Please send me some addiction energy!!

[I TRI]

I'm fairly new to cycling having just got a bike 6 months ago to do triathlons. I love to run but I have a horrible time with achilles tendonitis that won't go away for anything. So now I'm trying to cross train.

I'd soooo love to catch the cycling bug that you all seem to have. So far I've enjoyed rides with other people, but I don't enjoy riding when I'm by myself. I think I have too much time to think about how hard it feels on my legs. I know the only way to get over that and become better conditioned is to "just do it", but I'm yet to absolutely fall in love with it in such a way that I can't wait to get out there again (like I am with my running).

Can someone please send me some good cycling energy?!?!

Nicola

[KnottedYet]

It seems odd to me that riding is hard on your legs. Especially if you're already in condition from running and group rides.

When you ride alone do you end up staying in too hard a gear, so that your cadence drops and you mash the pedals?

I have the opposite problem in that when I ride in a group I get into too hard a gear and mash the pedals, but when I'm alone I spin with little effort.

Getting into an easier gear and spinning will also make life better for your achilles. Less force going through the gastroc and soleus, plus the achilles will get the relief when you pull up on the pedals.

[tprevost]

Awww, come on Nicola, I'll fix ya when we ride on Friday! Sometimes, you just have to have a couple of good rides (sort of like those runs when you realize you're on auto pilot and you're feeling really strong etc.) under your belt and it all gets better!

I'll bet it'll start getting better as you ride more. Also, you're in an area with a lot of hills so you may want to toodle around temecula a few times (they have great bike lanes!) and just enjoy a few rides that way!

Trac'

[KSH]

Hello! And welcome to the wide world of cycling... and triathlons! I too got into cycling so I could compete in tri's!

OK. Let me ask... do you have a computer with cadence on it? If not, go get one. I honestly never understood my gears or how to be efficient on my bike... and not mash the pedals until I got a computer with cadence.

Basically, when you pedal, you want to keep your cadence around 90-95 (this is debateable... but most say this is a good cadence to keep). If your candence falls below 90, then you want to shift so it's easier to pedal (down) or if your cadence is above 95, you will want to shift so it's harder to pedal (up).

As far as riding alone... well, I find it boring too... so I don't do it. I always ride with groups.

Of course, keep in mind that in a triathlon, you ride alone. Sure, people are around you, but no drafting is allowed and you can't ride next to someone and chat with them.

Riding is fun... when you know how to pedal efficiently. You get to go fast and the wind blows on you to cool your body off. You get to see scenery, and you can find riding clubs to join so you don't have to do it alone.

AND... since you are a runner, you will be a strong cyclist, catching up to the fast people very quickly!

Now, get out there and RIDE!

PS- www.beginnertriathlete.com, is a great resource for triathlon information. You can also log all your workouts there, it's very cool.

[I TRI]

Trac' - I'm looking forward to riding with you Friday.

KSH - thanks for the reference to that website - it looks amazing. I've signed up and am just waiting for my password.

Nicola

[Tuckervill]

90-95 rpm cadence?

How is cadence counted? I don't think I spin that fast...more than once a second? That seems really fast. I've never measured it, and my 'puter doesn't count cadence. NOT a triathelete, mind you.

But I am curious about cadence. I can spin on the middle ring and do about 16 mph on flats and mash up hills on the big ring (couldn't do that 3 months ago), so I may be spinning faster than I think I am. How do I tell?

Karen

[Dogmama]

OK. Let me ask... do you have a computer with cadence on it? If not, go get one. I honestly never understood my gears or how to be efficient on my bike... and not mash the pedals until I got a computer with cadence.

Basically, when you pedal, you want to keep your cadence around 90-95 (this is debateable... but most say this is a good cadence to keep). If your candence falls below 90, then you want to shift so it's easier to pedal (down) or if your cadence is above 95, you will want to shift so it's harder to pedal (up).

Excellent advice. For me, it's a little tough to keep 90rpm cadence on hills, so I'll go to 70-80 depending on the incline.

Tuckerville, cadence is "revolutions per minute" and it is difficult to do it while you're riding in your head. As KSH suggests, get a cyclometer with cadence.
When I ride, I always set my cyclometer to cadence.

I love riding alone. I love the early mornings when it is cool, traffic is light, birds are out singing and everything is still virginal. When I'm riding with somebody else, or in a group, I have to concentrate on their wheels and anticipate their next action. It takes away the relaxation for me, but it does make me push harder because I always try to ride with people better than me.

[li10up]

I'm fairly new to cycling having just got a bike 6 months ago to do triathlons. I love to run but I have a horrible time with achilles tendonitis that won't go away for anything. So now I'm trying to cross train.

I'd soooo love to catch the cycling bug that you all seem to have. So far I've enjoyed rides with other people, but I don't enjoy riding when I'm by myself. I think I have too much time to think about how hard it feels on my legs. I know the only way to get over that and become better conditioned is to "just do it", but I'm yet to absolutely fall in love with it in such a way that I can't wait to get out there again (like I am with my running).

Can someone please send me some good cycling energy?!?!

Nicola

I don't know you but you sound a bit like me...I'll bet you are a pretty competitive person right? IMO competitive people tend to push themselves a bit more - even "competing" against themselves. I bet you are just pushing a bit more than what your cycling body is able to do right now. I would guess if you would allow yourself to back off a bit you would enjoy your rides more. I got all caught up in the watching all the data on the computer and even bought a new one with cadence. I found myself pushing too much trying to increase the numbers I was seeing. I finally just quit staring at it and just went out to ride and now I enjoy my rides a lot more. And I'm getting in better shape. I'll do hills just to make me stronger ...without worrying what my cadence is or how fast or slow I'm going. (In my case slow) Those who are really "training" have valid reasons to monitor all that stuff; and I do log it all - after my ride. But for right now I would just ride for fun and when it gets fun then start focusing on your training. Hope it gets better for you!

[I TRI]

I think you're right - I do tend to be competitive and it frustrates me to not be good at something, even though I've hardly done it!!!!

I'll keep working at it and riding with at least one other person, which I find to be fun!!

[I TRI]

LI10UP ... thank you so much for your observations. I went out for a ride this morning by myself. I set out on the same roads I went last time, except this time I just went to have a nice relaxing time and putz around. I rode for an hour - no idea how far or how fast ... kept it in really easy gear and just didn't push myself too hard.

And guess what? It was really great!!!

When I think back to my first ever ride, which was just earlier this year, I started out with two of my guy buddies - one navy, the other a marine, and both motorcycle racers. I did a few rides with them, so no wonder my reference point for cycling is to go "balls-out" and not be last back to the truck!! Then of course I've done my two sprint tri's, which I pushed hard in (and of course would expect to, being a race and all), a couple of rides by myself, and that's been about it.

I think I might start trying to do some longer rides and treat them more as recreation - at least that way I'll be building my aerobic base on the bike and having a better time in the process!!

Nicola

[li10up]

I TRI - That's fantastic! I'm so glad you enjoyed your ride. I bet when you go out with the goal of just putzing around you'll find you are riding about as fast as you would if you were watching the computer the whole time. It's that competitive thing I think. You'll naturally get into a rhythm. I know what you mean about trying to keep up with the guys. I HATE being the last in the group! At least starting out I think you need to ride your own ride. I quit riding with the group and just focused on getting myself stronger. Being able to back off when I need to has made the riding so much more enjoyable. I still look forward to rejoining the group at some time just to see how I've improved. But right now I'm having too much fun. I'm betting it won't be long before you're smokin' those guys! Just keep having fun and it will come!

[tprevost]

Nicola,

When we ride on Friday, it'll be definately a recreational pace... I'm not fast at all! Where did you ride this morning? The wine country loop is really quite nice so I hope you will enjoy it!

Trac'

[I TRI]

Trac'

I live on highway 79 between Pechanga Parkway and Margarita ... I went along 79 to La Paz, turned up and got onto Ynez which becomes de Portola, as there are bike lanes there. Went along there until it deadends somewhere east of butterfield stage. Then I came back, got back onto 79 south and turned down Pechanga Parkway - went to the casino and back to my house (the parkway isn't so good - no bike lanes and people flyyyyy down there!!). I don't know how long that was but it was a nice loop.

On Thursday mornings I swim at the rec center and it occured to me that I could ride up there as well.

Do we get to do any wine tasting on our Friday ride ?!?!?!

Nicola