Getting back into mtn biking

[Demondosage]

Basically I'm getting back into cycling a few days per week, Mtn biking specifically. Why? Well, I have to face the facts; I don't recover from weights like I used to but I'm programmed to go regularly to the gym and destroy myself. I won't stop unless I have something else to pull me away a bit, and unless I'm active I'm just not into it.

So the big question is HOW MUCH? My only real goal with it rt now is a weekly mileage goal of 50 miles. I picked up a bike computer so I can track my mileage and speed. Anyone else do something like this (I know Millard is big into road cycling for part of the year)

 

[Fattyone]

I rode for a while, lost the bikes in the divorce. Bought another one (evil following in angry dolphin) but sold it due to no one to ride with. Wish I still had it.

I don’t think it’s easy to over do it in a MTB man. Just ride as much as you want and eat good food. Rinse and repeat.

 

[Test_Subject]

I used to race mountain bikes when I was younger. I still ride once a week or so but I don’t have the balls to ride like I used to.

Depending on how hard you ride I wouldn’t do it more than twice a week or so or you could end up negative impacting your leg days — especially if you’re doing a lot of hill climbs.

 

[MindlessWork]

I have done some dirt bike riding when I was younger and the rides through the woods are the toughest by far as hitting a root or even a rock can send me flying down ravines. One time ended up in a stream!

I am thinking of doing it again myself as I am older but crazier haha.

 

[Fattyone]

I used to race mountain bikes when I was younger. I still ride once a week or so but I don’t have the balls to ride like I used to.

Depending on how hard you ride I wouldn’t do it more than twice a week or so or you could end up negative impacting your leg days — especially if you’re doing a lot of hill climbs.

i took his post as he was stepping away from the gym and doing MTB riding in place of it. Not sure what exactly op meant but that’s how I took it lol

 

[adamcarpenter]

I love mountain biking. It’s one of those things where you can naturally push yourself way further than you could in a controlled environment. Awesome feels.

 

[Demondosage]

I should have been more specific. I don't want to weigh over 230 lbs any longer but the only way I can lose weight at this point is to actually back off weights. I'm convinced at this point that any dietary approach to drop lbs simply isn't realistic and even if it were possible my energy levels and focus and motivation levels would be in the dirt.

Therefore I'm looking at cycling as a 50/50 split between the gym

 

[notdeadYET]

I lift, cycle and run. Beyond the gym, I try and run 10-20 mpw and cycle around 50 mpw (on a singlespeed mountain bike). Depending on your fitness and terrain, you're looking at about 5 hours riding time per week. Weight fluctuates between 205-215.

 

[MindlessWork]

I lift, cycle and run. Beyond the gym, I try and run 10-20 mpw and cycle around 50 mpw (on a singlespeed mountain bike). Depending on your fitness and terrain, you're looking at about 5 hours riding time per week. Weight fluctuates between 205-215.

An hr a day sounds good and if weather is not too bad in the winter can still go ride. I go hiking thru the woods even in the winter.

 

[Demondosage]

I lift, cycle and run. Beyond the gym, I try and run 10-20 mpw and cycle around 50 mpw (on a singlespeed mountain bike). Depending on your fitness and terrain, you're looking at about 5 hours riding time per week. Weight fluctuates between 205-215.

My average speed in the woods rt now is 8.6 mph. I'm hoping to increase over 10mph really soon

 

[MindlessWork]

My average speed in the woods rt now is 8.6 mph. I'm hoping to increase over 10mph really soon

Be careful going that fast unless you know your trails well...roots can lurk anywhere!

 

[Demondosage]

Be careful going that fast unless you know your trails well...roots can lurk anywhere!

Hahaha, 8.6 mph is a terrible average speed for me. When I was doing it regularly I could hit a 12 mph flat average, but I admit I wasn't enjoying the ride going that hard. Went to the gym to train my back earlier, I was tapped out hard from the bike, I really had to pull out the inner willpower in there today!!!

 

[Millard]

Basically I'm getting back into cycling a few days per week, Mtn biking specifically. Why? Well, I have to face the facts; I don't recover from weights like I used to but I'm programmed to go regularly to the gym and destroy myself. I won't stop unless I have something else to pull me away a bit, and unless I'm active I'm just not into it.

So the big question is HOW MUCH? My only real goal with it rt now is a weekly mileage goal of 50 miles. I picked up a bike computer so I can track my mileage and speed. Anyone else do something like this (I know Millard is big into road cycling for part of the year)

I got into (road) cycling for similar reasons - I couldn't push myself to the limit anymore in the gym or that limit was a lot lower than I wanted it to be so I needed something as a psychological/physical replacement. Cycling was it. As a relative novice to the sport, there were no limits for me and the freedom to push without worrying about injury was amazing.

As far as how much, I don't know if I can really answer that question. It's depends entirely on how well you can manage recovery. One thing that I just couldn't find a way around was the need to seriously reduce volume and poundages on leg (weight) training. I think legs are most vulnerable to inadequate recovery.

 

[Millard]

I should have been more specific. I don't want to weigh over 230 lbs any longer but the only way I can lose weight at this point is to actually back off weights. I'm convinced at this point that any dietary approach to drop lbs simply isn't realistic and even if it were possible my energy levels and focus and motivation levels would be in the dirt.

Therefore I'm looking at cycling as a 50/50 split between the gym

If you don't mind sacrificing a little muscle mass, you can increase the cycling mileage much more than 50 per week assuming you adequately manage recovery. I've found that no matter how hard I hit the weights, I can still push myself on bike the following day. But the opposite is not true. It's not a good idea to push yourself in the gym after a particular difficult (long/intense) ride.

 

[Demondosage]

I got into (road) cycling for similar reasons - I couldn't push myself to the limit anymore in the gym or that limit was a lot lower than I wanted it to be so I needed something as a psychological/physical replacement. Cycling was it. As a relative novice to the sport, there were no limits for me and the freedom to push without worrying about injury was amazing.

As far as how much, I don't know if I can really answer that question. It's depends entirely on how well you can manage recovery. One thing that I just couldn't find a way around was the need to seriously reduce volume and poundages on leg (weight) training. I think legs are most vulnerable to inadequate recovery.

Yes, leg training with weights will have to definitely be on a few day layoff from cycling. I rode hard for a few days and was actually up a few lbs, I'm assuming the body's response to stress, inflammation etc. I'm sure it'll normalize in due time. I'm actually 242 lbs as of today, was in the 230's last week

 

[Demondosage]

Well today I put in 13.5 miles on the trails. I increased my average speed from last ride by .6 mph, going from 8.6 to 9.2 mph average, hey I'll take it.

So what I'm realizing abt newer Mtn bikes is that you are paying for the frame until you break 1,000$ price point, but the components are trash! I'm riding on a coil spring front shock which is kicking the absolute shit out of me and probably not doing my reattached tricep tendon any justice. I miss my air shock on my old Cannondale I sold, you don't realize the difference till you go back to a garbage front suspension. But hey, at least I'm out there peddling for now!

 

[notdeadYET]

Great progress and I always have a good time in the woods whether biking or trail running. Speed be damned. I'm glad you're out there enjoying it. To me the outdoors is a good break from the gym. Always making progress. Along with the ability to participate in some local races. Lots of good people and beer too.

And.. this is the absolute worst time to shop for a new bike (for me at least). I was hoping to find a new road/gravel bike and the only local finds in my size are $6k plus.

 

[MrGTO]

Get a Guerrilla Gravity bike. It makes a world of difference in the enjoyment of riding. New bike technology and geometry are light years ahead of 5 or 10 years ago. Im 43 and its silly how fast i can still ride on my MegaTrail. It is no cross country bike but i can ride it 20 miles easy. I ride nasty rocks and roots and its the best bike i have ever ridden. I can even take it down intermediate downhill if i pick my lines well.

You may know all this aleady, but as far as training for fitness, ditch the speedo and get a good heart rate monitor and train that way. Try and keep a steady target heart rate. It will seem slow at first but once your endurance increases you will be going faster at the target heart rate vs spiking your heart rate and getting gassed. There are several heart rate calculators online to find your target range.

Ive been riding mtb since i was kid so im a super nerd when it comes to mtbing. I am also married to a former pro DH mtb lady who traveled the world riding for various sponsors. My kids also ride and have been on the trails before they started kindergarten.

 

[Demondosage]

Get a Guerrilla Gravity bike. It makes a world of difference in the enjoyment of riding. New bike technology and geometry are light years ahead of 5 or 10 years ago. Im 43 and its silly how fast i can still ride on my MegaTrail. It is no cross country bike but i can ride it 20 miles easy. I ride nasty rocks and roots and its the best bike i have ever ridden. I can even take it down intermediate downhill if i pick my lines well.

You may know all this aleady, but as far as training for fitness, ditch the speedo and get a good heart rate monitor and train that way. Try and keep a steady target heart rate. It will seem slow at first but once your endurance increases you will be going faster at the target heart rate vs spiking your heart rate and getting gassed. There are several heart rate calculators online to find your target range.

Ive been riding mtb since i was kid so im a super nerd when it comes to mtbing. I am also married to a former pro DH mtb lady who traveled the world riding for various sponsors. My kids also ride and have been on the trails before they started kindergarten.

Awesome, thanks!!

 

[MrGTO]

Just to bump this back up…How is you mtbing going? I’ve been getting so good miles in here lately. Fall is my prime riding time because of the cooler weather, you just have to watch out for the slick ass leaves every where!

I have a question also. If you vets would recommend a certain trt/cruise cycle for cycling what would be your go to?