Getting beyond the knackered point...
Discussion
Mine is currently 50 miles. No matter how much I rest, how much interval training I do, what ever I eat or drink I hit a wall at 50. It's not a bonk (well at least I don't think it is), but at that point my back aches, my legs ache, my arse jumps around as it to gets bloody uncomfortable and I really struggle to do more. If I stop for twenty minutes I can go again another 20 before reaching my current limit, but I don't get what's happening to me.
I'm writing this after having just come in. I'm not really tired per se, my legs don't ache, i'm not out of breath, it just feels like i've had a decent 3 hour work out. WTF happens and why is it that I need that recovery of twenty minutes or so to do another 20?
I'm writing this after having just come in. I'm not really tired per se, my legs don't ache, i'm not out of breath, it just feels like i've had a decent 3 hour work out. WTF happens and why is it that I need that recovery of twenty minutes or so to do another 20?
Not sure if this will help but try some new kit, more comfortable shorts etc.
Look at getting a bike fit done. I found that after I'd had mine I went from being pretty uncomfortable after 50-60 miles on the road bike to managing up to 100 with no major problems. After some suggestions regarding MTB bike fit, I can now easily do 6-8 hour MTB rides with no real problems.
The other thing is to just try and gradually increase your mileage. The only way to really increase your maximum ride time is to ride longer, not by doing intervals. Add half an hour or 5 miles a week to your longest ride and you'll soon be able to manage longer rides easier.
Look at getting a bike fit done. I found that after I'd had mine I went from being pretty uncomfortable after 50-60 miles on the road bike to managing up to 100 with no major problems. After some suggestions regarding MTB bike fit, I can now easily do 6-8 hour MTB rides with no real problems.
The other thing is to just try and gradually increase your mileage. The only way to really increase your maximum ride time is to ride longer, not by doing intervals. Add half an hour or 5 miles a week to your longest ride and you'll soon be able to manage longer rides easier.
Mine has grown with time.
My first sportive when I first got back into cycling was 55 flat miles and the last ten were agony. (Neck and shoulders).
Last month I did 66 hilly miles and had loads in reserve to blast the last 7 or 8 miles.
Doing 106 mile Cyclone tomorrow. Will be the longest I've ridden by 40 miles so I'm a bit anxious about it. I had a bike fit yesterday which I'm hoping will help and I treated myself to some Castelli bib shorts on special from £100 down to £70.
If you've had a bike fit did they not see any issues? Mine is reach as I'm on a Scott foil which is quite racey geometry wise. We've done everything possible with my existing parts but next will be to look at a shorter bar/stem as the burning in my neck and shoulders is to do with being quite stretched on the reach.
Weirdly they also spotted that I am hanging off the saddle to the right so my right knee is further forward than my left, yet I feel exactly in the middle. Trip to the physio next as the bike guys were stumped by it.
If your bike fits properly and you aren't clinging on too hard, then you should be able to go all day really. Good luck getting to the bottom of it.
My first sportive when I first got back into cycling was 55 flat miles and the last ten were agony. (Neck and shoulders).
Last month I did 66 hilly miles and had loads in reserve to blast the last 7 or 8 miles.
Doing 106 mile Cyclone tomorrow. Will be the longest I've ridden by 40 miles so I'm a bit anxious about it. I had a bike fit yesterday which I'm hoping will help and I treated myself to some Castelli bib shorts on special from £100 down to £70.
If you've had a bike fit did they not see any issues? Mine is reach as I'm on a Scott foil which is quite racey geometry wise. We've done everything possible with my existing parts but next will be to look at a shorter bar/stem as the burning in my neck and shoulders is to do with being quite stretched on the reach.
Weirdly they also spotted that I am hanging off the saddle to the right so my right knee is further forward than my left, yet I feel exactly in the middle. Trip to the physio next as the bike guys were stumped by it.
If your bike fits properly and you aren't clinging on too hard, then you should be able to go all day really. Good luck getting to the bottom of it.
drivin_me_nuts said:
Mine is currently 50 miles. No matter how much I rest, how much interval training I do, what ever I eat or drink I hit a wall at 50. It's not a bonk (well at least I don't think it is), but at that point my back aches, my legs ache, my arse jumps around as it to gets bloody uncomfortable and I really struggle to do more. If I stop for twenty minutes I can go again another 20 before reaching my current limit, but I don't get what's happening to me.
I'm writing this after having just come in. I'm not really tired per se, my legs don't ache, i'm not out of breath, it just feels like i've had a decent 3 hour work out. WTF happens and why is it that I need that recovery of twenty minutes or so to do another 20?
Surely it depends on what kind of pace your are riding & what kind of cadence you are peddling at.I'm writing this after having just come in. I'm not really tired per se, my legs don't ache, i'm not out of breath, it just feels like i've had a decent 3 hour work out. WTF happens and why is it that I need that recovery of twenty minutes or so to do another 20?
Cadence is too low, aim for 90 and see what happens.
I was the same for years, grinding the miles out in a big cog thinking I was some kind of pro rouleur, then switched to a compact chain set and upped the cadence and am just as fast but can go for longer without feeling the strain.
I was the same for years, grinding the miles out in a big cog thinking I was some kind of pro rouleur, then switched to a compact chain set and upped the cadence and am just as fast but can go for longer without feeling the strain.
I'll try that on Sunday (day off tomorrow) and try and keep it much higher than it is.
What rule?
edit. That rule. Ummm. Have to be careful of my knees. Right one not so great so it's less about hardening up and more about taking the smart monkey option.
What rule?
edit. That rule. Ummm. Have to be careful of my knees. Right one not so great so it's less about hardening up and more about taking the smart monkey option.
Edited by drivin_me_nuts on Friday 19th June 16:59
It's all about pacing. You have to start intentionally easy, don't attack hills, just change down and keep spinning.
Once you hit 50 miles you can increase the effort for the rest of the ride.
Shorts start making a big difference after 3 to 4 hours as well, a sore arse really messes you up!
Once you hit 50 miles you can increase the effort for the rest of the ride.
Shorts start making a big difference after 3 to 4 hours as well, a sore arse really messes you up!
Are your legs the same length?
In terms of back pain is it lower back? I had tight strong quads and weak gluteus, needed to stretch the quads, roll legs side to side on back, strengthen gluteus. That helped me.
Also was riding with rigid arms resulting in shocks to upper body and neck, try riding with some else and comparing your style.
In terms of back pain is it lower back? I had tight strong quads and weak gluteus, needed to stretch the quads, roll legs side to side on back, strengthen gluteus. That helped me.
Also was riding with rigid arms resulting in shocks to upper body and neck, try riding with some else and comparing your style.
Think of yourself as a rechargeable battery that holds two hours worth of charge.
Then add in how long it takes for carbs to go from intake to usable (15 mins for high GI carbs like glucose and maltodextrin, 45 mins for base sugars like fructose...)
Start sipping from a high GI drink 15 mins before the start and keep topping up your 'battery' well before you need it.
Then add in how long it takes for carbs to go from intake to usable (15 mins for high GI carbs like glucose and maltodextrin, 45 mins for base sugars like fructose...)
Start sipping from a high GI drink 15 mins before the start and keep topping up your 'battery' well before you need it.
Thanks for all the tips. My legs are the same length but I do have a strong left leg bias as my right knee is much weaker. Over the last few weeks I've been focusing more on form and trying to balance my legs. Today I ate a banana after 20 miles and had a 750ml container with isotonic fluid. I'd be surprised if I need to eat on the bike. I regularly do 20 mile fasted rides with no problem.
I will do 2 HR rides eating nothing, 1.5 litres of squash if it's hot. Have made the same volume last 4 hrs.
I think you may be on the cusp of a bonk, try eating every 30 mins and see how you get on.
In terms of your poor leg, try pm'ing maddad he is doing single leg reps as I think he had an imbalance.
I think you may be on the cusp of a bonk, try eating every 30 mins and see how you get on.
In terms of your poor leg, try pm'ing maddad he is doing single leg reps as I think he had an imbalance.
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