Building endurance/speed

[AryM]

Sorry if this has been asked already:

Has she been bike fitted yet?

 

Is bike the right size?

Legs burning could mean, seat is too low or too high etc

Does she have the right width handlebar/ stem etc?

 

Other than that, consistency and persistence is key.

Show some videos on youtube as to gears and cadence.

And a much more lenient bro too

 

[porqui]

Maybe she just does not enjoy cycling.

 

You're not getting the message.

[Falco]

I have had the exact same problem with my wife. She wanted to start cycling last year, bought her the bike, kit, did a fit etc, and off we went.

 

Initially I found myself getting constantly pissed off with her, all she seemed to do was whine. I was riding at a speed that I considered so slow, it felt like I was going to fall over, and she was gasping for air.

 

It's a simple matter of us forgetting how long and how hard it was to reach a level where we can ride long distances without much effort, and expecting others to achieve the same result too quickly.

 

I have sorted it out now, by doing one or more of the following: (1) go for a ride alone first, then pick her up on the return trip when the legs are a bit pap (2) from start to finish of her ride, ride next to her but stand all the time in a big gear with really low cadence or (3) do a few intervals while she is climbing whatever hill at her own pace.

 

Her fitness picked up quite quickly once I stopped forcing her beyond her limit

 

Btw, I'm in Midrand too (Glen Austin), so my situation is probably very much the same as yours.

[Izak]

Just be happy that your missus' are interested and want to ride!!

[Lurch the stalker]

Sorry if this has been asked already:

Has she been bike fitted yet?

 

Is bike the right size?

Legs burning could mean, seat is too low or too high etc

Does she have the right width handlebar/ stem etc?

 

Other than that, consistency and persistence is key.

Show some videos on youtube as to gears and cadence.

And a much more lenient bro too

 

The bike is the correct size, but, you make a good point, it hasn't been professionally fitted.

That may be part of it.

 

Well, that and big brother being an ass

[SwissVan]

Lots of zone 2 riding. ..her zone 2....and then find a road with a slight gradient...say 2 percent. ...start there..keep that for twelve weeks...get the Joel Friels book and you set. ..good luck....

 

Yes, good point. Riding with a fitter partner will make her ride harder than she should, even if she says she is riding within her capabilities, the mind does funny things and does not always agree with what the mouth says.

 

Get her a computer (on the bars so she can see it easily and not on the wrist) that has heart rate capability, do a HR threshold test (20 - 30 min one) so u can work out her zones accurately and then get a beginners HR based training program for the 94.7 and let her follow it.

 

IDT is a good idea especially with winter approaching and reduces the chance she will ride to hard by trying to keep with someone and she can ride to her program and ability.

[hayleyearth]

Just be happy that your missus' are interested and want to ride!!

 

 

Gonna be a weird family tree...

 

OP: "my sister"

[Guest notmyname]

Gonna be a weird family tree...

 

OP: "my sister"

Wrong turn seven.

[Lurch the stalker]

Gonna be a weird family tree...

 

OP: "my sister"

I had to bite my tongue to not comment on that one...

[Ratty]

 

 

^{Something to consider is could it be something health related for example an Iron Deficiency?} 

[J∆kk∆ls]

Does your sister do Yoga. I heard that if people do yoga religiously it will affect their cycling. Reason is that muscle built in yoga and muscle built in cycling are different. Over stretching will also affect muscle growth appt for riding.

 

Since I don't do yoga I would like to hear if anyone has found this to be true.

[Mntboy]

Lurch if i were you I'd take up Hayley's offer. One it'll take a load of your shoulders and two it might be exactly what your sister needs. I learned more about cycling from a buddy of mine than I did from my dad - who used to commute and is the reason I still ride. Your sis could only benefit from a different perspective on cycling. My 2c.

[Lurch the stalker]

 

 

^{Something to consider is could it be something health related for example an Iron Deficiency?} 

Might be something to look into, last time she wanted to donate blood they told her that her iron was low.

 

Does your sister do Yoga. I heard that if people do yoga religiously it will affect their cycling. Reason is that muscle built in yoga and muscle built in cycling are different. Over stretching will also affect muscle growth appt for riding.

 

Since I don't do yoga I would like to hear if anyone has found this to be true.

No, she doesn't do yoga.

I'd also like to know more about this though as I have read people suggesting doing yoga and/or pilates to help with cycling, though I am also not so sure about this as I don't actually know anybody doing either one.

 

Lurch if i were you I'd take up Hayley's offer. One it'll take a load of your shoulders and two it might be exactly what your sister needs. I learned more about cycling from a buddy of mine than I did from my dad - who used to commute and is the reason I still ride. Your sis could only benefit from a different perspective on cycling. My 2c.

I've had a chat with her and looks like she will be keen to take up Hayley's offer.

I said to her the other day maybe somebody else needs to explain things to her because what I am saying obviously isn't helping (or, I guess more correctly, does not appear to be helping, at least to my untrained eye)

[CycleMomSpeedster]

To much to soon. She will give up..

[Mntboy]

 

 

I've had a chat with her and looks like she will be keen to take up Hayley's offer.

I said to her the other day maybe somebody else needs to explain things to her because what I am saying obviously isn't helping (or, I guess more correctly, does not appear to be helping, at least to my untrained eye)

The one reason I felt uncomfortable going to my dad for advice on cycling had been his belief that if you're road cycling and doing less than 25km/h you're wasting your time. I didn't particularly need to hear that while I was restarting to cycle as an adult after having stopped in early high school. What my friend (at the time someone I merely knew from church) did was make it ok to ride slow and learn how to do things and let the speed come naturally. Your sis could be in the same place as me now as I was then. She might know it she might not. She could be feeling pressure to perform since she's hanging with her bro and wants to make you happy. Either way if it doesn't work with Hayley you can say at least we tried, if it does work then you've all made a new friend.

[Lurch the stalker]

The one reason I felt uncomfortable going to my dad for advice on cycling had been his belief that if you're road cycling and doing less than 25km/h you're wasting your time. I didn't particularly need to hear that while I was restarting to cycle as an adult after having stopped in early high school. What my friend (at the time someone I merely knew from church) did was make it ok to ride slow and learn how to do things and let the speed come naturally. Your sis could be in the same place as me now as I was then. She might know it she might not. She could be feeling pressure to perform since she's hanging with her bro and wants to make you happy. Either way if it doesn't work with Hayley you can say at least we tried, if it does work then you've all made a new friend.

 

You make some valid points.

I am looking at it from my fitness levels and am thinking, "why are you going so slow?", and I think that I'm sometimes forgetting that even though I was out for a few months with an injury I still have muscle memory.

Another person's input/way of explaining/knowledge can only help in my opinion.