Reilig's log

reilig

Hi guys. I'm new to cycling - well I bought a cheap road bike last October, but I've only really got into cycling it over the last 2 months. I want to start a training log for the same reason as most people on here - to keep myself motivated.

I have some goals for the next 6 months:

I have always considered myself to be pretty active and pretty fit. I play football and rugby, can run 5k at my ease but embarrisingly I tip the scale at 125kg. I'm 6"1 and 31 years old. I'm about 25kg heavier than I would like to be, so one of my main goals is to lose the weight and hopefully combined with a healthy diet, i can do this.

The reason why I started cycling was because I have become bored with training for football and rugby. I get no thrill out of running around a field and I'm at the stage where I have just given up football. But on the upside, I've gotten a bit of a bug for cycling. I'm doing 25 - 30km spins at an average speed of 22kmph and you definitely couldn't describe the landscape as flat. So I suppose, my ultimate goal would be to be able to cycle 100km. I don't know how long that will take, but I am working on it. I have started to get up at 6am and do 15km cycles for the last 2 weeks. I find them easy at this stage. At the weekends, I try to push it out to 25 or 30km. Short term goal is 40km (within the next 3 weeks).

I have a further short term goal. I have managed to convince 2 friends to take part in the Sports Section of the Achill Roar on September 10th. My aim is not to come last. Hopefully i won't be making a fool of myself??

My ultimate goal would be to take part in some type of cycling sportif in the future. I'm based in the North West, so if anyone knows of any happening within travelling distance of me, don't be afraid to point them out to me.

I currently have a cheap Viking Spring road bike http://www.mycycle.ie/ROAD-BIKE-p/uiuiyui.htm

Its fine, it does the job. I can keep up with my friends on their €1000 felt road bikes and it was a very cheap way for me to get into cycling. But I might look at upgrading my bike to something lighter and better over the winter through the bike to work scheme.

Well there it is. I have made a start and here are some of my times and distances over the last 2 weeks. Any advice or information would be appreciated.

25/07 16.1km in 42 mins @ 22.5kmph
23/07 27.5km in 77 mins @ 21.3kmph
22/07 13.1km in 40 mins @ 19.6kmph (a few hills)
20/07 11.5km in 30 mins @ 22kmph
18/07 11.2km in 30 mins @ 22kmph
17/07 11.1km in 31 mins @ 21.1 kmph
16/07 26.1 km in 73 mins @ 22kmph


They aren't very spectacular times or speeds - I know, but I have to start somewhere. Hopefully I'll post my times and distances up here every week just to keep track of how I'm getting on. I aim to do 100km+ in the saddle from next week onwards. (I have a few early mornings and late evenings at work this week which interferes with my training).

Thanks for reading!

reilig

Another week, another log. Only 3 cycles last week. It was crazy at work. Won't get too many cycles this week either. Really enjoying cycling now. Have noticed 3 things:

- Was out cycling with a mate on sunday morning, he only cycles at weekends. the last time I was out with him, he was pushing ahead. This time, he couldn't keep up with me. At 30km I wanted more - he was fit to drop.

- One of my main aims of cycling was to lose weight. Well I haven't really lost much (about half a kg) . But I have dropped a trousers size and my shirts are kinda getting a little bit big for me - that's only after 3 weeks of training.

- Early morning is my best time to cycle. 6am is a quiet time on the roads. When I start at that time, I'm full of energy for the rest of the day and tired when it comes to 10pm - so a good night's sleep is ensured.


I broke a spoke on sunday morning's cycle too. Left my wheel into the local bike shop yesterday to get it fixed. Its not out of shape - only the spoke - so hopefully it won't be a big job and they will have it ready for me this evening.

Here's what i did. Its not big mileage, but hopefully I'll be able to push on to a 40k cycle next week.

Monday 25/07 16.1km in 42 mins @ 22.5km/h
Thursday 28/07 16.1km in 42 Mins @ 22.5km/h
Sunday 31/07 30.7km in 80 mins @ 22.8km/h

reilig

2 weeks and 6 cycles further on. Broken spokes repaired. New cranks on the bike - not that they made a blind bit of difference to the creaking :mad:
The bike is going fine, apart from that

Here's how it went:

Monday 01/08 16.1km in 41 mins @ 22.9km/h
Thursday 04/08 16.1km in 42 Mins @ 22.5km/h
Sunday 31/07 32.4km in 80 mins @ 23.9km/h

08/08 13.1km in 39 mins @ 20.6kmph
11/08 11.5km in 29 mins @ 22.5kmph
13/08 11.1km in 30 mins @ 21.9kmph

Combining this with a few km of road running, I don't think I'm doing too bad. But I feel that I'm not doing enough by going out on my own. When I go out with one of my friends, I find that it helps to push on the pace and the distance and certainly makes the ride a lot more enjoyable. I really don't think that I'd have a problem with 40 or 50 k any day. I suppose what I'm really asking is do you think I would be able to keep up with a club if I joined one? When would the best time be to join one?

Johnners1878

You could do worse than come along to Boyle tomorrow evening Reilig - it's a 23km lap of Lough Key at a gentle 22-23kph. There's a mix of decent cyclists and purely recreational ones, so it splits into different groups along the way. You can find your own pace. If you fancy it, a few of us head up the Curlews afterwards. I've described it in my own log. It might be an easier introduction than going straight on a club cycle, but if you do fancy that then there's one at 8.30 on Sunday mornings starting at the petrol station in Leitrim Village.

If you do come along tomorrow, say hello - I'm on a Forme Vitesse, probably in a royal blue jersey.

John

reilig

Thanks John,

I don't think I'll be able to do it tomorrow, but next week might be an option. What time and where in Boyle do ye meet?

I was thinking about the club in leitrim village too as it is much closer to me than Boyle - only worried that I'll make a fool of myself by not being able to keep up and having to have someone wait for me

Will contact you next week if I'm going to the Boyle one. Thanks for the invite. Most kind!

Dan

Johnners1878 wrote: »

You could do worse than come along to Boyle tomorrow evening Reilig - it's a 23km lap of Lough Key at a gentle 22-23kph. There's a mix of decent cyclists and purely recreational ones, so it splits into different groups along the way. You can find your own pace. If you fancy it, a few of us head up the Curlews afterwards. I've described it in my own log. It might be an easier introduction than going straight on a club cycle, but if you do fancy that then there's one at 8.30 on Sunday mornings starting at the petrol station in Leitrim Village.

If you do come along tomorrow, say hello - I'm on a Forme Vitesse, probably in a royal blue jersey.

John

Johnners1878

Sorry - forgot to mention that! It's a 7 o'clock meet-up behind the Church, on the right hand side as you come in from Carrick. If you're coming by car you're best to drive on past the Church, across the first roundabout, turn right at the next one, go across the bridge and you'll see the carpark entrance on your right.

I haven't done the Leitrim Village Sunday ride yet, but I will probably do it this week. Don't know what sort of pace they go at, but it's a 50-60km run.

reilig

A week on, lots of improvements. Lost some weight. Dropped a trousers size. Its all good.

This week:

14/08 11.5km in 30 mins @ 22kmph
16/08 10.9km in 28 mins @ 22.6kmph
20/08 27.8km in 81 mins @ 20.4kmph
22/08 11km in 30 mins @ 21.8kmph


Ok, they're not record breaking times but each run has a good mix of hills and every cycle is at 6am - before I go to work. I'm burning 3000 calories per week that I wasn't burning before I started cycling. I'm up early and full of energy for the day.

Took the bold step of entering the Achill Roar Adventure race today. 1500m paddle in a canoe, 8km cross country run, 22km cycle. Have been doing a little bit of running over the past few weeks to prep for it. Only 3 weeks to go. It will be a bit of craic anyway and all I want to do is finish it

reilig

I'm afraid to weigh myself. But I'm down another hole on the buckle of my belt - its the last hole, so I'm going to have to look at investing in a new belt :D

It was an ok week. I did 3 cycles and 3 runs (In preparation for the Achill Roar). My cycles:

23/08 16km in 41 mins @ 23.1km/h
26/08 22km in 70 mins @ 19 km/h
29/08 9.1km in 24 mins @ 22.6km/h ( a quick sprint last night).

A couple of definite goals that i'm working towards:

1. The Achill Roar (22km cycle, 8km run, 1800m kayak). I have 2 friends doing it with me - our aim is to finish it. As its our first time, we have no idea what the course will be like. Last year's times were 1 .39 to 4. 50. If I come in at the 4 hour mark, I'll be happy.

2.
Tour de Breffni (Three Counties Tour). Leitrim Cycling Club is promoting a Leisure/Sportive on 2nd October 2011. The distances will be 20K family spin, 60 K & 100 K. The 100 K will be challenging, following some of the 2010 FBD Ras Stage, with a climb to Glangevlin
I hope to do the 60km cycle.

3. My football commitments will come to an end in early October. I have made enquiries with Leitrim Cycling Club and I intend joining them on their sunday morning spins in early October. My worries about not being able to keep up were laid to rest. It seems like it will suit me very well!!
Have a new bike provisionally ordered on the BTWS (Lapierre Audacio 400), but it will be October before I get it.

reilig

2 weeks since my last post.
Haven't been on the bike as much as the previous weeks, but I have good reason. I put a lot of time into running to prepare for the Achill Roar yesterday.

Delighted to say that I got through it, didn't finish last and got no (serious) injury. Very tough weather conditions left both the 8km run and 22km cycle very tough. Gale force winds made the cycling very dangerous. But I'm quite proud to say that I achieved my first goal of this log (even if it is now mid-september). I said in the previous post that I'd be happy to finish in 4 hours. Well I finished in just over 2 hours which is encouraging.

Learned a lot of things about my cycling yesterday:
I need to train in all types of weather to prepare myself for events like this.
I have a crap bike. It doesn't feel too safe at high speed - but a lot of that could be the wind.
My bike gearing is very high - struggled a bit on some of the hills. Mine is a double 52,42. I was in the low ring in the lowest gear and could have really done with a lower gear.
The short fast cycles that I did over the last 3 months (10k to 20k) were invaluable for preparing me for this event.
I learned the cardinal rule of cycling yesterday - never cycle without padded shorts, and I'm paying the price today I couldn't justify buying tri shorts for just 1 race.

So this week its back to the bike. I want to try to get a few longer spins in to prepare for the Sportif on October 2nd where I hope to do the 60km spin. Might have to wait for a couple of days for the joints and muscles to recover, but it was nice to be competitive for the first time in my life!!

reilig

I'm back on the bike. Time is the biggest problem. Its too dark to go out in the mornings and its almost 7pm when I get home in the eveinings. Have invested in new lights http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/Cycle-Light-Sets-Cateye-EL530-TL1100-Light-Set/CATELIGH935000000000 I'm hopeful that it will allow me to do a spin or 2 midweek from now on. I have some quiet back roads and a good stretch of a main road with a wide hard shoulder where I can get a 15k loop any evening. I had cheap bike lights in the past - the ones with the 5 led's. They really aren't suitable to rural cycling. hopefully this will fit the bill.

Here are some spins that i did over the last 2 weeks.

17/09 16.1km in 42 mins @ 22.5kmph
18/09 27.5km in 75 mins @ 21.kmph
24/09 11.1km in 31 mins @ 21.1 kmph
25/09 26.1 km in 73 mins @ 22kmph


Going to do the 60km Tour De Breffni this weekend. Hopefully that will go well.
Bike to work scheme should be through by the first week in october and I'll be able to get my new bike after that. Hope to go out cycling with the club every week from then on.

Johnners1878

Might see you there Reilig - I'm going to chance the 100k - a bit afraid of the climb up to Glangelvin though....

Good luck with it.

reilig

Johnners1878 wrote: »

Might see you there Reilig - I'm going to chance the 100k - a bit afraid of the climb up to Glangelvin though....

Good luck with it.

Cheers, I haven't enough done to chance the 100k. Won't have my new bike for 2 weeks yet either and I don't trust the old viking for 100k :eek:

reilig

Short and sweet.

Second goal met.

02/10/11 Tour De Breffni 59.5km in 140 minutes @ 25 kmph.

Happy with myself.

reilig

A good week. Let myself recover after the 60km until wednesday and did 27km on wednesday evening with lights. Feeling a lot more confident on my bike now. 25km is only half a workout.

Stats

05/10 27km in 72mins @ 23.2km/h
09/10 Curlieu Wheelers Cycle. 50km in 2hours 5 mins.

Not a bad week.

Since January I have over 1000km up on my bike (not a lot when I look at other people here, but quite an achievement for me). I have 600km up since July. I have lost 4 inches off my waist and toned up a little bit. I have lost 4kg in the last 6 weeks. If I could lose another 4kg before christmas, I'd have 1/3 of my goal achieved.

Cycling has really become addictive now. I was cycling with 2 friends at the Curlieu Wheelers event yesterday and they couldn't keep up. I finished 20 minutes ahead of them. I just feel the need to keep pushing on.

Most people plan on taking it easy for the winter months. I hope to take it up a notch and try to do 3 spins a week on the bike - 2 short evening spins with the lights and one longer weekend spin with the club.

I get my new bike this week or next. I'm looking forward to that and it will give me more motivation.

reilig

Wayhay!!

64km this morning in 2 hours 30 mins at an average speed of 25kmph.
First club spin for me. It was great!!

11km on thursday night - testing out my new bike:

http://www.lapierre-bikes.co.uk/node/904 from www.trailblazers.ie

Really happy with it. Can't believe how light it is. Its a pleasure to cycle.

3 sundays in a row, 60km, 50km and 64km. A month ago, I struggled with 30km. Its so much easier to cycle with a group!!

Happy Cycling!!

reilig

The short evenings have started to catch up on me and its harder to get out on the bike. But I'm still putting up the miles every week and enjoying it more and more. here's a few cycles that I have done:

6th November 56.9km in 162 minutes @ 21km/h (I was with a slow group and could have given a lot more - a few short weeks ago I was the slow group and they were waiting for me )

29th October 25.7km in 70 minutes @21.9kmph

23 October 29.7km in 73 minutes @24.1 kmph

18th october 14.4km in 39 mins @ 21.9kmph (with lights)

Planning a weekend of cycling in 2 weeks time 90km each way. It will be a big test for me. My max distance has been 65km and I have never done 2 long distance cycles 2 days in a row. I think I'll be able for it though

reilig

Almost 2 months since I posted anything.

It hasn't been spectacular. I did a few short spins (20 - 30k each) and 5 reasonably long spins:

13/11 56.2km in 153 mins @ 21.9 km/h
20/11 55.4km in 159 mins @ 21km/h
25/11 49.9km in 132 mins @ 22.4km/h
26/11 51.9km in 126 mins @ 24.5km/h
27/12 48.5km in 113 mins @ 25.7km/h

I had some short spins inbetween all of these. I've been working on my speed quite a bit and this showed in my last spin on 27th. It was a windy day too!

So I'm looking back at 2011. I started this log in July. I think it has been a good motivation for myself. I have achieved many of my goals. I can cycle 60k at my ease. I have completed a couple of events and joined a club. I have lost 5kg through exercise alone. I have a new bike, and the cycling bug has really bitten me.

So, here's to 2012. A year when I break the mould. A year when I achieve my goals:

1. Reach the 100km mark on a regular basis
2. Complete 5000km between now and December 31st 2012. That's less than 100km per week on average.
3. Complete a number of Sportif events. Tour of Sligo, Tour of Meath, Tour De Breffni. Complete the Ring of Kerry (Accommodation already booked). I also want to complete a few Duathons and Adventure races.
4. Bring up average speed to over 25km/h
5. Lose 20kg in weight over 12 months.

reilig

One month down. Lots of talk but action was pretty limited.

I cycled 175km in total during January. That's not even half of my goal.

I'm still only managing to get out 1 day per week. I need to be on the bike 3 days per week - even if 2 of those days are only 20 - 25 km spins.

Some serious action needs to be taken for february.

I need to do 400km over the 29 days.

January did bring one of my goals to fruition. I managed to average above 25kmph on every cycle.

It also brought me closer to my weight goal. I lost 3kg over the month.
Getting out on the bike 3 days per week would help me to move on this weight loss quite a bit.

I also have some added goals for 2012 at this stage.

I want to complete a 120km cycle with my friends at the end of March.
I want to complete the Kare Tour De Foothills 100km on April 15th.
I want to do the Ring of kerry cycle on July 7th.

I had a medical done 2 weeks ago. Everything is as it should be with my cholesterol a bit high - but stil quite safe. My doctor did warn me about losing weight to ensure that I'll be healthy in the future.
So, with that in mind, I am setting myself a goal to cycle at least 3 times per week, adapt a healthier diet, and lose 20kg before the Ring of Kerry Cycle. That's just under 1kg per week between now and July 7th. Its a big ask, but its something that I want to do and something that i am able to do. I don't want to end up in a few years time having to lose weight because of an illness or disease. Better to lose it now when I am healthy and able to do it.

Stats for January

Distance 175.2km
Weight Lost 3.1kg
Average Speed: 25.1 kmph

reilig

Another month over.

It started well, took a little dip in the middle and picked up well at the end, but in reality it lacked quite a bit of effort. But with the longer days now and the better weather, I hope to get it moving.

I only managed just over 200km this month. I kept the average spped just above 25kmph. But I am proud to say that I lost 2.7kg. Its a bit short of the 4kg that I had targeted, but i continually tell myself - "Imagine how much weight I could lose if I tried".

Hopefully March will be that month when I start to try. February was a tough month with my best friend being diagnosed with a serious illness. March isn't going to be too easy either as he undergoes surgery in the middle of the month. But I will make an effort! I'm sure that if I could get my weekly average to above 100km, I would have better luck shifting the weight.

I have made strides with my diet. I'm eating smaller portions, healthier meals and at better times. I am limiting my intake of sugar too, but its addiction is so hard to beat.

Anyway, Achievement for February:

Distance 202km (YTD 377.2km)
Weight Lost 2.7kg (YTD 5.8kg)
Average Speed: 25.1 kmph

Happy Cycling Folks