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Post by mekon on Aug 14, 2020 18:21:12 GMT
I have given up the 'trying' element of cycling and Strava. Had a pretty poor year despite the potential in lockdown that never happened. Started to have small knee niggle as well that as soon I feel I take it easy with so not being getting any PRs.
Only really cycling for just a bit of fresh air at the moment.
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Post by philthewindsurfer on Sept 21, 2020 9:11:49 GMT
I've just decided that I need to go back to regular exercise after a year and a bit of making excuses about why I wasn't going swimming any more, and finally admitting that it was because it's fucking boring and that I just can't be arsed. So I've been going out for bike rides for the past few weeks and I have discovered that I genuinely look forward to my evening bike rides during the day (something that never really happened with swimming). Now, I want to start taking it a bit more seriously and try to monitor a bit of what I'm doing with a view to optimising the benefits. I have never had a smartwatch or any other type of fitness computer, and TBH I don't want to spend a lot of cash, but what would you guys suggest as a simple aid to perhaps give me feedback on distance, average speed elevation gains etc. Any pointers welcome! Yeah, swimming is boring after a while. I started going swimming again in 2018 and it was ok for a while. Two or three times a week, a bit of self coaching and both my speed and distance had improved. I was doing a mile again like I'd done 25 years ago, albeit a bit slower. 1 year on I was struggling to go once a week. At the start of covid the pool shut and that was that, I haven't returned. I was starting to get sinus problems and that was down to the chlorine as when I stopped, my symptoms stopped. So I've dug out my MTB. I bought a new one under the ride to work scheme in 2010. Then had a wrist injury which didnt like cycling, followed by knee problems and back problems. A rub over with some ACF50 and it looks brand new. I dont think I'll be doing anything serious on it, but using it to go to the beach instead of driving when theres no wind, or twice a week 1 hour ride for some cardio. I used to do a fair bit of trail riding around Dorset but after a while it got a bit same thing each time. Couldn't stand all the cleaning either if it was muddy. Might get some more road based tyres for it when these wear out. |
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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Sept 21, 2020 9:40:37 GMT
Good for you Phil.
If I can ask, what was your time for swimming the mile?
I've been cycling now since December and still loving it. My bike is just a shit chinese bike I bought in Thailand, but I don't care. I look forward to going out on it much more than I ever looked forward to swimming, but I do feel that I should be doing more upper body exercise.
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Post by spentcase on Sept 21, 2020 10:15:53 GMT
In terms of phys, I did have a mountain bike, a decent one too, a Nukeproof, I deliberately got a hardtail to brush up my riding skills and all was going well until some swarthy nomad nicked it from my garage.
But for the last couple of years I lift twice a week (just compound stuff, pull ups, bench, squat, deadlift, standing overhead press and farmers walks), swim once a week (normally 1km but I do a third of it arms only), I do one 5 mile a week or a load of hill sprints and up until lockdown I was training MMA once a week but that was pretty horrific, being 50 now I was the oldest in the class by at least 15 years, so I always swam the day after to loosen everything out and get rid of the aches and pains.
I watch my diet too, doing intermittent fasting 5 days a week and I stopped drinking when my kids were born, about 15 years ago.
But to summarize all of the above, I am so staggeringly boring, paint watches me dry.
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Post by philthewindsurfer on Sept 21, 2020 11:07:25 GMT
If I can ask, what was your time for swimming the mile? Er no  When I was swimming a lot before (early 30s) I was still never that fast then. It was 5 minute walk to the pool and I could do that and back, get changed, get a sandwich from the shop and eat it in less than an hour. Guess 35 minutes for the mile swim. Last time I did a mile it was 42 minutes. The first time I tried it, nearly 50 minutes. Most of the time I did interval type training. 6 * 10 lengths with a couple of minutes between each 10. At the other end of the scale, sometimes 50m sprint flat out, then rest for 2 minutes. It varied the sessions. When I started swimming again if found if I tried to swim long distances non stop it didnt raise my heart rate enough. Shorter stints got the rate >100 bpm. What was quite apparent was you could tell which swimmers had been coached as they were flying up and down the pool seemingly effortlessly. I doubt I could keep up with them flat out when they were on their mile pace. If you look up whats a decent time for a mile, seems thats 25 minutes. 30-40 is good for intermediates, but thats more for swimmers in clubs racing not joe public. |
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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Sept 21, 2020 14:35:25 GMT
That's pretty good Phil, I did swimming "perfectioning classes" as an adult and before it bored me senseless I got my mile time down to a best of 34 minutes (normally I was doing it in 35 or 36). I was aiming for the 30 minute barrier but I never made it. If I went in the water now I reckon I'd struggle to get anywhere near that, but I do feel pretty good with the cycling to keep my stamina to a reasonable level.
If there was a decent pool near me I'd probably go once a week to mix up the activity a bit, but all the ones near me are subscription gym pools, and I'm fucked if I'm paying that just to go and splash about for 30 minutes a week.
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Post by Eddie The Bastard on Sept 21, 2020 19:06:11 GMT
I admire people that can do things I can't. I could never get swimming right. To see references to miles is mind blowing to me.
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Post by spentcase on Sept 22, 2020 6:59:52 GMT
I think I have the least efficient swimming stroke in the world. My arms and legs go like billy-o but my body barely moves through the water. It looks like I am just having a seizure.
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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Sept 22, 2020 7:15:18 GMT
Have you considered shaving your sack Spents? Apart from the aerodynamic improvements, your anal lubes must be down to your knees by now. You could probably shave off a kilo.
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Post by spentcase on Sept 22, 2020 7:42:45 GMT
Have you considered shaving your sack Spents? Apart from the aerodynamic improvements, your anal lubes must be down to your knees by now. You could probably shave off a kilo. I'd love to mate, but I have about half a dozen endangered species living down there. I would have the WWF and RSPCA after me if I were to destroy their habitat. Besides, a bit of bush pads out the speedos nicely and provides a slight visual treat for the old biddies during the lunchtime lane swimming session down the local baths. About 3 years ago I only had to do about 20 press ups and give the old chap a quick 10 second helicopter to centrifuge some claret into the end in the changing rooms to look half presentable. These days it's 30 press ups and a 15 second helicopter. A truly sad lament on the cruel passage of time! |
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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Sept 23, 2020 22:03:31 GMT
Got in a pool tonight for the first time since before lockdown and it was a real struggle. Managed 40 lengths (1km) but it took me the best part of an hour. Technique and breathing were aw tae fuck.
Also really conscious about how much you spit when you swim. Not big brown lumpy deep-throaters but more of a forced dribble. And that's swimming. Sharing a massive Covid bath with dribbling wallopers.
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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Sept 23, 2020 22:21:40 GMT
I thought pools were supposed to be safe with all the chlorine in them?
Anyway, after a lifetime of swimming in diluted childrens piss, doesn't seem like its worth worrying about a bit of Covid now does it?
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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Sept 24, 2020 1:26:48 GMT
I thought pools were supposed to be safe with all the chlorine in them? Aye that's what they said back at the start when they knew fuck all about the virus. Not sure what the current science is but you'd like to think it's been properly risk asessed. The good thing is that you book your slot and numbers are restricted so low risk of trying to put in some decent distance in a crowded pool of cunts getting in your way. |
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Post by mekon on Sept 24, 2020 7:06:59 GMT
I guess it's harder to get away with pissing in the pool with reduced numbers?
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Post by spentcase on Sept 24, 2020 7:11:31 GMT
Anyway, after a lifetime of swimming in diluted childrens piss, Is that a life style choice, Mr The Toe Cutter's Younger Brother, or do you do it to maintain your youthful good looks, like Cleopatra bathing is ass' milk? Also, where do you get said diluted wazz from, the dark net? |
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