Fun with cycling!

[masraum]

We've been going out on the weekends for the last 3 weekends. We're just trying to get the missus comfortable with/on her bike. When I was a kid, I lived on a bike, but she wasn't that kind of kid. She's getting more comfortable every time. She slows down a lot when there are people around or for turns or whatever. I'm not pushing her. I'm loving it though. I'd love to go farther and faster, but I'm more concerned with her being happy.

Our first ride which was just a short shake down run was about 5 miles. We spent some time in an empty parking lot with her practicing her shifting.

The next day we went 10.8 miles at an average speed of 7.5 mph. Where we ride, there's lots of people and people with animals and clueless people that aren't paying attention, so she was doing a lot of slowing down. We were also figuring out where/how to get to the riding trail that we will mostly be using.

The next weekend, we hit that riding trail a bit harder, 22.24 miles, avg speed 9.6 mph. Once we've gone about 4-5 miles, the route opens up a lot and there are fewer people and less to worry about. I checked a bunch of the segments once things clear up and for a big portion of the ride our avg speed was 13mph.

The next weekend it was quite a bit colder, so we only went 16.1 miles at an avg speed of 10.4. She's clearly getting more comfortable on the bike.

Yesterday, we went 32.95 miles at an avg speed of 10.7 mph. I ran a second app for the 25 miles farthest from home, and our avg speed for that 25 miles was 11.2. For the 5-8 miles at the end of the route, it was colder and raining. There were a bunch of miles where our avg speed was 13-13.5mph.

I'm hoping that one of these days, I can take off without her to see how I'd do. I'm betting that I can easily hit at least 15mph for the full distance. I think we've got another 6.5 miles that we can go on the same bike trail, so we should be able to just about hit 40 miles on bike trails without getting on any streets.

We had a 3 mile section in the very middle of the ride where we averaged 13.3mph, so I know she can go faster. Neither of us are muscle sore/tight/etc... in the next day or two after we ride. We are going to start getting a couple of evening a week in on the indoor trainer, so that should help with some development of speed and strength and comfort on the bike for her.

Distance Avg speed
10.78 mi 7.5mph
22.24 mi 9.6mph
16.11 mi 10.4mph
32.95 mi (partial 24.90 mi) 10.7mph (11.2mph)

This was our ride yesterday. The bike path that we were on ends at the reservoir near the red dot in the top left, 2.5 miles past where we turned around. I think it may be possible to ride around the reservoir, but it may just be a dirt path. I think that'd add another 1.5 miles.

[rwest]

Good progress and awesome that your are going the speed that your wife is comfortable at.

Seen way too many dicks riding way ahead of their wife, while the wife is clearly frustrated trying to keep up.

Safe riding to you both, maybe try riding real early before the strollers, dogs, rollerbladers and unpredictable riders are out?

[red-beard]

Get the bikes on the car and go to No Label brewing in Katy. Park in the lot and then take US 90 West all the way to the Brazos River, then come back. Figure 2 hours, so park at 9AM and take off around 9:30AM. Return at 11:30AM, change. If this is Saturday, drink $2 beer to re-hydrate.

If you like this, repeat every Saturday. That is a basic ride of 30 miles. You can add Fulshear, Simonton, even Bellville into the ride. Katy to Bellville is 70, round trip. If you can do Katy to Bellville and back, you can do the MS 150.

For Hill training, you need to go to Bellville. Start out by riding from Bellville to Industry. That is merely 28 miles round trip. Bellville to Fayetteville and back is about 55 miles. Again, if you can do that, you are ready for the MS150.

[herr_oberst]

Nice work, Steve, that's good progress. I agree that keeping your mate company even though you might be faster is a great way to keep her happy and comfortable.

[group911@aol.co]

I never get the part of getting in your car to go for a ride. A guy used to live next door to us that got in his car and drove 3 blocks to a gym to work out.
I guess I'm spoiled living near a good path system.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by group911@aol.co

I never get the part of getting in your car to go for a ride.
I guess I'm spoiled living near a good path system.

While I agree with you for the most part, I think in this case, since Steve and Mrs Steve are training for a double metric century, they need to get off the path system and onto roads. James has done the MS150 a number of times and I think his advice is sound -acclimate in a way that trains the mind and body to meet the expectations of the event.

[group911@aol.co]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

While I agree with you for the most part, I think in this case, since Steve and Mrs Steve are training for a double metric century, they need to get off the path system and onto roads. James has done the MS150 a number of times and I think his advice is sound -acclimate in a way that trains the mind and body to meet the expectations of the event.

Which is why I wonder about having to drive to ride. As with most activities, most people are more likely to partake as the effort to start drops.

[porsche930dude]

Originally Posted by group911@aol.co

I never get the part of getting in your car to go for a ride. A guy used to live next door to us that got in his car and drove 3 blocks to a gym to work out.
I guess I'm spoiled living near a good path system.

I am of that mentality aswell and I live on a hill that gains 450ft in half a mile. So while that first mile is a breeze the last mile is a killer

[masraum]

Originally Posted by rwest

Good progress and awesome that your are going the speed that your wife is comfortable at.

Seen way too many dicks riding way ahead of their wife, while the wife is clearly frustrated trying to keep up.

Safe riding to you both, maybe try riding real early before the strollers, dogs, rollerbladers and unpredictable riders are out?

We will at some point do some early riding, but we're avoiding riding when it's in the 40s outside. We've done some riding in the 50s but the missus prefers it to be in the mid 60s.

Originally Posted by red-beard

Get the bikes on the car and go to No Label brewing in Katy. Park in the lot and then take US 90 West all the way to the Brazos River, then come back. Figure 2 hours, so park at 9AM and take off around 9:30AM. Return at 11:30AM, change. If this is Saturday, drink $2 beer to re-hydrate.

If you like this, repeat every Saturday. That is a basic ride of 30 miles. You can add Fulshear, Simonton, even Bellville into the ride. Katy to Bellville is 70, round trip. If you can do Katy to Bellville and back, you can do the MS 150.

For Hill training, you need to go to Bellville. Start out by riding from Bellville to Industry. That is merely 28 miles round trip. Bellville to Fayetteville and back is about 55 miles. Again, if you can do that, you are ready for the MS150.

That sounds great. Now I've got to order the bike rack for the Boxster so we can start traveling to places to ride. It'll be good to tackle some hills before we are at the bottom of one on the actual event so we know what to expect.

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Nice work, Steve, that's good progress. I agree that keeping your mate company even though you might be faster is a great way to keep her happy and comfortable.

If I didn't, there was a very real chance that she would back out. Every time we go out, she's getting more and more comfortable.

Originally Posted by group911@aol.co

I never get the part of getting in your car to go for a ride. A guy used to live next door to us that got in his car and drove 3 blocks to a gym to work out.
I guess I'm spoiled living near a good path system.

Because in Houston, you aren't driving 3 blocks to get someplace. You're driving 10-30 miles... Yeah, living near a good path system has made you spoiled.

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

While I agree with you for the most part, I think in this case, since Steve and Mrs Steve are training for a double metric century, they need to get off the path system and onto roads. James has done the MS150 a number of times and I think his advice is sound -acclimate in a way that trains the mind and body to meet the expectations of the event.

Yep, and we plan to do some group rides between now and the event. As comfortable as I am on a bike, it is a bit unnerving thinking about getting on the roads in Houston. We've got the worst drivers of anywhere I've ever been, and I live in the middle of town. The missus, especially needs to be comfortable riding the bike before we through traffic into the mix. Also, there's, at least, the feeling of safety in numbers. We'd both be happier if there were 10 or 15 or 20 people on bikes riding down the side of the road than if it was just the two of us.

Originally Posted by group911@aol.co

Which is why I wonder about having to drive to ride. As with most activities, most people are more likely to partake as the effort to start drops.

Driving to someplace to ride is a pain. We are fortunate, that we live near a route where we can ride about 20 miles one way, so we can do up to 40 miles without having to ride on a street other than crossing a few or the quick 1/4 mile jaunt through our neighborhood to get to the start of the path.

I don't think Houston is a very bike friendly place. From what I understand it's getting better, but the drivers here are horrible, and there's TONS of traffic (tons of full size trucks and SUVs) and most of the streets involve cars going 50-80 (whether the speed limit is 30, 45 or 60). I'm far more likely to ride on streets if I'm in a group of riders otherwise a lot of my time will be spent on sidewalks.

[T77911S]

Originally Posted by group911@aol.co

I never get the part of getting in your car to go for a ride. A guy used to live next door to us that got in his car and drove 3 blocks to a gym to work out.
I guess I'm spoiled living near a good path system.

probably parked as close to the door as he could, then went in and walked on the treadmill.

[T77911S]

great job getting on the bikes.

my wife has been riding, actually more than me. now she gets up and rides in the mornings and I stay in bed.

I did start back about 2 weeks ago. made the mistake of riding the rollers at first. I fell off the second time (first time ever). then it warmed enough I could ride outside. back on the rollers this week and actually we both rode inside this past week end. she did an hour, I only did 30 min. I still cant stand to ride those things very long but we both are trying to lose weight.

not sure how long before you plan on doing the MS150 but you do need to work towards riding on the road. you also need to work on riding with others,
I don't know your experience with riding in packs or pace lines is. you may try to find a book in riding etiquette if you/she needs it. when I first started riding back in the 80's my brother would not let me ride with his group until I read one. I still had it until a few years ago when I gave it away.

find a local group to ride with to help with some of this.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Wow, you are killing it and she seems to be doing great. Those distances and paces for newbies are impressive. Keep it up!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by T77911S

find a local group to ride with to help with some of this.

That's what we're going to do.

[slow&rusty]

Masraum - We live very close to each! Glad you're enjoying the cycling sport with your wife - that's awesome.

Be careful on Houston roads, as there so many inconsiderate drivers out there...see the post I just added.

Yasin

[red-beard]

You two need to get hooked up with my old riding group, which is now called Tap & Pedal.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/tapandpedal/

Or ride with the Karbach guys.

[red-beard]

Yasin, we live VERY close to each other...I'm in LOEN.

[berettafan]

Wow that's a great start!

Once your ass is up to the challenge the only thing in the way is your lungs and heart!

[brainz01]

Good use of the Bayou trails! Keep it up!


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[masraum]

Thanks all. We are hoping to get out Fri morning or this weekend, hopefully twice.

[herr_oberst]

I have no affiliation, but for all the cyclists out there, BTD has Contis' on sale for the next cuppla days.

https://www.biketiresdirect.com/