I don't want to derail this thread or start another one that's going to get the same people answering the same stuff as above. I've had that same problem. I'm 25now, I used to ride a lot for several years (250+ per week), stopped riding for two years, then three weeks ago I bought myself a mtb and entered for the Down n Dirty Nissan race. I have time to ride 35km rides at around a 19 average in the week, and did a 60km (700m climbing) mtb ride yesterday, but I expect a lot more from myself due to past "levels" that I was on. Once I get past my lungs burning out, I feel fine, but hills are obviously still a killer. Being relatively new to mtb too, Is there a "target time" that sounds plausible for the upcoming 40km next week? I am hoping to get past 20ave for it at least.
