Getting a bike back to tip top condition is one thing, getting your body to the same point is quite another.
And so training begins. I've been starting out with the view of building some muscle strength and getting used to sitting in the saddle once more. Proper cycle clothing helps a great deal with reducing saddle sore and drawing sweat away from the body effectively. Gloves make a huge difference.
I've been running around the same 5 mile circuit for the last few weeks in a bid to improve my average speed as well as providing a route intended simply to gradually build strength before cranking up the distance.
The route starts on a downhill followed by mainly flat with gentle hills. This gets the legs warmed up nicely. But this is soon followed by a long uphill stretch. This was a killer the first time out. A quick jaunt around town before a gradual climb to the highest point in town before a final half mile gentle downhill to let the legs wind down before home.
Average speed is now just over 12mph, but the first runs were under 10mph. The gentle hill I mention near the start was a struggle the first time out in a low gear. But is now a fast top gear push to get the heart going a pace. Each time I go out I push hard. With legs slightly wobbly at the finish, the recovery time is getting much shorter now.
To me, this is excellent progress. I'm getting very close to going for a much longer ride. I'll plan on adding 5 additional miles at a time. 5 miles with long uphills at an average of 12mph has my initial goal already achieved!
