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Road Cycling: Riding 13 Miles a Day.

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorFree MemberSpiran
    • CommentTimeAug 22nd 2008
     
    Spiran

    This is my first post on this site, hi guys. I'm 15 years old and I love road biking. My dream is to participate in the Tour De France, yeah you cant stop laughing now. I know its a bit unrealistic but I am trying as hard as I can.

     I ride 13 miles a day,what can I expect to see happen to my body over the next month, 6 months, year?

    Should I cycle further daily? I wish I could but school and other commitments limit my time in the saddle.

    I live on the east coast of scotland and I have been wondering if some sort of cycle race actually exists so I can get on the scene and see how I'm doing but I'm not aware of any events I can get to. Does anyone have any tips on how to get noticed? 

    I have many questions as I'm sure you can imagine, I'm rather immature to the big bad world of road cycling. Basically I get on my bike and ride till my time is up, then do the same thing the next day.

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberThebeez
    • CommentTimeAug 22nd 2008
     
    Thebeez
    There are several training programs avaliable on the internet.  I would concentrate on longer rides on the weekends.  Durning the week with limited time you could do sprint intervals and hill work.  It would also be good to find a group to ride with during some of your longer rides.  Riding with a group is different than riding alone, pace lines, etc...At some point when you think you are ready you will need to start compeating in races.
    • CommentAuthorFree MemberAliRickey
    • CommentTimeAug 22nd 2008
     
    AliRickey

    Hey Spiran, Im pretty new to cycling too. At the moment I'm cycling to work and back every day, which is 13 miles and 13 miles back and a bit hilly in places. Ive been doing it for just over a month now, and i can really feel the difference already. At first getting there would take me an hour and 10 minutes, and the other day i managed it in 45, and i feel less tired afterwards. And ive decided to this route from september 10th - 25th http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/spain/-spain.../707948742789 solo. I think with the riding ive been doing I should be fine...

    Yeh, so since I have no experience I cant advise you much, but im doing quite a similar thing to you.

  4.  
    Ascentionist

    If you keep riding the same distance you'll improve to a point where you are riding it most efficiently and then you'll plateau. What you will most likely find is that you will be able to gradually increase distance for the same time duration.

    To get more distance and/or riding time try to ride to get to destinations and for transportation instead of an automobile if possible. I know at 15 that might not be as feasible as for an adult, but look at every place you travel to and from and think how you might be able to incorporate riding into it.

    AND PLEASE! If you dream of riding in the Tour de France go for it. I wish I had had as lofty a goal as a fifteen year old. I'm 35 now and it is far too late for me to begin thinking about racing on an international level, but I think if I had worked toward that goal half my lifetime ago I could have had a good shot.

    • CommentAuthorHero!!raw19
    • CommentTimeSep 19th 2008
     
    raw19

    Look for a club to start riding with: http://www.scuonline.org/clubs.asp?OptLO=&OptLR=-1&OptRR=-1&OptTR=&OptTT=&OptXC=&OptDH=&OptCC=&OptBX=&OptCS=&District=&Submit=&URLupdated=Y

    If it leads to racing, do that.

    If it leads to winning, off you go!

    Miles will have to go up for sure, but 15 isn't to late to start putting in the work.

  6.  
    Pomme de Terre
    It seems to me like you have a pretty good training routine, I for the most part do about the same. I ride about 15 miles every other day before I have to go to class and then on the weekends I try to go on long endurance rides.
  7.  
    James92371
    If you only have one hour or so a day to ride in the weekdays....don't ride slow.  Ride as fast as you can for that one hour every day.  Look at your cadence and try to up it from the 80-85 you are riding now to 90-120.  Since time limits you on the weekdays you can only increase the intensity.  Look for as many hills as you can hit and make sure you balance that in.  Here's a rough guide on what you should do.  Monday...recovery day, shortest easiest ride for your hour.  Tuesday...Sprints...5-6 times for your hour.  Wed 75-90% effort rides.  Thurs...hill repeats for as long as you have (the hill should be at least a mile long).  Fri...75-90% effort ride.  Sat and Sunday...long rides 3-5 hours.  Don't forget to eat proteins within a half hour of a hard ride otherwise your workout won't build up your muscles as efficiently.  As for getting noticed...win races in your local area, people will notice you.  Work hard and good luck. 
  8.  
    johnschubert
    By all means, start riding with others. If you train with a racing team, be prepared for a jolt -- those guys, on their hard days, will ride a lot faster than any of us does riding alone. Many of us haven't been able to keep up with team training rides at first. Don't let it discourage you. Stay at it, learn the level of mental concentration required, and you'll find yourself able to sit in with the group. Also, I have a slight (and, I hope, friendly) disagreement with James above -- James has what would be a great training schedule if it had more rest days in it. You need more than one easy day per week -- at your age, usually two easy days; possibly three. (It will vary from week to week.) Racers ride a lot of easy miles. Easy days are a great time to work on your spin -- I used to use a low gear and try to keep my spin above 120 rpm when riding with beginners and touring riders. Also, you'll see, racers often ride in groups on their easy days to practice tight paceline formation and discipline, but at a lower effort level.

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