Every time out on the bike I’ve gotten into the habit of
taking inventory. As in, how do I feel today? A lot of energy? Low energy?
Tired legs? Strong legs?
It doesn't take too long to figure it out, a few miles or so
for me. But taking note of what you have in the tank on any given day can frame
how you think about the ride. I compete against my own time all the time just
to check my relative fitness level. That means I usually try to ride at the
fastest speed possible most of the time. But of course, some days, there’s just
not the energy to ride at a strong clip for miles on end. And on those days, I
just tell myself, Hey you’re getting your pedals in and that’s a good thing. If
you don’t have it today, just work on having good form while you pedal and think
of it as laying a fitness foundation. That way the ride feels productive, even
if it’s a bit on the slow side. And when you get out on the bike and feel
stronger, most likely the next time out, that foundation work will help
maximize your improved speed. So however you feel on the bike, as long as
you’re pedaling, just remember it’s adding to your overall fitness. So if it’s
slow going, no worries, just keep going. Think of it as a productive workout,
because it is.
Improved times feel
good
Another way to look at a sluggish ride with a slow time is
that next time out, you have a good chance of a better ride with a faster time.
And when you do improve from previous rides, be it faster splits or faster
overall time, there’s a feeling of getting somewhere, doing better than before
and yes, some satisfaction.
Looking for sparks of
energy
Sometimes I can break free of the low energy/sluggish ride
with new energy sparked by some form of motivation. For me, motivation and the
renewed energy it provides, comes in a few different forms. Once a long time
ago I would run half marathons and marathons. One time on this half marathon I
ran behind a woman with a fine derriere. It made me run faster than I would
have normally, because this woman was a faster runner than me, for sure. So I
just wanted to stay close enough to her to enjoy the great view. She eventually
pulled away because I couldn’t hang with her pace, and I never saw her again.
But because I like the view she provided, I found more energy to run faster. At
least for awhile! I don’t remember if I finished with one of my better overall
times or not.
Other motivators/energy sources on the bike for me also
include inspiring music I hear on my earphones, and riders that pass me.
I have the recording of beautiful piano music that my
brother- in-law recorded in an album last year, and one time, I was just riding
along, not moving very crisply, when one of his compositions came on my iPod.
It is powerful, dreamlike, emotional music, and it really gave me a surge of
energy. Once the song ended, though, I’m pretty sure my energy ebbed too!
And if a rider passes me, I usually try to muster any
reserve energy I have to try to catch his or her wheel. Sometimes I can do it,
and sometimes I can’t. But when I can, I draft the rider until I’m fairly well
rested, then try a pass. Sometimes I can pass and stay ahead, and sometimes riders
pass me back. That sometimes leads to a back and forth that is fueled by each
riders’ motivation to see if they’re fit enough to keep the lead.
Most of the time, my low energy/slow rides are because I’m
riding by myself the whole ride, with no other riders passing, nobody to draft
behind, or to trade leads with. Or, there will be a lot of headwinds to contend
with. Or it will be cold and the air moist and heavy, a drag on speed. Or I’ll
just be plain tired and my legs feel too dead to get a good clip going.
So with all the slowdown factors in play, the only defense
is keeping an eye or ear open for anything that will provide a spark of energy.
If you happen into a motivator, you can break out of your doldrums. At least for a
while!
Tires built for sand
I met a rider on a bike with four-inch wide tires this week,
and I asked him about it. The thing doesn’t have any suspension on it, he said,
so it’s not so great on rough terrain. But on sand, he said, it pretty much
floats you right through it. Another rider I know just bought a similar
fat-tire bike. He was going to ride the many acres of exposed sand at drought
stricken Folsom Lake. Fat tires or not, riding through sand still sounds to me
like it could be a pretty tough workout. Maybe worth trying sometime. All
riding in sand has done for me – on a mountain bike or a road bike – is make me
crash! Something about the tires being kinda narrow?
Spin class? Nah
A cycling buddy goes to a spin class for fitness if it’s
raining and not good for a ride. He’s a beast on the flats and now he’s ramping
up his training. May be hard to keep up with him. But so far, I’m passing on
the spin classes. I’d rather ride when possible. If it rains I can always clean
the bike. Or go buy some energy gel.
Java jolt keeps it
going
Caffeine, while not in the same category as EPO or speed,
really helps pick me up on the second 25 miles of my routine ride. I really
didn’t know how much until I did a ride and forgot to put my energy gel in my
jersey. This gel has 100 milligrams of caffeine in it, which I routinely eat at
the halfway point of the ride. Without it that day, I really slowed down for
the last 16 miles of the ride. I felt more tired than usual and like I had
little or no gas in the tank. Thank you, caffeine!
Til next time, remember to pull on a helmet every time you
get on the bike. Then, keep the rubber side down, ride safely and don’t forget:
Have a blast.
-- Mark Eric Larson
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