in: vmeyer; vmeyer > 2008-07-22;
| # Posted 2008-07-23 21:09:11 | |
| Nadim: | You seem to be doing pretty well using cycling as a workout. It's also great that you got some good help. Peggy is still reluctant to use clips but is better with them. Cycling speed comes with time as your body adapts and gets stronger (intervals can help too if you really want to work at it). Calfs, hamstrings, back and neck muscles all develop. Even arm strength can come into play (pulling) for climbing though the more in shape I get, the less I actually rest my weight on my arms when on flat ground. I also lean over more (for a better aerodynamic profile) as I get in better shape. Improvement may be over months and even years. I recall improvements after 2 months of regularly working out and more as I was able to fit in more training. Every now and then there's a wall to break through in going longer. By the time it got cold and I switched back to running more, it seemed a shame to have to lose this and start over again the next spring. It's partly true that you'll lose something but I was also able to track improvements over 4 years. Narrower tires and better bikes can help with speed too.
One caution which my own experience seems to confirm is that as you adapt to cycling there could be some detriment to running. The concerns at the beginning of the recent AP discussion about imbalance was not really what I found but with cycling my quadricepts did get bigger and hence heavier. When I took a day off cycling to go running I inevitably felt heavier (but I climbed really well). Some regular running training with predominantly cycling training mitigated that effect. A benefit of the running is also that the impact is good for keeping bone density (there was article about this in ONA) a while back. Vitamin supplements could help you keep the D that leeches when sweating. I think mixing running also helped keep joints ready for a transition for more running. What I like about being faster and having better endurance at cycling was being able to cover more ground and see more places. It's a great feeling of freedom to be able to comfortably cover rides like Arlington to Leesburg and glide with seemingly little effort over the land. |
| # Posted 2008-07-23 23:04:53 | |
| vmeyer: | Hey Nadim, thanks for the input! I appreciate it coming from a cycling/running person like yourself.
I don't plan to replace running with biking, though it would be SO easy to do since I HATE to run. :) It is nice to know I have the option, like now with my bum ankle, though I am going to try to run on it tonight. Before I tried the commuting last month, I wasn't really doing anything during the week, so if it gets me through my slow periods, that would be good. Since I am a pretty heavy runner, I surely hope I don't FEEL any heavier on my feet. Though, I really suck going up hills, so if that gets better, then that would be really cool. I want to be able to comfortably commute and do a long ride once a week. I would like to get comfortable enough to check some longer rides off my list - 90 mile round trip on the W&OD (your idea), and the C&O Canal from Cumberland (kissy's plan). I like riding the easy W&OD type trails, and yesterday's ride was fast enough for me. I am content with speeds of around 4:30-5 minutes per miles, which I can get on my current bike now. So I will resist a new bike or tires. Thank goodness, because having a second bike appear in the basement would have taken some explaining at home. :) So, my goal is to try to keep my weekly workouts somewhat balanced between on foot time vs. in the seat time. |
| # Posted 2008-07-24 08:12:42 | |
| Nadim: | Sounds good! You might try some road cycling too. It's harder to do in this area, especially Arlington because most roads are busy or have a lot of intersections. Greenbelt was good for it because of the BARC to the north and rural areas eastward. I used to drive places, then ride long using a guide book written by Potomac Pedaler co-presidents. Road riding lets you get into a better rhythm over a nice mix of grades than the relatively bumpy paved trails do. There's something gained in self-reliance confidence too but learning to ride with some cars, even on rural roads can take some getting used to. There are lots of flat rides east of DC. I used to start a season with those and build up to mountains (I like those the most) from Thurmont to Skyline Dr. Usually by August I was ready for a week long ride across a state. |
| # Posted 2008-07-24 09:36:27 | |
| vmeyer: | As much as I would like to expand my horizons, with a non-athletic spouse, I strive to get as much "bang for my buck" as I can. :) |
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