phoenix
New Member
- Location
- Watnall, Nottingham
Hi everybody,
Firstly a little bit about me
As a generally miserable unsociable old git I ride on my own, but have decided that to keep me motivated through the winter I should take part in a sportive or two next year.
The only mass ride I have taken part in was the Great Notts Bike Ride earlier this year. I did the 50 mile route in a time of about 3.45 which does not seem very good but I was riding a hybrid and it was a bit windy on the return part of the route (well, that's my excuse).
I have since graduated to a road bike and get out most Sunday mornings covering between 40 and 50 miles. Average speed for these rides is usually about 15mph. Terrain is what I would call gently undulating, area is North Notts/Derbyshire/ towards Ripley/Crich/Matlock.
I don't get out during the week but do manage between 3 and 4 hours each week on an indoor trainer and also run a couple of times each week – aprox 7 miles each run. I am familiar with interval training and understand the workings of a heart rate monitor.
I know that I will need to increase the distance that I am riding and that will happen when the mornings start getting lighter in the spring. Until then I need to keep my fitness and motivation levels going. I know that I really struggle getting up hills so the aim is to practise. My idea is to drive out to the Goyt Valley once a week, park the car by the reservior and climb the hill towards Buxton and repeat until I cannot do it any more.
Being honets with myself, I think I will struggle to complete it once. But then that has set me a challenge.
I think I could probably shift about 5kg from my weight so this would probably help a bit. Seems a waste of energy carrying a spare tyre you cannot fit to a wheel rim!
I would like to aim for the Polkadot/Spud Riley in June and the Tour Of The Peak in October. My idea would be to complete the Polkadot/Spud Riley route a couple of times beforehand in April/May so that I know exactly what to expect.
Given the about information, do those of you who have done this ride before think that I am looking at a realistic target given the timescale of just over six months?
The plan from now until Spring is to make sure that I don't put on weight as I always struggle in the winter. It's too easy to settle on the sofa with a bottle of wine and some junk food.
I am also focussing on increasing my flexibility and my core stability over the winter.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
My biggest concern is riding with other people in a group, or more to the point, my bike handling skills but I guess, like going up hills, the only way to improve is practise.
Maybe if anyone is local to Mansfield, North Notts, Ripley area we could arrange a ride out sometime or a training group to keep us motivated and fit through the winter. Think I will also ask in the LBS to see if we can get a group ride together for between xmas and new year.
Firstly a little bit about me
As a generally miserable unsociable old git I ride on my own, but have decided that to keep me motivated through the winter I should take part in a sportive or two next year.
The only mass ride I have taken part in was the Great Notts Bike Ride earlier this year. I did the 50 mile route in a time of about 3.45 which does not seem very good but I was riding a hybrid and it was a bit windy on the return part of the route (well, that's my excuse).
I have since graduated to a road bike and get out most Sunday mornings covering between 40 and 50 miles. Average speed for these rides is usually about 15mph. Terrain is what I would call gently undulating, area is North Notts/Derbyshire/ towards Ripley/Crich/Matlock.
I don't get out during the week but do manage between 3 and 4 hours each week on an indoor trainer and also run a couple of times each week – aprox 7 miles each run. I am familiar with interval training and understand the workings of a heart rate monitor.
I know that I will need to increase the distance that I am riding and that will happen when the mornings start getting lighter in the spring. Until then I need to keep my fitness and motivation levels going. I know that I really struggle getting up hills so the aim is to practise. My idea is to drive out to the Goyt Valley once a week, park the car by the reservior and climb the hill towards Buxton and repeat until I cannot do it any more.
Being honets with myself, I think I will struggle to complete it once. But then that has set me a challenge.
I think I could probably shift about 5kg from my weight so this would probably help a bit. Seems a waste of energy carrying a spare tyre you cannot fit to a wheel rim!
I would like to aim for the Polkadot/Spud Riley in June and the Tour Of The Peak in October. My idea would be to complete the Polkadot/Spud Riley route a couple of times beforehand in April/May so that I know exactly what to expect.
Given the about information, do those of you who have done this ride before think that I am looking at a realistic target given the timescale of just over six months?
The plan from now until Spring is to make sure that I don't put on weight as I always struggle in the winter. It's too easy to settle on the sofa with a bottle of wine and some junk food.
I am also focussing on increasing my flexibility and my core stability over the winter.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
My biggest concern is riding with other people in a group, or more to the point, my bike handling skills but I guess, like going up hills, the only way to improve is practise.
Maybe if anyone is local to Mansfield, North Notts, Ripley area we could arrange a ride out sometime or a training group to keep us motivated and fit through the winter. Think I will also ask in the LBS to see if we can get a group ride together for between xmas and new year.