Cycling

[majestic]

Done 3,000km this year - 90% of this was commuting. Managed 150 active days on strava. I've signed up for the Ring of Kerry, so planning on joining a club in belfast for some longer rides. Would love to have a go at the mtb, but none of my mates are into cycling and I don't know if I have the skills. Speaking of the RoK, anyone have any good training tips or plans? I think the thing I struggle most with on longer rides is pacing and fuelling.

[illdecide]

Done 3,000km this year - 90% of this was commuting. Managed 150 active days on strava. I've signed up for the Ring of Kerry, so planning on joining a club in belfast for some longer rides. Would love to have a go at the mtb, but none of my mates are into cycling and I don't know if I have the skills. Speaking of the RoK, anyone have any good training tips or plans? I think the thing I struggle most with on longer rides is pacing and fuelling.

Fuel is really important but the more miles u get into the legs the longer u can ride without food, i know that doesn't make sense but for me I felt the fitter I got and the more miles i cycled the longer I could go without eating. You do need fuel for the longer rides but a banana and a bar is usually good enough for me with a good breakfast in me first. If you're doing a Sportive then they have food stops there which are usually quite good.

[manfromdelmonte]

16000km

Rim brake bikes work, simple as
There are practically no descents in Ireland where disc brakes are needed

Superb, nearly 10,000 miles in old money. I'd hazard a guess thats more than most drive per year. Do you cycle to work as well or all training/racing?

Agree on the rim brakes, some brilliant frames/bikes up for not too much money.

Commute by bike once a fortnight when it suits.
Mainly training/racing.
The hours needed to train to compete in racing can be ridiculous. Don't think fellas involved in gaa realise the time put in by many club cyclists in Ireland.

[imtommygunn]

Running is the same.

[bennydorano]

Running is the same.

Cycling is a much bigger time suck tho. Running much more time efficient and considerably less expensive- unless you go to extremes (that I am unaware of!)

I couldn't have done this when the kids were wee, no chance.

[manfromdelmonte]

Running is the same.

You are talking at least 11-12 hrs  per week on the bike to prepare for cycle racing, and then some weeks with 15+ hrs.
Try to fit in 1-2 gym sessions too

[grounded]

Done 3,000km this year - 90% of this was commuting. Managed 150 active days on strava. I've signed up for the Ring of Kerry, so planning on joining a club in belfast for some longer rides. Would love to have a go at the mtb, but none of my mates are into cycling and I don't know if I have the skills. Speaking of the RoK, anyone have any good training tips or plans? I think the thing I struggle most with on longer rides is pacing and fuelling.

I think joining a cycling club would be a good move for you. For me better craic in bigger groups and safer!
    You're more likely to cover bigger miles and its a good incentive to get out the door if others are going as well.
   More than likely there'll be a few in the club who will be into mountain biking as well.

[grounded]

Running is the same.

Cycling is a much bigger time suck tho. Running much more time efficient and considerably less expensive- unless you go to extremes (that I am unaware of!)

I couldn't have done this when the kids were wee, no chance.

I've started doing one or two small runs per week since Christmas having only cycled since i quit football. 
   The difference is very noticeable. On the bike, 20 minutes getting ready what with clothing, checking lights, helmet, computer, putting pressure into tyres.
       Running was just straight out the door with no faffing around.
   Also cycling fit is not running fit(im not sure about the other way round)
   I can quite easily cycle 50-80 miles at a fair old clip, but i was absolutely bollixed after less than a mile at a snail's pace running. 
   

[Milltown Row2]

Running is the same.

You are talking at least 11-12 hrs  per week on the bike to prepare for cycle racing, and then some weeks with 15+ hrs.
Try to fit in 1-2 gym sessions too

This it for me, its too time consuming, and I don't trust drivers on the road, its just not safe enough for me, neighbor of mine killed before xmas, 45 and 3 young kids..

When doing triathlons it was the bike that was letting me down as I'd little or no work done on the roads. I'd have stuck to the cycle paths or toe-paths but they were generally busy and hard to get any rhythm going. Would have (in my view) obese cyclists passing me with ease during races, might have caught them on the run part but they made it look easy!

I've a few old gym mates that are out Sat Sun and during the brighter nights a couple of nights during the week, minimum 100 miles!

Fair play and understanding wives plays a part, out longer than the golfers 

[bennydorano]

Running is the same.

You are talking at least 11-12 hrs  per week on the bike to prepare for cycle racing, and then some weeks with 15+ hrs.
Try to fit in 1-2 gym sessions too

This it for me, its too time consuming, and I don't trust drivers on the road, its just not safe enough for me, neighbor of mine killed before xmas, 45 and 3 young kids..

When doing triathlons it was the bike that was letting me down as I'd little or no work done on the roads. I'd have stuck to the cycle paths or toe-paths but they were generally busy and hard to get any rhythm going. Would have (in my view) obese cyclists passing me with ease during races, might have caught them on the run part but they made it look easy!

I've a few old gym mates that are out Sat Sun and during the brighter nights a couple of nights during the week, minimum 100 miles!

Fair play and understanding wives plays a part, out longer than the golfers 

One thing I've learned about cycling is that good cyclists come in all shapes & sizes. Same with the worst, slim, athletic looking and brutal. It's all about what's under the hood as they say.

[Milltown Row2]

Running is the same.

You are talking at least 11-12 hrs  per week on the bike to prepare for cycle racing, and then some weeks with 15+ hrs.
Try to fit in 1-2 gym sessions too

This it for me, its too time consuming, and I don't trust drivers on the road, its just not safe enough for me, neighbor of mine killed before xmas, 45 and 3 young kids..

When doing triathlons it was the bike that was letting me down as I'd little or no work done on the roads. I'd have stuck to the cycle paths or toe-paths but they were generally busy and hard to get any rhythm going. Would have (in my view) obese cyclists passing me with ease during races, might have caught them on the run part but they made it look easy!

I've a few old gym mates that are out Sat Sun and during the brighter nights a couple of nights during the week, minimum 100 miles!

Fair play and understanding wives plays a part, out longer than the golfers 

One thing I've learned about cycling is that good cyclists come in all shapes & sizes. Same with the worst, slim, athletic looking and brutal. It's all about what's under the hood as they say.

I agree, and for me these guys obviously put a lot of miles on the clock (legs) to make it look easy, but they are a so bad when it comes to running, but in the triathlons they have made up so much on the bike that it takes a good effort to catch them!

[manfromdelmonte]

My knees don't agree with running otherwise I'd still be doing a bit.

Triathlons are a big commitment, did one or two a few years back.

Cycling is very dependent on the right gear. Like at the moment I need two sets of light winter clothing. Luckily it's been very mild since November.
When it gets colder this week I'll get out the heavier deep winter clothing. Cold is not good for my training as you cannot get out on the road with ice and I'll have to switch to the turbo (shudder)

[grounded]

Running is the same.

You are talking at least 11-12 hrs  per week on the bike to prepare for cycle racing, and then some weeks with 15+ hrs.
Try to fit in 1-2 gym sessions too

This it for me, its too time consuming, and I don't trust drivers on the road, its just not safe enough for me, neighbor of mine killed before xmas, 45 and 3 young kids..

When doing triathlons it was the bike that was letting me down as I'd little or no work done on the roads. I'd have stuck to the cycle paths or toe-paths but they were generally busy and hard to get any rhythm going. Would have (in my view) obese cyclists passing me with ease during races, might have caught them on the run part but they made it look easy!

I've a few old gym mates that are out Sat Sun and during the brighter nights a couple of nights during the week, minimum 100 miles!

Fair play and understanding wives plays a part, out longer than the golfers 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8131838/
I know its the eternal debate but thought the above interesting.
Cycling Best predictor for sprint and half iron man. With swimming best predicor for Olympic. Running for Iron man and longer distances.
     
For some reason i've always imagined swimming being the most important discipline in Triathlon whatever the distances.

     

[imtommygunn]

Mr could you not do Zwift and a turbo trainer or buy a watt bike? I did some rough sessions on a turbo during lockdown and you can get a serious workout on the right course.

[Milltown Row2]

Running is the same.

You are talking at least 11-12 hrs  per week on the bike to prepare for cycle racing, and then some weeks with 15+ hrs.
Try to fit in 1-2 gym sessions too

This it for me, its too time consuming, and I don't trust drivers on the road, its just not safe enough for me, neighbor of mine killed before xmas, 45 and 3 young kids..

When doing triathlons it was the bike that was letting me down as I'd little or no work done on the roads. I'd have stuck to the cycle paths or toe-paths but they were generally busy and hard to get any rhythm going. Would have (in my view) obese cyclists passing me with ease during races, might have caught them on the run part but they made it look easy!

I've a few old gym mates that are out Sat Sun and during the brighter nights a couple of nights during the week, minimum 100 miles!

Fair play and understanding wives plays a part, out longer than the golfers 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8131838/
I know its the eternal debate but thought the above interesting.
Cycling Best predictor for sprint and half iron man. With swimming best predicor for Olympic. Running for Iron man and longer distances.
     
For some reason i've always imagined swimming being the most important discipline in Triathlon whatever the distances.

   

Mr could you not do Zwift and a turbo trainer or buy a watt bike? I did some rough sessions on a turbo during lockdown and you can get a serious workout on the right course.

So for sprints the 750m swim is generally 16 minutes at worst in normal Olympic it's around 30 minutes
Best 5k in sprint was 23 minutes.

My quickest sprint...

So 23 plus 16 meant it took me 48 minutes to do the cycle, it should never take that long to cycle 20km.

Tommy not sure if it the serious work out or just getting the road miles over a turbo that improve that. The road brings in other factors