Cycling Workouts: Discussion/Encouragement/Sharing/Banter

[Legs]

I’m new to cycling & injury free.

I tend to ride in the 2x10 gear (hills or flat) 99.9% of the time. Like I said above, my thought was that riding in that gear would make me quicker.

View attachment 815692

As in, the very biggest gear? Biggest on the front and smallest on the back?

If I’m riding on the flat on a windless day, I can ride most of the time in 50x17. I genuinely can’t remember the last time I used an 11T sprocket.

This was a recent 55km ride:

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

I’m new to cycling & injury free.

I tend to ride in the 2x10 gear (hills or flat) 99.9% of the time. Like I said above, my thought was that riding in that gear would make me quicker.

View attachment 815692

Okay, sounds like you are just riding in far too big a gear. If, as Legs suggested in his reply, you are riding in a 48 x 11/12, that is a massive gear.

If your aim is to get fitter pick easier gears that enable you to ride with a cadence of at least 75 on all terrains. Just ride consistently for a few months to build some basic fitness and then start to look at developing your training/riding.

 

[spokeweasel]

As in, the very biggest gear? Biggest on the front and smallest on the back?

If I’m riding on the flat on a windless day, I can ride most of the time in 50x17. I genuinely can’t remember the last time I used an 11T sprocket.

Yes, the chain is on the outer ring in the front & on the lowest sprocket in the rear. I hope I made sense. I don’t understand the drive trains terminology in detail, but it’s a van rysel from Decathlon.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/road-bike-edr-af-microshift-sword-2x10v-dark-grey/361200/c71m8930227

My chain stays exactly as shown in the picture in the link above albeit on the lowest cog.

Thank you both. Will try it this week & report back.

 

[HLaB]

I’m new to cycling & injury free.

I tend to ride in the 2x10 gear (hills or flat) 99.9% of the time. Like I said above, my thought was that riding in that gear would make me quicker.

View attachment 815692

Play about with your gears and find your sweetspot where you are spinning optimally for the gear your in and somewhere in the middle will be your fastest. Too high a gear and its a grind forcing you to be slow, too low and your spin takes up too much energy; somewhere in the middle will be best. I run a 52/36 with a 11-28cassette (bigger gears than you) and on a very relaxed group ride and I'm just softly turning the pedals I'll average 60rpm but my sweet spot tends to be within 70-80rpm if I'm actually pushing. I don't pedal downhills etc so I could be a little higher. My mate TT's with a 60tooth chainring with a 10-32 cassette (a really big gear) but his sweetspot is an amazing 90rpm (even on a sporting course) and he's faster than anyone I know and wins a lot.

 

[spokeweasel]

Play about with your gears and find your sweetspot where you are spinning optimally for the gear your in and somewhere in the middle will be your fastest. Too high a gear and its a grind forcing you to be slow, too low and your spin takes up too much energy; somewhere in the middle will be best. I run a 52/36 with a 11-28cassette (bigger gears than you) and on a very relaxed group ride and I'm just softly turning the pedals I'll average 60rpm but my sweet spot tends to be within 70-80rpm if I'm actually pushing. I don't pedal downhills etc so I could be a little higher. My mate TT's with a 60tooth chainring with a 10-32 cassette (a really big gear) but his sweetspot is an amazing 90rpm (even on a sporting course) and he's faster than anyone I know and wins a lot.

Yes sir, duly noted.

 

[HLaB]

A wee change from my usual active recovery loop today. I usually head down and do a loop of Conington Airfield as its easier to stay to Z1. Today though I encountered 3way working temporary traffic lights in Yaxley which took ages to change, even with me letting two cars trigger the lights first. So rather than doing my usual, I looped west into the slightly undulating East Northamptonshire so I didn't have to go back through the lights. It was Z1 workout with Z2 intervals so I think I got away with it.

 

[spokeweasel]

Is this any good @Legs @midlandsgrimpeur @HLaB

Thank you though.

 

[spokeweasel]

I have also realised that cycling in low cadence made my muscles feel totally drained and cycling in higher gear was tiring me way too early ( fatigue). I found out today that I should stay between the 12-14th gear to be more effective on the bike.

That brings me to my next question - how do I improve my overall cycling ability? I cannot follow any training apps / coaches as I cant commit whole heartedly at this point. Any other natural ways to get better other than riding more?

 

[Legs]

Is this any good @Legs @midlandsgrimpeur @HLaB

Thank you though.


View attachment 815977

That’s going to be much kinder to your knees! Did it feel like you were moving your feet unnaturally fast? Great work 👍

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Just a recovery week for me this week. Got some new cycling shoes and fitted cleats today. Will go for a test spin tomorrow on my recovery ride day.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Any other natural ways to get better other than riding more?

Frequency and volume initially. Ride as often as you can and gradually increase the amount of time you ride. Every fourth week have an easier week to recover. If you are frequently getting muscle soreness after, you are likely overdoing it and need to cut back. One or two times a week try riding with a bit more effort, but don’t make every ride a hard effort.

 

[spokeweasel]

That’s going to be much kinder to your knees! Did it feel like you were moving your feet unnaturally fast? Great work 👍

Thank you. No, I was very comfortable but a bit tired not because of the effort but I didn’t take anything with me to eat. Just carried a bottle of water. I thought it’s cloudy so I won’t need to eat but how wrong was I?. 28 degrees with clear skies 30 minutes into the ride.

Frequency and volume initially. Ride as often as you can and gradually increase the amount of time you ride. Every fourth week have an easier week to recover. If you are frequently getting muscle soreness after, you are likely overdoing it and need to cut back. One or two times a week try riding with a bit more effort, but don’t make every ride a hard effort.

Yes sir, duly noted again. I will try to incorporate it but chances are slim with winter approaching. Will give it my 100% for as long as I can.

Two rides / week is the maximum I do now. Will have to sneak in a Sunday every now & then into the schedule.

 

[spokeweasel]

Just a recovery week for me this week. Got some new cycling shoes and fitted cleats today. Will go for a test spin tomorrow on my recovery ride day.

Do cleats (also read there are different cleats for different bikes - mtb, road etcetera) help or add to your overall cycling ability? Don’t like the clickity clickity noise they make. Asking because I‘m very comfortable cycling in my regular gym shoes.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

are slim with winter approaching.

😂 We are in the height of summer with winter many months away.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Do cleats (also read there are different cleats for different bikes - mtb, road etcetera) help or add to your overall cycling ability? Don’t like the clickity clickity noise they make. Asking because I‘m very comfortable cycling in my regular gym shoes.

Stick with what you prefer.