Ready For The Longer Commute

[TheSandwichMonster]

My legs feel worse today after 2 x 24 miles, than they do when I get in from my 56 or 63 mile treks and even though I'm into rest days now, I wouldn't fancy getting back on the bike again tonight. Who knows how much of that is down to lack of recovery or psychchological after being up all night working, when the body should be resting ?

Probably a bit of both, to be fair.

I find the biggest issue with being "reasonably" fit is that you look at each part of your commute in isolation. That way it's only 24 miles, or only an hour and a quarter. My head almost never clicks to the fact that you have to do it again that evening, so in actual fact is the best part of 50 miles a day. That being the case, I always seem to head out too fast. Training (as I am) for my racing debut, I treat each leg of my commute like a blimmin' race and hammer it, then wonder why my legs have nothing in them on the ride home. Alternatively, I get pulled into some silly Strava racing and try to get a PB up a climb and similarly knack myself. Pacing is key.

Also, how much attention are you paying to fuelling whilst at work? I'm terrible for it: Either eating too much, or not enough and suffering the ill-effects of that. If you can crack the pacing and the fuelling, then you should be as well of as you can be.

 

[G-Zero]

....That way it's only 24 miles, or only an hour and a quarter....

Ok, I've decided that I don't want to speak to you anymore I thought I was doing well at 1 hour 35 mins !! You're obviously cycling in a totally different league to where I am.

I didn't give much thought to fuelling though - I had a normal tea about 90 minutes before I went to work and took my usual bait of a chopped carrot, small yoghurt and an apple. I did take half a malt loaf for brekkie, before setting off home and only hydrate with water.

On the face of it, it doesn't sound much, but I don't usually take any extra when I put longer miles in. I'm not racing or pushing myself hard normally though and tend to ride at a steady aerobic pace.

 

[TheSandwichMonster]

Those were arbitrary numbers, btw, not actual ones. Internet willy-waving does not apply here. My speeds vary wildly depending on route, weather, mood, traffic, phase of the moon, amount of sleep, company and/or the global financial climate!

I can't eat before I leave... There's nothing dignified in vomiting porridge down yourself, and that's exactly what I'd do. That said, my working hours are a bit more regular by the sounds of things, and nobody thinks anything of me scoffing my face at my desk! If you're not struggling (i.e. any struggling you're doing feels muscular, as opposed to being down to lack of energy), then you're probably OK, though it does sound to me like you're not eating loads, but then I like my food!

Where are you riding to, BTW? I used to commute from Houghton through to Newcastle quayside a couple of years back and that was always a nice ride. I used to think the North East was hilly before I moved down here!

 

[G-Zero]

Where are you riding to, BTW? I used to commute from Houghton through to Newcastle quayside a couple of years back and that was always a nice ride. I used to think the North East was hilly before I moved down here!

Newbiggin Hall, just to the west of the A1 near the A696 Airport Road.

A167 Fram/Pity Me - CLS - Birtley - Lamesley - Lady Park - Whickham - Blaydon - Newburn Bridge - Lemington - W.Denton - Westerhope

Until recently I was using an office on Dairy Lane in Houghton, using the A167 to Lumley Castle, then Gt. Lumley to Black Boy Road.

 

[rowdin]

The most i've ever done is 29 miles a day, five days a week. What i found helped alot was getting some protein inside me when i got to work and when i got home. But you lads are doing alot more miles than me so it might not help that much.