Everyday commuting? How?

[ian74]

Ok, I’m struggling with my commute and I want to know how you guys can do it everyday! This might just be a Rule 5 thing or psychological but I don’t know. The long and short of it is, I just can’t do it everyday. My week usually starts strong, but by Tuesday’s ride home I’m starting to get a bit tired, my legs are feeling weak, and I’m sore from Mondays ride. If I go for the Wednesday ride, I’m dragging on the way in. By the Wednesday’s ride home I’m not even spinning that much, and usually end up home completely exhausted. Forget about Thursday. If I try again on Friday it feels a lot like Wednesdays ride. Start again the next Monday (maybe squeeze in a short weekend ride) feeling refreshed but still sore.

My legs typically stay sore for days. I’ve been doing this commute multiple times per week for 2 years now and it’s ALWAYS like this. I just have never been able to go the full 5 days. During FS2015 I did a couple of 4 day weeks and it was tough, but due to a baby I didn’t gotten as much riding in during the early spring.

It’s obviously doable, there are a bunch of you guys that go further and do it everyday (sethpo, dcv, vern etc.). I just want to know what I can do to make this easier. Just a bit of info, I’m on a road bike with a backpack, my commute is 17 miles each way, on both the MVT and CCT, I head north to Bethesda (uphill for 6+ miles on the CCT on the way in which someday just sucks, but my rides home are all downhill). I drink lots of water I eat plenty of delicious breakfast meats.

What’s your secret?

Topic

[Tim Kelley]

@rcannon100 122818 wrote:

If it comes up as this guy…. FLAG IT! I know him. He’s a total poseur.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9433[/ATTACH]

Nah–he’s not a poseur, he was just using the phone app which has a lower sampling rate that would give the occasional inaccurate result. It’s just an inherent problem to using a phone instead of a dedicated head unit. Couple with not having a power meter and using estimated power for his FTP is what got him called out on Facebook by the Cat 2 racers.

He’ll come back on vacation and be super strong though!

[Steve O]

@Terpfan 122808 wrote:

I just wish I had KOMs to defend. I suppose I could get some by creating new segments like back along my street, ha.

I’m told that if I weren’t such a cheapskate and would pay for Strava Premium, then I would be higher up the rankings in my age bracket. Then I could get a whole bunch more by “fixing” my birthdate another 20-30 years.

[rcannon100]

@Tim Kelley 122827 wrote:

Nah–he’s not a poseur, he was just using the phone app which has a lower sampling rate that would give the occasional inaccurate result. It’s just an inherent problem to using a phone instead of a dedicated head unit.

It went through the wash.

Hey…. on a completely unrelated note… Someone (on their way to Colorado) stole my 500 and I have to replace it. Did you know the 500s are on sale because garmin released the 510s. And the 510s are getting “totally not worth it” reviews?

[ian74]

@rcannon100 122818 wrote:

If it comes up as this guy…. FLAG IT! I know him. He’s a total poseur.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9433[/ATTACH]

There goes our Freezing Saddles ringer…

[hozn]

@rcannon100 122841 wrote:

It went through the wash.

Hey…. on a completely unrelated note… Someone (on their way to Colorado) stole my 500 and I have to replace it. Did you know the 500s are on sale because garmin released the 510s. And the 510s are getting “totally not worth it” reviews?

The 520 is out (or imminent) too. I really like the 510; I would get it in a heartbeat over the 500 because I love not having to plug in the device to have it upload my ride. (Of course, I do have to plug it in once a week to charge.). The integrated weather is not really that valuable, since they just use DCA and IAD in our region (not more granular) and the “flood warning” or “fire danger” alerts that pop up are pretty funny. (Though might have been helpful at that W@W race.)

The LiveTrack feature is nice for letting someone know where you are (or for meeting up with a group). Mostly I use it for all-day local rides so my wife knows I am not dead.

The Glonass satellite support is really nice, making for super fast locks and generally great recorded tracks.

Yeah, I like the 510 quite a bit.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@rcannon100 122841 wrote:

It went through the wash.

Hey…. on a completely unrelated note… Someone (on their way to Colorado) stole my 500 and I have to replace it. Did you know the 500s are on sale because garmin released the 510s. And the 510s are getting “totally not worth it” reviews?

There’s also the new Edge 20 and 25 if you don’t need all the 500/510 features.

[Sunyata]

@hozn 122851 wrote:

The 520 is out (or imminent) too. I really like the 510; I would get it in a heartbeat over the 500 because I love not having to plug in the device to have it upload my ride. (Of course, I do have to plug it in once a week to charge.). The integrated weather is not really that valuable, since they just use DCA and IAD in our region (not more granular) and the “flood warning” or “fire danger” alerts that pop up are pretty funny. (Though might have been helpful at that W@W race.)

The LiveTrack feature is nice for letting someone know where you are (or for meeting up with a group). Mostly I use it for all-day local rides so my wife knows I am not dead.

The Glonass satellite support is really nice, making for super fast locks and generally great recorded tracks.

Yeah, I like the 510 quite a bit.

Someone swipped my 500 from the back of my car (I had taken it off the bike and placed it in the open hatch of my car next to my shoes after a ride and left the hatch open while I had a post ride beverage) at Lake Fairfax a couple of weeks ago. 😡

But since I have to get a new one anyway, I went ahead and ordered the 520 from Bikenetic. My fingers are crossed that it gets here before SM100. I am looking forward to the extra features (especially Glonass).

[americancyclo]

@Tim Kelley 122827 wrote:

Couple with not having a power meter and using estimated power for his FTP is what got him called out on Facebook by the Cat 2 racers.

Wait, what? Bicycle drama!?!?

[TwoWheelsDC]

@americancyclo 122858 wrote:

Wait, what? Bicycle drama!?!?

I know, I want to read this exchange!

[rcannon100]

Someone link to it. I want to read it too!

[dasgeh]

@hozn 122851 wrote:

The 520 is out (or imminent) too. I really like the 510; I would get it in a heartbeat over the 500 because I love not having to plug in the device to have it upload my ride. (Of course, I do have to plug it in once a week to charge.). The integrated weather is not really that valuable, since they just use DCA and IAD in our region (not more granular) and the “flood warning” or “fire danger” alerts that pop up are pretty funny. (Though might have been helpful at that W@W race.)

The LiveTrack feature is nice for letting someone know where you are (or for meeting up with a group). Mostly I use it for all-day local rides so my wife knows I am not dead.

The Glonass satellite support is really nice, making for super fast locks and generally great recorded tracks.

Yeah, I like the 510 quite a bit.

The 520 is $100 cheaper on Amazon. Huh?

[ShawnoftheDread]

@ian74 122847 wrote:

There goes our Freezing Saddles ringer…

He failed us in BAFS. Sad but true. College kids are slackers.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@hozn 122851 wrote:

Yeah, I like the 510 quite a bit.

The update with live Strava segments just dropped today, so my 510 (I usually an 800, 510 was purchased for my wife) may be seeing a lot more action now.

[baiskeli]

Is it safe to be pedantic yet? Okay, good.

The title should say “every day,” not “everyday.” The latter is a compound word that is an adjective meaning ordinary.

[ian74]

Ok, returning to my original topic, I’ve made some changes and they’ve helped. The first one was really just a mindset change. I don’t have to commute every day and I don’t need to compare myself with the other people on my Strava feed. I just want the miles, and I want to enjoy my commute (Not going to edit the thread title but I appreciate the correction). Second I’ve slowed my pace down. Especially for the first few miles on my way in so I’m not already wiped by the time I get to the CCT, and also on my way home even though it is mostly downhill. I’ve also dropped and set a 3x a week goal. This is very manageable and I get a rest day every other day.

Finally, I ditched the heavy (and often smelly) backpack and bought a seatpost rack and trunk bag. It is making for a more pleasant commute. My position on the bike is better and I stay much cooler.

These were all suggestions made in here and they have helped a lot. So thank you.

[Author]

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