Commute biking vs. Bike training

Forum guidelines BT super discount
Site Issues Training Log & Site Support » Commute biking vs. Bike training Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2008-01-30 11:30 AM

User image

Veteran
174
1002525
Columbus, GA
Subject: Commute biking vs. Bike training
Hey guys. I'm new to BT and I have looked for a thread talking about this subject but have not been able to find one. I am on the 3X 12 week Olympic plan...and my bike workouts range from between 48 to 97 minute bike rides in the first month of the plan. I live in Los Angeles and bike to work and to the gym and back home which is just over a 16 mile loop which usually is around 100 minutes of riding. As you can see, this exceeds my time requirement for every workout. Being LA and the Hollywood hills area, there are plenty of long hills and easy downhills on my route. What I'm curious about is how sufficient my daily ride is for a training workout. I feel as though I'm getting a pretty good workout and I definitely feel it on the hills and break a sweat for sure but how much more focused training do I need to do and how can I work that into my existing rides?? I do strength training for my legs once a week also in the gym and ride on the stationary bike at the gym on rainy days on a hilly setting. Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appriciated. Thanks y'all!!

;P

Matt



2008-01-30 12:13 PM
in reply to: #1183836

User image

Melon Presser
52116
50005000500050005000500050005000500050002000100
Subject: RE: Commute biking vs. Bike training

Hey Matt,

Actually, I had the same question when I was fairly new ... generally, the answers were that the daily commute (I'm also one of the crazies in L.A. on a bike ) is a regular part of your life/work, so workouts should be separate.

Here's my personal opinion/experience: non-continuous biking counts for a LOT, especially since you're in your first years and are really just building up volume/base. If you're biking in the Hollywood hills on a mtb, you're probably pretty effen prepared for an Oly.

Try to have one continuous workout/week of the bike minutes that's longest--e.g., if your plan calls for a 60-minute ride and two 30-minute rides, then try to have one of the rides be 60 min. The rest can be broken up however.

Just my .02! Hope to meet you Saturday!

2008-01-30 12:52 PM
in reply to: #1183836

User image

Veteran
174
1002525
Columbus, GA
Subject: RE: Commute biking vs. Bike training
Hey chicka! Thanks for the input. :D So, on days that I'm supposed to have a bike workout, I should do a seperate ride apart from my commute? Like today I'm only supposed to ride for 70 minutes and my total commute for today is about 100 minutes. Should I do a stationary ride while I am at the gym or something or what do you think?? Just wanna work as hard as I can without dropping dead ya know...hahaha. So, yeah....Saturday is going to be great!! Anyways....I appriciate your advice.

cheers!

Matt
2008-01-30 1:49 PM
in reply to: #1183836

User image

Melon Presser
52116
50005000500050005000500050005000500050002000100
Subject: RE: Commute biking vs. Bike training
You'll be getting a 70-minute continuous ride on Saturday, so I wouldn't be too worried about how your cycling minutes are allotted today. If you're riding over 70 total today just on the commute, you're in the pocket.
2008-01-30 3:27 PM
in reply to: #1184099

User image

Champion
13323
5000500020001000100100100
Subject: RE: Commute biking vs. Bike training
Yeah, you should be good using your broken-up commute to serve as your training plan bike mileage.  But if your 'long' planned bike ride starts exceeding the combined commute time (probably later in the plan), try to at least get the once a week 'long' weekly ride done on it's own..on the weekend perhaps...as that is how you will be racing.
2008-01-30 6:41 PM
in reply to: #1183836

User image

Veteran
174
1002525
Columbus, GA
Subject: RE: Commute biking vs. Bike training
That sounds GREAT!! Thanks so much for that. I guess I could just start working on my times for each leg of my commute, trying to get them as low as I can...then maybe work on lengthening the route or choosing a route that has more hills or something...that could work. I'm just glad that I don't have to spend even more time on a trainer or on the stationary. Whew! LOL.

Thanks for the help!

Matt



New Thread
Site Issues Training Log & Site Support » Commute biking vs. Bike training Rss Feed