Is this an age thing?

[cycleguy]

Hi

Is it more common as you get older that it tales longer to warm up on a ride? I am finding that after about 10-15 miles, thats when I feel the best. If on a group ride we start by going up hills, I am dropped. But later on, I can go much faster and longer. When I am not warmed up, my heart rate goes through the roof too, straining to much. But as I warm up, the rate goes way down even though my pace goes way up...

I am 45... still can do very long intense rides, but warming up takes a while...

Thanks
Harold

 

[Mark B]

It depends, for me. Most of the time, I blast off right from the door. But, sometimes I have to ease into it. FWIW, I'm 47, soon to be 48.

Mark

 

[Rick Harker]

Sounds to me more of a fitness thing or association with diet.
If you eat carbs before you ride you'll feel lethargic at the beginning. If you ride hard only once a week your muscles are already down conditioning. If you have played competitive sports in the past you'll know the virtues of warming up first.
If on the other hand you're doing all the right things then a visit to the Doc would be in order.

Rick.

 

[MrSteve]

Is this an age thing?
-you asked.

Yes and no.

Yes, because muscles age and, if you are honest (and actually remember well enough)
you'll see that you've slowed down, compared to your younger self.

Yes, because my brother in law, a life-long club-level road biker is experiencing
the same thing as you are. He says it takes him a good ten to fifteen miles to get
warmed up; he knows he warmed up faster when he was younger.
We're both 53.

No, because warm up time can be tied to the ambient temperature.
For example, my power output is much lower in the Winter than it is in the Summer.
I attribute that to the air temperature, the temperature of the air I'm breathing,
as well as -and in addition to- my age.

-Steve

 

[cycleguy]

Rick Harker wrote: Sounds to me more of a fitness thing or association with diet.
If you eat carbs before you ride you'll feel lethargic at the beginning. If you ride hard only once a week your muscles are already down conditioning. If you have played competitive sports in the past you'll know the virtues of warming up first.
If on the other hand you're doing all the right things then a visit to the Doc would be in order.

Rick.

I've adopted a very good diet overs the years specifically for biking, I cycle now about 120 miles a week, most in rides of 30 to 45 miles at a time.. According to my GPS, I am averaging 19.5 MPH for over 20 miles, not too bad. And those miles are not flat miles, they are over some very hilly routes here in central MA and southern NH... Many routes involve grades of 7-10 % over a long stretch and many grades are up in the double digits...

Harold

 

[Mark B]

cycleguy wrote: I've adopted a very good diet overs the years specifically for biking, I cycle now about 120 miles a week, most in rides of 30 to 45 miles at a time.. According to my GPS, I am averaging 19.5 MPH for over 20 miles, not too bad. And those miles are not flat miles, they are over some very hilly routes here in central MA and southern NH... Many routes involve grades of 7-10 % over a long stretch and many grades are up in the double digits...

Harold

That's pretty impressive, Harold. I had a pretty good cycling diet at one time, in another lifetime. Now, unfortunately, I have a taste for good beer and barbecue. :shock: Not condusive to a good cycling diet. Because of my diet, or lack thereof, I need to lose about 50 pounds. But... I'm riding, to the tune of 160-200 miles per week. Getting faster, too. I can't wait to get Silvio II and see how much my speed has increased!

Mark

 

[cycleguy]

Hi Bob

I wish I could ride that much! Time wise, 120 miles a week is about my max... I am a single parent of an 8 year old girl, so time I don't always have! I tool a cycling training program the first half of the year, and learned a lot about cycling nutrition from that...i don't think beer was in the program.

Harold

 

[Mark B]

cycleguy wrote: Hi Bob

I wish I could ride that much! Time wise, 120 miles a week is about my max... I am a single parent of an 8 year old girl, so time I don't always have! I tool a cycling training program the first half of the year, and learned a lot about cycling nutrition from that...i don't think beer was in the program.

Harold

Who's Bob? :lol: I commute to work, so it's almost like cheating. I understand, though; it would be impossible to do if I were a single parent. I think beer should be part of any nutritional breakfast. Wait, did I say that out loud? :lol: :lol: :lol:

Mark

 

[cycleguy]

Mark B wrote:

cycleguy wrote: Hi Bob

I wish I could ride that much! Time wise, 120 miles a week is about my max... I am a single parent of an 8 year old girl, so time I don't always have! I tool a cycling training program the first half of the year, and learned a lot about cycling nutrition from that...i don't think beer was in the program.

Harold

Who's Bob? :lol: I commute to work, so it's almost like cheating. I understand, though; it would be impossible to do if I were a single parent. I think beer should be part of any nutritional breakfast. Wait, did I say that out loud? :lol: :lol: :lol:

Mark

Bob? Where did I get that from? Iam able to get in what I do because I work from home...so I have a lot more flexibility...

Harold

 

[JonB]

cycleguy wrote: Hi Bob

I wish I could ride that much! Time wise, 120 miles a week is about my max... I am a single parent of an 8 year old girl, so time I don't always have! I tool a cycling training program the first half of the year, and learned a lot about cycling nutrition from that...i don't think beer was in the program.

Buy a follow me kit and let your child bike with you.

 

[Rick Harker]

Hey Harold,

Thats some impressive riding. I don't think many riders would complain about that.
Have you tried varying warm up routines before riding to get some warmth into the muscles.
I'm usually riding solo but when with groups I'm usually riding to a meeting point so I'm already warmed up.
I'm currently covering 250 plus Kilometres per week. I'm also 53yo.

Regards,

Rick.

 

[cycleguy]

On my last group ride, I brought my CycleOps trainer with me and warmed up before the ride in the parking lot with that...That seems to have definitely helped... I am going to do that next Monday too... It's about a 50 minute ride by car to the shop where the group ride is from so I can't ride my Silvio there...

On Tuesdays, the bike shop is much closer, and I'll just riding to that one with my Silvio to warm up and see how that works...

Harold

 

[Rick Harker]

Good on ya Harold.
If you're travelling that far for your group rides then you must be enjoying the riding.
Or the group. s.
Keep it going...

Rick.

 

[Danielpeper]

Hey cycleguy,
How do you like the bike trainer with the Silvio? Am considering buying a Kurt Kinetic Pro Trainer, with a Rock-n-
roll frame which is supposed to train you to balance the bike while you are riding. It comes with a 6lb. flywheel in its regular setup, and a 12 lb. flywheel which can be added for heavy duty endurance training.
Thanks,
Daniel