Does it get easier?

[mancaus]

I did my longest ride so far last Friday.... 87 miles from Manchester along the TPT then through Runcorn to NCN 5, including the bit that climbs between Bagillt and Gronant... 3,300ft of climbing in all. This is on my hybrid - a CrossTrail. Longest distance before that was a flat 30 miles.

My legs/lungs were manageable, but it was no fun after 40 miles due to a sore lower back, neck and wrists. I've been reading up on posture and think I've some work to do to improve that - but is this as much to do with my choice of bike? Can I expect to do those sorts of distances comfortably on a hybrid?

 

[psmiffy]

Yes it gets easier - on my long trip last year I was very rarely in trouble with my legs - but at the start shoulders, arms and wrists were quite sore until I got used to it - I am not really one for weight training so I tend to swim regularly when I am not touring to keep my arms and shoulders in good nick -

I only own flat barred bikes - fully loaded on tour I often average 120 - 140km/day for a week with over 1500m climbing every day

 

[Tigerbiten]

It does not get easier .....
But you do go faster ...........
So you end up hurting in different places ................

Luck ............

 

[hondated]

Does it get easier.... not a question I can really answer personally because although I have cycled for some years now I still struggle every time I go out on the bike. Some years ago I took my bike down to the Alps and as i struggled to return to Bourg oisan after climbing to Croix De Fer I stopped on a mountain for a rest and a young lady touring in the Alps with panniers and tent on board slowly cycled past me and when I commented that I wish I had her legs she just said it was not her legs that made her keep going but just her stubborness.Very good point I thought and I have always tried to remember that whenever I am struggling. She also added that it helped to also helped if you push the pedals around as slowly as you can.

This is also something else I try to do. And finally I also try to remember what Armstrong says " Pain is temporary, losing is forever "

I don't suppose it will ever get easier but as long as it remains enjoyable I will put up with the pain.

 

[willem]

Of course it can get easier. If you train enough, it really makes a difference. So, on a holiday, give yourself more restdays during the first week (ideally every other day). Secondly, with experience you will learn to pace yourself and use the low gears (pedal fast rather than slow). Thirdly, a better posture on the bike, or a more comfortable bike with wider and faster tyres also make a big difference. Lastly, take less luggage. In terms of effort, cycle touring is about climbing. Reduce your luggage weight by 10 kg, and you are on a different planet.
Willem

 

[HelenD123]

I had bad pains in my wrists with a new bike and went for a fitting with Paul Hewitt. He suggested a longer stem and that's cured the problem. If your body doesn't adjust to the new bike after a few more long rides it's worth thinking about.

 

[sadjack]

I did my first tour two years ago and suffered like a dog.

I was just not fit.

Since then I have upped my mileage and importantly do some hills, not hard here in North Wales.

I'm stronger as a result and now when I tour or do a long ride I just suffer

Someone else on this forum has a signaure that reads something like "It does not get easier you just go faster" very true I think.

The physical challenge of touring is part of the fun in my view. Work hard, see some great views, eat and drink as much as you want .

The more you do the more you'll enjoy and as you tinker with seat and handlebar heights and position you will find whats right for you, eventually.....I still tinker with mine.....part of the laws of cycling.....must have a faff with the bike

 

[andym]

87 miles and more than 1,000 metres climbing sounds like you've done pretty well to me. My general rule of thumb is that 50 miles or a 1,000 metres is enough for one day.

 

[mancaus]

Thanks for all the tips... I'm going to get a proper fitting I think and think about my posture a bit more.

Funny thing is, as much as I remember thinking "I'm never doing this again" during the ride, I'd love nothing more than giving it another go right now. We're suckers for punishment.

Road bike can wait until next year hopefully.

 

[byegad]

One reason why I changed to recumbents was that it only gets easier to a point. If like me you seize up easily and have arthritic joints it's the only way. However if you are fit, light and young and the bike is properly adjusted and fitted a DF should be bearable for many a mile.

Maybe working up from 30 to 87 miles in small jumps would be better for you.

 

[RedBike]

My legs/lungs were manageable, but it was no fun after 40 miles due to a sore lower back, neck and wrists. I've been reading up on posture and think I've some work to do to improve that - but is this as much to do with my choice of bike? Can I expect to do those sorts of distances comfortably on a hybrid?

Its very hard to recommend a bike for use along the TPT, or any of the NCR routes for that matter. The trouble is although a lot of these routes are smooth tarmac/paths there's also the odd section that muddy or rough.

If you're getting neck / wrist ache then you're much better off on your Specialized Hyrbid than on a road bike. On the rougher sections a road bike will transmit far more vibration through to the bars.

Thanks for all the tips... I'm going to get a proper fitting I think and think about my posture a bit more.

A bike fitting would certainly help but before you spend your hard earned cash there are a number of things you can do.

You need to make sure your elbows are bent, your shoulders are relaxed and you're gripping the bars as lightly as possible. Let a bit of air out of your front tyre. If you run it at ~40psi it will absorb vibration / small bumps.

 

[gbs]

Of course it can get easier. If you train enough, it really makes a difference. So, on a holiday, give yourself more restdays during the first week (ideally every other day). Secondly, with experience you will learn to pace yourself and use the low gears (pedal fast rather than slow). Thirdly, a better posture on the bike, or a more comfortable bike with wider and faster tyres also make a big difference. Lastly, take less luggage. In terms of effort, cycle touring is about climbing. Reduce your luggage weight by 10 kg, and you are on a different planet.
Willem

@ Willem: all good advice IMO except for " wider and faster tyres". Seems counter-intuitive - please explaln

 

[willem]

The equation of fast with narrow is an old fallacy. In part it originated in measurements on smooth surfaces that bear no relation to real road surfaces. In part it originated in the reality of old tyre technology. What makes a tyre fast apart from a smooth tread pattern (ie virtualy no tread) is a flexible casing that deforms easily. In the old days wider tyres needed a stronger and less flexible casing to withstand the greater forces of the larger air mass inside. Tyre technology has moved on to the extent that larger tyres can now also have very flexible casings. With such wider tyres you can now benefit from their better suspension properties. On a real road (and even more on a really bad road) this will make you faster. It will also make the human engine more comfortable. Now of course if you fit narrow tyres you may feel as if you are going faster, because of the bone jarring ride. Bicycle Quarterly recently had some elaborate tests. Good examples are the Schwalbe Kojak, where the wider ones have been show to be measurably faster than the narrower ones.
Willem

 

[dav1d]

I did a 60 mile return ride to Buxton (should have been a few miles less, but I wasn't planning on going to Buxton at first, then I saw a sign and thought "Why not?").
It was my longest ride but the next day, I couldn't even stand up straight! Maybe it was the hills?
But some time later, I set off on a 54 mile approx journey to Holmfirth, and got so lost that I ended up doing 99 miles! If my legs could have coped with the extra mile, I would have done that to get my first 100 miler in. But the next day, my legs whilst a little sore, were perfectly capable of standing, and I even got back on the bike for a short journey. So I would say, yes, it does get easier.

 

[onlineamiga]

Definately gets easier I would say. Its just a matter of building up.
I remember back in January when i first started out trying to cover some serious miles. A ride i did of 50km going up the hill to a place called Casares near me in southern spain. It was an amazing achievement to get there on the bike.
Now I regularly run up there and back in a couple of hours or so as a short ride after work. Not only that, Im pushing myself by keeping in higher gears up those hills and timing myself to make the most of a 2.5 hour ride for training. I can easilly go there and back without needing to stop and get off the bike for a rest.

Its just a matter of building yourself up. Needs patience and time.
Im feeling well impressed with myself as well!