Can I ride 20 miles when I've been only riding 10?

[HappyTexasMom]

Sue, I'm not terribly overweight (maybe 20-25 pounds), but I'm not yet in the greatest shape, either. Your comment about taking hours really made me take pause...it's supposed to get up to 111 on Saturday, so I really don't want to end up taking more than about 3 hours total (I currently do 10 miles in about an hour and I'm not working balls-out or anything, so I thought I was being reasonably conservative, but maybe not). If I start at 6 (which will be a miracle...probably closer to 6:30) that would put me finishing at 9-9:30. It will already be in the mid to upper 90s then, which is about my limit. When it gets to 100+, no matter how much water I drink or how much water I pour on myself, I tend to overheat and give out after not very much time (and then get a migraine later in the day...fun).

GLC the reason I wanted to do 20 was partly to see if I could do it, and partly because the route I want to take includes a beautiful section down a greenbelt...but it's in the latter (furthest away) portion of my loop. If I cut out my ride, I have to cut it all out of the pretty part. I don't find that much beautiful about the desert (I know some people do, I'm just not one of them), so I was really looking forward to that (and had already cut some out; it was originally closer to a 30 mile ride).

But I went 12 miles today (2 more than my usual) and while physically I felt good overall (not too tired, etc.), the neck pain got more persistent and burning. I can also feel it now after the fact, which hadn't happened in the past. So I'm calling off the 20 mile ride for now. I just posted to the bike maintenance thread about some modifications I want to try that I think (hope) will help. Unless/until I get that resolved, I won't try for the longer distance. *sniff*

[Mr. Bloom]

But I went 12 miles today (2 more than my usual) and while physically I felt good overall (not too tired, etc.), the neck pain got more persistent and burning.

While training for the 160mile Ride Across Indiana last July, Silver advised me to not increase my riding by more than 10%/week. So, one week, I'd do 100 miles, then next 110 to 120, and so on. It worked for me.

As for the neck, my chiropractors and I are on a first name basis...

[HappyTexasMom]

I've heard the 10% guideline, too, although I've also read (somewhere, forget where) that when you're at a lower mileage to begin with you can add more than 10% because it's such a small amount at that level. For example I started out at 5 and easily added 1-2 miles at a time after that. I do realize that I'm talking about closer to 50% though.

I do have a chiropractor I see regularly. I will ask him next time (today) if he sees anything off in particular, but I'm pretty sure this is a muscle strain from bad position kind of thing. My overall chronic pain I'm pretty sure stems from poor posture...something I constantly work on, but can't seem to keep corrected once I stop paying attention.

[HappyTexasMom]

Yesterday I put road tires on my MTB for the first time. I also spend a good deal of time cleaning it up, oiling the chain, etc.

This morning I got on it and man, was it smooth and quiet! I went out, approaching my 20 mile route, telling myself it was probably too hot, but I just couldn't resist going for it to try out my new ride. I ended up going 21 miles.

It was a nice ride...I had to stop a lot to rewet my bandanas I keep on my head and neck. Man, I don't think I would survive without those things. At one point just past midway I started feeling really sluggish and then I went "duh, *food*!". So I stopped in the shade and ate a Larabar. I felt much better after that.

The last 4 miles or so were a bit tough...I was back on the pavement and I could feel the heat just radiating off of it. When I got home, the weather said it was 100. I wanted to be able to stop at the park during my ride and just sit and relax, but I felt like I was racing against the temperature climbs (we are under a heat advisory today, but if I wait for those to go away, I'll *never* ride!).

I was pretty tired when I got home...laid down on the bed and dozed for a little while while I cooled off. I think I came close to getting overheated. I don't think I'll be increasing my distance beyond this until it's cooler. Frustrating, because I feel like my body wants to work up to more, but the temperature won't let me. Boo.

I averaged just under 10 mph. I want to get faster, but I figure that's about what I've been averaging and I just doubled my distance, so that's good. I'm sure the new tires factored into it, too. I was in high gear a lot, something that wasn't happening very often with the old tires.

[sarahspins]

I try to ride in the evenings.. I estimate how long I'll be out and I go out that amount before sunset.. it doesn't get "dark" until 20 minutes or so after sunset, so it works well for me - it's still plenty light out when the sun hits the horizon. The biggest benefit is that I am NOT a morning person, and it gets significantly cooler as I ride, plus with the sun lower on the horizon, even if the temp is still up there, it doesn't feel as much like it's beating down on you.

It's been plenty hot here though - it's pretty common that it will be at least 105 when I head out, and about 95 when I get home.

Are you wearing a jersey or at least a wicking tee? If not, I'd suggest buying one.. I was *shocked* at how much more comfortable I was - it almost feels as if the breeze just goes right through a jersey, and you don't get soaked in sweat, it is actually able to do it's job of cooling you off (you do get somewhat gritty from salt though)

[malaholic]

CONGRATULATIONS! Fantastic to hear that you made it, and that you kept your usual mph even though you doubled the distance. I can't imagine riding in that kind of heat.

[Grog]

Wonderful!

[Tri Girl]

Congrats on your ride today!!! We, too, have been battling 100+'s for a week now and this coming week looks no different (I'm from AZ and thought I'd left it behind when I moved here- but I guess not ). You're right- it's just too darned hot to ride when it's that hot. I'm super proud of you for making it 21. I'll bet those slick tires made a world of difference!!!

Can you ride early, early morning /dawn before the sun comes up before going to work? I feel your pain, but hang in there. In a couple months when it cools down a bit, you'll be throwing down 40 mile rides with ease!!!

[Kano]

Well, here's one happy boise mom -- happy for you HappyTexasMom!

I see that SarahSpins has written some things that I was about to write. I, too, like to go out in the evening on the hot days. It's actually easier to be in the heat as the sun is setting than it is to be out when the sun is getting more intense with every passing mile.

Another suggestion -- I've been putting Nuun (an electrolyte additive) in a water bottle since riding home from work on a HOT day last summer, when no matter how much water I poured into myself I could NOT quench the thirst. (yeah, Boise's in the north, and there's skiing just 26 miles from my house, I can see the snow from here in winter, but we're in the DESERT here! 110 and 8% humidity is NOT uncommon!) (ooh, some of you will be every bit as amused as I was the first time I heard "It's sure muggy today" and the humidity was a whopping 29%)

I found that slick tires on my "mountain" bike made a huge difference for me when I made that change a few years ago. You'll be REALLY glad you made that change, I'm sure!

If there's more to changing the handlebars than you want to spend, think "shoulders down" when you're out riding! Also keep an eye on your elbows, make sure they're not locked. It sure helps me!

Karen in Boise