pearl wrote on 08/06/18 at 9:59pm:


Key Advice there in yellow... You can get plenty fit around here. The key is riding hard for the duration of the ride. That is why I suggested laps at RRT. There is no place that stresses me out like it does.
Over the years I see a lot of my riding pals go to the mtns and do great on the races up there, but rarely do the mtn people come down here and crush the locals. We decided it has something to do with holding ridiculously high heart rates down here and then having to excel even more when you hit a small hill. I may run a more constant rate in the mtns when I settle in on a climb but overall my heart rate is higher down here. It's all about getting used to the stress. To me,  long climbs are easy when compared to short steep ones

DG wrote on 08/06/18 at 11:05pm:


Try squats once or twice a week.

And don't neglect stretching regularly.

DG wrote on 08/07/18 at 1:15pm:


One other thing I can recommend if your insurance can handle it, especially if you plan to be competitive. And something that, at 57, I couldn't put off any longer.

Visit a physical therapist or sports medicine center.
Novant has a good one at the Arboretum (Providence and 51). And there's one in Huntersville.

They put you on the table and go through any range of motion issues with your joints, what you've been neglecting, etc.. Then they will tailor a program for to follow.. They're not miracle workers, don't prescribe magic pills, and they wont do it for you. But these folks know biomechanics, they work with a lot of college and pro athletes and can steer you in the right direction. They can keep small problems from turning into big ones.. It's a $50 co pay well spent.

I can recommend Hunter Peacock at Arboretum. Tell him a fellow mountain biker sent you.

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I add another question, what do you drink and eat when you pedal for more than one hour. I have used some stuff called polase sport with magnesium potassium and other vitamins and as a booster i used Optinia short distance. What do you eat drink and when. One hour or less i just go with water more i mist start with supplements.

Haven't dont a squat in the past 10 years of riding bicycles...

The only way to get faster and more fit is to ride your bike more. No secrets here. How many hours a week are you riding? 

The road allows for maximum time in the saddle as you do not spend hours driving to and from your place to ride. I'd rather MTB every day over the road bike, but even a local trail requires at least 45 minutes of extra time to commute to and from, get your gear ready loaded in the car, blah blah blah. 

Driving 2 hours to ride Pisgah one way is one thing, it's fun, awesome, etc. Doing it purposely because you want to get fit is a waste. instead, do 6 hours of riding on the road.

If you share your area where you live (generalization) maybe we can make a good safe road loop for ya.

Anyway who wants to come next year? I can host one person

IntheBush wrote on 08/07/18 at 11:55pm:


He first needs to talk in Bergamasco 

You need to do more rides more often. They can be shorter. Need at least 5 rides a week. I could talk about this all day. 

I’d love to do this, if someone sponsor my flight and help my wife with the boys while I’m gone you got a deal

You could drive to Morrow Mountain park and grind up the road there a few times.  About an hour from Charlotte.  Or ride the 60 mile assault on morrow mountain road bike rides, they are once a month, March through September, in a group.  After you do it with the group and learn the route, you could repeat on your own or with a couple friends more frequently.

Check out weeklyrides.com

AMitchell47 wrote on 08/08/18 at 12:38pm:


Thanks