I’m new to the long distance. I’m doing IMWI, and I went out for a 5+ hour fat tire ride today in some unpaved/mucky/icy shit (including 25-miles paved commuting - both ways), because I thought it would be fun, and damnit, it was nice out for the first time in 4-5 months. I’m getting chewed out by some people for “too much, too soon.” Some of the fairly knowledgeable athletes I rode with didn’t seem to take issue, but they aren’t triathletes (24-hr endurance MTB), and they know what’s on my agenda. I’m not gonna do this kind of thing every weekend. Just when it sounds like fun, and when not innapropriate for my training (which I need educating on, apparently). At this point, I thought it would be good for me. Are they right, or should they lighten up? Enlighten me, please.
If you are training to finish and enjoyed your ride, do it again. If you are looking to be as fast as you can, then I would inquire, did you go too hard? How many miles do you have in you so far? Riding long early on is not a problem at all. Now how hard you ride, that can cause some slower progress in building speed as recovery will be longer.
It is also dependant on the person too. I did a monthly TT for my cycling team, once during the end of the year, then in my month off, and another on my second week of training. They were hard efforts for me for sure (and winning efforts), but so far I have actually seen greater gains than ever before. Then again if I do not improve over the next 6 weeks, I will be upset. My FTP is 6% lower than its peak last year and the year before.
Others will probably have more to say on this subject.
Good for you, you did the right thing and renewed the reason you ride to begin with. As long as you felt good during the ride, it’ll only make you better than if you hadn’t. Don’t listen to those other chodes who don’t want you to get faster than them, listen to your body.
tell those people to go suck a D and ignore them.
it’s only too much too soon if you get hurt, right?
Way to take advantage of motivation + nice weather.
Tell them to get bent-seriously. It’s only too much if you get hurt, or burn out. It’s a long season but after being cooped up all winter I totally get your desire. I say ride as much as you want. The more the better. It will all help come September. Just take care to watch for signs of over training and injury and you should be fine.
If you are relatively young and free of injury
“too hard too soon” doesn’t really apply to riding a bike.
I wouldn’t worry about it =)
I’m new to the long distance. I’m doing IMWI, and I went out for a 5+ hour fat tire ride today in some unpaved/mucky/icy shit (including 25-miles paved commuting - both ways), because I thought it would be fun, and damnit, it was nice out for the first time in 4-5 months. I’m getting chewed out by some people for “too much, too soon.” Some of the fairly knowledgeable athletes I rode with didn’t seem to take issue, but they aren’t triathletes (24-hr endurance MTB), and they know what’s on my agenda. I’m not gonna do this kind of thing every weekend. Just when it sounds like fun, and when not innapropriate for my training (which I need educating on, apparently). At this point, I thought it would be good for me. Are they right, or should they lighten up? Enlighten me, please.
In reference to too much too soon for long endurance rides is absurd. It’s a reasonable comment in regards to intensity but not endurance rides. The more of those 4,5,6 hour rides you get in between now and September the better assuming you body is ready for it and you don’t get hurt. It’s called base miles, it’s nothing new to the endurance world. If your body holds up without problems and your recovering enough to train tomorrow and the next day etc… you get my point then go for it. Endurance is built over months and years, not weeks. Ultimately it’s consistent day in and day out training that yields improvement. I think you will find on here that the succesful long course athletes are the ones that keep a weekly 3+ hr. ride and 90-120 min. run on a week in and week out year round with the exception of the short post season break many give themselves.
Thanks all. I was under the assumption that time in the saddle is time well spent. I’m glad to receive some confirmation of that. Of course I won’t go so hard that I would risk injury. In fact, I like to tour as well. About the only thing I typically walk away with is a sore ass.
Did you have fun? You should do what you want to do. Life’s to short to worry about what other people say. Ask 10 “experts” you will get 10 different answers.
Did you beat the ones who were lecturing you?
It’s only too much if you get hurt, or burn out
Of course he won’t know that until after the training bout or well into the season.
I’m getting chewed out by some people for “too much, too soon.”
You should ask those same people for specifics as to what they mean by too much too soon. My bet is that they can not answer in anything other then in general.
This is exactly why I dont like riding in groups. I always hear crap like that. 90% of the groups you ride in are way too social and you can’t get anything done.
I got chewed out for the same thing last saturday. We did a 40 mile loop. My ave HR = 116. The guy saying that we went to hard’s ave HR = 154. This Saturday we did a slightly different variation of the same ride. My Ave HR = 136. His = 163.
They way I see it, “too hard” is too subjective. It is an individual thing. I spent the winter skiing, running, biking, and swimming so that I would be where I am today. The other guy sat on the couch, and that is why he is where he is today.
It is a long way to IM WI, but it’s never too soon to start having fun, IMHO. Go out an enjoy the warm weather.
Are they right, or should they lighten up? Enlighten me, please.
Part of the problem these days is everyone is on their own double top-secret, proprietary and specific training program. They think that their way, is the only way and any other way of doing something is nuts. I have no idea how these people got this into their heads, but I am starting to see this more and more. People will go away on a group training camp week or weekend and spend the whole time training solo!! Strange. I thought the whole point of doing group training or going away to be in a group was to . . . train with the group. If it’s the right group there can be a tremendous push/pull effect and everyone wins. Cycling in particular is perfect for this - modestly miss-matched riders can actually ride together when the work-load on the front is shared appropriately!
Cycling is also an activity where you can err on the side of over-doing it and not suffer any serious consequences. Quite frankly, your 5 hour MTB ride sounds like just about perfect off or early season training. Keep it modestly easy and aerobic and you should be OK. Note how you recover over the next 48 hours. That will tell you if it was TOO much or not.
I just returned from 5 days of hard riding in Tucson. I barely did any cycling all winter then put in 14 hours of riding in 5 days - no training book would tell you or recommend that you do this, but I am none the worse for wear and I can tell you that after one indoor workout after being home, I can tell my cycling fitness did take a big jump!!
double top-secret, proprietary and specific training program
double top secret, hee hee hee.