Training for bike rides: Who's kidding who?

[middleagecyclist]

Anyone aware of cyclists who go 'training' on the bike despite not being competitive cyclists? Some of these training areas in warm and sunny places with good cycling terrrain. Personally I like to go on on holiday and do some cycle touring. Who are they kidding? Discuss...

 

[Globalti]

I'm beginning to discover that at my age (58) it's quality of riding that trains you, not quantity. 2 - 3 shorter but enjoyable rides are much better training than one mahoosive ride a week that leaves you knackered.

 

[KneesUp]

Is that something people say - that they are going training? I suppose if you ride your bike for a week, you will get fitter, so it sort of works.

As a very recent and very unfit returnee to cycling, I find I'm much less concerned about speed than once I was. This is perhaps because now if I am in a hurry I have the option to take the car, whereas when last I cycled regularly, the only option to get there quicker was to pedal faster, so I'd definitely call it touring But then maybe the main difference is being 20 years older :/

 

[jay clock]

I am not competitive although I compete in long distance triathlons. Have been on a club training week in Lanzarote the last 5 years approx and use it to get some long warm rides in with friends. I also do long distance touring as witnessed on my Crazy Guy blogs. Longest is 4 weeks and 2400km.

So I can happily tick both boxes!

 

[Rob3rt]

Anyone aware of cyclists who go 'training' on the bike despite not being competitive cyclists? Some of these training areas in warm and sunny places with good cycling terrrain. Personally I like to go on on holiday and do some cycle touring. Who are they kidding? Discuss...

If they enjoy the nice weather, the roads and being treat like a pro for a few days and are willing to pay for it, enjoy it I say.

 

[welsh dragon]

Horses for courses really. Some people want to train and train in sunny warm places. Some aren't training for anything. Personally I just pootle around. Im not interested in how fast, and far I can go, I just pootle. That makes me happy.

at the same time, if someone has a job where they work unsociable hours, works hard, is competitive, and wants to train somewhere in the sun, then go for it and enjoy yourself I say. They work hard to earn they're money and can spend it on whatever they like. Good luck to, them. I'll carry on pootling between 6 to 14 miles on my own. Thats what cycling is all about after all, enjoyment, not torturing yourself or trying to keep up with the jones's. I'm old enough now that I'm not bothered what anyone else does. Enjoy.

 

[Old Plodder]

I think the name 'Training Camp' is good in that it's unambiguous - people who just want to 'pootle about' will know from the name that these are not what they want.

That sums it up pretty well, I think, training rides are quite often 'over evens' (20mph), so you know what you are letting yourself in for.

 

[jay clock]

"Over evens"is a time trial for me. No way can I do 20mph+ average for more than a short period. I just looked up my last long "training ride" in Lanzarote and it was 165km at 21.5kmh (note, km not miles)! So not all training rides are equal!

 

[outlash]

When people talk about their 'training', I ask them what they're training for and all I get back is a puzzled look back...


Tony.

 

[Profpointy]

well I used to go on bike rides for improving my general fitness - I think I'd call that "training", albeit not for anything in particular. I did enjoy these rides anyway, but also it was so that I could plausibly do bigger rides (or bigger caving trips for that matter), rather than for their own sake.

 

[Joshua Plumtree]

Seem to me that there are only two reasons for training on a bike - either to go faster or further, or possibly a combination of both. What we then do with that increased level of fitness is really up us as individuals, and no one else's business!

As I heard Danny Baker say on the radio t'other day: " We get about 60- 70 years on this earth (more if you cycle ). What's it to yer, fella?

 

[cd365]

Like @Profpointy says, when I go out on my bike to improve my general fitness I call that training. I used to go down a proper gym (before injury) and do some quite serious weights, I used to call that training as well.
You don't have to be training for an event or competition.

 

[Christopher]

Perhaps they want to do day rides without carrying anything, and come back to the same place every night and have a dip in the pool - a short swim after a hot ride is wonderful. Not everyone wants to tour you know.

 

[BAtoo]

Anyone aware of cyclists who go 'training' on the bike despite not being competitive cyclists? Discuss...

Yes, I'm training at the moment for a long-distance charity ride in about 6 weeks time. From only very sporadic riding before last summer to 1000+miles in 2weeks on the ride I'm in need of some training.
However when I've done the ride I shall revert to going out on my bike for a ride, or maybe even do a little touring.

 

[DCLane]

It depends how you define 'training'.

I'm currently commuting 4-5 days a week at med-high speed 10-20 miles each way. That's not training, it's commuting.
On Saturdays (& some Sundays) I'll do 50-70 miles at speed. That's not training, it's peace and quiet.

However, on Thursdays my club does race training; 3 x 7.5 mile loops timed at high speed in 2 groups - fast and slow, which I ride to/from after work. I've somehow ended up in the fast group. That's training as I'm back to racing again.