Bummed!

[Jenn]

So, I wen't out with these GRANDIOS plans of riding hard this morning. Well I was out the door by 6:30AM nice and cool, a little breeze, felt strong so...I thought let's go do some hills. I don't know if it was my mind or my body. Got back home I only rode 2 hours, did 28 miles hit a max speed of 27mh but my average was only 14...but I guess the hills brought that down. I just feel like "slug" and I'm getting frustrated. I LIVE on the dang spin bike everyday and I bust my tail, I didn't think I'd be this wiped out and bummed. Thanks for letting me vent, oh not to mention I was chased a a VICIOUS weiner dog at the end of my ride.

[Popoki_Nui]

Maybe you're overdoing things? Do you take a day or two off during the week to allow your muscles to recover? I know that is something I absolutely must do, or I'll have "slug" rides just like you had.

Sorry you got hassled by a weiner dog! Aren't they the most annoying little things (not counting univited relatives, of course)?

[Jenn]

No, I don't take any days off and I know I need to. It's a mental thing for me if I don't work out everyday, I feel like a lard butt. I'm trying to take a day off and just take my daughter in her jogger and walk to rest, but it's just hard. When it comes to working out I have real issues with taking days off.

[Mr. Bloom]

I'm shocked to say this, but I find that Sport Beans make a huge difference to my energy levels when I'm feeling like that...

I'm shocked because the effect for me is so stark...I guess those things give quit a jolt!

[silver]

I find that my averages vary so much for so many reasons. i don't feel like I can compare rides just based on average miles per hour. I feel that I compare based on level of energy exerted.

I ride out of my neighborhood, the stops and turns bring down my average. Traffic and how many times I need to slow down to allow a car to pass through an intersection effects it, wind, hills, slowing a bit to drink more, wiping my nose, etc.....you get the idea.

If I go out specifically for a hill workout, my average will be very low.

I've also found that when I'm very concentrated on "keeping up my average" that I make riskier moves. I might think of trying to make it through an intersection before that car gets there, rather than stop, or take a turn faster than I'm comfortable. So I get kind of aggravated with myself when I get too hung up on my average. But that may just be me, with my very heightened, post crash, sense of safety and caution.

Even what I eat the day before effects my average. Do you feel like you had a good workout? Did you get out and ride? Then don't beat yourself up.

[DarcyInOregon]

Jenn, you mentioned in another thread the dismay you feel about your speed. People asked you what exactly is wrong with your speeds and you never responded. I am asking it again. Are you training to race? If not, for a fitness/fun cyclist, your speeds are excellent.

When you read posts in this forum from others who say they go up steep climbs at 25 mph and pedal down the road at 30 mph, well those cyclists might be racers or cyclists who have biked for years or they have exceptional weather and road conditions. Don't compare yourself to others because you may not be the same type of cylist.

Enjoy your rides and feel the passion. That is what it is all about. When there are so many variables from day-to-day with respect to weather and route and road conditions, focusing on numbers can get you away from having fun, getting the cardio and burning the body fat. You will know you are getting better because you will see and feel your fitness level increase, and that has nothing to do with focusing on your average speed.

Darcy

[Grog]

Take off your bike computer, or put tape over the speed/average speed.

[liberty]

I think there is a lot of wisdom in what Darcy said. Thank you for that post, Darcy.

[sbctwin]

I think Darcy's post is very accurate, at least for me. I know at the end of last year, I was disappointed in not "accomplishing" certain goals. I put so much stress on my speed and how many miles I put in that I was loosing the joy of what cycling was really about for me. This year, I am trying to achieve some of the goals I missed out on last year, but I am trying to approach it differently. Mentally, I want to enjoy as much as I can, my time in the saddle. Some days, I seem to have a lot of energy, some days I am a slug. Well, so be it. I am not a racer; I don't want to compare myself to anyone else. I am a good 13-15 mph rider. Sometimes it is higher, sometimes it is lower. I will not stress myself out over it. I also know, I have to reinforce these feelings within myself. We end up being our own worst enemies when we start comparing ourselves to others. I know that I have improved since last summer and that is what I like to remind myself.

[Eden]

Taking rest days is not being a "lard butt". Its allowing your body to recover, heal, and build muscle. It can really be the difference between burning out, getting sick, getting injured or progressing, so don't leave it out!

[Jenn]

Darcy, thank you so much. Your words really helped me.
As far as my previous posts, I forgot and I had posted earlier that I was having computer issues. It was reading my speed quite a bit faster then it was suppose to as the mileage. I would get home and tell DH all happy and he was like that's not possible. After taking the bike several times to the LBS they made sure the computer was working, UNTIL, I put my heart monitor on. Sure enough, I was getting interefence and the information was NOT correct, obviously.
So, I no longer wear that monitor and am using DH's Polar since it doesn't interfere with the computer. So, today I got a TRUE reading and I guess it was a "blow" to the ego. However, after reading your post, I feel ALOT better. I know that my legs feel like jello and I'm wasted, but it's a GOOD feeling. DH rode today to and we compared notes, and of course, he's faster but after doing the math my computer is right.
I've decided I really don't care anymore, I'm going out there for me, to test my body and I can tell when I'm working hard and when I can do more or need to do less.
Thank you again for your words, they were very helpful and kind.
Jenn

[deena]

I think we all have rides where we plan a great ride, and then the wind is stronger than it looked from the garage, or the first hill does you in. Even if it wasn't the ride you planned, it's 30 miles more than you had in the day before... and two hours NOT spent sitting on the couch.

[Jenn]

Today is our "family" day to ride we take Kaitlyn out in her little trailer and off we go! So our numbers today were funny we rode for and hour and a half and just covered 16 miles, but it was fun, nice and slow, I could tell that my body needed it. I told DH we were really moving our average speed was 12....haha