Author Topic: Whadya mean, dead last AGAIN!?  (Read 8570 times)

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Offline RoadWimp

Whadya mean, dead last AGAIN!?
« on: August 12, 2007, 10:16:07 pm »
Greetings again, fellow cyclists. Back for more advice am I. Last week I took part in my first ever bike race - an anemic 33 mile category 5 annual race on a beautifully hilly course near the capital of New Hampshire. Unfortunately, I did absolutely dismally - 31st out of 36.

I really enjoyed it, despite the pathetic showing, and am quite looking forward to doing it next year. However, I'd like to fair a little better this time around. I know the basics - try to keep a high cadence, rest when you're so tired you can't get out of bed to get the morning coffee, ect - but my real question was should I just keep doing 33 mile rides four or five times a week all year and hope that I eventually get better? Or is it better to vary ride length and intensity - a brisk 33 miler one day, and a slow century the next? Obviously, the temptation is strong to ride every spare minute as hard as I can, but I've heard that that's actually counterproductive.

So, ladies and gentlemen, what would you recommend? And thanks in advance.


Offline valygrl

Whadya mean, dead last AGAIN!?
« Reply #1 on: August 13, 2007, 01:00:11 am »
I recommend you go to a different forum, this one is for bike TOURING, not racing / road riding.

Try bikeforums.net


Offline RoadWimp

Whadya mean, dead last AGAIN!?
« Reply #2 on: August 13, 2007, 10:36:07 am »
Ah, silly me. I suppose this isn't the best place for it, eh? Anyways, thanks for the link.


Offline JayH

Whadya mean, dead last AGAIN!?
« Reply #3 on: August 13, 2007, 02:26:36 pm »
"beautifully hilly course"

I don't know if you were commenting on the hills or the capital of New Hampshire but if you are noticing the countryside in the middle of a bike race, then perhaps you are not concentrating on pedalling faster than the person in front of you. And perhaps you should remove the rack and panniers full of camping supplies next time?*  

Jay :-)


* :-) Yeah, like valygrl says, this is a bike TOURING forum, so I couldn't resist the last jab.


Offline ptaylor

Whadya mean, dead last AGAIN!?
« Reply #4 on: August 13, 2007, 06:10:43 pm »
RoadWimp.

I fear we were a bit rude in answering your query. I'm a tourist who participated in one road race. It scared me to death, and confirmed that I am a tourist, not a competitor. I'm also a former running racer, and know the importance of training.

Here's a suggestion. Do a Google on "bicycle race training". It may open some doors for you. Meanwhile, I'm rooting for you to finish in the lead pack.

Paul
Paul

Offline erniegrillo

Whadya mean, dead last AGAIN!?
« Reply #5 on: August 13, 2007, 08:42:02 pm »

go to Chris Carmichael's web site (he is Lance Armstrong's coach). Lots of free advice on how to train. You can also pay (at all different levels) for private coaching.  


Offline RussellSeaton

Whadya mean, dead last AGAIN!?
« Reply #6 on: August 14, 2007, 11:13:04 am »
I'll give some free advice.  If your goal is to get faster and/or stronger than your normal level, you have to train/work to do that.  Riding 33 mile rides at a medium pace year round will allow you to ride 33 miles at a medium pace.  You get faster and stronger by exerting yourself beyond your current comfort level.  You have to force the muscles to put out more energy and get stronger.  Riding at your current comfort level is good for general aerobic exercise and probably maintaining weight.  But it won't get you faster or much stronger.

As others have pointed out there are many sources for various training regimes.  Probably any will work well enough assuming they all tell, force you to exert yourself beyond what you are currently doing.  Then rest some.  Then repeat this over the next days, weeks, months, years, etc.

Training, exerting yourself beyond your current comfort level is not just for racers.  Tourists benefit too.  The faster, stronger you are, the easier it is to climb a mountain with a fully loaded bike.  Easier it is to ride into a day long headwind.  You will have more energy to enjoy your evenings after the biking is done if you are stronger, faster, fitter.  Touring isn't much fun if you drag into town and have barely enough energy to eat before collapsing to do it again the next day.  Better to ride in fresh wishing you could do more riding and go to bed full of energy looking forward to the next day of riding.  You can do this if you work, train, prepare your body before the tour starts.


Offline pmspirito

Whadya mean, dead last AGAIN!?
« Reply #7 on: August 25, 2007, 03:10:12 pm »
So much pressure in trying to go fast.  Why?  You will never be fast enough.  Maybe you aren't ment to be a Racist. Become a Tourist and enjoy those beautiful hills and country side. Repeat after me:  "I will NEVER be fast enough.  I will NEVER be fast enough" ;)

best wishes from the back of the pack,  Peter & Judy Spirito
best wishes from the back of the pack,  Peter & Judy Spirito

Offline driftlessregion

Whadya mean, dead last AGAIN!?
« Reply #8 on: August 26, 2007, 07:10:56 pm »
Check out roadbikerider.com. Coach Fred Matheny has a great ebook for training, racing and touring.