New Cyclist Traiing Sensations

Bruce Diesel said:

My borther-in-law has just started cycling in his late forties. The last time he was fit was in his late teens when he was in the army.

Anyway, his feedback about how he is feeling is that he struggles to get enough oxygen. He says he never feels that lactic acid burn in his legs.

Could his cardio-vascular system be so weak that this is the case?

If he has been sedentary for many years, it would be wise to seek professional medical advice before undertaking any strenuous exercise. I'd advise taking it real easy at first.

He has annual medical checkups (Mayo Clinic) that do ECG's etc, he is not in terrible shape and he has done about 3 months of regular light riding (1 hour sessions at 75% max HR) 4 to 5 times a week.

He has started riding more on the road now, but it's just weird that he says even riding on hills that his legs don't hurt at all, nothing.

be wise and be smart.

Bruce Diesel said:

He has annual medical checkups (Mayo Clinic) that do ECG's etc, he is not in terrible shape and he has done about 3 months of regular light riding (1 hour sessions at 75% max HR) 4 to 5 times a week.

He has started riding more on the road now, but it's just weird that he says even riding on hills that his legs don't hurt at all, nothing.

Bruce Diesel said:

He has started riding more on the road now, but it's just weird that he says even riding on hills that his legs don't hurt at all, nothing.

My father describes the same sensation -- trouble catching his breath, but no leg pain, especially on hills. He's 58 and started road cycling about a year ago.

My advice to him was to use an easier gear and *slow down* on the hills, but he's rather hard headed (thankfully none of that rubbed off on me 😉 ) and claimed that that made matters worse. Instead, he took a tip from the TdF coverage and began standing and pushing the big gear up the hill instead of downshifting. He says that works much better. 🙄

Bruce - I was a fitness instructor in hotel health clubs for a good few years and as such came across many deconditioned clients. Many of them reported this shortness of breath initially.

It is not unusual for them to be unable to cope with the CV demands of this sort of exercise. His "light" riding is probably very light and invloves very little CV strain. When he has to up the pace or climb a hill he will feel it all in CV load - as you know, most guys have the leg strength to turn the pedals but not the CV ability to do it fast/hard or for too long.

Keep an eye on it and it should change pretty quickly as he gradually increases intensity.

I know 2 guys who get winded so easy on the bike, i wonder if they may be suffering from under lying cardio disease. it's like they get out of breath before the lactic acid sets in. old women and kids pass them by. one of them been riding 2 years.