Road cycling to fitness
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Bloody one holiday and one bout of Manflu later and my fitness is shot to buggery.<br><br>
Got out on the bike today for first time in ages. Now the clocks have gone forward it's great to cycle in the early evening. Cold crisp sunny day - beautiful. Also tried out my new jacket, thin, light, windproof and breathable - just kept at a nice temperature, amazing bit of kit! -
Been smashing out the rides this week - 20 milers on Sun, Mon and Weds and 30 miler today. Better weather and now lighter evenings.<br><br><br>
Have previously been suffering with e odd migraine after rides which I put down to dehydration. Been experimenting with electrolyte drinks (always been sceptical about these things) and have not had a migraine since using them.<br><br>
Now I'm a convert I'm trying recovery drinks see if they make a differnce. Early signs are they make a difference. -
Gym: KBs, dips, press ups, pull ups etc, punchbag followed by a core session. Core session was first class I'd done in gym for ages. Many of the girls put me to shame - still it's great incentive for holding your planks etc and not being first to collapse.
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Key test for the recovery drinks this week. I plan hi intensity rides today and Friday followed by long ride on Sun (gym on Sat), so let's see if the old legs are still working by the end of the week. Will also be saying hello to my little friend the roller. #shudders#
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<p>That sounds like a cool week of training mate. Will be a good gauge of how things are tracking - hope you get decent weather!!</p>
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<p>Go hard bro!! </p> -
Two 25 mile sessions this week with some hills thrown in - practising staying in the saddle and powering up the slope, which is harder on the legs (rather than riding out the saddle, harder on the lungs).<br><br>
Have to say the recovery drinks seem to work a treat. A little bit of soreness today, but not much. Gym session today, KBs, pull ups/dips, core stuff and a few 3 minute rounds on the punch bag.<br><br>
Longer cycle ride tomorrow. -
Circuit training and core classes back to back yesterday. Very stiff and sore today. Did a lot of stretching, roller and punchbag work today to "loosen-up". It worked while I was exercising, but now I'm home I've pretty much seized up. Much to my wife's amusement.
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Great few days. <br><br>
Friday the weather was crap so I thought I'd change things up a bit and went for a spin class. Never been before and I was impressed. <br>
It doesn't match the intensity of climbing real hills but it was a great interval work out, much better than plodding away indoors alone on a Watt bike. I sweated like a bastard.<br><br>
Saturday- repeat of the circuit training and core classes that caused the damage last week. Preceded with a lot of pull-ups for extra fun.<br><br>
Sunday - 4 laps round Richmond Park. It was a lovely day, so everyone had the same idea, lots of bikes and cars, plus there was a running race going on with lots of crossing points on the road. Mix in a few Lycra clad mid-life crisis tragics searching for their PBs and refusing to stop and its a recipe for conflict. So more of day for taking it easy and practicing my hill climbing - trying to relax while jumping out the saddle is not as easy as it sounds, but I'm getting there.<br><br>
I'm also a complete convert on recovery shakes. Legs held up well throughout. -
Weird couple of weeks - went away with family for short break, too much pizza, pasta and all you can eat breakfast. Saw my belly expanding in front of my eyes. Back this week eating healthy and regular exercise - mon: gym weights and core, Tuesday: kettlebells, Weds: 20 mile rapid cycle. Nearly all the extra weight gone. Just need to keep it up.
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<p>Good man! now you are building up fitness and muscle mass (even if its that 'lean' cycling muscle :whistle: ) your body will burn off calories much more effectively. Get the diet sorted and you'll be away laughing!</p>
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Cheers PKB. Been smashing it at the gym this week, especially on the kettlebells. Also managed a 30 mile ride on Weds and a 50 mile ride today (Sunday). It was the least I could after all the Guinness consumed after theAussie game :)<br><br>
Legs feeling a lot stronger after the old recovery shakes - really feel like I'm making improvements. Will start to do some time trialling around Richmond park soon. Long term goal 1 lap 20 mins, 3 laps 60 mins. At the moment I'm around 22 min for best lap and 1hr 10min for the 3 laps. -
<p>C used to stand for Cookie... now it stands for Cycling! well that and Fluffybunny lol! at least on this forum :whistle:</p>
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<p>always cool when the hard work starts paying off in terms of better lifts, times etc. Keep putting in that work and you'll be hooning along in no time</p> -
Hey PKB don't go all Sesame Street on me now :)<br><br>
Appreciate the support, still going well and the weather improving has made such a difference. Really getting into the KBs at the gym, on the cycling front will start going for some best lap times soon. Just need to get up early in the morning to avoid the traffic. <br><br>
That's not going to happen tomorrow though as Brexit today has led to a temporary lapse on the turps! -
Oh one other thing. At the gym the other day doing a bit a work on the punch bag, noticed a chick doing loads of wide grip chin ups, no assistance. She then slapped a 20kg plate on her back and smashed out about 20 press ups. She repeated this sequence 3 times - noticed she was wearing some Saracens rugby shorts, those rugby gals must be fit!