Had a great ride tonight but what made the difference?

[2wd]

(Not sure if this should be in here or Health Training and fitness so I'll try here first)

Ok I'm no serious cyclist and at 49 took up cycling to keep fit

So 3 or 4 times a week I get out and do an average of 10 miles to try and keep fit and keep the ticker healthy

I live in a hilly area and even after 9 months of cycling I'm still knackered when I get back.

But tonight I did 2 things before I went out which resulted in me doing my usual training route 1.8mph quicker,felt a lot stronger all the way round and ended the route feeling reasonably ok,I even finished the ride tackling a hill I normally hate!

First thing I did was to properly clean the chain of old lube (which was only put on a week or so before so not exactly old) as I wanted to try Muc-Off wet C3 Ceramic Lube which I had read good reviews and there was also 20% off at Halfrauds

I then re-lubed it with the C3 ceramic

Then just before I set off I ate a Dextro Energy Tablet

Both of these 2 things above I have never done before

So to ask, has anyone used Dextro tablets and or C3 ceramic lube and noticed a marked improvement?

Just to add,with the C3 Ceramic on, the chain felt superb and run smooth and silent and the Dextro Blackcurrent tasted very nice

 

[black'n'yellow]

have you tried dissolving a dextro tablet into the ceramic lube..?

Seriously, I doubt if either of those two things made the slightest bit of difference to your performance - especially as there are so many other factors that may have had an impact, not least of which might be something as simple as improved fitness.

Do exactly the same thing tomorrow night and see what happens...

 

[ColinJ]

You had a tailwind on the hard uphill bits!

I did a quick time up the Cragg Vale climb once, only to discover when I stopped for a drink at the top that I'd had a tailwind all the way, rather than the cross-headwind that I normally get. It makes a huge difference.

 

[MrJamie]

Dextro tablets do give a decent boost to blood sugar, I used to munch through a whole pack running on a race day and it'd make a nice little difference to my time imho, not sure a single one would do much though Not tried them cycling either though.

 

[2wd]

Cheers chaps

On reflection it was a rare windless night

Good point by Black n Yellow (not the dissolving Dextro with C3 part, but hey I'll try anything once )

Ill nip out tomorrow,pop a Dextro in and see what happens

I do need to be careful with Glucose though as apparently I don't absorb/convert it quickly into energy (cant remember what the condition is but had to take a test last year with a glucose drink and blood tests)

 

[Pennine-Paul]

Your probably getting fitter,try extending your loop by a few miles

soon you'll be doubling your usual ride distance

I take it riding to Blackpool on sunday for the shaw blast explosion is
still a bit too far for you yet though

 

[400bhp]

So 3 or 4 times a week I get out and do an average of 10 miles

1. Your body gets used to the repetitive exercise and will (already has) reach a plateau. Mix it up (different routes and different distances). If you can't get out for longer then do some interval training.

2. Don't read too much into a 1 off ride.

 

[2wd]

Again many thanks for the replies and various views on this,which was the reason for asking.

@ Pennine Paul, yes Blackpool is well out of my reach at the moment

I'll still do what i can in other ways to help the Shaw disaster,already raised funds through a collection at work and there are some fund raising events being held in Shaw

 

[Crankarm]

LoL! Following or no wind is the most likely explanation.

 

[pplpilot]

I do need to be careful with Glucose though as apparently I don't absorb/convert it quickly into energy (cant remember what the condition is but had to take a test last year with a glucose drink and blood tests)

Cant be Dextro thingy then can it?

 

[400bhp]

LoL! Following or no wind is the most likely explanation.

On a route to/from home?

 

[Crankarm]

On a route to/from home?

Quite possibly.

 

[2wd]

Cant be Dextro thingy then can it?

I need to get a better answer/understanding from the Docs as I may convert/use it more during excersise as the tests were done during a 2 hour resting period

 

[ColinJ]

On a route to/from home?

I once did a local 20 mile loop and had a strong wind slowing me all the way round! (Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Littleborough, Blackstone Edge, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge.)

I think it is possible because of a combination of slightly shifting wind direction and the way that wind gets funnelled down narrow valleys.

 

[2wd]

have you tried dissolving a dextro tablet into the ceramic lube..?

Seriously, I doubt if either of those two things made the slightest bit of difference to your performance - especially as there are so many other factors that may have had an impact, not least of which might be something as simple as improved fitness.

Do exactly the same thing tomorrow night and see what happens...

Went out tonight,same route plus an additional 3 miles,ate a couple of Dextro's,,increased my average speed by 1/2mph and had to deal with head winds, which I didn't last night.

Still felt decent on return

Perhaps I'm just starting to feel the benefit of the last 9 months?

Have to say though that the chain is also the quietest and smoothest its ever been with the C3 Ceramic Lube on

Highly recommend the stuff