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#1
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I hate geography
I'm not sure if it is geography or geology I hate, but whichever one
it is that involves putting hills in my way, that's the bad guy. From home to work is I think about 20km as the bicycle rides, but there seems to be rather a lot of those hilly type objects for this horribly unfit little black duck. I have been scouting about, trying to work out the best route to take from Campsie to NOrth Sydney. At first I thought I could take the train most of the way in the beginning, slowly doing more cycling as I got fitter but as that means changing trains in the middle of the stampede that is any of Redfern/Central/Town Hall/Wynyard at any time between 7:30am and 9:30am maybe not. I tried Campsie to Burwood, which I thought was all uphill. Then the idea was to train to Waverton which would be less stampede-equipped than North Sydney *and* has elevators, and thence to my place of employment at the top end of Miller St. I thought Campsie to Burwood was all uphill. Maybe it is, but Waverton to North Sydney is all UPHILL! Any steeper and I think I'd need banisters.... I had to stop twice going up from Waverton because I couldn't make my legs turn the granny gear anymore. Not to mention I couldn't breathe any harder. I suspect I'm still not fit enough to do the whole trip on the bike, especially as most of the hard work is at the end with the long slog up from the Bridge to the top of Miller St. So I need more work. I just don't know how much or what kind. Are there any net.based resources suitable to take me from "couch potato" to "averagely fit cyclist"? It's easy to say "ride more" but I can ride lots and not work. But too much seriously hard work is too much hard work and not that motivating. Being me, I need some kind of roadmap, a program to work to. Most I've seen are for racers, not for terrified commuters Short of hiring a lot of bulldozers I'm going to have to handle these bloody hills at the end of a long ride, so how can I plan my attack? I'd like to do the whole thing by bike, but I'm not confident I can. Zebee |
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#2
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I hate geography
Zebee asks - So I need more work. I just don't know how much or what kind. I think we have all been there when trying to move up a level of fitness or endurance. The hill from the Bridge to the top of Crowie was my nemeses. You never lose your nemeses it just moves around. Some suggestions - Start to ride regularly with a mate or a sociable bunch - doesn't matter if they are a bit stronger so long as they wait up every so often - you will quickly adopt the pace of the bunch. I think of all the things you can do riding often is much more important than the effort or duration you achieve in any one session - cycling muscles develop over time, and 5 x 40min rides in a week is much better for what you want than one 3 hour per week. Learn to stretch - all we mostly do all day is sit down and your time on a bike (any kind) extends that time so suggest you learn the dozen or so stretches that will correct the postural problems we will mostly tend to develop because we are not using the hardware as our maker intended - and as you start to do more on the bike your quads glutes hammies and itb's especially will get undesirably tight, Learning to stretch your spine will make a huge amount of difference to your flexibility and hence enjoyment of life both now and as you age. Don't care if its yoga pilates or gym but the stretches need to be cycling specific. Watch how much better you sleep if you learn to stretch - very little in life will relax tension as much. Start working to a program - for a program find or become a coach. The NSW cycling federation puts on level 1 coaching sessions regularly and I think keeps a register of coaches - as soon as you start working to a program you will see improvement almost immediately. Without some science and logic in training you are trying do-it-yourself brain surgery, which is usually messy and often unsuccessful. - and coaching continues to improve - when I was a distance runner at school they used to insist on no drinking on long runs - "it give you stiches" - I have some experience with de-hydration!! The stuff that they do at the AIS eventually filters down to hubbard grade. If you have a program, then and only then can you think about a wind trainer or ergo (stationary bike) - boring as batsiht but under intelligent supervision it will get you stronger quickly. Without a program you will just get bored - remember organ transplants and cycling programs are best left to someone who knows what they are doing. Never ever forget its meant to be fun - if anything is hurting (other than temporary levels of exertion) get that attended to soonest - one of the great virtues of cycling is that on a well fitted bike the activity by itself should never injure you. As to route, would taking a combination of the off road paths initially be an easier way than on road (you have a hard route there) - maybe have a look at the RTA suggested routes at - http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/usingroads...cyclemaps.html Hope some of this helps - best, Andrew |
#3
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I hate geography
In aus.bicycle on Sun, 26 Mar 2006 06:26:12 GMT
Andrew Price wrote: I think of all the things you can do riding often is much more important than the effort or duration you achieve in any one session - cycling muscles develop over time, and 5 x 40min rides in a week is much better for what you want than one 3 hour per week. Major hassle with that is it has to be outside working hours. All the rides I've seen have either been in working hours, or finish at a time that means I can't get to work. As to route, would taking a combination of the off road paths initially be an easier way than on road (you have a hard route there) - maybe have a look at the RTA suggested routes at - http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/usingroads...cyclemaps.html The route I took is more or less in their list - there is no good route in North Sydney! I have decided bugger it... I will give myself 2-2.5 hours to do the full ride tomorrow. I can train home I don't have to be at work till 10am so I will leave at 7:30am, if I am in town after 9am then I can cheat and take the train to North Sydney as the stampede will have lessened. Still have to haul the damn thing up the stairs, you'd think a major station like North Sydney would have accessible platforms wouldn't you! I'm damn glad I'm not on crutches, let alone in a wheelchair. Given my situation, I think the ride to work is the only riding I'm going to get. Zebee |
#4
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I hate geography
On Sun, 26 Mar 2006 04:41:49 +0000, Zebee Johnstone wrote:
I tried Campsie to Burwood, which I thought was all uphill. Then the idea was to train to Waverton which would be less stampede-equipped than North Sydney *and* has elevators, and thence to my place of employment at the top end of Miller St. If you go through to St Leonards you should be able to come back to the top of Miller St without too much trouble. There's a hill from the station up to Crows Nest that should be doable on back streets through Crows Nest proper, then it should be a piece of ****. St Leonards has lifts so getting the toy up to the platform won't be a PITA. Train to town, then coming home with the bike might also be a good option. So I need more work. I just don't know how much or what kind. Aren't you right next to Bay to Bay cycleway? Yeah it's a bit sucky, but a weekend spin out to Homebush, possibly coupled with a spin through Olympic park could do you good. I'm assuming you don't have an HRM (if you do, have a look at some of Bleve's stuff), so ride a pace where you can comfortably sing a song - I find that's around the 70% HR mark. I have no qualifications coaching wise, but I suspect that a 40-60 minute ride at that kind of pace two or three times a week would get your base fitness up pretty quickly. -- Dave Hughes | Like most computer techie people, I'll happily spend 6 hours trying to figure out how to do a 3 hour job in 10 minutes. --Rev. James Cort |
#5
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I hate geography
Zebee wrote
snip, snip ... I suspect I'm still not fit enough to do the whole trip on the bike, especially as most of the hard work is at the end with the long slog up from the Bridge to the top of Miller St. So I need more work. I just don't know how much or what kind. What about mixing it up a bit? From Campsie you could get quite a long flat ride by following the Cooks River path either west to Strathfield station or east to Tempe. You could take one of those options some days, and push yourself just as hard as you liked (or not). The St Leonards suggestion is a good one too. Is the recumbent your vehicle for the commute? I'm curious as to how unwieldy it is getting in and out of railway carriages, up stairs, etc. -- beerwolf (remove amphibian to reply by email) |
#6
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I hate geography
Random Data wrote:
On Sun, 26 Mar 2006 04:41:49 +0000, Zebee Johnstone wrote: I tried Campsie to Burwood, which I thought was all uphill. Then the idea was to train to Waverton which would be less stampede-equipped than North Sydney *and* has elevators, and thence to my place of employment at the top end of Miller St. If you go through to St Leonards you should be able to come back to the top of Miller St without too much trouble. There's a hill from the station up to Crows Nest that should be doable on back streets through Crows Nest proper, then it should be a piece of ****. St Leonards has lifts so getting the toy up to the platform won't be a PITA. Train to town, then coming home with the bike might also be a good option. So I need more work. I just don't know how much or what kind. Aren't you right next to Bay to Bay cycleway? Yeah it's a bit sucky, but a weekend spin out to Homebush, possibly coupled with a spin through Olympic park could do you good. I'm assuming you don't have an HRM (if you do, have a look at some of Bleve's stuff), so ride a pace where you can comfortably sing a song - I find that's around the 70% HR mark. I have no qualifications coaching wise, but I suspect that a 40-60 minute ride at that kind of pace two or three times a week would get your base fitness up pretty quickly. Zebee, my experience also fits with RD's comments. Unless there is something special to prepare for, it is good for us non-athletes to be patient with our bodies and our progress. I find it really helps to be philosophical and enjoy the ride, rather than be in a rush to get to work. I made the jump and bought a bike 12 months ago after 15 years of non-riding, and have been improving in tiny steps since. It might be optimistic, but I expect to keep improving as long as I ride to work several times a week. After about 2 months I found the hills either got easier to ride up, or else shorter (riding faster). The bottom gear of my bike was not low enough at first, but it seems to have gained a few extra teeth since. To give you an idea, the 14 km to work took me 50 minutes on my first ride in last year. Most times I take are now less than 35 minutes, and my best commuting time this summer was 28 minutes. Be prepared for the seasonal breaks, too. I rode far less for some months during last winter and found there is a downside to having a layoff - it took me several weeks to get back to the fitness level I had before. Not a great surprise in hindsight, but a bit annoying. Hmmm... With winter coming up, it would be interesting to hear if anyone has suggestions on how best to deal with it, in a bicycle sense. Cheers, Vince |
#7
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I hate geography
Vincent Patrick wrote:
Be prepared for the seasonal breaks, too. I rode far less for some months during last winter and found there is a downside to having a layoff - it took me several weeks to get back to the fitness level I had before. Not a great surprise in hindsight, but a bit annoying. Hmmm... With winter coming up, it would be interesting to hear if anyone has suggestions on how best to deal with it, in a bicycle sense. I used to pike if it was raining/likely to rain, but have made the commitment to commute through all weathers now. I have ridden deliberately through a couple of our real Sydney deluges. This is what works for me: 1. Acknowledge that it isn't going to be pleasant, and prepare yourself mentally. 2. Ride a bike that you don't care about. It will get covered in road grime (and so will you). 3. Take extra care with the traffic. Allow more space in front of you, your brakes may not work as well. Realise that you are less visible to drivers. 4. Waterproof clothing may be ok if the rain and wind are cold (you're in Perth aren't you?). In Sydney I have tried waterproofs, and it gets wetter inside from sweat than outside from rain. I just don't think it gets cold enough here to warrant waterproofs for riding. I wear good quality wicking thermals that keep the water away from my skin, and I haven't felt cold yet (my opinion might change after I go through next winter). 5. My worst issue with heavy rain is my eyes - rain gets in and makes them sting. I have to wear spectacles, so don't think I can wear goggles (if anyone has any suggestions about this, I'd like to know too). Currently I get by with squinting and riding slow. 6. Availability of a hot shower at both ends helps (don't think I could stomach it otherwise). HTH -- beerwolf (remove amphibian to reply by email) |
#8
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I hate geography
In aus.bicycle on Sun, 26 Mar 2006 13:24:29 GMT
beerwolf wrote: 5. My worst issue with heavy rain is my eyes - rain gets in and makes them sting. I have to wear spectacles, so don't think I can wear goggles (if anyone has any suggestions about this, I'd like to know too). Currently I get by You could try over-glasses. The Cancer Council has sunglasses designed to be worn over prescription glasses. Some of the larger one-piece safety glasses might work too. Zebee |
#9
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I hate geography
"Zebee Johnstone" wrote in message .. . I'm not sure if it is geography or geology I hate, but whichever one it is that involves putting hills in my way, that's the bad guy. snip What you're doing already is about what you need to be doing, from the sound of things. When I started riding to uni about 2 years ago, the 8km ride half killed me. Now I commute nearly 20km each way and was happy doing so this time last year. You'll find that you acclimatise surprisingly quickly. Come and hunt me out at Rowany festival if you're going to be there this year and I'd be more than happy to chat about bikes (and other stuff). I'll be with Abbotsford household just out the back of the market area. |
#10
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I hate geography
"Zebee Johnstone" wrote:
I'm not sure if it is geography or geology I hate, but whichever one it is that involves putting hills in my way, that's the bad guy. From home to work is I think about 20km as the bicycle rides, but there seems to be rather a lot of those hilly type objects for this horribly unfit little black duck. You have been given some excellent advice about fitness and increasing your ability to ride. My experience as a recreational rider: I live in Ashfield and for years would head out to Homebush Bay or Botany Bay along the Cooks River bike track. It certainly is an excellent way to get fit and a bloody great bike path. Like you, I didn't like hills. It is only recently that I started to look for hills and change my exercise routine from relatively flat roads to including some big hills in my rides. This has really increased my ability to ride those hills. My suggestion for riding into town: head up through Ashfield/Ashbury/Summer Hill from Campsie to join up with the cycleway that heads into town along Lilyfield Road and Anzac Bridge. Enjoy your commute! Cheers, Nicholas |
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