Getting faster

Quoted message said:

I bought a bike on the 4th and I've ridden it every day
since--absolutely love it (road bike). I even went out and invested
$90 in a pair of Specialized shoes so I can clip in although I think
it's going to be a cold day in hell before I spend $50 on a jersey
when I can buy one of those athletic ez-dry shirts (or whatever the
hell they're called) in Modell's for $13.

Anyway, tonight will be my seventh day on the bike. Up until Sunday,
I would do two laps (which I hear is roughly 12 miles) in Central Park
which would take me roughly 40 mins, give or take a few minutes.
Sunday I bumped it up to 3 laps for 18 miles, but now my question is,
other than pedaling harder, how can I get faster? Understandably,
that's something of a rudimentary question, but do I ride longer or
harder?

Yes. <eg>

Quoted message said:

I'm thinking I might possibly be interested in racing at some
point in the coming months, although considering I just quit smoking
about 4 days ago, that's probably a long way in the making.

Good for you! (If you can go 4 days totally smoke-free, you're over the
hump. Just don't give in to any momentary impulses.)

Quoted message said:

Should I get my hands on a riding computer for my bars? Maybe I
should simply get a sports watch and time my laps, improving lap
speed every day.

Cyclometer is a bit better, as it shows your speed and distance (along with
other stuff), but a sports watch would work to time your laps, too.
(Eventually you'll be riding all over creation, however, not just doing
laps.)

Quoted message said:

Any overall thoughts?

Ride that sucker for all its worth. Have fun.

Bill S.

Quoted message said:

I bought a bike on the 4th and I've ridden it every day
since--absolutely love it (road bike). I even went out and invested
$90 in a pair of Specialized shoes so I can clip in although I think
it's going to be a cold day in hell before I spend $50 on a jersey when
I can buy one of those athletic ez-dry shirts (or whatever the hell
they're called) in Modell's for $13.

Anyway, tonight will be my seventh day on the bike. Up until Sunday, I
would do two laps (which I hear is roughly 12 miles) in Central Park
which would take me roughly 40 mins, give or take a few minutes.
Sunday I bumped it up to 3 laps for 18 miles, but now my question is,
other than pedaling harder, how can I get faster? Understandably,
that's something of a rudimentary question, but do I ride longer or
harder? I'm thinking I might possibly be interested in racing at some
point in the coming months, although considering I just quit smoking
about 4 days ago, that's probably a long way in the making.

Should I get my hands on a riding computer for my bars? Maybe I should
simply get a sports watch and time my laps, improving lap speed every
day.

Any overall thoughts?

Make sure to keep it fun. If a cyclecomputer and the info it provides
would make your riding more enjoyable, go for it. Otherwise just do the
"ride lots" and you will keep getting better for a while. Once you
reach a sort of plateau in your performance, then you can start
thinking about a more scientific approach. Right now ride how you feel.
If you feel like riding hard, ride hard, if you feel like riding long,
ride long. Think about pedalling faster, not harder. Use your gears and
watch others who appear to know what they are doing. Think slo-mo, not
frenetic. Keep it smooth.

Have fun!

Joseph

That sounds like good advice. If you boys are ever in Central Park,
don't hesitate to say hello to the dude on the blue Giant OCR2 out
there sucking wind.

Steve

PS--On Saturday, the park was quite crowded, although it wasn't until
halfway through my first lap when someone passed me. Being my usual
sarcastic self, I glanced over at the guy and said, "Come on, dude, I
was hoping no one would pass me today."