So I have a road event coming up. Life means I've not done any training, and in fact very little biking recently. I'm travelling this week and won't have a bike, but will have a hotel gym. I can ride as much as I want the following week.
Mostly struggle climbing hills.
What would you do with these 2 weeks to try and make a difference.
Some kind of performance enhancing drugs?? It might be a little late?
What date is the event?
What would you do with these 2 weeks to try and make a difference.
1 week hard, 2 days nothing, 2 days easy, 3 days nothing
I think I got benefit from that but who knows?
Write it off as a 'practice / training race'
Mostly struggle climbing hills.What would you do with these 2 weeks to try and make a difference.
Climb lots of hills.
hill reps.
Rest, you will probably just pull something if you over do it.
I don't think you will do much for aerobic fitness in that time. If the event is long (for you) then fitting in a couple of long rides asap might help?
Do some hard hill climbs to get your body used to a hard effort, maybe a long ride to get you used to that, then rest.
hill climbing is a measure of power to weight.
you'll have a better chance of dropping weight than gaining power in two weeks.
Oh I know that - I was just wondering if there was anything that might help. Now these drugs you talk of...Some kind of performance enhancing drugs?? It might be a little late?
its exactly 2 weeks today.What date is the event?
1 week hard, 2 days nothing, 2 days easy, 3 days nothing
OK that sounds like the sort of feedback I was hoping for. So 1 week hard - bearing in mind I won't have a real bike should that be cardio hard or 'muscle' hard? Based on others saying hill reps - I'm thinking its more about muscle than heart/lungs. I'm assuming there will be a bike in the hotel gym, but any other suggestions to break up the boredom?
Oh its only ever for pleasure - I don't race, I'm neither good enough nor do I take life that seriously. I'm just looking for vaguely enjoying it - oh and not being dropped by the missus!Write it off as a 'practice / training race'
its not that long based on previous stupidity - but it is the longest I've ridden this year.If the event is long (for you) then fitting in a couple of long rides asap might help?
Which part of me were you planning to amputate that would result in major weight saving without affecting power?hill climbing is a measure of power to weight.you'll have a better chance of dropping weight than gaining power in two weeks.
Is it the London Surrey Cycle Classic thingy? If so, I'd not worry about climbing hills, there's two fairly easy ones in the middle, and little else.
your over thinking it 🙂
For reference I rode about 18km in 7 weeks after coming home from NZ at the start of June. Illness, work and injuries (sustained in the 18km) got in the way. I did 25km last Sat, 105km on the Sunday and 130km today (all road) Just spin the legs up a bit and eat properly. Hydrate take it easy off the line. Just be prepared to feel the effects of an extra hour or so in the saddle. Get some gels and bars for the point where the energy runs out.
Is it the London Surrey Cycle Classic thingy? If so, I'd not worry about climbing hills, there's two fairly easy ones in the middle, and little else.
I'm doing that and more worried about the other 95 flat miles than the little hills in the middle..
That was my point, the OP's saying his hill climbing is a problem, but that's hardly a hindrance if that's the event.
no its tour of the borders. The issue is my climbing is not as good as Mrs Poly's. I know I can make it round alive, its just how big the humiliation is!That was my point, the OP's saying his hill climbing is a problem, but that's hardly a hindrance if that's the event.
Any training takes 3 weeks to show generally as rule of thumb so it's already too late.
Spend the next week eating and drinking properly and doing mobility / movement exercises
I've had a few weeks of doing nowt before the Ard Rock cos of bike issues and heavy workloads (albeit after a few months training). So that's my plan - tho it'll be written off by the BBQ and beers the night before!
You will not get "fitter" in two weeks but you can make yourself feel good or crap in that time frame. Eat well, sleep well, hydrate well keep the legs ticking over where you can but don't do too much... any other bits of advice to add? Personally, sleeping well and avoiding as much stress as possible (working from home for example) does more for my legs than most things!
Crash diet. Weight loss always makes me quicker up hills 🙂