kerry4sam & her first Cycling Training Log

kerry4sam

Following on from my post in the Ring of Kerry 2012 Charity cycle thread here, I have commenced my training for my First ever cycle of the Ring of Kerry. I want to participate in the official event in 2013, but have set a target of completing my First Ring of Kerry cycle before Year Ending 2012. I am an optimist btw!

Newbie to racers and this afternoon done 20.5km in 45mins at which point I felt I could continue but time & other commitments made sure it wasn't to be. I have never had so much fun on a bicycle as I did this afternoon and long may that continue! I am happy with that for my first spin and will try to maintain this for a week before upping my game and taking on a more challenging route next week. Surprised myself at my fitness levels, even-though I would be an avid walker/jogger/hill-walker/mountain-climber! Great Bike!

Though it was tough in parts with the climbs and the weather against me - biting wind and rain but peddling on I did and I was happy with a time of 45mins for a 20.5km cycle on my first racer.

Kerry4sam

Day#2 planned for tomorrow please God! I hope to contine my log on here to maintain & improve my commitment to this newbie on my bucket-list - RoK2013

flying11

congrats on your first spin! its a great feeling to be out in the fresh air , you will be hooked in no time!
i did the ring last week and it really is a fantastic day out, i cant wait until the 2013 edition.
judging by your username you are from the kingdom so you might be interested in the ring of north kerry cycle which is on in the middle of august, if the weather is nice it should he a great day out with some amazing scenery. see http://www.ring-of-north-kerry-cycle.com/ for details.
best of luck with your cycling!

t'bear

Congrats on the first spin, normally takes a couple of spins and complaints about sore rear ends before the 'bug' starts to bite, so fair play

kerry4sam

Thanks so much guys ^^^ I really appreciate the support!

Bang on time with yesterday. Exhilarating would be an understatement! There is just so much freedom on the bike, it’s a fantastic feeling. I didn’t know how enjoyable it would or even could be & wondering now why I didn’t start this sooner

Anywhoo, day#2 and I’m more than content with my cycle. Back out again tomorrow to keep increasing my stamina. I must put more thought in though for my routes for Thursday and Friday since I will be off work. Don’t want to push myself too far too fast though but I’ll figure it out I’m sure.

Right now I don’t see why I cannot complete my Ring of Kerry before year ending 2012 and on another positive, I won’t be such a newbie for the official event in 2013 then

Kerry4sam

kerry4sam

kerry4sam

Up with my alarm at 5am and on the road for 6am! So peaceful and quiet at that hour. Made it easier for me for when the skies opened. Jeez lads, if we could put a roof overhead for the next few months, t’wud make my quest a tad easier, but anywhoo…

Kept peddling and ended up in a nearby village in no time (nobody up surprise surprise!) but kept going to get my distance in. Done just over 22km this morning in just about 45mins but I had the road to myself, well with the exception of one very jolly cyclist who was all waves and ‘Great Morning’ Nice to it was!

Day #4 tomorrow, still undecided about time or route but once I can maintain this distance with this timing for this week I’ll be happy.

kerry4sam

Being off today I thought it best to up my game and challenge myself. I started out thinking it wasn’t about time trials and that I need to get my distance up. Didn’t happen though as I just kept up the speed. Upped my game today to just over 40km in 1hr 5mins with a different route.

Today I took on hills and climbs and saw parts of the country-side I never knew existed as I’d never have walked that distance or routes before. Stunning! I was happy to see some tourists en route also and knowing they would leave having experienced this beauty. So that was nice

I’m going to do same route again tomorrow I’d say as that was tougher than the previous few days and that’s what I need to be doing now, and hope I maintain that timing also.

Oh me thinks the fun is really only beginning!

kerry4sam

Beasty

kerry4sam wrote: »

Upped my game today to just over 40km in 1hr 5mins with a different route.

Wow - that is fast - some of us struggle to go that speed over that distance with full TT gear. Is there a typo?

Well done so far - don't try and do too much too quickly though - build it up steadily and you will feel all the better for it (and less inclined to take a few days off, which can then turn into a couple of weeks, and before you know it bring your back to square one)

kerry4sam

Beasty wrote: »

Wow - that is fast - some of us struggle to go that speed over that distance with full TT gear. Is there a typo?

Well done so far - don't try and do too much too quickly though - build it up steadily and you will feel all the better for it (and less inclined to take a few days off, which can then turn into a couple of weeks, and before you know it bring your back to square one)

Thought so myself but got it checked No typo I'm going to keep this route for myself as it challenged me and I felt it when I finished too. It did push me, I won't say otherwise. I just kept going with the head down. I was familiar with parts of the route from walking but not in its entirety so that helped with being able to keep the speed up. Delighted with today so I am.

Thanks for the support Beasty, I do appreciate it

kerry4sam

flying11 wrote: »

congrats on your first spin! its a great feeling to be out in the fresh air , you will be hooked in no time!
i did the ring last week and it really is a fantastic day out, i cant wait until the 2013 edition.
judging by your username you are from the kingdom so you might be interested in the ring of north kerry cycle which is on in the middle of august, if the weather is nice it should he a great day out with some amazing scenery. see http://www.ring-of-north-kerry-cycle.com/ for details.
best of luck with your cycling!

That Ring of North Kerry cycle sounds interesting. By that date I'd probably be looking at the 70km route but that is a target now for me to meet & after today I feel I could do it! Thank you for that linkie flying11 as I hadn't heard about it. Let me know if you'll be there yourself on the day and I'll meet ya!

That's my aim now so it is, the 70km North Kerry cycle - 11th August.

The pain is creeping in with my thighs now so it is, long bath is on the cards me thinks

kerry4sam

kerry4sam

Yesterday I did push myself as my lunch didn’t settle and I couldn’t eat dinner
Today I done the same route as yesterday, minute longer even-though I only had one stop/break compared with three yesterday

Taking tomorrow morning off to relax before a busy day at work in the evening and again on the Sunday morning so I’m looking at Sunday evening hopefully for my next venture out.

Kerry and her lickle dawes are flying it and lovin it. I had a flashback today on seeing racers on the route I was on for years and wondering how they were able to do it, but it’s all in the mind ain't it?! Mind over Matter I feel. Once I adopted my get-up-and-go attitude I have found myself to be happier in general. Cycling just gives me this sense of freedom and I like it!

Yeah the 70km Ring of North Kerry is my aim to judge how I’ll be set to take on the Ring of South Kerry before year ending 2012 as planned. Feel free to pm me if anyone will be at that event on 11th August btw.

Kerry4sam

kerry4sam

I think the best decision of my week was heading out for my 40km ride within 30mins from finishing back-to-back busy shifts at work. Cycling just frees my mind, perfect way to unwind. There were no records broken today but I am okay with that considering everything.
Tomorrow marks one week since I purchased my lickle beauty of a racer and this coming week really is time I upped my game further. No excuses not to!

My first week down:
- Feeling all the better for taking up cycling;
- Would recommend to anyone to start, really never is too late to make a start;
- Not one negative comes to mind;
- Delighted with my decision and my progress to date. I am still a fair distance from the Ring of South Kerry cycle but a lot closer than I was this time last week that’s for sure.

Thanks to everyone for the support to date, won’t be forgotten!

Kerry4sam

kerry4sam

kerry4sam

Thanks for the following linkie glennbhoy. It actually brought a tear to my eye

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4b4DJFStVQ

kerry4sam

I'm averaging in at 38.5km in 1hr10mins to date and I am well pleased with that.

I've decided to start hitting the road twice a day now so cycle#2 for today will be later this evening. I will continue this pattern for this week only and come next week then I will be combining the two cycles back to back without a break in between.

I think that will be the best decision for me right now so I'm not killing myself but building a steady momentum for this week so when next Monday hits I'll be 19days from the Ring of North Kerry and well on target to complete the 70km in seriously competitive timing!

Cycle#2 for today will follow later.
kerry4sam

68km done today in 2hr5min, with a break.

Kerry is looking at the 120km now in 25days time . I'll take each day as it comes and by next week once I am pulling in the 70km within the 2hr mark I won't be able to resist pushing myself for the 120km for the Ring of North Kerry Cycle!

kerry4sam

After a somewhat interesting yet demoralising 9-hour shift at work I felt that I actually needed and wanted my lickle Dawes. I just needed to clear my head!

After my 9-hour shift; 15mins break with some food off I went on my bike to cover where kerry ended up being soaked, cold, and mentally wrecked!

Yesterday I registered and received my licence number with Cycling Ireland delira with that step. I think I've just about every angle covered now with my cycling only to just continue building up the miles in the legs now.

cycle#2 will follow later today

Max_Charger

Pretty unbelievable average speeds there! What routes do you take?

flying11

Max_Charger wrote: »

Pretty unbelievable average speeds there! What routes do you take?

+1

if those speeds are accurate you should seriously consider joining a club and taking part in races.
Those averege speeds are pretty phenomenal for someone who has just started cycling! :eek:


i have to ask, are you sure you have calibrated your cycling computer correctly/have the right wheel size stored on the computer? Not that i doubt you for a second but wow those speeds are seriously fast!

DirkVoodoo

35 km/hr solo after a week of cycling is definitely hard to fathom. I agree, either a poorly calibrated computer or you should sign up for Ras na Mban in September (which happens to be in Sneem!).

Those speeds on flat roads for someone totally new to the support would be pretty impressive, if it's over even a remotely hilly or lumpy route then I would even say impossible.

But you're out on your bike and enjoying it, which is the most important thing!

kerry4sam

Thanks for your replies ^^^

It is calibrated correctly yes and according to the speeds my max is in at 42, not hit often mind. This is my first racer but not my first time on a bike tbh. This would be my first serious effort with competitive cycling and I am looking into clubs right now alright,

My first event will be on 11st August and I'm hoping by next week I will be looking at the 120km for that event whereas right now my aim is for 70km in around the 2hr mark

My cycling is mainly taking in routes that would have been part of the Ring of Kerry cycle from town to town. I've brought my car a few times to change the routes and take in different terraine / road surfaces.

But lads, I'm still not YET able to do a 70km in one go! That's my aim by end next-week though. I'm trying to put miles in my legs right now.

I am enjoying my cycling thus far, that's for sure

kerry4sam

DirkVoodoo

Do you own an iPhone or android mobile device?

kerry4sam

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Do you own an iPhone or android mobile device?

no

DirkVoodoo

kerry4sam wrote: »

no

Ah, I was just thinking it would be interesting to see some of your strava ride reports.

kerry4sam

kerry4sam wrote: »

Thanks for your replies ^^^

It is calibrated correctly yes and according to the speeds my max is in at 42, not hit often mind. This is my first racer but not my first time on a bike tbh. This would be my first serious effort with competitive cycling and I am looking into clubs right now alright,

My first event will be on 11st August and I'm hoping by next week I will be looking at the 120km for that event whereas right now my aim is for 70km in around the 2hr mark

My cycling is mainly taking in routes that would have been part of the Ring of Kerry cycle from town to town. I've brought my car a few times to change the routes and take in different terraine / road surfaces.

But lads, I'm still not YET able to do a 70km in one go! That's my aim by end next-week though. I'm trying to put miles in my legs right now.

I am enjoying my cycling thus far, that's for sure

kerry4sam

cycle#2 done for today

Combined today kerry done 73.84km in 2hr35mins. I need to be shaving 35mins off whilst combining the km's by this day next week! It is do-able once I put the work in. It is possible! It will most certainly be done.

Beasty

I've raced against some of the top women racers in Ireland;), and over 52k we averaged just over 34kph riding as a group. Now admitedly there was a bit of climbing involved, but at the speeds you are doing with no base training kerry4sam you are capable of more than holding your own against them.

Definitely hook up with a local club and give some serious consideration to racing (perhaps next year).

blorg

kerry4sam wrote: »

Upped my game today to just over 40km in 1hr 5mins with a different route.

If you can do this sort of speed on a road bike, on a TT bike you almost certainly would have made the podium in last months womens national TT championships. In your first week of cycling. And this is an increase from 22km in 45 mins... Only the day before (itself an extremely fast solo speed for a beginning rider.)

Something is off about your numbers for sure. But it doesn't particularly matter; the ROK is not a race and your main focus should be upping the distances before worrying about the speed. Keep at it.

Lumen

kerry4sam wrote: »

Upped my game today to just over 40km in 1hr 5mins with a different route.

Today I took on hills and climbs...

40km in 1:05 on a hilly route on a normal road bike with no training? I'm sorry but I just don't believe it.

The fastest women in our interclub league do 1:06 or thereabouts on a flattish course with aerobars. One of those is amongst the top few triathletes in the country and another is on the national development squad.

Sure there are faster women than that but that's after large volumes of training for years, natural talent and highly specialised equipment and optimal aerodynamic position. The Irish Women's 25-mile record is about 55 minutes.

Beasty

Maybe clarify one thing kerry4sam - was it a circuit/out and back route that you did that 40k, or was it one way (and indeed were you riding solo or with others)?

If it was one way, that could explain a lot, as a tailwind and net descent would make a lot of difference to your speed

It also really could be a calibration issue with your computer - what type is it and what wheel circumference is input?

CH3OH

Went out for a spin yesterday evening and came back and happened to read this thread.. To say It demoralised me would be an understatement.

As an aside was cycling along thinking I hadn’t got a puncture, when I went around the next bend guess what ! a puncture. First time to change a tube .
Thank God, I’d bought a few spare tubes and the kit and pump in Aldi !
Managed to change it just before 2 cyclists offered some help!
I’m not young and I suppose a little overweight. Bought a defy 1 about 6 weeks ago and have been doing the same 27 km spin a few evenings.
With the weather so bad hadn’t been out for a week or so.
Did the same route this morning with an eye on the time and managed to do the 27 km in 1hr 12min works out about 22.5km/hour on an undulating road.
I’d say the very fastest I got was about 43 km/hour on a downhill bit.
Am I a snail?:o

Beasty

CH3OH wrote: »

Went out for a spin yesterday evening and came back and happened to read this thread.. To say It demoralised me would be an understatement...

... I’d say the very fastest I got was about 43 km/hour on a downhill bit.
Am I a snail?:o

Don't want to derail this thread as it's really kerry4sam's training log, but you should not be demoralised at all about your speed. before I got seriously into cycling I would do an annual sportive from Manchester to Blackpool - in those days I would be delighted to average 20kph. Over the past 5 years I have increased the amount of time I spend on a bike considerably - from an average communting speed of not much more than 20kph 5 years ago, I've built up to around 30kph.

The sort of speeds kerry4sam is recording are phenomenal, as you will see from some of the comments above. However speed is not the be-all and end-all of cycling - it's about getting out there, getting some exercise, and enjoying yourself. The more you do it the more you will find the longer distances easier, and your speed will pick up

kerry4sam

blorg wrote: »

If you can do this sort of speed on a road bike, on a TT bike you almost certainly would have made the podium in last months womens national TT championships. In your first week of cycling. And this is an increase from 22km in 45 mins... Only the day before (itself an extremely fast solo speed for a beginning rider.)

Something is off about your numbers for sure. But it doesn't particularly matter; the ROK is not a race and your main focus should be upping the distances before worrying about the speed. Keep at it.

Cheers for the feedback blorg. It's my first time in serious competitive cycling, but not cycling per sé.

Lumen wrote: »

40km in 1:05 on a hilly route on a normal road bike with no training? I'm sorry but I just don't believe it.

The fastest women in our interclub league do 1:06 or thereabouts on a flattish course with aerobars. One of those is amongst the top few triathletes in the country and another is on the national development squad.

Sure there are faster women than that but that's after large volumes of training for years, natural talent and highly specialised equipment and optimal aerodynamic position. The Irish Women's 25-mile record is about 55 minutes.

Once I alter my terraine Lumen I am sure that the stats will change considerably.

Beasty wrote: »

Maybe clarify one thing kerry4sam - was it a circuit/out and back route that you did that 40k, or was it one way (and indeed were you riding solo or with others)?

If it was one way, that could explain a lot, as a tailwind and net descent would make a lot of difference to your speed

It also really could be a calibration issue with your computer - what type is it and what wheel circumference is input?

I'll clarify no bother. I started with the circuit to get the km's up and as I stated previous, I'm not hitting that max speed too often. It's all down to terraine and as I stated ^^^ once I alter my terraine, my stats will undoubtedly change also. Riding solo at the moment although I've a few clubs in mind that I'll be getting in touch with after the 11st August so should hopefully make the cycles all the more enjoyable.

These are the stats as I am training to date. My routes will be changing to suit the RoK terraine, no choice with that you know. You'll no doubt notice too the change in my stats I'm sure.

***

I'm pushing myself too much for the first 40km and suffering for the latter. For me to complete my 70km in around the 2hr mark I will have to pace myself better. All that will come with practice and patience over time.

I'm just doing my thing, just enjoying my cycling and the routes I've been taking to date. Familiarity of routes is also helping with my timing no doubt.

kerry4sam

kerry4sam

Knowing I won't get out cycling tomorrow I pushed myself today and travelled further. Just pushing and pushing myself taking a few water breaks, more on return admittedly.

I done 59.78km in 2hr5min in one cycle this evening. Up to now, I would do 38-40km and stop for work or other commitments and then again cycle in the difference to 70km.

Today though I just kept going and that's what I finished with. I won't forget the feeling of reaching my destination before turning and knowing I would have to return back and then thinking 'right! who will I phone if I can't actually do this' but it was okay! I took more smaller stops taking in fluids and the beautiful scenery and before I knew it, I was back on the home-stretch.

70km in 2hr by end next week, based on my cycle today does seem do-able to me & I will persevere. Early Sunday morning again is the plan as of now for kerry4sam's next venture. I think I'll be in need of a good long cycle in the wee hours of Sunday morning

Beasty

kerry4sam, what other sports have you been doing and at what level? You are clearly physically very fit, but it usually takes time to translate general fitness into "cycling fitness" given the different muscles typically used. One sport that does seem to translate very readily is rowing for example. Also if you've been spending a lot of time on gym bikes that could help explain how you've taken to road cycling so well.

Whatever the reasons, keep it up, but as I've alluded to before watch out for overdoing it. You seem to have fantastic potential within this sport and if over time you can work out a training plan (no rush at present, but maybe start thinking about what you may be able to do over the winter) you should be able to go a long way. The critical thing in many ways is to keep enjoying what you are doing. That certainly helps reduce the risks of overtraining.

Lusk Doyle

What device do you use to record your rides?

kerry4sam

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

What device do you use to record your rides?

It's a wireless odometer/speedometer with something like 8settings on there. I didn't fit it but a local bike mechanic purchased and fitted it for me once I told him what it was I was looking

Lusk Doyle

kerry4sam wrote: »

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

What device do you use to record your rides?

It's a wireless odometer/speedometer with something like 8settings on there. I didn't fit it but a local bike mechanic purchased and fitted it for me once I told him what it was I was looking

Ok. What are your route profiles like? What were the wind conditions like? I'm trying to understand how you went from approx 27kph average to 29kph average and then leapt to 37kph average in the blink of an eye. Like Lumen said previously, I just don't buy it.

I don't mean to be offensive to you but it just sounds too good to he true. I consider myself to be a fairly strong club rider but I cant manage that average on my own and I'm up at the business end of our league.

I'd love to know what you are doing that I'm not!

Beasty

I suspect there may be a calibration issue, as I alluded to earlier. If a mechanic set up the computer he may not have adjusted the wheel circumference properly. If, for example, the wheels are 650c (typical for ladies bikes) and the computer is set for 700c (typical for mens bikes), the speed would be overstated by perhaps 8% or so. If the tyre size is not properly factored in this could give rise to further discrepancies. Even with such adjustments though kerry4sam would still be recording some very impressive speeds

CH3OH

Kerryforsam.
I hope you won't mind me making a suggestion.

I put the route I travel in googlemaps and use get directions from A to B to give me a distance.
I find it tallies exactly with the distance my cycle computer registers for my cycle.. Anyway just a suggestion

kerry4sam

kerry4sam

I've done smaller cycles in the interim but nothing to be writing up about:
Firstly: To you guys in the blue hi-ace van that followed me around on Monday night at 11:30pm I've your reg noted and now I've seen who you are, just need to get a name from a guard for who that hi-ace is registered to if it happens again! It pissed me off :mad:

Today I done my same route as day#9 but with fewer stops meant I returned sooner so made up the extra km's with random routes. I done 64.58km in 2hr 5mins so my 70km route on 11th August is in the bag for me now

I've gained a lot more respect for cyclists since I purchased my lickle dawes so I am. From reading your threads around boards and what you encounter whilst cycling is only hitting home with me now and especially how close some of those drivers actually are to you when passing out :eek:

Nothing major to note today only one seriously delira kerry4sam with my 64.58km in 2hr5mins

kerry4sam

Caroline_ie

kerry4sam wrote: »

I've gained a lot more respect for cyclists since I purchased my lickle dawes so I am.

I hope you get the time to reply to the nods at this speed What size bike to you ride? Is it that ickle?

kerry4sam

Just checking in to keep my log going:

Training is still going well and I'm just a week from my first cycling event :eek: Jeez don't know where the time has gone!

Delighted that I purchased my first racer; delighted that my training is going better than expected by me; delighted to have this release from everything else going on.

The wording below is pretty apt for me

Lusk Doyle

No distances or speeds of note to report?

RossieMan

i hope this thread is wrong, or i'm getting severely beaten by a girl.

DirkVoodoo

When do we get to see some pics of the "lickle Dawes" against the backdrops of Kerry? It's kinda mandatory round these parts to put up photos of your steed!

smacl

RossieMan wrote: »

i hope this thread is wrong, or i'm getting severely beaten by a girl.

Sounds fun, though should probably be in after hours

kerry4sam

Delira & Excira so I am & having smiled for the majority of the cycle, delighted with the training I had put in to get to this, my 1st Charity Cycling Event!

Thanks to the organisers of the Ring of North Kerry Cycle. When I mark the Ring of South Kerry off my bucket-list I will remember this day where for me, I truly felt I could achieve my goal!

Three days ago I found a route with hills & climbs that I repeated and repeated after reading about the two tough climbs for today. Today, they were grand!

I am proud of myself for taking this challenge on and seeing it through. I don’t make commitments to anyone, including myself that I don’t keep and thankfully that still stands true. Well chuffed!

I know the Ring of South Kerry is within my reach now and will be looking into clubs from here to learn from them, who would have members that would have that complete and then some!

Arrived very early after a 3hr nap last-night and set off early. Having prepped myself for the 70km route, that is what I done today. Well my odometer/speedometer came in at under 67km which I completed in 2hr 10mins. I was slightly annoyed with myself for not taking on the 120km because I had it in me, which I didn’t realise until I had finished my 67km as I felt I could just go again

Attached below, not a great picture but it was what I faced into as I headed toward Listowel / Finuge this morning – A Glorious Sunrise!

kerry4sam

kerry4sam

Just registered there for the Sean Kelly tour in Waterford 100km It is in me and it's the next challenge that I need to get me closer to the goal!

Accommodation on Saturday night also secured so no excuses now. Once I can complete this, I'm truly not that far off my initial goal, so this is the step-up that I need!

Thanks again to the organisers of the Ring of North Kerry Cycle and to flying11 for informing me of todays event

flying11

congrats on completing your first event!

heres another cycle you might be interested in, probobly more challenging than the Ring of North Kerry but if you keep training like you are at the moment you will fly up the Connor Pass - http://www.thechaingangsportives.com/