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Rank: Administration  Groups: Administrators
Joined: 1/25/2009 Posts: 492 Points: 1,494 Location: Newcastle, Australia
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I'm thinking about cycling through to Sydney next weekend. I mean, I've booked a room in a motel already, just don't know whether I'm going to make it on the bike all the way or whether I'll end up jumping on the train somewhere. There is apparently a fair sized hill/mountain between Newcastle and Sydney and I have been warned that it won't be a joke, nevermind that it would be my first 160km ride if I do make it all the way.
Anyhow, this afternoon I was on my 16km ride home and got to a bit of a hill where I normally turn left to miss the hill as I'm pretty lazy in the afternoons after work. Decided to continue on and cross the hill and I found a very interesting thing... Previously when I've tried my current bike's granny gear (easiest gear), I didn't have enough endurance or airobic fitness to continue on for very long, even if I took it very slowly. Well, on this smallish hill it felt as if I could just keep on going for as long as I wanted and, in fact, I wasn't in my granny gear - I was in 1 (front) x 2 (back). So I continued on to King Edward Park hill, which is a pretty hectic hill by my standards and which I have only covered a couple of times before. Approaching it from the opposite side this time, it is a much longer ride, but not as steep as from the side which I had done before. Harder work, I think, because it feels like it just never ends.
Still, I went on between granny gear and "second gear" (there is no such thing in cycling) and made it to the top feeling pretty good.
So my total ride this evening was 22kms instead of the usual 16kms. It could be that I just had a bit of excess energy today, so I'll try it again before deciding whether I'm really ready for it, but it would be great if I can do a total of 45kms of cycling every day, especially if it includes King Edward Park hill on at least on of the rides:)
I feel pretty good right now, must just keep it up!
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Rank: Administration Groups: Administrators
Joined: 1/25/2009 Posts: 492 Points: 1,494 Location: Newcastle, Australia
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Alrighty then... So that hill wasn't as easy as I thought.
Woke up during the night and my legs were burning like they used to when I first started riding slightly longer rides and same thing when I got out of bed this morning. Lactic acid burn.
It's not terribly bad, but certainly more than I expected from a 23km ride as I do 23kms in the morning every day that I cycle to work.
Feeling pretty good after last night's ride I thought I was going to include the King Edward Park hill into my morning ride this morning and that would be the norm from now on. Instead I struggled with my usual route without the hill and I feel like I need a rest day:(
Still, I think that before the end of next week I'll be ready to include that hill in a daily ride. I know I've said that before, but let's see.
I used to put a tablespoon of Sustagen Sport into my oats in the mornings, but wasn't sure whether it made any difference. I then read someone else saying that he could only maintain a pretty long commute (50km in each direction I think) by drinking Systagen Sport. So, once I remember to buy some, I'll start putting that into my Muesli in the mornings and hope it helps.
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Rank: Administration Groups: Administrators
Joined: 1/25/2009 Posts: 492 Points: 1,494 Location: Newcastle, Australia
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Yep, that hill really did bugger me up. Quite disappointed really!
My legs are tired, so I'll take the morning off. I was hoping to do a big ride this weekend, but have to work instead. Possibility of riding all the way to Sydney next weekend is looking pretty small:(
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Rank: Administration Groups: Administrators
Joined: 1/25/2009 Posts: 492 Points: 1,494 Location: Newcastle, Australia
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Took on that hill again this morning from the other side and I was back to that feeling of almost dying again.
In the direction that I cycling in the morning, the hill is short and steep and the opposite direction (which I did on Thursday) it is longer but not as steep.
Going back there this afternoon to search for my heart and lungs, because wherever they are, they're no longer in my chest!
I do weigh 3kgs heavier this morning than I did on Thursday morning, so that would have had some effect, but mostly this hill is just a bit much for me. Keen to see what my legs will feel like tomorrow, as I'm quite keen on building this hill into my daily routine now. Was meant to do that long time ago, so it's time!
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