September Cycling Challenge - 150 + Miles, 1 month

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  • mattellis2
    mattellis2 Posts: 152
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    28 miles down this afternoon. nice day out, so i took the afternoon off, did a little shopping and then hopped on the bike.

    i learned something interesting this afternoon. when i started riding about 4 months ago, i swore i would never wear those goofy little bike shorts with the cushioning built in. i bought a cheap pair at academy this afternoon, and completed my ride averaging 18 mph, which is about 0.5 mph faster than anything I have previously completely. some of it was mindset, and i had to really push the last 3 miles to keep the average over 18 mph, but i could tell a difference. coincidentally, my knee felt better today too..and i rode almost 2x as far as i rode on wednesday. :)

    253.6 miles done. with some more good weather i should meet my goal by monday.
  • carbonboy
    carbonboy Posts: 729
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    Lots of miles this M-F...just under 200. This weekend should bring my total for the week to about 320. Getting close.
  • wbgolden
    wbgolden Posts: 2,071 Member
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    I'm at 271 now for the month. As a fairly new cyclist, and you kind folks being my only cycling contacts, I have a question:

    How do I prevent the elbow pain on "long" rides? I have a pretty strong upper body, I think. But when I get finished with a 2+ hour ride, my elbows and (sometimes) wrists ache.

    I think I'm gripping too tight and causing unnecessary stress on my tendons. Usually anything I am doing wrong exercise related is due to tensing up lol. I try to relax. But those damned cars!

    Sound right?
  • carbonboy
    carbonboy Posts: 729
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    I'm at 271 now for the month. As a fairly new cyclist, and you kind folks being my only cycling contacts, I have a question:

    How do I prevent the elbow pain on "long" rides? I have a pretty strong upper body, I think. But when I get finished with a 2+ hour ride, my elbows and (sometimes) wrists ache.

    I think I'm gripping too tight and causing unnecessary stress on my tendons. Usually anything I am doing wrong exercise related is due to tensing up lol. I try to relax. But those damned cars!

    Sound right?

    Yes. First of all, relax your upper body, arms, shoulders, and hands. And the reason road bikes have those funny looking handlebars is so you can change positions often. Alternate between hands on the brake hoods, on the drops, and on the tops...always keeping your arms slightly bent inward toward your body, not pointed outward like you're trying to knock your neighbor of his bike. Sometimes when people get tired they tend to lockout their elbows, which works for some and not for others. Also, wear padded gloves if you aren't already. I don't wear gloves at all, but I've been doing this for 30 years so I know what works for me. Just keep at it and you'll find out what works for you. But relax.
  • TheBigYin
    TheBigYin Posts: 5,685 Member
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    Yep - the secret's definitely in relaxing on the bars - one of the big mistakes is to think that you need to hold the bars in a kind of "DEATH GRIP" white knuckle fashion, whereas most of the time, you really only need to rest your hands on the bars - either on the tops or with the thumbs over the hoods and the rest of the hand down the side. Okay - when climbing something mahoosive and steep, you'll be pulling at the bars a bit more, and on bad surfaces it makes sense to firm up your grip, but otherwise, just relax and chill with it :smile:
  • TheBigYin
    TheBigYin Posts: 5,685 Member
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    1/9/2011 - 24.39Km - (15.16 miles) - local loop out of the front door, warm, sunny, gentle breeze
    2/9/2011 - 24.39Km - total 48.78Km (30.32 miles) - as above to the metre!
    4/9/2011 - 17.96Km - total 66.74Km (41.48 miles) - short local loop in the rain before dinner.
    5/9/2011 - 24.42Km - total 91.19Km (56.65 miles) - blowing a hoolie out there think my extra 30m was side to side in the wind!
    6/9/2011 - 24.45km - total 115.64Km (71.84 miles) - horrible, horrible static bike stress testing for my knee injury at hospital - 5 minute warmup and warmdown, with a 10 mile "Keep it at 400+watts" in the middle... Yuk! Then, just for good measure, they stick 3 big needles in my knee, and can't give me any results for a couple of days... I've been happier :grumble:
    8/9/2011 - 24.42Km - total 140.06Km (87.01 miles) - normal local loop taking it steady to break my knee in gently
    9/9/2011 - 17.96Km - total 158.02km (98.17 miles) - short loop - Dad's birthday today, & need to buy a present for him :smile:
    10/9/2011 - 24.38Km - total 182.40km (113.32 miles) - normal loop - fiendishly windy.
    16/9/2011 - 17.65Km - total 200.05km (124.29 miles) - local ride on MTB
    18/9/2011 - 21.14Km - total 221.19km (134.42 miles) - normal loop with a short errand on the end of it!
    19/9/2011 - 18.01km - total 239.30Km (145.61 miles) - normal short loop
    22/9/2011 - 17.88km - total 257.18km (156.72 miles) - normal short loop
    23/9/2011 - 27.61km - total 284.79km (173.87 miles) - extended local loop
    24/9/2011 - 17.93km - total 302.72km (185.01 miles) - short loop

    a94407d13b68696.png

    exercise.png
  • mattellis2
    mattellis2 Posts: 152
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    25 more miles this morning. 279.2 for septemeber.
  • dancingj2
    dancingj2 Posts: 4,572 Member
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    Back riding after several days traveling. 5 miles bring me to 136.
  • Pam3
    Pam3 Posts: 1,687 Member
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    week 1 42.2

    week 2:143.4

    week 3: 134.1
    september:319.7

    week 4:
    9/19 --22.4
    9/20 --27.4
    9/21 --16.5
    9/22 --27.3
    9/23 --22.4
    9/24 --11.5
    9/25
  • carbonboy
    carbonboy Posts: 729
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    57 miles this morning and I feel one of those rest days coming on. Maybe I'll take Monday off...I need it.
  • TDSeest
    TDSeest Posts: 1,089 Member
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    32 miles today; 374 miles for September.
  • Carlton_Banks
    Carlton_Banks Posts: 757 Member
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    Broke 400 miles for the month! Yay me!

    exercise.png
  • wbgolden
    wbgolden Posts: 2,071 Member
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    Thanks for the tips guys!
  • Pam3
    Pam3 Posts: 1,687 Member
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    week 1 42.2

    week 2:143.4

    week 3: 134.1
    september:319.7

    week 4:
    9/19 --22.4
    9/20 --27.4
    9/21 --16.5
    9/22 --27.3
    9/23 --22.4
    9/24 --11.5
    9/25 --REST DAY

    1162.2 YTD
  • TheBigYin
    TheBigYin Posts: 5,685 Member
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    1/9/2011 - 24.39Km - (15.16 miles) - local loop out of the front door, warm, sunny, gentle breeze
    2/9/2011 - 24.39Km - total 48.78Km (30.32 miles) - as above to the metre!
    4/9/2011 - 17.96Km - total 66.74Km (41.48 miles) - short local loop in the rain before dinner.
    5/9/2011 - 24.42Km - total 91.19Km (56.65 miles) - blowing a hoolie out there think my extra 30m was side to side in the wind!
    6/9/2011 - 24.45km - total 115.64Km (71.84 miles) - horrible, horrible static bike stress testing for my knee injury at hospital - 5 minute warmup and warmdown, with a 10 mile "Keep it at 400+watts" in the middle... Yuk! Then, just for good measure, they stick 3 big needles in my knee, and can't give me any results for a couple of days... I've been happier :grumble:
    8/9/2011 - 24.42Km - total 140.06Km (87.01 miles) - normal local loop taking it steady to break my knee in gently
    9/9/2011 - 17.96Km - total 158.02km (98.17 miles) - short loop - Dad's birthday today, & need to buy a present for him :smile:
    10/9/2011 - 24.38Km - total 182.40km (113.32 miles) - normal loop - fiendishly windy.
    16/9/2011 - 17.65Km - total 200.05km (124.29 miles) - local ride on MTB
    18/9/2011 - 21.14Km - total 221.19km (134.42 miles) - normal loop with a short errand on the end of it!
    19/9/2011 - 18.01km - total 239.30Km (145.61 miles) - normal short loop
    22/9/2011 - 17.88km - total 257.18km (156.72 miles) - normal short loop
    23/9/2011 - 27.61km - total 284.79km (173.87 miles) - extended local loop
    24/9/2011 - 17.93km - total 302.72km (185.01 miles) - short loop
    25/9/2011 - 17.92km - total 320.64km (196.15 miles) - short loop

    a94407d13b68696.png

    exercise.png
  • electriq
    electriq Posts: 359 Member
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    I'm at 387km (241miles) so far this month,
  • mattellis2
    mattellis2 Posts: 152
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    24 more tonight. 303.5 for the month. was shooting for 300, but may try to tack on another 75 or so in the remaining few days.
  • carbonboy
    carbonboy Posts: 729
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    Finished up the week with a nice easy ride today. Almost there.

    Week 1 (Partial) = 88 Miles
    Week 2 = 286
    Week 3 = 274
    Week 4 = 314

    September Total = 962
  • henney16
    henney16 Posts: 288
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    17 Miles tonight on the stationary bike!
  • dancingj2
    dancingj2 Posts: 4,572 Member
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    i learned something interesting this afternoon. when i started riding about 4 months ago, i swore i would never wear those goofy little bike shorts with the cushioning built in. i bought a cheap pair at academy this afternoon, and completed my ride averaging 18 mph, which is about 0.5 mph faster than anything I have previously completely. some of it was mindset, and i had to really push the last 3 miles to keep the average over 18 mph, but i could tell a difference. coincidentally, my knee felt better today too..and i rode almost 2x as far as i rode on wednesday. :)

    I resisted the outfit and clip in shoes for quite a while but evetually gave in and like you found it really did help my riding.

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