[StopTheExcuses]

Is it just me, or is getting in the groove on a ride sometimes difficult? The first 10 minutes always seem to be more work then fun, but that usually changes. However, sometimes I just can't find that sweet spot. It doesn't seem to matter how I feel as I can feel under the weather and get in the groove rather quickly, and I can feel great sometimes and just never find my pace. What is your experiences with this?

 

[Nubster]

Yeah, not sure why, but it takes me a couple miles or more of riding before I'm warmed up enough that my legs stop burning badly and I get my breathing in check. After that, I'm usually good to go. There are somedays that it doesn't matter, it's all just going through the motions or even somedays I just cut the ride short. I had days like those when I lifted weights a lot too.

 

[Pedalphile]

Some people warm up more quickly than others, and times will vary for an individual as well.

I am typically slow to warm up as it takes me a good 20 minutes of light to moderate output before I can really get on it and last.

One thing to realize is that if you push your body into the red before you're warmed up, you may not recover during the ride. I've learned this the hard way too many times, and I've also learned that your body may not warn you about pushing too hard too soon until it's too late.

-Pete

 

[big terry]

yeah ive come to accept that even if i stretch, i still need an easy warmup ride to get in the trail groove. if i just roll right to the trailhead from the truck, my first few miles are pretty rough, and i cant always get in the groove because i burn out before i even get into it.

 

[Zero Signal]

It takes me 20-30 minutes to warm up. Once the blood pressure goes down and HR goes down. The biggest mistake you could make in a ride is pushing too hard before warming up. I always start with 20 minutes of easy pedaling before dropping the hammer.

 

[StopTheExcuses]

yeah ive come to accept that even if i stretch, i still need an easy warmup ride to get in the trail groove. if i just roll right to the trailhead from the truck, my first few miles are pretty rough, and i cant always get in the groove because i burn out before i even get into it.

There are some very good responses in the thread, and it's good to see I'm not alone. About stretching, I used to stretch all the time until a friend of mine who is a personal trainer told me it does more harm then good. I then researched and found many articles backing his claim. This is one of them below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/sports/playmagazine/112pewarm.html

 

[mtbzarg]

I agree with getting warmed-up first before really starting to push yourself hard on a ride. Experience alone has taught me this.

What makes a difference for me is that most of the time I seem to feel that I have a better ride in the morning rather than when I go for a ride after work. I love to go riding anytime I can, but sometimes it takes me a bit longer to get into that "groove."

 

[crewjones]

Sure, sometimes that 1st ten minutes I try to make come up with reasons why i shouldn't be working out. When it's over I feel great

 

[swingset]

I think more people are like you than not.

Often I'm just not into the riding, mentally or emotionally until after I've pedaled for 10-15 minutes. Sometimes I have to talk myself into starting the trail, but when I'm into it that melts away and I feel great again.

 

[StopTheExcuses]

I think more people are like you than not.

Often I'm just not into the riding, mentally or emotionally until after I've pedaled for 10-15 minutes. Sometimes I have to talk myself into starting the trail, but when I'm into it that melts away and I feel great again.

That's good to know. As much as I love riding my bicycle, I'm like you, sometimes it takes awhile to get that good feeling I'm looking for.

 

[scmclark]

Yeah, somedays I want to ride forever, and somedays im just not in the groove or the mood. Im breathing heavier and hills are harder to climb, and im thinking about turning around and calling it quits. Dont know why, guess its my bodies way of telling me im old.

 

[Fleas]

The younger folks might be able to just get on and hammer - I used to time trial to work. It was less than 20 minutes and I did it every day. But any more that 20 minutes is spent at a more moderate output. Of course that doesn't mean much when you have a mean climb right out of the parking lot. You just do it. You'd probably feel better if the climb was in the middle of your ride, but it won't kill you.

And yeah, some days the warm-up never ends...

-F

 

[jeffscott]

Is it just me, or is getting in the groove on a ride sometimes difficult? The first 10 minutes always seem to be more work then fun, but that usually changes. However, sometimes I just can't find that sweet spot. It doesn't seem to matter how I feel as I can feel under the weather and get in the groove rather quickly, and I can feel great sometimes and just never find my pace. What is your experiences with this?

Gotta enjoy the warm up period....

We have a trail that starts with a 15% grade for about 100 vertical feet.....that will get you going.....but no one likes it.

 

[mtbmatty]

somedays your a hero.......



.......somedays your a zero

 

[Dion]

I love that I get to ride to the trails. I spin for 3 miles and by time I'm at the trail head, I'm ready.

If and when I have to drive to trails, I usually just mimic that, and spin for a bit before going for it.

 

[AndrwSwitch]

Depending on your definition of warmed up, it takes me 15-30 minutes. As in, if I'm not competing and I hop on my bike and go for a ride, I take about 15 minutes to hit my stride. Unless I'm really pissed off or tired or something like that. If I'm racing, I think I'm better if I take a bit longer, about a half hour seems good.

I recover well, so I don't know that I've ever blown myself up badly enough to screw up the rest of the ride. But if I get right on and hammer, I'll feel it, and I'll probably have to soft-pedal a bit sooner or later to recover.

I really only have one riding spot that just doesn't let me warm up before throwing something big and technical at me. So most of the time, as long as I don't go out hammering, I get enough flat to rolling terrain to be adequately warmed up before I have to push myself.

Outside of race days, I don't do anything special to warm up. I just get on my bike and ride, at my non-masochistic pace.

 

[bamwa]

There are good days and bad days on a trail. So the more you ride the more good days you will have.

 

[Lawson Raider]

I have literally pedalled for almost an hour before I got into the zone...other times, seems like I had it right out of the gate. I usually start out with the easier trails then after I get my mojo on, I move to the more technical stuff.

Makes me want to get out and ride - my 8 week surgery recovery is almost done--- 1 1/2 weeks left and my bike finally gets to get out of the garage! Yeah-yaaa!

 

[Slee_Stack]

Time varies for me. Lately, its been about 2 miles of intermediate trail before I'm warmed up. I need a few climbs, not just flats and spin.

 

[b-kul]

what helped me find the groove more often is where i parked. i used to park so that i could just hop on the trails. hit or miss. now i park so i have to ride like a mile of double track before getting to the trails. usually a good ride results. switching up gear helps too.