my first proper commute to work
15.1kms. not alot for pretty well everyone here, but i was pleased. left work allowing 80mins and it took me 55mins. had to take a break at the top of the expressway, as i went too hard for my fitness level during the uphill 1/2 of the ride(reynella to majors rd) and fell in a heap, and needed a rest for about 10mins (heartrate reached 192 for around 90secs and was 175+ for about 10mins before that). once on the flat, i found my natural pace was around 25(HR around 135), with 5kph change +/- if it was slightly up or slightly downhill. i didnt ride home, too hot and didnt want to chance overdoing it(plus i'm scared of riding up the expressway!). i work 9.5hr days on my feet as it is.
i'm not sore, felt good once at work and will do it more often as weather allows. i did feel hungrier at lunch than i have for a long time, so hopefully the calorie counter was 1/2 accurate. (avg HR= 151, cad= 88, riding time= 55mins, distance= 15.1km, does 750cal sound accurate?)
ps- is the southern run up the expressway as steep as it felt going down? i was doing 55kmh freewheeling down, and that was with several decent efforts at braking, being cautious, as i hadnt ridden that section before.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Matt Brennan on -
It is steep in bits- but flattens out for short sections - and its only about 2kms.
You wont be doing 55 going up though!
-
Permalink Reply by Sue on -
Well done, keep it up and soon you won't need to rest and it will start to get easier and you will get faster. Awesome work.
I love commuting to work, you feel ready for work when you get there as the blood and endorphins are flowing. :-)
-
Permalink Reply by colin ware-lane on -
well done simon,we all started somewhere and soon you will think nothing of that hill.
-
Permalink Reply by Paul H on -
Nice one, when i work in the CBD I commute via the veloway, coming up the hill is tough, esp at the end of a days work, but there are a couple of flat bits to get your breath back before you attack the next section. the last climb up to where the veloway goes next to the SEXY it the hardest bit and toughest gradient but great training for other hills in the Southern vales. Good luck.
-
Permalink Reply by heather on -
Simon, great effort for a new commuter considering the distance, slopes and weather. You went one way only, so perhaps you can catch the train with your bike when preferable.
-
Permalink Reply by hozozco on -
'ps- is the southern run up the expressway as steep as it felt going down?'
Yes...or at least it is on my bike (which is heavier than most) - what are you riding?
Well done. My daily ride is from Hallett Cove to Flinders Medical Centre. I started the ride a couple of years ago using an electric assist as there was no way I thought I could manage the hills. Now I sometimes ride a fully laden cargo bike home from Westfield Marion (up the veloway).
My recommendation for riding up the veloway is to keep spinning. Don't be too optimistic speed wise first out (that can come later), but keep up a reasonable cadence and it's fine.
There are also some really fit people going up the veloway - don't try to keep up with them! Better to wait for me to come along, I'm quite slow!
Simon
-
Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on -
Your ride home from Majors to Reynella will be a lot easier than your ride to work, if you maintain a good speed on the downhill sections you will find that if you pedal hard on the uphills and change down through your gears early then your downhill momentum will get you most of the way up the next rise, the fastest, steepest part of the veloway is the section from Majors down to Darlington. Try commuting both ways twice a week initially then increse to 3 after 2 or 3 weeks.
If you want 1st hand advice and would like to meet some riders that are keen and willing to help newbies then look on the events page and join the Southern Suburbs learners group, they ride on alternate Saturdays, next Saturday is their next ride. They are also starting Sunday rides soon.
-
Permalink Reply by simon on
-
Thanks. Sunday rides would be great for me, as I work most saturdays.
It is just the darlington to majors bit that will have me walking the bike. I dont have much "effort" endurance. I can ride in the flat for as long as I want, but any hill has my legs dying within minutes. Thats what im trying to improve.
-
Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on
-
Instead of walking try resting. The first time I tried, I failed due to a mechanical problem. 2nd time I probably had to stop and catch my breath 3 or 4 times. Each time I tried I reduced the rest stops by 1 until I could do it in one hit, usually still stop at the top for a drink. Keep up the Reynella to Majors commute 2 or 3 times a week on alternate days, you'll be surprised at the improvement in your endurance levels after 2 or 3 weeks.
-
Permalink Reply by hozozco on
-
I agree with the resting bit. I've sometimes stopped when it's really hot (40 plus), or for a call of nature. It's amazing how one minute you're struggling in the bottom gears and then after a short rest the massive hill you were struggling with seems flat again.
The hill usually reappears after a minute or so, but it does show how the problem is fatigue and not absolute strength (if that makes sense).
Simon
-
Permalink Reply by Simon Lownsborough on -
Well done - its great commuting, sets you up for the day and gives you a spark going home. Hills get easier if you just keep riding them. So they say… :)
-
Permalink Reply by simon on
-
I rode again today. Went slower for the first 2kms where its flat and easy to warm up. I Didnt need to stop at all and was 15mins faster. Very happy with how my heart rate was easier to control on the uphills than it was even a week ago. Maybe there was another reason for that, but I arrived feeling fine and im going to ride/walk home tonight. The wind was a bit annoying, im sure itll be worse tonight.
© 2013 Created by Gus K.
