time off work for it this week...
you should join me-- the Kiwi contingent!!

better get out training then, hadn't i?!!

batsheva

[KSH]

Hello and welcome!

Looks like you have a nice bike and you are off to a great start! You can certainly achieve your goals if you set your mind to it.

Getting better... hhhuuummm... you are still very new... and others have given good advice.

Hill training is always good. It's also nice to have a mix of rides in your schedule. Short days, long days, faster days, slower days, etc.

I think my advice to you though, would be this... get a computer with cadence on it and know how to use your cadence reading.

It wasn't until I got a computer with cadence did I really figure out how/when to change the gears. When I learned that... my speed and overall average improved.

The key is to try to maintain a 90-95 cadence. Finding a perfect balance between using your power efficiently and not giving it away. If you have too high of a cadence, then you are just giving away your power.

Now... keep in mind that when going up a hill, unless you have a granny gear (triple) you probably won't come close to that cadence, but try to get as high of a cadence that you can.

Good luck!