I'm fast...for about 20 miles

[SkipdiverJohn]

That's it, you see. I always feel guilty if I'm not going flat out.......
I'm rubbish at pacing myself and get bored easily if I'm not hammering it.

Ditch Strava for starters. It's controlling your hobby, not you.

 

[Pumpkin the robot]

Ditch Strava for starters. It's controlling your hobby, not you.

Some people enjoy that part of cycling. Just because it is not for you, does not mean it is wrong. Cycling is a broad church.

 

[Milzy]

Riding at Threshold all the time is the get fit quick option as long as you don’t over train. Recovery is important. Then do a longer slow one at the weekend. Speed and endurance will soon marry up.

 

[cyberknight]

Have you tried riding a bit slower too for longer ?
Last year i did a century and cramped up at about 80 miles , this year i did the same distance but took it a bit steadier and took a couple of proper cake stops rather than sportive gotta get around and had no issues.I am only talking maybe 15 mins extra over the ton .

+1 on the hydration , i do tend to forget to drink enough so this time i had plenty .

 

[Levo-Lon]

42 mph top speed ,16 mph average for 20 miles?
I take it you live in a hilly area.

I manage a16 mph average or there abouts in the flat lands.
There's one or two hill /slopes where ive got to 32mph.
I get cramp when im tired and under hydrated.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I thought I'd cracked it by dropping my seat 10mm, but tbh I think it is down to hydration.

I usually take two 700ml bottles for a longer (for me- 30 miles plus) ride but it's still not enough.

That’s more than enough!
Cramp is related to overall fitness and condition. The hydration issue (unless you are severly dehydrated) is mostly bollocks frankly. Intervals as already suggested will get you fitter quicker and the cramp will disappear.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Bananas.
Give then a try, and see if they don't help.
May be related to the potassium.

 

[HLaB]

42 mph top speed ,16 mph average for 20 miles?
I take it you live in a hilly area.

I manage a16 mph average or there abouts in the flat lands.
There's one or two hill /slopes where ive got to 32mph.
I get cramp when im tired and under hydrated.

I've not topped 39mph this year but 42mph is about the max I can do round here, either with a good strong wind for the descent or in Rutland; 32mph is more the norm though

 

[Tin Pot]

That’s more than enough!
Cramp is related to overall fitness and condition. The hydration issue (unless you are severly dehydrated) is mostly bollocks frankly. Intervals as already suggested will get you fitter quicker and the cramp will disappear.

Hear, farking hear!

You are exercising beyond your capability, that’s why you cramp.

That's it, you see. I always feel guilty if I'm not going flat out. I struggle to find the time to get out any more than twice a week, so I have to make every mile count. It actually helps that it's hilly where I live.

I'm rubbish at pacing myself and get bored easily if I'm not hammering it.

I don’t know what to recommend for that, but you know the problem, you know the fix. For me, failing part way through a race is humiliation enough to make me pace easy in training.

 

[Milzy]

Hear, farking hear!

You are exercising beyond your capability, that’s why you cramp.




I don’t know what to recommend for that, but you know the problem, you know the fix. For me, failing part way through a race is humiliation enough to make me pace easy in training.

Correct. That’s why on sportives you can over take better cyclists than yourself because they went too hard looking for that gold / silver.

 

[Levo-Lon]

I've not topped 39mph this year but 42mph is about the max I can do round here, either with a good strong wind for the descent or in Rutland; 32mph is more the norm though

Castor or The hill going towards Burleigh..i need to go out Oundle way!!

 

[Levo-Lon]

That’s more than enough!
Cramp is related to overall fitness and condition. The hydration issue (unless you are severly dehydrated) is mostly bollocks frankly. Intervals as already suggested will get you fitter quicker and the cramp will disappear.

If that's true im at a loss..but i blame my B12 UC on most things fatigue related

 

[HLaB]

Castor or The hill going towards Burleigh..i need to go out Oundle way!!

I almost got 40mph going down Morbourne hill on the rare time it was an east wind and caught a car who I had to wait to go by. When I did the driver was all excited, "you were going over 40mph ". Checked the GPS though when I got home, it was only 39.8mph though

 

[bpsmith]

Regularly hit over 40mph. That’s pretty normal in South Wales. 51.2mph down Cefn Bryn is my top speed.

 

[3narf]

Regularly hit over 40mph. That’s pretty normal in South Wales. 51.2mph down Cefn Bryn is my top speed.

Yes, I've done over 50.