warming up period

[Big boy]

When i first got back into cycling i had a hybrid that had sat in the shed for a year. (it was a new bike)
We ended up with no car (long story) so out came the bike pumped up the tires and off i went.
Quite often and for no aparent reason it was like something was holding the bike back, a bit like riding through treacle.
Well i checked the bike over time and time again, found nothing wrong.
Since then ive noticed that its probably me rather than the bike, the hybrid was stolen.
Im not that fit and havent really looked after myself perticularly well in recent years.
Im 50 now but once im over the first4 miles or so im away.
Anyone else have similar experience as the first few miles are sometimes almost enough to make me turn back home

 

[Thomk]

Yep. The first tiny hill at the end of my road has me puffing and cursing every time. It take me about 3 or 4 miles to warm up and 10 - 15 miles to reach optimum.

 

[defy-one]

First couple of miles is 10-12 mph and then i start pushing it.
I find the first 2 miles the most enjoyable,the next 16 make me want to turn back ;-)

 

[Deleted member 1258]

60 years young with stents in my chest due to Angina a few years ago, I need to get warm not go hard from the start, once I've done a mile or two I can start letting the bike off the leash.

 

[Fab Foodie]

60 years young with stents in my chest due to Angina a few years ago, I need to get warm not go hard from the start, once I've done a mile or two I can start letting the bike off the leash.

Similar (well, nearly 50!). Allow yourself at least 15 or so minutes of gentle spinning to warm-up and the same at the end of your ride.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I definitely need to ride into a ride myself. If I go too quick too soon I don't enjoy the ride as much.

You need to warm your muscles through as well, there's a good reason why the pros spend time on their turbo's before a stage, especially a TT where they are on it from the get go

 

[NotthatJasonKenny]

I definitely need to ride into a ride myself. If I go too quick too soon I don't enjoy the ride as much.
:

Really? Here's me thinking you shoot off like a rocket...just me then! :-)

 

[Fab Foodie]

I definitely need to ride into a ride myself. If I go too quick too soon I don't enjoy the ride as much.

You need to warm your muscles through as well, there's a good reason why the pros spend time on their turbo's before a stage, especially a TT where they are on it from the get go

For us oldies it's warming the Cardio-vascular system up gently that's most important.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Really? Here's me thinking you shoot off like a rocket...just me then! :-)

It's all relative

 

[RWright]

My normal 24 minute warm up for cycling is as follows:
Find cycle pants, 2 minutes
Look for my shoes and socks, 3 minutes
Find a half way clean shirt, 2 minutes
Put on pants and shirt, 1 minute
Go sit down and put on socks and shoes, 2 minutes
Find headband, 2 minutes
Give bike quick visual inspection, 1 minute
Roll bike outside and check tire pressure in both tires, 3 minutes
Find riding glasses, 2 minutes
Reset computer trip miles and wait for clock to change to the new minute, 1 minute
Take off, get to end of street and remember I forgot my gloves, 1 minute
Go back home to find gloves and put them on, 3 minutes
Reset trip computer and wait for the new minute, 1 minute
Take off

I don't always forget my gloves but just substitute riding glasses or headband and I normally have to go back and get one of these.

 

[Big boy]

Im not the only one who forgets things then, the times ive just got on the bike and thaught oops my water bottle.

 

[nathanicola]

Really? Here's me thinking you shoot off like a rocket...just me then! :-)

No and me, out of bed, get dressed,on the bike and tear off at 26mph......then a mile up the road stop for some old water left from the day before because your about to be sick

 

[Thomk]

Im not the only one who forgets things then, the times ive just got on the bike and thaught oops my water bottle.

My record for "how long it took me to realise I didn't have my helmet on" is 17 miles.

 

[NotthatJasonKenny]

It's all relative

Yeah yeah!

 

[RussellZero]

Im not the only one who forgets things then, the times ive just got on the bike and thaught oops my water bottle.

I was 5 mins into a ride to go collect a friend on his bike, when I realised my eyes were watering a bit. Hang on.... No helmet, no glasses! Erk,.. 5 mins back home, added helmet and glasses and theres my friend waiting for me at the gate fed up with waiting.