Training Diary: and my 105km commute!!!
Discussion
As some of you may have read in my other thread I embarked on riding to work yesterday... Rochester to London. The return journey totalled 105km (65miles).
The idea was to do this everyday to train for a charity ride from London-Amsterdam within 4 days. That I am doing in August.
Even though I completed the ride yesterday, (2hrs 15mins out - 2hrs 20mins rtn) the return journey is amongst the hardest of rides I have ever done. It was not so much the distance as I have a done a few 160km Audax's which I found much easier, more so that I was mentally drained after work even before getting on the bike. This made the ride a 'task' to get home rather than something to enjoy... Another factor was this is the first time I have rode in busy London traffic and having only been used to open countryside and quaint Kent villages also added to the 'just get home' feeling.
It has made me rethink my approach to training and what I am physically (and more importantly, mentally) capable of after a days work.
Not being one to give up that easily I am going to ride it again next Wednesday and (hopefully) Friday to see if the mental block I had is something I can overcome... If anyone has any tips I'd really like to hear them.
On the days that I don’t do the full 105km commute I’m going to drive to somewhere closer to London and ride in from there, so if anyone can recommend a route to Southwark Street from the South East area that makes the most of traffic free roads and countryside that totals about 50km I’m all ears.
I will keep this up to date with my progress, or lack of!
Cheers
Lee
The idea was to do this everyday to train for a charity ride from London-Amsterdam within 4 days. That I am doing in August.
Even though I completed the ride yesterday, (2hrs 15mins out - 2hrs 20mins rtn) the return journey is amongst the hardest of rides I have ever done. It was not so much the distance as I have a done a few 160km Audax's which I found much easier, more so that I was mentally drained after work even before getting on the bike. This made the ride a 'task' to get home rather than something to enjoy... Another factor was this is the first time I have rode in busy London traffic and having only been used to open countryside and quaint Kent villages also added to the 'just get home' feeling.
It has made me rethink my approach to training and what I am physically (and more importantly, mentally) capable of after a days work.
Not being one to give up that easily I am going to ride it again next Wednesday and (hopefully) Friday to see if the mental block I had is something I can overcome... If anyone has any tips I'd really like to hear them.
On the days that I don’t do the full 105km commute I’m going to drive to somewhere closer to London and ride in from there, so if anyone can recommend a route to Southwark Street from the South East area that makes the most of traffic free roads and countryside that totals about 50km I’m all ears.
I will keep this up to date with my progress, or lack of!
Cheers
Lee
I'd like to say I didn't do any of that, but I did... Refueled myself with the correct amount of Carbs / Protein, went for a walk, and did stretchs while sitting at my desk!
Phsyically I was ok, I dont ache this morning at all, it was mentally... I just couldn't be bothered and wanted to give up! I've been riding for years and this is the first time I have experienced that feeling while on the bike.
Phsyically I was ok, I dont ache this morning at all, it was mentally... I just couldn't be bothered and wanted to give up! I've been riding for years and this is the first time I have experienced that feeling while on the bike.
I can sympathise. Before we moved North I used to cycle to work - 20 miles in than 20 miles out (so nothing like your journey in terms of distance) - on a hilly route. I would do this regularly when training. Some days I would be dying on my way home vowing never to get on a bike again.
It did get better I have to say, but I still had the some shocking pedals back where every pedal stroke was hurt. It would usually coincide with stressful meetings where too much coffee would be drunk and hydration was done quickly before I set off home.
It did get better I have to say, but I still had the some shocking pedals back where every pedal stroke was hurt. It would usually coincide with stressful meetings where too much coffee would be drunk and hydration was done quickly before I set off home.
I find if I'm knackered in the evening it can be nicer to take a more sedate route back along a cycle lane in a park, that kind of thing. It's usually longer but if you're mentally exhausted at the end of a day at work, riding on the road and trying to to be killed can be a lot more draining the physical exertion.
I think evey day would be a challenge.
My cycle commute is 55 miles but I have the North York moors to look at on the way in and the Yorkshire Dales in sight on the way home, rather than London traffic to deal with.
I started in April one day a week, went to twice a week fairly quickly and now am on the bike for the third time this week. (As well as a cheeky 68 mile ride last weekend.)
Today I have sore legs for the first time in a while so I think I may be at my current limit. - just about 200 miles a week. Will see if I get home tonight or not!
I was initially carrying a rucsac, but now just use pockets and saddlebag. That seems to help a bit. Otherwise I just make sure I enjoy the ride. Checking out the view and counting how many Hares I can spot on the way in. While it is pleasant it is not a chore.
One real bugger is the wind. Anyone got any tips for 50mph gusts that add an hour to the journey on occasion?
My cycle commute is 55 miles but I have the North York moors to look at on the way in and the Yorkshire Dales in sight on the way home, rather than London traffic to deal with.
I started in April one day a week, went to twice a week fairly quickly and now am on the bike for the third time this week. (As well as a cheeky 68 mile ride last weekend.)
Today I have sore legs for the first time in a while so I think I may be at my current limit. - just about 200 miles a week. Will see if I get home tonight or not!
I was initially carrying a rucsac, but now just use pockets and saddlebag. That seems to help a bit. Otherwise I just make sure I enjoy the ride. Checking out the view and counting how many Hares I can spot on the way in. While it is pleasant it is not a chore.
One real bugger is the wind. Anyone got any tips for 50mph gusts that add an hour to the journey on occasion?
madbadger said:
I think evey day would be a challenge.
My cycle commute is 55 miles but I have the North York moors to look at on the way in and the Yorkshire Dales in sight on the way home, rather than London traffic to deal with.
I started in April one day a week, went to twice a week fairly quickly and now am on the bike for the third time this week. (As well as a cheeky 68 mile ride last weekend.)
Today I have sore legs for the first time in a while so I think I may be at my current limit. - just about 200 miles a week. Will see if I get home tonight or not!
I was initially carrying a rucsac, but now just use pockets and saddlebag. That seems to help a bit. Otherwise I just make sure I enjoy the ride. Checking out the view and counting how many Hares I can spot on the way in. While it is pleasant it is not a chore.
One real bugger is the wind. Anyone got any tips for 50mph gusts that add an hour to the journey on occasion?
Rather you than me today - weather up here is bloody awful at the moment.My cycle commute is 55 miles but I have the North York moors to look at on the way in and the Yorkshire Dales in sight on the way home, rather than London traffic to deal with.
I started in April one day a week, went to twice a week fairly quickly and now am on the bike for the third time this week. (As well as a cheeky 68 mile ride last weekend.)
Today I have sore legs for the first time in a while so I think I may be at my current limit. - just about 200 miles a week. Will see if I get home tonight or not!
I was initially carrying a rucsac, but now just use pockets and saddlebag. That seems to help a bit. Otherwise I just make sure I enjoy the ride. Checking out the view and counting how many Hares I can spot on the way in. While it is pleasant it is not a chore.
One real bugger is the wind. Anyone got any tips for 50mph gusts that add an hour to the journey on occasion?
Dear god you're insane man!
My commute is 25 miles each way. I tried doing it 4 days a week, and it was manageable for about 3 weeks, but i was gradually running the tank down. It wasn't possible to eat enough, the recovery time wasn't long enough, and it was very very draining. If you're a pro rider, you can have a massage, have a kip, do lots of stretching etc etc to stay on top of it. If you have to be at work working, it's not the same.
Good luck
My commute is 25 miles each way. I tried doing it 4 days a week, and it was manageable for about 3 weeks, but i was gradually running the tank down. It wasn't possible to eat enough, the recovery time wasn't long enough, and it was very very draining. If you're a pro rider, you can have a massage, have a kip, do lots of stretching etc etc to stay on top of it. If you have to be at work working, it's not the same.
Good luck
It is a touch bleak.BMWBen said:
Dear god you're insane man!
My commute is 25 miles each way. I tried doing it 4 days a week, and it was manageable for about 3 weeks, but i was gradually running the tank down. It wasn't possible to eat enough, the recovery time wasn't long enough, and it was very very draining. If you're a pro rider, you can have a massage, have a kip, do lots of stretching etc etc to stay on top of it. If you have to be at work working, it's not the same.
Good luck
+1. I do 12.5miles each way and 4 days a week I get tired after a week or two. Unlike pro riders we have drinking to do at weekends! My commute is 25 miles each way. I tried doing it 4 days a week, and it was manageable for about 3 weeks, but i was gradually running the tank down. It wasn't possible to eat enough, the recovery time wasn't long enough, and it was very very draining. If you're a pro rider, you can have a massage, have a kip, do lots of stretching etc etc to stay on top of it. If you have to be at work working, it's not the same.
Good luck
Stick at it. You should get used to it if you can find a way to build up slowly. I know one person who do 30 miles each way, but only 2 or 3 days a week.
I race most Thursday evenings at 7pm, when I started this last year I found it really tough. 10 miles to work, 15 miles to race, 30 mile race, 15 miles home. That's 70 miles all together.
This year I'm coping much better and finding I can race hard in the evening. The difference is that a daily 20 mile round trip commute in January, so I had three months of commuting 100 miles a week before the season started.
The trick is to go slowly - cycling slowly takes massively less energy. My 5 y/o son can do 20km rides now, but it takes a loooong time and he needs several food stops.
If you can pull this off you'll have absolutely amazing endurance. And a massive food bill.
I race most Thursday evenings at 7pm, when I started this last year I found it really tough. 10 miles to work, 15 miles to race, 30 mile race, 15 miles home. That's 70 miles all together.
This year I'm coping much better and finding I can race hard in the evening. The difference is that a daily 20 mile round trip commute in January, so I had three months of commuting 100 miles a week before the season started.
The trick is to go slowly - cycling slowly takes massively less energy. My 5 y/o son can do 20km rides now, but it takes a loooong time and he needs several food stops.
If you can pull this off you'll have absolutely amazing endurance. And a massive food bill.
My average commute is 60km a day (average for the year), but the last couple of months, I've upped it to about 80km (done 1500km since the beginning of the month, 6800km for the year so far). My tips would be...
1. Get as much sleep as possible. I have a young family, so it's a struggle to get much more than 6hrs a night, but any less than that, and riding is a chore.
2. Eat well. Think about carbs and protein. I supplement my normal diet with huge quantities of oats and soya milk, and feel stronger for it.
3. Do some longer rides. I feel like I've benefited from the 300km audaxes I've done. I have a 600km in a couple of weeks, and am hoping to get a lift from that.
4. Try to get a rest day. I did 3 weeks without a rest day, and started to feel like I was getting weaker. I spent a week doing my 60km route, but only using the middle ring. Felt much better after the rest.
HTH - for what it's worth, I'd recommend the audax & further + faster forums on YACF. There are some proper mile monsters on there, and it's PBP year so lots of people asking questions.
1. Get as much sleep as possible. I have a young family, so it's a struggle to get much more than 6hrs a night, but any less than that, and riding is a chore.
2. Eat well. Think about carbs and protein. I supplement my normal diet with huge quantities of oats and soya milk, and feel stronger for it.
3. Do some longer rides. I feel like I've benefited from the 300km audaxes I've done. I have a 600km in a couple of weeks, and am hoping to get a lift from that.
4. Try to get a rest day. I did 3 weeks without a rest day, and started to feel like I was getting weaker. I spent a week doing my 60km route, but only using the middle ring. Felt much better after the rest.
HTH - for what it's worth, I'd recommend the audax & further + faster forums on YACF. There are some proper mile monsters on there, and it's PBP year so lots of people asking questions.
BMWBen said:
HundredthIdiot said:
If you can pull this off you'll have absolutely amazing endurance. And a massive food bill.
Yup the increase in food bill will almost completely offset the savings on train tickets 
If you want to lose weight then run.
My commute is 30 miles each way across the end of the Mendips; it's about 1hr 35 northbound and 1hr 45 southbound and the best I've managed is two full round trips in a week - but that was as part-and-parcel of a programme that involved circuits, running and swimming for a total training load of around 12 hours a week.
You need to build up to it steadily, vary the work rate on the rides and give yourself rest days, or you'll just end up fatigued or injured or both.
My commute is 30 miles each way across the end of the Mendips; it's about 1hr 35 northbound and 1hr 45 southbound and the best I've managed is two full round trips in a week - but that was as part-and-parcel of a programme that involved circuits, running and swimming for a total training load of around 12 hours a week.
You need to build up to it steadily, vary the work rate on the rides and give yourself rest days, or you'll just end up fatigued or injured or both.
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