[bikertank]

Stormy - in the summer months we have a ride which in the first 2 miles we are more winded due to the hills than all our other 30 mile rides and it gets worse after that - I hate it - We still do it once a week because we know it is good for us but if that is all i had to ride I would never go outside - not saying to give up hills just get some pedaling in that isn't kicking your A@#$# from beginning to end - that is what races are for - unless you are all out billy goat - there are many on the forum - they would love your rides !

[StormStrikes]

I feel sorry for cyclist in areas like Colorado, Tennessee and other such places. I have it easy compared to them. Hopefully once I get my hands on my Garmin I can map out some areas that are not so bad and then used the hill climbs for the training and challenge.

Im thinking about venturing out on my own this weekend and doing a ride that should be in the area of 40 miles, depends on the weather and what all I can get done on the bike trainer for baselines.

The route I have picked will take me across the state line and back and should be relatively smooth if I get to go.

[agentkratzer]

All those hills will help you cadence. As you improve on climbing and shifting, so should your cadence.

I think I've mentioned that I really don't pay much attention to cadence. Everyone tracks something different, and that's cool because "that's what motivates you". I've always heard that there's a magic number between 90 and 120 where I want my cadence at... I can pull 70 to 85 average and still average 19 to 20 mph and climb over 1000 ft while burning 1200 calories in an hour. I know it should help me effort-wise and I'm probably geared up a little high, but that's comfortable for me. I thought flats would be better than hills until I got out on them and found that there was nothing but flatness (I have found that the change and challenge are what I am really motivated by), the hills alway pull me back.

Again, cadence is your thing and my thing is something different, I like that our sport is so diverse and that there are many skills that we can work to improve to become better cyclists. Just my thoughts on the matter... I'll definitely seek you out for advice when I start working on cadence. Happy riding!

[rola643]

Originally Posted by agentkratzer

... I can pull 70 to 85 average and still average 19 to 20 mph and climb over 1000 ft while burning 1200 calories in an hour.

Holy dodo man, you are a beast! I would never even try and keep up with you!! For realz!!!!!

[synack]

Yea, I am fairly short and lightweight and wouldn't try to touch that average. I'd be lucky to get that average on the flats.

[rola643]

Originally Posted by synack

Yea, I am fairly short and lightweight and wouldn't try to touch that average. I'd be lucky to get that average on the flats.

Here is a segment page from Strava 163ft .9 of mile, one of which Ben King rode, and the fastest I see 17.9 mph. Just happened to be a ride I was looking Ben did. 76 miles 4,918 ft of elevation in 4 hrs with an avg 18.9 mph. I'm sure he is slowing down for the fall but still....

[kneedrachen]

I think you'll be okay, even though I do not know what your typical regiment is like. Granted, one of the best ways to improve on the bike is time in the saddle, but even still, I think you'll be okay.

The thing is, if you're suffering, you'll know what it is tha tis hindering you. It could be the rollers, the long climbs, etc.

And don't feel bad for cyclists in Colorado, be jealous of them

[superj]

did we decide what the 73 / -75 means?

[rola643]

Originally Posted by superj

did we decide what the 73 / -75 means?

Total elevation gain and loss.


To help illustrate total accent vs descent time.

Added one more from Garmin Connect from the same ride.

[superj]

so, that 75/-73 deal means a person climber 75 feet total from their starting elevation and then descended back down 73 to return to almost exactly the same height as starting?

ok, sounds good to me. i always wondered because my iphone app tells me that kind of stuff too (more like 28/-25 or so though) and i just wondered what it meant. i am only a few feet above sea level and any climbing is going over an over pass or something as its flat as a board here.