Tips for a newbie cyclist?

[black2002ls]

https://guenergy.com/

Thanks. I am going to pick up a sample pack on Monday

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[black2002ls]

5 miles tonight. Average speed was about 11 mph. My normal ride has a lot of stop signs and areas where I have to wait for traffic. This was the first time riding with a water bottle on board. Before I was not comfortable enough to move around to get to the bottle. Still a bit shaky but not too bad. I adjusted my shifting tonight to keep my cadence up without straining my legs too much. I mixed in a couple of max spins over some short distances (cadence: 110; distance ~ .25 mi) I know, nothing stellar; baby steps. In the morning my goal is 10 miles, no matter the average speed or time.

I think its time to pick up some chamois butter. I bought some aerotech shorts with a 10mm pad, not sure if the pad is a bit big or if the shorts are a bit big, definitely some chafing after the ride tonight. Getting everything adjusted relieved the taint pain, now its the chafing. I need to start looking around for some different seats
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[Strychnine]

I think the last part cut off

https://guenergy.com/

[black2002ls]

It all depends on your goals and/or training regimen. Are you training for a specific event or just to be healthier?

Things like HIIT (high intensity interval training), basic interval training, LSD (long, slow, distance), etc all have their place. Do you want better anaerobic capacity for sprinting? Better endurance for more miles?

If you're just out to ride for fun and to generally be in better shape than you were yesterday then just go with what works best for you.



Gu

I think the last part cut off

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[black2002ls]

I would like to start riding a few races a year and be competetive. My dad used to ride 50 mile rides all over the metroplex. Of course the primary goal is to be healthier.

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[Strychnine]

If my logic is backwards in any of this, or if there is a better way to ride/train, by all means correct me! I need to be riding longer without tiring so fast

It all depends on your goals and/or training regimen. Are you training for a specific event or just to be healthier?

Things like HIIT (high intensity interval training), basic interval training, LSD (long, slow, distance), etc all have their place. Do you want better anaerobic capacity for sprinting? Better endurance for more miles?

If you're just out to ride for fun and to generally be in better shape than you were yesterday then just go with what works best for you.

Anything in particular you guys swear by for nutrition? Pre, during, post ride.

Gu

[black2002ls]

I've been searching for time to ride and got off early last night so I took a longer route and ended up riding home in the dark. Not good.

I try to do my longer rides on the weekends, in the morning. I live right off of a highway. There is a lot of improved shoulder, however, early morning the traffic is pretty light.

I finally had to for the last mile or so(that's all uphill) because they were screaming at me.

If I am on a flat, I try to keep my legs pumping, up hill I shift to take the strain off, down hill I shift again to keep up with the cogs and not have to play catch up.

I keep the pump/strain on the flats to help build up my stamina.

If my logic is backwards in any of this, or if there is a better way to ride/train, by all means correct me! I need to be riding longer without tiring so fast


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[Strychnine]

Try a lower gear with a little higher cadence if your legs start getting too pumped. "Spin to win."

I finally had to for the last mile or so(that's all uphill) because they were screaming at me.

Shoot for 80-100 rpm. Your legs will appreciate it.

[samuel642000]

Try a lower gear with a little higher cadence if your legs start getting too pumped. "Spin to win."

I finally had to for the last mile or so(that's all uphill) because they were screaming at me.

[samuel642000]

My goal in the morning is 10 miles. My average ride during the week the last week (4 rides) has been 3-3.5 miles.

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I've been searching for time to ride and got off early last night so I took a longer route and ended up riding home in the dark. Not good.

[Shorty]

Solid advice man, I plan to take a bunch to heart. Actually got out and hit 12 miles last night. Felt pretty good but my legs were on fire on my final stretch of road.

Try a lower gear with a little higher cadence if your legs start getting too pumped. "Spin to win."

[black2002ls]

My goal in the morning is 10 miles. My average ride during the week the last week (4 rides) has been 3-3.5 miles.

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[samuel642000]

I'm game if anyone wants to do a DFWmustang cotton patch challenge get together. I'll ride any distance anyone wants to ride. If anyone ever wants to ride with me I'm in North Dallas near the White Rock Creek trail.

My first rides were only around 6 miles or so three years ago. I can ride much farther than that now. I've done a few 56 milers with a swim and run afterwards. I'm not fast by any stretch nor do I have great endurance... yet.

I'd be happy to assist anyone that needs my help.

Try lots of saddles until you find what you like! I tried a pile of used saddles of various forums and ebay. You can buy a used one, try it and resell it until you find what works for you.

Invest in good bike shorts, bibs..... good ones cost money but they are lifesavers. I still hate my bike and shorts after long rides, but going without them would leave me a cripple.

Hydrate like a mo fo too. If you don't have at least two bottle cages on your bike and aren't drinking every 5-10 minutes you won't last very long. Learning to eat on the bike is a whole new game too. Once you ride past about 60 minutes, you better start taking calories in too.

And please wear an f'n helmet. Figure out how much your skull is worth and then recalculate.

On the Irving trail that runs along the trinity I watched a guy run off the trail, get hung up on the edge and wad up a $5K bike (Cervelo R5 with electronic Di2 shifting), and his expensive wheels. He was probably going 18-22 mph and dang near knocked himself into the hospital. He had busted glasses, cuts on his face, and his helmet was all smashed up. He tried telling me he was okay when he came too. I told him to take off his helmet and look at it. I then followed him back to his place about 10 minutes later. Wear a helmet.

Get a bike that fits. Don't worry about how cool it is, what it looks like or how much it costs. You can get plenty of good cheap bikes that fit. I've spent a small fortune on my bikes, but that doesn't make you any faster. Only you can make your bike go faster. I have less $$$ in my four bikes than many have one of their bikes though.

1) time trial bike (still not very comfortable with this one)
2) one road bike (my favorite)
3) one cyclocross bike with wide tires (damn this thing is comfy)
4) and one hybrid bike to putz around my neighborhood on and run errands

If Dallas ever really becomes a bicycle friendly town, I'll commute by bike. Until then I'll keep rolling my 5.0 with all of the morons that would run over cyclists just to do it.

Solid advice man, I plan to take a bunch to heart. Actually got out and hit 12 miles last night. Felt pretty good but my legs were on fire on my final stretch of road.

[black2002ls]

Anything in particular you guys swear by for nutrition? Pre, during, post ride.

I have been looking for the cheapest place for powerbars. I have a food related tax ID, but haven't found a source to get them any cheaper yet

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[AnthonyS]

I'm game if anyone wants to do a DFWmustang cotton patch challenge get together. I'll ride any distance anyone wants to ride. If anyone ever wants to ride with me I'm in North Dallas near the White Rock Creek trail.

My first rides were only around 6 miles or so three years ago. I can ride much farther than that now. I've done a few 56 milers with a swim and run afterwards. I'm not fast by any stretch nor do I have great endurance... yet.

I'd be happy to assist anyone that needs my help.

Try lots of saddles until you find what you like! I tried a pile of used saddles of various forums and ebay. You can buy a used one, try it and resell it until you find what works for you.

Invest in good bike shorts, bibs..... good ones cost money but they are lifesavers. I still hate my bike and shorts after long rides, but going without them would leave me a cripple.

Hydrate like a mo fo too. If you don't have at least two bottle cages on your bike and aren't drinking every 5-10 minutes you won't last very long. Learning to eat on the bike is a whole new game too. Once you ride past about 60 minutes, you better start taking calories in too.

And please wear an f'n helmet. Figure out how much your skull is worth and then recalculate.

On the Irving trail that runs along the trinity I watched a guy run off the trail, get hung up on the edge and wad up a $5K bike (Cervelo R5 with electronic Di2 shifting), and his expensive wheels. He was probably going 18-22 mph and dang near knocked himself into the hospital. He had busted glasses, cuts on his face, and his helmet was all smashed up. He tried telling me he was okay when he came too. I told him to take off his helmet and look at it. I then followed him back to his place about 10 minutes later. Wear a helmet.

Get a bike that fits. Don't worry about how cool it is, what it looks like or how much it costs. You can get plenty of good cheap bikes that fit. I've spent a small fortune on my bikes, but that doesn't make you any faster. Only you can make your bike go faster. I have less $$$ in my four bikes than many have one of their bikes though.

1) time trial bike (still not very comfortable with this one)
2) one road bike (my favorite)
3) one cyclocross bike with wide tires (damn this thing is comfy)
4) and one hybrid bike to putz around my neighborhood on and run errands

If Dallas ever really becomes a bicycle friendly town, I'll commute by bike. Until then I'll keep rolling my 5.0 with all of the morons that would run over cyclists just to do it.