Club Race Speeds

Fearny

I am looking for my target next year and maybe set it at club race speeds. I am not sure if it is what I want to do but certainly train towards it.

What sort of speeds should I be aiming for;
1. On the flat
2. Average over a not too hilly course and over what sort of distance would you expect this average time to be.

PhilBixby

Hi Fearny

It's pretty pointless aiming to get up to a "club race speed" on your own, as speeds in races (often around 25mph on flat to rolling cat 3/4 races) are largely due to the effect of riding in a bunch. All of which is why losing the drafting effect of the bunch - either by being dropped, or by attacking off the front - makes it such hard work.

To ride in road races you need two basic things; sufficient fitness and speed to be vaguely up there with the rest of the riders, and sufficient skill and experience to ride safely in a close group. "Sufficent fitness and speed" very VERY vaguely means being able to do an hour or so at around 20mph on rolling roads without busting a gut but there's more to it than that - it's about being able to cope with varying pace. Which leads me to my main recommendation: join a club; one which gets involved in racing, and do club rides, training rides and chaingangs. You'll then know when you're ready to race.

I can't emphasise this enough - for *anyone* thinking about getting into racing. I know it's very tempting to think "I'll just keep riding on me own until I know I'm good enough because I don't want the embarrassment of getting dropped" but any good club will help you through that process of improvement. We've got people in Clifton who started off with the Saturday social ride a year or two back and are now having a great time in their first races.

Enjoy!

Phil B
Clifton CC York

Fearny

Thanks Phil, I know it was a bit vague but I just wanted to have an idea of the level really. The "20 mph over rolling roads" is an achievable target for me and like I say, its really an aim rather than want to go racing. Fitting in with my local club is difficult due to other commitments but this gives me an idea of what to aim for. Thanks for your reply

sylvanus

It varies enormously within the race and even a little from race to race. You'll see you heart-rate hit max or close-to for periods you never thought possible in your first few races. Nothing can prepare you for that as PhilB says except the club chaingang or racing itself. I agree with PhilB's suggestion - go and join a club and make sure you do a weekly lungburster where you are interval training with the club without realising it. Also put in a weekly interval session yourself if you have the energy but read up a lot on intervals and overtraining. Its very, very easy to overtrain as you start to race. Next time you find yourself yelling at someone, stop relax and think I'm overtrained!

Good luck!

gaterz1981

I aint at race speeds but i can more then handle a club run and just about hang off the back of a chaingang. Struggle on me own though but i am only a weenie. I have a HRM on order so will see if thats makes any difference.

I work hard because millions on benefits depend on me
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oldwelshman

I dont think a HRM make the bike any faster? [:D]
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by gaterz1981</i>

I aint at race speeds but i can more then handle a club run and just about hang off the back of a chaingang. Struggle on me own though but i am only a weenie. I have a HRM on order so will see if thats makes any difference.

I work hard because millions on benefits depend on me
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/ ... 81/MTB.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/ ... rFrame.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/ ... rFrame.jpg
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

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