how can i improve?

[indigoiis]

Hey Bat,

I am a former pack and a half a day smoker. Granted I wasn't biking at the time, but quitting was a huge deal to me as I am sure it will be for you. To make it easier, check out the following sites:

Start here: www.whyquit.com and read Noni's story.

This one: www.howstuffworks.com - search on "nicotine" to find out how nicotine works in the bloodstream.


Then go here:
quitsmokingonline.com - it is a free "book" / "course" to help you quit smoking.

Then here:

www.quitnet.com - a community of folks just like TE but for folks quitting smoking;

and this one:

www.cognitivequitting.com ... a great site for finding out about addiction and cigarettes, and why we have a tough time quitting.

[SchwarkCycle]

Hey Bat,

I am a former pack and a half a day smoker. Granted I wasn't biking at the time, but quitting was a huge deal to me as I am sure it will be for you. To make it easier, check out the following sites:

Start here: www.whyquit.com and read Noni's story.

This one: www.howstuffworks.com - search on "nicotine" to find out how nicotine works in the bloodstream.


Then go here:
quitsmokingonline.com - it is a free "book" / "course" to help you quit smoking.

Then here:

www.quitnet.com - a community of folks just like TE but for folks quitting smoking;

and this one:

www.cognitivequitting.com ... a great site for finding out about addiction and cigarettes, and why we have a tough time quitting.

I am so glad you posted this info - I think Bat has gotten some good advice on how to improve, but the best advice is to first and foremost- quit smoking.

[RoadRaven]

oh yeah... quitting smoking should help too

(although we have a pic in a history book of the Tour de France of a cyclist having a cigarette after a race in the early 1900s, because it was thought to aid recovery!)

[batsheva]

well, nitric oxide in cigarette smoke IS a pulmonary vasodilator actually-- so there is some logic to this actually-- if you ignore the carbon monoxide issue!

thanks for all your advice on base miles and the type of varied riding to do to improve-- i went out today and had a good ride, although short as it was so hot and was definitely managing better speed--

the cadence thing is an issue also i think-- i think i maybe should get a cadence computer as i think i 'give away' too much power spinning too much-- i tried today pushing bigger gears and did so much better, not so cardiovascularly knackered - tho' i can feel my leg muscles complaining a little more this evening...

thanks again everyone for all your advice - i was really touched my your repsonses...

plan: try no smoking for 24 hrs before my first 'group' ride thuesday morning so i am not carbon monoxided up-- that should get my VO2 up by 15% right away... will report back if it made any difference!!!

batsheva x

[batsheva]

oh my gosh!

it was the big annual LBS sale today...
went and bought a cadence computer so there are nasty wires to the rear wheel of my bike now... and also bought some 'gels' seeing as they were reduced...

WHAT A DIFFERENCE ON MY RIDE!!

instead of struggling 12-13 mph and it all being tough i was sailing the same route at 16-18 mph with some proper fuel (i eat a minimal carb diet for medical reasons generally) and the cadence monitor which showed I was wayyyyy overspinning at 115-120-- keeping that in the 90-95 range by pushing harder gears with some glucose in my legs-- a 4mph jump and i coulda kept going much longer than the 15 miles i did only time ran out...

cadence and glucose - WOW!!!!!

oh-- even though i thought my stock saddle was fine on my bike, i somehow managed to come home with a new one -