Time spent on trainer

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When we first bought bikes, we bought cheap [censored] from Walmart...lesson learned rather quickly! When
we found that we really enjoyed it, we went & bought the Trek 7300 hybrids for 500 smackers each.
At that point, I had no idea that my biking would progress as quickly as it did, or that I would
have a desire to do long distance riding. We are stuck with these bikes this year, as we truly
cannot afford to buy a road bike(s).

You can get most of the benefit of a good road bike by putting drop bars and thin high pressure
tires on your current bikes. Your bikes won't be quite as light as road bikes, but that doesn't make
all that much difference, and then only on hills. You can use older parts that're much cheaper than
the trick modern stuff (but will work about as well).

The best thing about drop bars, besides being a bit more aerodynamic than flat bars, is having more
places to put your hands.

Eric

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I would love to be able to ride to work, but this city is just not built for biking....too
hilly, & too many loonies on the road. Lucky you! The restoration of your vision is truly a
blessing. How wonderful! You probably see better than me now. Happy biking!

Kelly

Cheers! I think you are doing great. Bernie

"BudMan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

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Kelly, Not meaning to be a bike snob (really). But, you could shave some time

off

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your century if you went with a lighter bike. I noticed on your website (nice job) that you were
riding one of those 'comfort bikes'. While they are great for around town spins and great to get
someone into cycling and upgrade should be considered. I'm not saying go out and spend a fortune

on

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a road bike. Just go down to your LBS and see what they recommend. Something with a lighter frame
and wheels will make a world of difference

in

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your quest for PR's.

Hi Budman,

Are you sure you're not a bike snob? lol

When we first bought bikes, we bought cheap [censored] from Walmart...lesson learned rather quickly! When
we found that we really enjoyed it, we went & bought the Trek 7300 hybrids for 500 smackers each. At
that point, I had no idea that my biking would progress as quickly as it did, or that I would have a
desire to do long distance riding. We are stuck with these bikes this year, as we truly cannot
afford to buy a road bike(s). Another reason for the hybrids, at that point was because of previous
shoulder problems...I wasn't sure if I would have problems with the lowered posture that one has on
the road bikes. Yes, often I have thought that perhaps we should have bought road bikes, but for
this year, we must make due with the hybrids. Unless I win the lottery, that is! Fat chance of that!
Thank you for the suggestion though.

Cheers, Kelly

BudMan said:

Kelly, Not meaning to be a bike snob (really). But, you could shave some time off your century if
you went with a lighter bike. I noticed on your website (nice job) that you were riding one of
those 'comfort bikes'. While they are great for around town spins and great to get someone into
cycling and upgrade should be considered.

In case Kelly isn't ready to shell out more money for a new road bike, there are a couple of things
that she can do to make her bike faster. The first thing is tires. Comfort bikes typically come with
wide, treaded tires that are loaded with rolling resistance. Switching out to high pressure slicks
will make a noticeable difference.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA terrymorse.combikeOpen ↗

Thanks, Stu.

I won't be making any changes this year, other than to become more fit & complete the trip!

Kelly

"stu" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

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l say leave the bike alone that way you know how much you have improved, not how much money you
spent there does come a time to upgrade, but it is nice to be able to compare times and if you
change bikes it means less just my 2cents worth have a great time l the ride what ecer you do

"terry morse" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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BudMan said:

Kelly, Not meaning to be a bike snob (really). But, you could shave some time

off

Quoted message said:

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your century if you went with a lighter bike. I noticed on your website (nice job) that you were
riding one of those 'comfort bikes'. While

they

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are great for around town spins and great to get someone into cycling

and

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upgrade should be considered.

In case Kelly isn't ready to shell out more money for a new road bike, there are a couple of
things that she can do to make her bike faster. The first thing is tires. Comfort bikes typically
come with wide, treaded tires that are loaded with rolling resistance. Switching out to high
pressure slicks will make a noticeable difference.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA terrymorse.combikeOpen ↗

For Eric & Terry,

Right after I hit the send button on that last reply to Budman, that thought had occured to me that
I could make modifications to the bike to make it a bit more road ready. My only concern was that
the change in posture might bother my shoulders. When I take the bike in for Spring maintainence, I
will definetely inquire about these modifications. The only other things I was considering for this
year (that are on the cheaper side) would be a bike light & toe straps. Oh, & a HRM, too.

Thanks, guys!

Kelly

Kelly, Sorry for the time it took me to get back to this thread. You ask about the 'peak early'
thing. Simply put, its impossible to remain in top physical condition all the time. After training a
body needs time to recover, but the cumulative effects of training take their toll on your system.
The theory I follow is called 'periodization'. This takes into account the stress on the body and
allows time to build and recover for an event. I don't want to make this a long treatise. If you
read the book by Joe Friel, "The Cyclist's Training Bible" this would explain what I mean. I would
not recommend you go out and buy it because its focus is toward racing but some of the concepts
apply, but I'm sure some of your cycling friends have a copy. "Kelly J." <[email hidden]> wrote
in message "]news:[email hidden]...

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"BudMan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

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Trainer time should be quality not quantity. Use the time on the

trainer

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for intervals or just easy spins, 45 minutes sounds about right. Longer than that you will get
bored and loose interest after a few weeks. Also, this time of the year too much time on the
trainer may make you peak

early.

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There are a number of cycling books out there that will give you more information about
training. I'm only speaking for myself but for the

indoor

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season I usually ride my rollers (I have a CycleOps trainer but the

rollers

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are more fun) four days a week. Instead of time there is a set

distance,

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usually 10 or 15 miles, depending on my schedule, this takes 35 to 45 minutes. The other three
days a week run outdoors weather permitting,

or

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treadmill. On the bike days I also do some resistance training using my Total Gym. Usually four
or five circuits on the Total Gym after riding. It's enough to keep some of the winter fat off
and kick start the road training that starts on March 15.

Hi Budman,

The one comment that you made that I'd like to understand more about is

the

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"peak early". I did get a few books from the library which include:

Serious

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Cycling by Edmund Burke & Complete Book of Road Cycling Skills by Ed Pavelka. The latter is where
I read about the 45 minute time frame. I know

I

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need to include interval training. I (and my body?) seem to like the endurance aspect more so
than the sprints or speed, but I would never say that I would never be a faster rider. I keep
pushing. Thanks!

Kelly