How long will it take me to get into shape now that I ride my bike to work every other day?

Question

I ride to work 3 times a week, it's 15 miles round trip. When I have time on the weekends, I plan on going for rides, but don't have time atm. So going with just riding 45 miles a week, the uphill grades aren't too drastic and a big chunk of the ride is flat, how long do you think it would take before I start seeing a physical difference (besides the awesome tan I've gotten).

Answer 1

You should very quickly notice your legs firming up as your muscles develop. Since bicycling is an endurance activity you are not going to get bulky muscles, they will just gain definition and tone.

If you are intererested in losing weight be careful not to let the increased level of exercise increase your appetite and caloric intake.

Also, in pretty short order you should notice the ride goes by quicker. You'll feel as if you are expending the same effort, but you'll get back and forth quicker.

A problem with commuting is that you tend to ride about the same intensity all the time. Increasing your fitness level requires you to stess your muscles which stimulates them to grow. When you feel your conditioning is begining to plateau add some intervals to your ride. An interval is a hard effort followed by a period of easy pedaling. You may want to try doing 10 repetions of a nearly all out effort of 30 seconds followed by 60 seconds of slow spinning. Another day, do 10 repititions of a hard effort for 60 seconds, followed by 90 seconds of slow spinning. Another day do 15 seconds of all out effort followed by 15 seconds of spinning for 10 minutes. Yet another day, do 3 repitions of pedaling at an effort you can maintain for 5 minutes, then do 5 minutes of spinning. By working your heart, lungs and legs at different, higher than normal intensity levels, you'll move your conditioning to a higher plain.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

You should see some changes after a couple of weeks, although it never seems to feel easier. You will notice that you get there sooner though. If this is all you do, your fitness will hit a given point and go no further. Try some sprints on your journey, harder gears for short climbs etc to both gain greater fitness and add some fun to your journey. Do the occasional detour on the way home too, doing some extra miles - a great way to squeeze extra cycling time in.

Answer 3

Depends on your definition of "into shape." You can accelerate that by working harder during your 45 mile per week ride. Here's what Greg LeMond said about it: "Cycling never gets easier, you just go faster."

Answer 4

I consistently enjoyed motorbike using. i offered a clean Schwinn while i became into 33 so i ought to holiday with my teenagers interior the process the geographical region interior the evenings. Then my arthritis have been given so undesirable that I had to offer it up and that i'm sixty six now and disabled; otherwise, i might nevertheless be peddling off to the fishing hollow!

Answer 5

Getting in shape is an ongoing process. When something gets easier, you need to step it up. You may find that cycling to and from work gets so easy and your muscles will be toned for that level of fitness -- you will need to step it up to develope farther.

Answer 6

couple of weeks