Training for bike rides: Who's kidding who?

[Brightski]

I am a competitive cyclist that trains & does the occasional training camp but if somebody wants to say they are doing a training ride.... I don't think "really" who cares we can't start picking at our own there are plenty out there that want to do that..
Be happy

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I partly cycle to train my body to accept more cheese and beer without morphing into a Jabba the Hut physique.

 

[TheJDog]

I think you're getting pretty miserable if you're getting annoyed at someone out getting fitter and calling it training.

Are you one of these people who complains about team kit/fancy bikes etc.. ?

Also: if we're going to be middle aged, cantankerous busy bodies, it's who's kidding whom.

 

[outlash]

I think you're getting pretty miserable if you're getting annoyed at someone out getting fitter and calling it training.

Are you one of these people who complains about team kit/fancy bikes etc.. ?

Also: if we're going to be middle aged, cantankerous busy bodies, it's who's kidding whom.

The other side of the coin to that is, why can't you just go out and enjoy riding your bike? You'll get fitter just by doing that and not sitting around watching telly. Why do you have to term it as training? Is anyone doing hill repeats on their sunday ride? So, if we're going to be pretentious, over-serious people on bikes, who is kidding who exactly?


Tony.

 

[Hip Priest]

This thread shows that there are almost as many definitions of a training ride as there are people.

I personally couldn't give the slightest nano-toss about what someone wants to call their ride.

 

[TheJDog]

The other side of the coin to that is, why can't you just go out and enjoy riding your bike? You'll get fitter just by doing that and not sitting around watching telly. Why do you have to term it as training? Is anyone doing hill repeats on their sunday ride? So, if we're going to be pretentious, over-serious people on bikes, who is kidding who exactly?

I do hill repeats on my Sunday ride. Sometimes I do intervals. Sometimes I cruise around the countryside. It's not pretentious to call it training, it is training. Training for the next ride to be faster/easier/get a bit less fat/to beat Andy C at all costs.

What do you care if someone is more serious than you when they're out on a bike? Does it make one iota of difference to your ride, how much you enjoy being on a bike. Some people enjoy coming home wrecked at the end of a ride. Some people enjoy a leisurely ride around. I'm sure they still nod to each other.

p.s. OED says one definition of train is "Develop and improve (a mental or physical faculty) through instruction or practice," so it isn't a misuse of the word even if you're not competing in an organized event.

 

[Rob3rt]

The other side of the coin to that is, why can't you just go out and enjoy riding your bike? You'll get fitter just by doing that and not sitting around watching telly. Why do you have to term it as training? Is anyone doing hill repeats on their sunday ride? So, if we're going to be pretentious, over-serious people on bikes, who is kidding who exactly?


Tony.

Not on a Sunday, Sunday is 2-3 hours at ~215W. Maybe on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday though!

 

[BAtoo]

I'm not doing hill repetitions on my rides but I am choosing the hillier rides - of which there are few near me - as part of my training (see post above...).

 

[Kookas]

Training to go faster.

 

[BAtoo]

Training to go faster.

I'm training so I can make it to the end in Denmark.....

 

[outlash]

I do hill repeats on my Sunday ride. Sometimes I do intervals. Sometimes I cruise around the countryside. It's not pretentious to call it training, it is training. Training for the next ride to be faster/easier/get a bit less fat/to beat Andy C at all costs.

What do you care if someone is more serious than you when they're out on a bike? Does it make one iota of difference to your ride, how much you enjoy being on a bike. Some people enjoy coming home wrecked at the end of a ride. Some people enjoy a leisurely ride around. I'm sure they still nod to each other.

p.s. OED says one definition of train is "Develop and improve (a mental or physical faculty) through instruction or practice," so it isn't a misuse of the word even if you're not competing in an organized event.

Good for you. I'm sure your hill repeats will make a huge difference in you getting a bit less fat. You're right, it doesn't make one iota of difference to my ride, and I couldn't care less what you do on yours. I also enjoy coming home wrecked after a solo ride (club runs are different as the group dictates the pace) as I'll tend to ride as hard as I can but that's my own choice, I don't call it training because it's not. The only person I'm competing against is myself.
What amuses me is that to some people it has to be 'training' like it's something to be endured, not enjoyed. If you're going to be po-faced and precious about it, by all means. I'll just go out for a ride thanks.


Tony.

 

[TheJDog]

I'm sure you're lovely in real life

 

[Eribiste]

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.

Sounds about right to me. I ride at my pace, whatever that is. I'm faster than some, slower than others. As long as the scenery's good and it's a nice day, that'll do. My only competitive impulse is generally keeping pace with what I've achieved before and maybe making a little progress over the year.

 

[Rob3rt]

Good for you. I'm sure your hill repeats will make a huge difference in you getting a bit less fat. You're right, it doesn't make one iota of difference to my ride, and I couldn't care less what you do on yours. I also enjoy coming home wrecked after a solo ride (club runs are different as the group dictates the pace) as I'll tend to ride as hard as I can but that's my own choice, I don't call it training because it's not. The only person I'm competing against is myself.
What amuses me is that to some people it has to be 'training' like it's something to be endured, not enjoyed. If you're going to be po-faced and precious about it, by all means. I'll just go out for a ride thanks.


Tony.

Hmm. People don't enjoy training?

 

[Stonechat]

I train, started cycling a year ago, aged 62, after 20 years away, started on a hybrid, now have a road bike
I signed up for London to Brighton, my dstamce and climbing abilities have without doubt improved beyond recognition