Big Bike Week(end) Input Requested

kimmydct

Some of you have seen my "What was I thinking thread?"  http://members.endurancenation.us/F...fault.aspx

So I think you've talked me off the ledge and I've been surfing the site and I think a Big Bike Week(end) or 2 might be a good idea for IMChoo prep.  I'm doing the IMChoo camp in August so the Big Tri week is covered...

I'm targeting the weekends of Memorial Day and July 4th for Big Bike Weeks.  The volume outlined in the Wiki are definitely too much for me for May (I think) as my weekly mileage on the bike (just finished the OS last week) has been in the 40-50 range, but will likely be increasing to around 60-70 in coming weeks.

Given the 3-day weekends with "unlimited" time to ride, and roughly 2 hours to ride after work before it gets dark, how would construct a BBW for May?  (I can replicate in July but increase the mileage as I'll have more daylight, and increased mileage in the saddle by then).  Thoughts?

Al Truscott

Be careful when comparing OS miles to IM prep or BBWeekend miles. As or more important is the intensity, as suggested by TSS. someone coming off OS bike work should be able to do a three hour ride @ an IF of 0.7 right out of the chute. Do one of those per week, maybe building to 4 hours during the next six weeks, and you should be able to do 10-12 hours over Memorial Day no problem. The harder part is the boredom factor, IMO. It's important to make this an enjoyable activity, with others and or in a novel, entertaining environment. Slogging away for three days on a bike path or the same old streets gets ...old.

From the wiki:

"3-4 x 3-4 [hour] rides: be careful with the effort on the front end. You could still accommodate some FTP in here, but focus on being very, very steady. IOW, at this volume you have no room to spike watts, hammer of the front, and in general have fun like a roadie. Long, steady, strong pulls are fine but the very hard stuff is VERY costly at this volume."

Point being, you *already* have the capacity to go long, having completed the OS. you just need to prove that to yourself. Go take a "long" easier ride this weekend.

Another way to get both confidence and strength to handle more biking is by ...more biking. In 1997, I started bike commuting, 2-3 days a week. Without knowing it, that was building both my confidence in bike handling and my body for handling increased training load once I started triathlon several years later. If you can't fit commuting into your life, consider "commuting" by bike to training, to the pool, gym, or running locale.

Jacklyn Moore

Kim

Like Al said. You got this. You just need to prove it to yourself. There's only one way to do that! Time to ride. Now don't forget to find a hill or two to climb. Nothing like cresting a climb to put a smile on your face and confidence in your soul. One of my favorite events is the distant picnic. I head out and the hubs meets me at a prearranged cool place for a picnic. It's a lot of fun. PB&J with chocolate milk ROCKS! It gets me a solid hit of calories, a little rest and smiles from my girl. And if i'm having trouble I can go home.

Have fun with this. We have confidence in you. 

~Jacklyn

 

rlh2000

Totally agree with Al, and I think especially with your doubts that it is important to prove to yourself. I in the OS, with just a couple of 2.5 hr trainer rides in me before I did the JVC. The first day was 80 miles and ROUGH, but then each day I actually felt stronger. The confidence boost I got from knocking out a CENTURY on day 2 after an 80 miler the day before, and in January, was huge. And then another longish ride the next day! I think we are often scared of fatigue, but fatigue doesn't kill you! You can do the first day and feel dead, and those voices in your head will say "oh definitely back off" but if you push through, you will find that you are stronger than you think! And gain lots of fitness from it too.