I have seen the light!!!

ranalli said:

1) What times are you guys biking now with daylight savings time?? This really sucks....I used to be able to go out for at least two hours after work. Now I'm considering waking up at dawn to get my hour of riding in.

I have just switched to morning rides. I own my own software company... so I get some freedom regarding when I begin work in the AM. I will be riding 3 days a week at around 6:45AM

ranalli said:

2) This is different than running....my lungs aren't as tired but my legs take a beating. Feels more like I've gone weightlifting. I can't seem to bike more than 3 days in a row of the same hour-long fast paced ride. How many miles do you guys do a week or what are your intensities/durations?

If you are really going to get into road cycling then you will find that you do a variety of rides during the week. Each type of ride either builds strength, stamina, fast twitch muscle fiber, or is used for recovery (in the most general sense). You can't ride at very high intensity too many days in a row without either being properly trained or having a rest/recovery day. I have a 5 day week in the off-season (when not racing). I usually do between 200 and 350 miles per week depending on the point in the off-season... I live in FL, so I can ride all year long.

ranalli said:

3) How much harder am I making things for myself on the road with a mountain bike as opposed to a road bike? I don't see too many other bikers but when I do I usually take them on the hills(not that I'm competing or anything).....but then get raped on flat ground and downhills. Should I go light on the hills then save energy for flatter terrain or is my bike really my downfall??

If what you want to do is get into road cycling, then you are are definitely on the wrong equipment. The road bike makes a huge difference in many areas, a few key ones: weight, ride position, gearing, tire width, etc. I know some very fast roadies who ride their MTBs on the road during the week... just because it makes them that much stronger.

ranalli said:

5) What's the deal with clipless pedals?? I just bike in sneakers on the pedals that came with the bike....they're just regular flat pedals I guess...am I missing something??

Yup... you are missing something. An efficient pedal stroke is not simply putting downward force on the pedal as it goes around. The stroke should be something like this

downward force on the downstroke
pulling back (like wiping mud off your shoes) at the bottom
pulling hard on the upstroke
pushing forward (like trying to jam your knee into your handlebars at the top)

Much more efficient... much more powerful!

It might be worth your while to try to find someone about your size with a road bike you can borrow for a day. This is how I got started (and hooked). I borrowed my brothers bike and totally fell in love with the sport.

-Geoff

ranalli said:

Hello everyone!! I'm a newbie both here and on a bike in general. I got into serious biking this past June after deciding to give up running due to unresolvable pains in my shins.

This hobby/sport has made me feel whole again and is honestly the best hour or so of my day when I go out. I currently live in Newark, DE and I bought a mountain bike(Trek 6500) thinking I would be all hardcore and go offroading as there are some really good trails around here apparently.

But, I'm finding that I enjoy doing my road routes much more as I just lock out the suspension and then I can measure my pace and progress from day to day. I went from being exhausted the first day to now being able to bike 15-25 miles no problem and at a good pace with some major hills on that route as well. There's some great bike-laned roads around here too that make riding a pleasure for the most part. I'm going to try and bike through the winter and plan some kind of biking trip next spring/summer.

I could probably break this stuff out into many other threads but I'll just start here:

1) What times are you guys biking now with daylight savings time?? This really sucks....I used to be able to go out for at least two hours after work. Now I'm considering waking up at dawn to get my hour of riding in.

It's dark here now by the time I finish work, so a longer ride in the mornings is one way to compensate. A decent set of lights is the other. Get some LED flashers for the well-lit lanes, and a good set for when you need to see where you're going.

ranalli said:

2) This is different than running....my lungs aren't as tired but my legs take a beating. Feels more like I've gone weightlifting. I can't seem to bike more than 3 days in a row of the same hour-long fast paced ride. How many miles do you guys do a week or what are your intensities/durations?

Geoff's got this one pegged.

ranalli said:

3) How much harder am I making things for myself on the road with a mountain bike as opposed to a road bike? I don't see too many other bikers but when I do I usually take them on the hills(not that I'm competing or anything).....but then get raped on flat ground and downhills. Should I go light on the hills then save energy for flatter terrain or is my bike really my downfall??

Thought about getting some slicks? For $30 you'll have yourself a 'hardcore' road bike. You could even put some drop bars on it. 🙂

ranalli said:

4) Anyone know any bike-clubs or something of the like in the area?? Or even greater Philly area?? I don't know if I'm good enough yet but it would be nice to bike with some other people for longer trips or maybe even a travel type trip. Do I need a road bike to do that??

Erm, no.

ranalli said:

5) What's the deal with clipless pedals?? I just bike in sneakers on the pedals that came with the bike....they're just regular flat pedals I guess...am I missing something??

Clipless. Let's just say they're the interface between man and machine: they turn your bike into an extension of yourself (or is it the other way round?) Whatever, get some. You'll never go back.

ranalli said:

This has been one of the best summers I've had in a while cause I spent as much time outside riding as my legs would allow for....it really gave me a sense of accomplishment, freedom, and peace.

Next summer get off road. The freedom is 4.26 times more real, and the peace is proper too.

ranalli said:

Sorry for the essay and thanks in advance for any advice.

No problem. Keep on riding. 😄

[quote]
1) What times are you guys biking now with daylight savings time?? This really sucks....I used to be able to go out for at least two hours after work. Now I'm considering waking up at dawn to get my hour of riding in.[quote]

Not as often but I manage to commute 3 times a week, plus get all possible miles on the weekend too.

Quoted post said:

2) This is different than running....my lungs aren't as tired but my legs take a beating. Feels more like I've gone weightlifting. I can't seem to bike more than 3 days in a row of the same hour-long fast paced ride. How many miles do you guys do a week or what are your intensities/durations?

Quoted post said:

3) How much harder am I making things for myself on the road with a mountain bike as opposed to a road bike? I don't see too many other bikers but when I do I usually take them on the hills(not that I'm competing or anything).....but then get raped on flat ground and downhills. Should I go light on the hills then save energy for flatter terrain or is my bike really my downfall??

Quoted post said:

4) Anyone know any bike-clubs or something of the like in the area?? Or even greater Philly area?? I don't know if I'm good enough yet but it would be nice to bike with some other people for longer trips or maybe even a travel type trip. Do I need a road bike to do that??

Quoted post said:

5) What's the deal with clipless pedals?? I just bike in sneakers on the pedals that came with the bike....they're just regular flat pedals I guess...am I missing something??

Quoted post said:

This has been one of the best summers I've had in a while cause I spent as much time outside riding as my legs would allow for....it really gave me a sense of accomplishment, freedom, and peace.

ranalli said:

1) What times are you guys biking now with daylight savings time?? This really sucks....I used to be able to go out for at least two hours after work. Now I'm considering waking up at dawn to get my hour of riding in.

2) This is different than running....my lungs aren't as tired but my legs take a beating. Feels more like I've gone weightlifting. I can't seem to bike more than 3 days in a row of the same hour-long fast paced ride. How many miles do you guys do a week or what are your intensities/durations?

3) How much harder am I making things for myself on the road with a mountain bike as opposed to a road bike? I don't see too many other bikers but when I do I usually take them on the hills(not that I'm competing or anything).....but then get raped on flat ground and downhills. Should I go light on the hills then save energy for flatter terrain or is my bike really my downfall??

4) Anyone know any bike-clubs or something of the like in the area?? Or even greater Philly area?? I don't know if I'm good enough yet but it would be nice to bike with some other people for longer trips or maybe even a travel type trip. Do I need a road bike to do that??

5) What's the deal with clipless pedals?? I just bike in sneakers on the pedals that came with the bike....they're just regular flat pedals I guess...am I missing something??

1) i dont live in the states i live in australia. but the morning is the best part of the day

2)cycling gives you more of a chance to take a breather in your workout, ie on the down hill you can just stop pedalling, you cant do this when running, also cycling uses differnt muscles in different ways and it places a different stress on your aerobic system, try sprinting up a hill if you want your lungs to burn.
i do about 300Km/week on the bike. Two long rides 100k and 2 shorter rides with interval training thrown in for fun or a set of hill repeats depending on how i feel, you should not ride more than 3 days in a row at high intensity because you dont give your musscles time to recover from previous workouts, doing this increses your risk of injury.

3)a bad tradesmen blames his tools, bikes are will powered machines, That said roadies are much lighter so less weight to pull up a hill, and less friction to overcome because of the difference in tire width (2in vs. 0.5in), as for energy saving, see how you feel, your are at a disadvanteage on the flat but dont let that discourage you.

4)go to your local bike shop, they can usually tell you information about clubs or try searching the net, join your local cycling club there is usually a range of grades for people of all abilities. As for needing a road bike generally you will need one but i did my first few triathlons on a mountain bike. roadies can be cheap, you can get a beater for about $200

5)clip in pedals are more efficient in converting energy from pedaling into dirving the wheel, your sneakers will flex on the pedal meaning you loose a bit of energy, road shoes are generally made from carbon which does not flex hence more energy and speed per pedal stroke. but as a warning get used to you bike and the process of cliping in and clipping out before taking them on the road, it makes for awesome stacks at traffic lights and round-a-bouts etc when you forget your feet are connected to the pedals!! they are expensive and not nessisary until you get a bit serious.

get a road bike if you feel it nessisary, they go much faster thean mountain bikes, which is cool and let us know what you decide

I use my MTB with slick tires for commuting to work. I bought some combo pedals, They are platform with some SPD clips in them. It is handy for me when I am in heavy trafic and stopping at stop lights, as I am not the fastest person at clipping in, so the platform is always there if I need to jump on the pedals quickly.

Well yeah, running on pavement will do that to you. Its good to alternate running and biking. Sounds like there's no going back though.

Riding is certainly an effective way to train besides running. I was previously a runner but then started cycling when I moved to a city. It is at the same time a way to commute and exercise.

Hey! I totally agree, cycling is a fantastic way to train and stay in shape. It's awesome that you made the switch from running to cycling. If you're looking to build stamina and strength, I'd recommend adding some interval training to your rides. Push yourself with bursts of intense effort followed by recovery periods. This will really help improve your endurance and power on the bike. Keep up the great work! ‍♂️

Stick to the roads, newbie! Mountain bikes on road routes are like wearing hiking boots to a black-tie event – sure, you can do it, but it's not exactly the right tool for the job. Embrace your new love for road cycling and invest in a road bike if you're really enjoying those routes. And remember, it's not about the bike, it's about the rider. Keep at it, and soon you'll be leaving those spandex-clad MAMILs in your dust. 😉

As for off-roading, don't completely write it off. It's a whole different ball game and can be a great way to mix things up. Just make sure you're prepared with the right gear and skills. Safety first, even if you're just playing in the dirt!

Welcome to the world of cycling! For road racing, consider upgrading to a road bike for better speed and efficiency. Focus on building your endurance through progressive training. Try interval workouts and long, steady rides. Remember, strategy is key in races - study courses, plan your pacing, and stay alert in pelotons. Happy racing! 🙂

When it comes to road racing, upgrading to a road bike can definitely give you that extra speed and efficiency you're looking for. Building endurance is crucial, so incorporating interval workouts and long rides into your training routine is a great idea. And don't forget the importance of strategy - studying race courses, planning pacing, and staying alert in pelotons can make all the difference. Wishing you success and happy racing!

Upgrading to a road bike can definitely give you a speed and efficiency boost in road racing! Interval workouts and long rides are key to building endurance, but don't overlook the importance of strategy. Analyzing race courses, planning pacing, and staying alert in pelotons can really make a difference. Don't forget to fuel up properly too! ‍♀️ Success and happy racing to you! Just keep those wheels spinning and find your groove on the road! #RideOn

Absolutely! Upgrading to a road bike can really make a difference in road racing. Interval workouts and long rides build endurance, but strategy is key. Analyzing race courses, planning pacing, and staying alert in pelotons are crucial. Don't forget fueling up properly too! It's all about finding your groove on the road. Happy racing and remember to #RideOn! ‍♀️