Cyclists - Do These Things Now
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- Опубликовано: 18 окт 2024
- A January / February winter 'To Do' list for cyclists.
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Old war horse biker - age 68, I put high density foam on my handle grips and glue it on with epoxy. It doesn't look cool but I don't see it when riding and my hands love it. Also have padded gloves. Injuries to my hands shorten my ride. I don't need a lot of foam, just about inch by two inch. (13 x 25 mm). Nice vid thx Dave
I have recenty come upon your channel and I've become a big fan. I recently turned 68 years and have struggled with reduction of fitness. I exclusively ride mountain bike and there is a group of us in our 50s and 60s that keep each other going. Thanks for your tips.
I am on board with a lot of your comments. I am 64 and have bought an e bike for my 20km commute at 4am. When I get home at 11am the gravel bike comes out for my Pan Celtic Race training. Using the e bike has taken a lot of the strain out of winter training.
Sounds great Steve. Good luck with the Pan Celtic!
I just bought my first ever rain cape. US has been absolutely WET & snowy most of the winter where I live. Thanks for the tip for sales.
Great stuff as always. I’ve already signed up for 2 events in may and July with another planned in September. Gives me motivation knowing they’re there.
I’ve got to admit it’s round about this point of the year where I really struggle.
The tracks are a slop fest permanently which leads to constant and relentless maintenance. It’s constantly windy as hell, tarmac routes are often like ice rinks and it’s overall just not very appealing out there.
I do turbo train for a while at the start of winter but I become mentally sick of that as I just hate it so much. What feels like a moderate effort out on the bike outdoors feels feels like a real slog indoors on a trainer. I just get a mental block for indoor training.
I also just watch my Strava fitness score which I build up to really healthy levels during summer plummet during winter. What takes months to build, seems to only take weeks to lose.
Then I always have the upcoming Dirty Reiver hanging over my head. I stress over it on the build up and every April I wish I was at summer fitness levels. Roll on spring where I can see some light at the end of the tunnel.
I put my trainer outside on the covered deck & watch movies or watch CTXC Cycling Trainer Videos where you go along with road bikers in Europe. They have timer insets to go hard then back off etc. Basically HITT workout. It’s free too!
Thanks Simon: great motivation for us "Elders", but my garden has 2m of snow here in Hokkaido.
No time for Zwift - I'm off snowboarding. Cheers!
Thanks for putting some hope into my winter! 15 days until Feb 14th! Things are looking up.
Another great video. Thank you. Here in the part of USA I live in Feb 14 is still mtd winter and a heavy snow fall is greatly possible.
I often forget about international views, sorry! Australia viewers are in Fall.
Good advice, Simon, even though I’m not one of your competitive athletes, but even in my 70s and now with an electric bike, I need to be careful about pushing myself too much. As for the training of the year from winter to spring, the big date for me is the 21st of March, which is the spring equinox, and for some such as the members of the Baha’i Faith it is New Year. So, from then onwards, winter is well behind us and all the head, it’s spring and summer.
Thanks for all the tips. I invested in some winter gear, that's helped my motivation. A warmer, water-repellent jacket, I learned about "base" layers (micro-something fake wool undershirt), bought a micro-fiber balaklava -- all these to supplement my pants, gloves and a warm underjersey. I used to run in all weather and then I figured out what to wear for different temps. I find it challenging to put together the right (warm) outfits for cycling. But I'm getting there. I think my limit will be 1 or 2C though -- just can't handle that blast of cold air.
It’s good experimenting. With new winter stuff I often ride with a small light backpack and start overdressed, just in case, then if new kit turns out warmer than expected I have somewhere to store it.
I think most of us who have been riding for years struggle with getting what to wear "spot on" so dont worry. ;-)
@@julianhawker7672 will do. The other thing that differs for me (vs running) is below 7C the nose starts "running" quite a bit. (see first scene of Steinbeck's "Red Pony")
Great post, love this being aimed at, and for us mature cyclists! Thanks buddy!👍
Thanks Tim - hope you've started on the series. tinyurl.com/OlderAthleteVideos Working on another right now.
I love cycling at this time of year with appropriate clothing I just do less camping . That's a very good point about not pushing to hard I also learnt that lesson back in the summer & I'm still recovering .
I always forget and I’m recovering again this winter 😩
Completely agree on the February 14th. If you can, work an hour earlier each day and use the evening daylight for riding
I like it!
Just finished booking up our accommodation for a tour next September in your neck of the woods. Looking forward to it gives us the incentive to get out cycling on those days when we might otherwise hide inside. 🚴♀️😊
I'll make sure the midges are gone by then!
@@alwaysanotheradventure We’ll hold you to that! Those wee beasties are MEAN.
I just spent 2 1/2 hours cleaning my gravel bike in a freezing garage after a ride the other day, and yes brake blocks came out thorough clean, cables all lubed, bearings all checked and grease added, chain and derailleur deep cleaned. Just the price you pay for enjoyment, going out around cheshire on Tuesday can’t wait only 31 miles but with a cafe stop and good company should be a blast. I think you need tough conditions to really appreciate good weather. It teaches you how to really prepare, improves bike handling skills and improves your decision making skills whilst out and about. I like your ideas but is so hard to contain your enthusiasm sometimes, my ride the other day was supposed to be a short 20 miles but sun suddenly popped out and 40 odd miles later I was racing to get back before it went dark. 😅
Love this Stephen - hard to contain enthusiasm! And that’s great esp when it’s distance related. Going too hard (rather than too far) is what breaks me but I fail to learn 😄
Thanks for the upload, much appreciated. However, one thing I struggle with this time of year, (and probably many of your subs), is not bike maintenance or physio appointments, it's not losing fitness. I would love to know how you go about keeping fit when the weather is so miserable and indoor training on Zwift is very unappealing as an alternative.
It’s hard. I focus on shorter rides of 90min when the weather allows, 60min turbo sessions watching RUclips (and following some of the Winter Base sessions in Spoked). I try to prioritise strength too - not big weights but the balancing, hip muscles and core muscles - at least twice a week. And I try to run off road, not to be a runner, but because that adds an additional strength component. Most of this has been on hold for a few weeks with this damn groin strain!
When the weather is just nasty and sitting exposed on the road is too much to face I go feral. I dig out my mountain bike (nowadays an e-MTB) and go thrashing around the forest tracks & trails. You stay warm, you hide out of the worst of the weather, the mud makes it more like playing and you get a good workout. The cabin fever is neutralised, you get an excuse to tinker in the shed, cleaning & sorting your bike. Best of all, motivation to get out regularly is maintained.
If you have the fire-roads and suitable paths then I guess a gravel bike is also an option. I just don’t find gravelling “hooligan” enough compared to what the MTB lets me get up to….my problem.
Sounds great!
I like the bike fit idea although not sure how much it costs. but I did read up on various ideas and watch some you tube experts. Then I used a small portable laser and accurately measure every aspect of my bike set up, then did the same with various clipless shoes I own. It was interesting to see how my nos compared with theoretical norms. I have made a couple of minor tweaks so will see how they go next week. Probably marginal gains but anything that improves comfort or control is good with me and if they don’t work I can easily now reset.
Those B&Q lasers are great for that - esp checking your knee isn’t forward of the pedal on the downstroke. The challenge is finding a good bike fitter. I’ve travelled a long way to get good fits for different bikes, but if you turn it into an adventure it can be quite fun!
Top tips here except checking out your fitness, coaches are too pricey for me. Two things I can endorse, treat yourself - just bought a sale price waterproof cycling and running jacket. Love it but so does the wife so I've had to buy another one! Other thing is build up slowly in Jan/Feb - I set my max heart rate at 80% (of max) & target 70% hr average by speed and cadence moderation. Most runs and rides seem to be only a few % slower than normal. Thanks Simon.
Hey Paul - I don’t use a fitness coach, but £50 for a full body assessment from a physiotherapist can pay dividends, especially when they give you strength exercises to focus on your body’s weaknesses. Hips in my case. Not the big muscles, just the stuff that doesn’t get worked when you’re effectively ‘locked’ into one position on the bike.
Shops have lots of (low to mid-range) bikes and parts on sale this time as well. Just bought a SRAM wireless rear mech and shifter for 35% off. For my future 1x12 monster gravel bike.
Great point Bob.
Don’t necessarily agree with just buying new clothing in the sale…sometimes a bargain is tempting but doesn’t really fit well or isn’t really what you need. In my opinion save your money and invest in a few good quality, well fitting items that become reliable ‘old favourites’.
I think just getting out and having a regular spin is the best thing even if it’s only a snatched 15 or 20 miler around the block. Keep it fun, a long cold ride is just miserable!
Finally another don’t - don’t be tempted to go out if it’s icy..it’s not worth it.
it’s just so easy to completely lose motivation especially at the start of February rn because I rode a lot in January now I’m totally burned out until the spring
Extremely important only exercise 20% at the higher levels of exertion and 80% medium or less on you’re over 65. Why is that? Because new research on the effects of harder exercise on the older athlete shows that there is serious heart damage that occurs which is irreversible this is very very very, very extremely important. Please share this on your channel. Thank you, I’m a research methodologist and this information is sound and agreed-upon now in the medical community
This is from the MARC2 study. Please see the most recent video all about this with cardiologist Dr Peter Clarkson - has had quite a few views.
Totally agree. 😌👍🏻 Build aerobic capacity, burn some holiday fat, 😉 look ahead and look forward. 🚴☺️
The production quality in your videos has taken a step change. Will you be able to keep up the standard when the riding season begins? I hope so!
Hi Brian - I hope so too 😁. Please check out some of the videos in the Adventure Cycling playlist and you’ll hopefully like what you see tinyurl.com/AdventureCycling
1. service the bike. 2. service the body. 3. DO NOT go too hard too soon. 4. get some new kit on sale. 5. commit to a goal ride.
I find my first month on the road to have poor performance and that’s after using a trainer all winter.
Is that a winter Rapha jacket? Loving the hi viz orange!
It's their new Brevet jersey with Infinium ruclips.net/user/shortsv0WDiVkBBj8
I hired a Physio as preventative. She has done amazing at correcting issues that cause me problems on the bike!
They are good!
reverse periodisation....always a fan! 🙂
Another don't is how you mounted your bike at the beginning of this video. As an older cyclist, rolling your bike and throwing your leg over the bike while you are already rolling is asking for a crash someday. This was pointed out at the adult safety class I took many years ago. Even young people can miss with their leg or hit a pothole at the wrong time but young people just bounce when they hit.
I'm sure that's very sage advice
You're riding on the wrong side of the road! Must be in the UK? Great video, thanks!!
Oh no! 😳. Ah, yes. Phew!
International audience here. Definitely not grim and grey. How to stay motivated when the overnight temp is 25C and 31C by 9am. Might get to 40 today. What we call a stinker.
😀
What have you missed - telling me what those gloves are and whether they are warm and toasty.
Ah well Nigel - they were two videos ago. Galibier ‘Ardennes’
Wild gravel ride with Everything in Scottish highlands
ruclips.net/video/EJ2eHbZRZ1E/видео.html
TBH Not that warm and toasty because last week when I shot this it was mild and damp. I still haven’t found the perfect winter gloves - an on-going quest 😁
@@alwaysanotheradventure okay, well, I will take that pair off my list :.)
@@leqin Oh they’re some of the best I have and cover a wide range of temperature. Just not toasty and warm in really cold weather.
@@alwaysanotheradventure okay back on the list, but I am one of those awkward cusses who suffers with Raynauds, so gloves are both a bane of my life with seams in the wrong places etc etc and a source of simple joy when they work and fit perfectly.
I will be investigating these and hopefully they don't end up in my gloves not to use box of shame.
@@leqin ah ok, I understand. These maybe have too many seams and the material is quite coarse. Perhaps not for you.
So wish the UK worked on Central European time
Lowering your seat?
Not if it’s the right height!
I would definitely add "wash down your bike after each ride". Even if it is just a hose to spray off the dirt and grit, A simple wash will ensure a bit more longevity in all those moving parts, plus potentially save you money on unnecessary services.
Great point!
mudguards perhaps?
Here is another Dont. Dont fall for the fad of dressing head to toe in Black. Other road users cant see you. Be right be Bright.
I agree. Rather than preaching that I try to demonstrate the opposite but you’re spot on.