Signed up for something

[rubytue]

Hi! I don’t hang out here much, but I just signed up for a fundraising bike ride. I have two motivations, one is to support the organization, but the other is that I’m hoping the goal gives me motivation to stick to exercise.  

I picked the shortest option, which is realistic. I rode longer distances on my recent vacation, but that was flat (Key West). This will be in suburban Maryland, which is not mountainous, but does have some hills (I doubt the short route included Sugerloaf Mountain, but it is mentioned).

As I type this out, I feel kind of silly. I just picked the 10 mile option. And it’s 4 months away. It should be completely reasonable to do this. But… I’m in terrible shape, over weight, and still have lingering body issues (from cancer treatment). And I am far more worried about being able to do this than the fundraising requirements. 

[sadlebred]

First of all...

YOU'VE GOT THIS!!!

Next up, get your bike tuned up at the local bike shop. Make sure your brakes and gears are in good conditions. Most bike shop will do a free safety check. Pay for a tune up, though! It might be $50-60 well spent. Make sure your helmet fits well. Don't have a helmet? Now's the time to get one! All charity/bike events will require one. You don't really need anything else. I would look at bike shorts and a wicking tshirt. Any sports tshirt will do.

There is a movement called All Bodies on Bikes. I encourage you to check it out. www.allbodiesonbikes.com/ If you've seen my posts, I identify as fat/overweight. I also have a major cardiac problem, and I regularly ride 100+ miles/week and race both e-gravel and cyclocross.

I am not sure which even this is since Maryland is way out of my cycling range, but I would seriously doubt Sugarloaf Mtn is included on the short route, probably on the metric or whole century options.

We have a few cyclists here that will be happy to answer any questions...and remember....YOU'VE GOT THIS!

[rubytue]

sadlebred , thank you so much! That is kind of exactly what I needed.

I do have a helmet! I was the crazy tourist in key west wearing a helmet 😂 I also was chatting with my former boss, who is a big bike (does stuff like this all the time), and she lives in the area it is (I’m about 45 mins away). She said it’s a bit hilly, but was super encouraging that I could do it on my bike. Which is not a road bike 😂 And she did the turn up on it last summer (she is a bike mechanic).

I was joking I was more worried about the ride than the fundraising requirement. And then, I passed the halfway mark after 90 minutes 😂 So it’s definitely the ride. But 4 months seems pretty reasonable to get to 10 miles. My local terrain isn’t that different from 30 miles away. Small hills. So I should be able to train.

i actually see my cardiologist on Friday for my annual with him. But I expect he will tell me to exercise more (and lose weight, cause he always does that 🙄). So, barring something unexpected coming up, that should not be an issue. 

[doctoranda]

You can totally do this!

[sadlebred]

Take training slow. Ride the hills around your neighborhood. Once that gets easier, try hill repeats. Pick a hill that is about 30 seconds long that you can go up and down. Warm up really well. Go up it once at a slow pace. Go down. Go up it a little faster next time. Go down. Go up it really hard! Go down. You can work up to 2-3 sets of these hill repeats with 5 minutes in between of really easy riding to get your HR back down. It will make a huge difference.

[rubytue]

sadlebred,more big thanks. Super helpful. Because I don’t know how to train, other than getting out and riding. So simple stuff like this probably wouldn’t have occurred to me. Repeat the hill. Yeah, duh. But, when you are brand new to training much of anything*, it doesn’t occur to you.

* pre-pandemic, I was swimming regularly with a coach. Well, it was most pre-cancer, too, as the two slammed into each other. Finished one, and hello pandemic. So I only got about 6 weeks of swimming back in. But, the time I spend doing that was not really enough to pick up how to train without a coach. And the only think I know right now, is that while I told my H and he will join me on training rides around town, I do *not* want “coaching” from him. All past attempt like that have ended in huge fights.

[melmel48]

That is really exciting! I am so glad sadlebred jumped in; she is so knowledgeable and loves helping!

Please keep us updated on how training is going. I am considering saving up for a bike, just for enjoyment.

[melmel48]

Jun 4, 2022 10:56:53 GMT -5 rubytue said:

sadlebred ,more big thanks. Super helpful. Because I don’t know how to train, other than getting out and riding. So simple stuff like this probably wouldn’t have occurred to me. Repeat the hill. Yeah, duh. But, when you are brand new to training much of anything*, it doesn’t occur to you.

* pre-pandemic, I was swimming regularly with a coach. Well, it was most pre-cancer, too, as the two slammed into each other. Finished one, and hello pandemic. So I only got about 6 weeks of swimming back in. But, the time I spend doing that was not really enough to pick up how to train without a coach. And the only think I know right now, is that while I told my H and he will join me on training rides around town, I do *not* want “coaching” from him. All past attempt like that have ended in huge fights.

I understand not wanting coaching from your husband. I am single, but used to run with a male friend. I will ask him for advice frequently, and he is so supportive. BUT! running with him and hearing advice in the moment became stressfull. It wasn't his fault at all, but it made me feel crappy. 

You are a bad ass who is going to do great! 

[sadlebred]

Does the charity ride offer any training rides or coaching? It might be worth it to ask around, especially if you like the structure.

[rubytue]

Jun 4, 2022 15:13:43 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

Does the charity ride offer any training rides or coaching? It might be worth it to ask around, especially if you like the structure.

They don’t. The swim I was thinking of doing at one point did, but, life. 

is there a couch to 10k for bikes? 

edit: 30 seconds later, I found this 😂 aloneonahill.com/blog/the-couch-to-8k-cycling-plan

[sadlebred]

LOL! I've never seen that plan before. It does seem like something solid.

[rubytue]

Well, about that statement at the end of the OP about not really concerned about the fundraising requirement. I mean, I was a little concerned bc it was $1000 and I don’t like to ask people for, really anything. But here is it 2 days later and I’m at 90% from one FB post. Shit, now I guess I should train 😂

[rubytue]

Well, I hopped on the bike this morning to run to Whole Foods. And, came to the conclusion that this a a loop I could do after work during the week. So that’s a start. 😁

Attachments:

[minzy]

Good luck! You’ve got this!

I’m not sure where your course is but I’ve hiked, run, and driven (not biked) Sugarloaf Mountain, and the road up has a number of switchbacks. Traffic comes back down more directly, for whatever that’s worth.

[rubytue]

Jun 5, 2022 17:57:34 GMT -5 minzy said:

Good luck! You’ve got this!

I’m not sure where your course is but I’ve hiked, run, and driven (not biked) Sugarloaf Mountain, and the road up has a number of switchbacks. Traffic comes back down more directly, for whatever that’s worth.

My friend who bikes and lives out that way says the bikes go down Comus road and stay off the mountain. But then when I asked if she was familiar with this course and ride, she said no, just basing it on where she rises. But that she is confident the short routes won’t go up the mountain 😂

[wawa]

We live in a sufficiently hilly place that as long as you don't do all your training circling Lake K you'll be fine.
Like...from you up toward C.? that's a pretty good hill. could head up and over the back for a steeper hill. If yo're feeling brave could head west and really hit the rollers, but with the construction on the main road there it's not fun right now.

I would ride with you!

[rubytue]

But but but… wawa I like the Lake K loop 🤣 I assume the C lake trail is multi use? I’ve only walked it. But actually, we like to ride to the farmers market on Sunday’s, that require crossing the 29 bridge and the there is a big hill on the other side. At least big for me. And I may take you up on your offer, but not yet. Give me a few weeks to increase my CV endurance. Or, ummm, get something I could call CV endurance.

I saw my cardiologist Friday. And it was one of those appointments that left me 😭 But, in short, have have new motivation for doing this. I usually like this guy, but this appointment was totally dismissing the fat girl shit 🤬 But, proving him wrong might just be good motivation for me. Cause that’s how I roll.