pete68 - MemberDo you have a goal in mind that you're aiming towards, such as a xc or 24 hour race? If so then the road bike is a good tool for the job. If you just want to keep fit generally, then ditch the road bike if you really don't enjoy it. Nothing will demotivate you like doing something you don't have any fun doing. Stick to the mtb and gym if that's what you enjoy. I wouldn't have thought a drop off of fitness is down to age. You're only early 40s aren't you. I'm 4 years older than you and still set pbs on our local trails and roads, and even have a reasonable amount of koms too.
Not really a goal in all honesty no. I've looked round at various events and the ones I used to have as my yearly goals no longer exist, the Afan Monster and the Maxx exposure, SDW at night.
The road bike was purchased with a specific use in mind which was as a training tool, winter tool and something to get me out when I really can't be bothered getting the MTB muddy day after day after day. I knew in advance it wouldn't by my riding of choice, but it's a necessary evil. It did though open my eyes to how complacent I've become.
I don't think it's an age thing no, but there's reports that things deteriorate over a certain age, but no, I don't think it's an issue.
My weight has slipped up over time recently with injury and also with a France holiday, however I'm almost back down to my 'usual' weight again now after a couple of weeks of 5-2 diet. But that's still 15st 0 when I get there, which won't help, so targeting 14st 7 to get down to.
Part of my goals is to get myself fitter for Enduro stuff, I'm hoping when I do my first Enduro in a couple of weeks it's something that captivates me and shocks me into realising how much lighter/fitter I want and need to be to progress. But mostly the desire is a complete overall fitness desire that I've let slip and want to get back to where I feel I could/should be.
Didn't read all the responses above so sorry if it's already been said.
I found that due to time constraints I was getting out on my bike less and less. When I did I was pissed off by my lack of fitness which lessened my enthusiasm for the next trip. See where this was going?
I joined a gym. Pure Gym to be exact. Much cheapness and open 24 /7. No excuse for not going. Ever.
Since doing this my fitness has gone right back up. A combination of cross trainer, Concept II rowing machine, exercise bike and spinning. Also throw in some weights. Training sessions last between 1 and 2 hours and I go 5 times a week. Feel much better about myself and when I do get the time to go out on my bike I really enjoy it!
Result.
Crack on I say, don't forget the rest, looks to me like you are doing a bit too much, but then I'm not you..
Resting is a real point of contention for me...and a complete unknown quantity. I don't know what's classed as good rest, bad rest etc.
Most weeks I do gym (spin or cycle, 45min/1 hour per day on Mon/Tue/Wed. I then usually have 1 ride on the next 3 days, Usually Friday, again 1 hour-1.20 outdoors. Then Sunday at the moment is Road, 2 hours-2.30.
So I guess I'm regularly on a 5 day week.
It's only the last few weeks though that the 5 has been 5 'proper' days, as stated earlier, I've been cruising too much in training, so that's a bit more now.
sounds like your training sessions are all similar length and intensity. Try mixing it up a little, longer sessions - shorter. I'd drop one of the one hour rides and do a 2 the next day. You get a rest plus a different length of exercise. Your body has adapted to the regular exercise its receiving and has just levelled out. Not reaching your max HR normally means your a bit tired rather than lacking exercise
@weeksy you are doing a stack more work than most of us. As we all know you can improve the quality of that work with planning and a proper programme, you have the monitor to record your activity and also this is what Strava/Endomondo are really meant for, logging workouts.
I hope you don't mind me saying but with that amount of workout each week (ie calorie burn) if you want to make a decent step forward in performance and weight loss you need to look closely at your diet.
Pawsy,
Realistically the times can't change massively, gym is at work time, so 1 hour or so.... Thurs/Fri is WFH but lunch hour, so again 1 hour or so... then Sat or Sun I have a 6 year old and a mum who needs looking after, so 2 hours ish there.
Jambalaya...
Agree 100% mate... it's my main weakness in life/training... diet... I'm rubbish with/at it... I'd love to say "i'll work on that and change" but in all honesty, I don't believe I will change massively.
And on that note.... I'm heading down for another torture session on the spin bike 🙂 Back in an hour... or so.
Seems I was a little premature with this thread.
Weight is coming down, today I beat my PR's on every sector apart from 1. (But in my defence it was wet today). Whilst I still can't get close to a couple of mates times, it's quite clear I'm not quite as far off my own times as I first perceived. Today I was able to climb 3 decent hills completely out of the saddle, which impressed myself.
OK, so I'm only 300/900 on average on Strava... but 300 ain't bad. 🙂
Just looking at the heart rate stats from today. My average was 144bpm, which isn't bad for outdoor.
The overall pace on the ride was 13.6mph, which considering it was 100% off-road I'm pretty bloody pleased with. Pace compared to Thurs when I was out on the wifes bike was good and quicker. Althoguh at times I was deffo pushing harder than the other day. The difference was only 10s on some sections, but up to a minute on a few others. But I guess that all comparisons are unfair unless comparing like for like, bike for bike, sunny for sunny etc.
I struggle next with the what's making me slower. All of my PB's on the sections I know well are from August 2013. That's when I was out on the Spearfish. Was the Spearfish that much quicker XC wise than the Meta ?
For example, today on a climb, only 0.7km but one I've ridden 100+ times easy, today 2mins 34, my PB from Aug13 is 2mins17.
Longer one, today was 13mins 12s, Aug13 was 12mins 23s.
I was on strava 3/56 on a section.... which I have to be happy with, especially considering there's a few locals I ride with a chunk behind me.
That's a lot of time to make up considering how hard I was riding today. !
