Endurance??

The Kalmyk said:
All true. I will add to this. If you're going to be regimented I would suggest a coach or some form of comradery. Someone that can help keep the course.
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I second this. Ive only done 1 century but couldnt have done it alone. Even if it was just a couple of rides, riding with @JimN and @liong71er made me a much stronger rider than I would ever be if doing it alone. It makes you into a believer that it can be done.
 
stb222 said:
The problem with starting off with intervals is that you have no or limited base to build on, hence the just ride mentality.

Spence knows his stuff but a coach is the last thing you need, unless you have been riding for a few years and have hit a wall. While the work out advice in Bicycling mag may be below the seasoned trained person, it will work just find for a newb who wants to improve fitness. Unless you want to support someone in the industry, which is fine to do. That money will probably be better spent on winter clothing because you should be riding all winter.
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I agree with all this but you know some people can make the mistake and jump too far. That's what provoked me to suggest that. Just riding as often as possible will build your average Ted up.

The music over the interweb is interval interval interval. They have their place but imo nothing beats a well built aerobic base.
 
C8N said:
I second this. Ive only done 1 century but couldnt have done it alone. Even if it was just a couple of rides, riding with @JimN and @liong71er made me a much stronger rider than I would ever be if doing it alone. It makes you into a believer that it can be done.
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The guys that do it alone day in and day out, Well their mental game is on point. For serious.

The original poster stated he was fried at 35. Where as I would say," I'm toast at 35 but never really wanted to do more than that!" I can't say it enough how important the development of good thinking is. I'm still and always will work on it.
 
I hate the idea of having to work to improve as the main focus of cycling. Cycling has to be fun, if I improve as a effect of me riding consistently than that's even better. Everything in my head becomes a game, so that's how I sneak in my rides where I push harder. Also find people to ride with who are conditioned better and willing to wait just a tiny bit . I find the group mentality always makes me push harder on rides when you don't want to get dropped.
 
C8N said:
Even if it was just a couple of rides, riding with @JimN and @liong71er made me a much stronger rider than I would ever be if doing it alone.
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Haha, saying that riding with me and @liong71er made you a better rider is like saying that playing football with a third grader and Peyton Manning made you a better football player, but glad I could help 😛

We should ride High Mountain again sometime soon.
 
Well, I'm certainly not going to top any of the advice given so far. This community really is a wealth of information.

The point id like to expand a bit on is the accountability issue. Logging your rides, indoor or actual rides, is a valuable tool. Strava (I know, stop laughing. I know how silly I sound) has the ability to establish "goals". Goals, tangible, quantifiable weekly goals that are right there when you open the app.

Seeng your progress, or lack there of, can really get you out there when the little devil on your shoulder tells you to "ah, skip it".

Good luck!

Dan
 
i know its running but i just heard a piece on radiolab about how people work harder when being observed or in groups:

http://running.competitor.com/2014/05/training/why-you-shouldn’t-“run-your-own-race”_24463

strava will keep you on point. when i was looking to do a century last year, strava pushed me to either ride faster or get more often than not. seeing an open day on the strava calendar reminded me every day i didn't ride that i needed to get out. set a goal - like a century, or the HoH. ride up to it, then ride it. and if you want to do more than that, set the next goal. its easier to have goals when starting out. being accountable to someone other than yourself helps.
 
You guys are great. Responses like these is why I made the post and didn't just google it. I respect all Awnsers given. What I've taken so far from you guys is I'm guilty of not pushing my limits, I hit the wall and then say good enough. It's time for me to exceed my normal good enough point. I'm guilty of being a cycling loaner always riding solo, I should finally get with others who will push me/embarrass me. Someone asked where I ride. Due to the normal life excuses, daylight savings and a certain work schedule I ride during the week on rollers, outside on weekends until it's a 8pm sunset again. I'm in love for what rollers did for my riding but that's another topic. I guess I'll start longer rides on the weekends but during the week what would you do. You have an hour a day tops..how or what would you do in that hour to build endurance? Do stronger legs build endurance? Do more rapid heartbeat do it? What would you do in that hour? GUYS THANKYOU!! You guys have been great taking time to teach me and others and not beating me up. I appraciate all the responses I've been given so far! Local experts I tell ya.
 
lets do this. do 3 weeks of riding an hour a day. do whatever your body is telling you, if you are tired, ride easy, like really easy. like 12mph on the road easy. if you are feeling good, ride hard. you can do whatever you want on the weekends as long as you are riding. longer rides obviously would be better since you have more time, maybe its in the daylight, etc, but not needed for this experiment.

just get out everyday. then report back and we give you your next instructions. godspeed.
 
JimN said:
We should ride High Mountain again sometime soon.
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Has it 6 months already? Lol
But absolutely we should ride and I think @jumpa was curious about HM. Maybe we can set something up?

And youre being modest. Remember... I stalk you in strava and I know you rack up the elevation like nobodys bz.
 
pearl said:
lets do this. do 3 weeks of riding an hour a day. do whatever your body is telling you, if you are tired, ride easy, like really easy. like 12mph on the road easy. if you are feeling good, ride hard. you can do whatever you want on the weekends as long as you are riding. longer rides obviously would be better since you have more time, maybe its in the daylight, etc, but not needed for this experiment.

just get out everyday. then report back and we give you your next instructions. godspeed.
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Subscribed!
 
Sounds like you need lights. Sure, like 1% of people can ride inside and then excel outside and maybe you are that 1% but get outside, always.
 
@pearl hits a point - ride every day for an hour and get back to us in a month. Something along those lines.

In your OP you say you have this:

* an hour before/after work
* unlimited weekends

My math says this is 10 hours available on weekdays and say 6 on weekends. You don't have an issue with hours. Some things:

* if you ride an hour before work, it will be lower intensity just because it's harder to do
* after work is better but you can fall victim to the "man I'm too tired" monster
* try to ride 3 days a week minimum
* mountain bike on Saturday
* longer road ride Sunday

Your Sunday ride should be your "litmus test" so to speak. Add roughly 10% every week to your long ride. 1 hour, 1:05, 1:10, 1:20, etc etc. You can add 5 minutes, or 15. Don't go in this progression: 1-2-3-4-5-6 hours. By week 6 you will be in the "what beer are you drinking" thread.

You have a lot of places to start. In the saddle is the best one.
 
This reminds me of the scene in Blazing Saddles where everyone is agreeing with the previous speaking Johnson

The @stb222 method is solid and I'm not disagreeing with it. However - what is your time frame, when and how quick do you want results? @stb222 method will get you there and it will take time.

You can get there much faster and a more efficient use of your time if you mix in high intensity work outs. Hard intervals and a more calculated / structured plan will enable you to achieve the same goals sooner.

It's really up to you, what do you want to achieve and when. I was in a similar boat and decided I wanted to figure this out quick and enlisted the services of @BiknBen

Good Luck!

EDIT - Always find time to smell the roses. A structured plan is great but it can easily become a burden. it goes back to balance
 
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Guys thanks! I'm going to do, not try but do the pearl/norm Idea. I also will take into consideration all responses and advice, especially STB's. I love the idea of the litmus test norm! And mike, I would consider this a longer goal. My injury had me off the bike for the past 6 weeks, so I considered it an early winter break. My mind set right now is that it's actually February. My goals to get in long distance "for me" greater than 50 in the very early part of 2016. Hopefully 70ish by April. But most important as others have said I want to keep it fun!
 
You missed my question
Can you commute to work?
If it's over 20 mile commute can you drive to get you to a respectable distance. I can not stress how valuable it can be to be able to pull a double daily if it can be done.
 
guys you forgot to mention,Foods (nutrition) eating right foods and amount of foods is also key to your success.
without it you ain't go nowhere!!
you'll get there as long as you're determine and put a lot discipline into it (sometime factors such as wether and laziness will get in the way)
rides everyday.
be it short or long doesn't matter,ride to commute or errands.
do it indoor or outdoor.
then report back here or you should start your own blog here so,everyone can giving you input.
when you're feeling strong and happy you eventually can ride longer and farther.
that's why try to have fun when you are riding.

good luck!
 
YouRang87 said:
Guys thanks! I'm going to do, not try but do the pearl/norm Idea. I also will take into consideration all responses and advice, especially STB's. I love the idea of the litmus test norm! And mike, I would consider this a longer goal. My injury had me off the bike for the past 6 weeks, so I considered it an early winter break. My mind set right now is that it's actually February. My goals to get in long distance "for me" greater than 50 in the very early part of 2016. Hopefully 70ish by April. But most important as others have said I want to keep it fun!
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You should start a blog on this journey. It will help you stay on task.
 
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