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Ride Lots

Ride Lots

“Ride lots” is the advice that Eddy Mercks gave for getting good on a bicycle.

“Ride lots” of course racks up plenty of miles; and for a mileage hog like me, that’s quite gratifying. But there comes a point when merely putting in more distance isn’t enough. How about developing greater speed?

schwinn meridian adult tricycle trike bicycles shop store tricycles page
Good choice for people with balance issues

When I first got the tricycle, I decided to just ride; and let speed take care of itself. I figured that, with regular riding, I would get faster over time. Up to a point, I did; but after that I was stuck at the same speed for several months. I finally saw that I had to make deliberate efforts at riding faster if I wanted to improve my pace.

So I tried some basic interval training; and it did help.

tommaso endurance road bike spokeasy bicycle bike store shop
Road bikes make long rides easier!

The same thing is true now, on the road bike. That bicycle is over eight years old, and I’ve put well over 28,000 miles on it; but my cruising pace still averages only 12-13 mph on most rides. Now that I’m thinking of doing a 100-miler in October, I’m working to improve matters.

I’m not aiming to ride a sub-five hour century, goodness knows; but I want to finish in less than eight hours’ pedaling time. Nobody can say what the weather will be like on the big day; and if it’s windy, I’ll need the strength and stamina to ride against that wind for miles on end.

So you see, “ride lots” is about more than just miles. It also includes riding faster than you usually do for longer and longer intervals; and it means working to increase your cadence against a hard gear, to develop better strength.

Don’t forget to have fun, though! If it all starts to seem like drudgery, ease up for a few days; and then you’ll be ready to ride lots again.

 

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ABOUT ME

I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story.

I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling!

Website designed by Cecile Levert

© This website is the property of its author.

DISCLAIMER

I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.

 

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