When I was but a lad...

[Grahame]

When I was but a lad...well up until my late 30's anyway, I was a runner- not fast but a runner. I had completed 4 marathons, slowly but surely and countless shorter runs. I always trained on the 90/10 method, which was 90% slow running for endurance where I could talk easily whilst training and 10% fast running for conditioning and speed.

At the tender age of 60, I have just started riding and I am building up my mileage. The last long ride on Monday was 24.2 miles at 16.2 pace per mile on the flat with a 10-15 mph headwind for half the ride. I have a cycle computer and of course that encourages me to go faster and faster. I should switch it off but it's a bit like a drug...

Anyway, is it a good idea to keep chasing times and would it be better for me to concentrate on distance for most of the time and speed occasionally like the 90-10 that I used to do when I had the knees for running?

Thanks

 

[Brommyboy]

It depends on what you enjoy: I prefer to use the bicycle for travel, and so do much more touring or just day rides. I still like occasionally to put a lot more effort into the ride! Nothing like using a tail wind on a resurfaced road, turning the pedals slowly in a very high gear while achieving 28 mph!!! The Brompton is geared down, so my top pedalling speed is about 20 mph, but freewheeling at 39 mph is exhilarating! Done it twice. Like your running, get distance in your muscles but keep speed for shorter runs: at 60 you are still very young!

 

[Melonfish]

I should switch it off but it's a bit like a drug...

I have a theory that cycle computers will one day be the downfall of humanity, purely because we won't be able to go anywhere unless we have it with us!
its like the ultimate LCD game, must beat your last high score
pete

 

[DiddlyDodds]

I was like you , i had to check my computer all the time for speed , distance etc , one day i forgot to put it on the bike and had a nice ride head up and actually looked at the scenery around me.
From that day i put in the draw and never used it again, and just go out and enjoy cycling and not computing

 

[boydj]

I think you already know the answer. If you're chasing the clock all the time you'll never give your body the recovery periods that it needs. You'll end up tired, injured and discouraged when your times stop improving or even fall back. It's no different from when you were running - except that cycling well within yourself can be a very enjoyable way of passing the time (and I would never say that about running slowly).

 

[MontyVeda]

I have a theory that cycle computers will one day be the downfall of humanity, purely because we won't be able to go anywhere unless we have it with us!
its like the ultimate LCD game, must beat your last high score
pete

I had one of those and loved/hated it. Loved clocking 40.5 mph... hated always trying to pedal one MPH faster. Fortunately some little bugger nicked my front wheel and with it the magnet so i removed the computer and cycling has been much more of a joy ever since, although i do wonder 'how fast' on some down hill stretches.