Warmup time

[Shanman]

Lately I have noticed that it takes me between 2 to 4 miles to warm up!? Does that sound a bit long to anyone else? Is it just the cold weather, or is it because I'm starting out too hard.

[Dan_Harrison]

My old XC ski coach said to warm up for 15 minutes before going hard. He also said not to stretch until you're warmed up. Given that this advice was formulated for cold weather, I use it for winter cycling as well.
Dan

[WallEyed]

I was having the same problem. For last Tuesday's night ride at Novi I warmed up on my trainer at home for about 15 minutes and then did some stretching. I ended up having a much better ride that night! I got a little tired about 3/4 of the way through but that went away quickly and I finished feeling great!

Dave Cox

[joe1265]

...it could be old-age.....

[Todd Scott]

On the road, it takes me 1.1-1.2 miles in the winter. I swear it's like clockwork. The internal furnace kicks on and I'm warm.

[RonnieDobbs]

I don't know if you're talkinga bout being comfortably warm... or athletically warm....

but if you're talking about being athletically warm I wouldn't worry about a thing... it takes me 45min - 1hr to warm up even in the summer.

-AL

[Shanman]

Hi Al,

I did mean athletically warm. If you're just warming up in say 45 min then when I ride for an hour am I getting much benefit (fitness benefit)?

As for the comfortably warm No Problem. Did ILRA today and I was fine. I just wonder how I'll manage when it's 85 degrees outside.

As for the age crack

[RonnieDobbs]

Hey Shan-

It all depends on the person. I know dudes who are ready to rock after 15 min; I don't start feelin' fast until ... well sometimes longer than an hour.

It also has to do with how much, and how you train.

That said, YES you are getting benefit from 1hr. Would you get MORE benefit from more... probably; but again it depends on if you did 6 hours the day before ya know. It also depends on how intense that hour is, I mean... if you start doing intervals after 15min of warmup... the first interval is going to hurt BAD because you wont be all that warm, but it will still do you some good.

Depending on what level you're trying to train at (ie, personal improvement v. win the rainbow), sometimes the best thing to be doing right now is just riding. Getting out (or in) as much as you can... an hour is better than nothing... and its definitely no small amount either. Don't short-change the intense-hour workout;they can really do wonders if done right.

-Al