increasing power/speed

wors

Hi all, I've been cycling a while now, my fitness has increased lots but i find it hard to keep the power down on fllat ish ground. i did the pendle pedal yesterday, none of the hills caused too much problems ( apart from black hill after nick' o pendle when my leg cramped and locked!) but after climbing the hills i couldn't keep up with the guys and overtaken when cycling on the flat. it wasn't lack of breath and i wasn't climbing harder than i normally do.Any advice?

Bronzie

Do you know how to ride on a wheel (ie no more than 6-12 inches off the back wheel of the rider in front)?

wors

i was trying but just couldn't keep up. Is there a special technique? I usually ride on my own so have had no practice at riding in a group.

chuckcork

wors wrote:

i was trying but just couldn't keep up. Is there a special technique? I usually ride on my own so have had no practice at riding in a group.

I have the problem of riding in a group too, usually because I want to put too much power on, if I'm in front I just can't seem to keep the speed down and want to race off (been told off by the club captain a few times for that)

Stick with the group, and check your cadence, you should be doing what is a good cadence for you, usually suggested is between 80 and 100.

Alex_Simmons/RST

chuckcork wrote:

I have the problem of riding in a group too, usually because I want to put too much power on, if I'm in front I just can't seem to keep the speed down and want to race off (been told off by the club captain a few times for that)

Then find a faster group. Or train solo.

Bronzie

wors wrote:

i was trying but just couldn't keep up. Is there a special technique?

There is definitely a knack to it - you need to be comfortable with riding inches off the wheel in front - if you are nervous or tense you are probably either riding too far away to get the full benefit of the draught or letting the gap open and then using loads of energy to keep closing it.

While improving your sustainable power will help you (search for "2x20" in this forum), I'd also suggest going on rides with a local club to improve your bunch riding skills.

chuckcork

Alex_Simmons/RST wrote:

chuckcork wrote:

I have the problem of riding in a group too, usually because I want to put too much power on, if I'm in front I just can't seem to keep the speed down and want to race off (been told off by the club captain a few times for that)

Then find a faster group. Or train solo.

I already do 230km a week solo, just going to and from work.

Ironically if I do longer solo runs I usually go slower, as with noone to "compete" with I'll not push myself as hard. I do enjoy them though, nice to be able to stop and smell the roses, take a different i.e. non-club-tradition route home and so on, just enjoy the ride without staring at someone's backside for ages.

I think though the other groups around Cork that go faster would be too fast. Plus I'd have to get to them.

Bronzie

chuckcork wrote:

I have the problem of riding in a group too, usually because I want to put too much power on, if I'm in front I just can't seem to keep the speed down and want to race off (been told off by the club captain a few times for that)

Half-wheeling the club run leader is a definite no-no. Sounds like you need to either need to find other riders in your club to do some faster chaingang rides with, or get yourself a racing licence and ride as fast as you like that way

Alex_Simmons/RST

chuckcork wrote:

Alex_Simmons/RST wrote:

chuckcork wrote:

I have the problem of riding in a group too, usually because I want to put too much power on, if I'm in front I just can't seem to keep the speed down and want to race off (been told off by the club captain a few times for that)

Then find a faster group. Or train solo.

I already do 230km a week solo, just going to and from work.

Ironically if I do longer solo runs I usually go slower, as with noone to "compete" with I'll not push myself as hard. I do enjoy them though, nice to be able to stop and smell the roses, take a different i.e. non-club-tradition route home and so on, just enjoy the ride without staring at someone's backside for ages.

I think though the other groups around Cork that go faster would be too fast. Plus I'd have to get to them.

Well then you asked about increasing speed/power but don't want to try riding faster (at least for some of the journey) when solo?

What do you expect?

If you keep riding slow, you will stay slow.

SteveR_100Milers

Alex

Wors was the OP about not being able to keep up.

Chuckcork hijacked it with the opposite problem (he rides too fast).

Alex_Simmons/RST

As for the OP - start riding sections on the flat roads where you concentrate on getting the power down. It is easier to keep the power up on hills because of the instantaneous feedback when you cut power, i.e. you slow dramatically.

Try riding sections of the flatter roads faster and in a harder gear, that will help keep the power up. 5-min one day, 10-min next time. Then do it more often and so on. And especially pedal hard on the declines.

Learning to wheelsuck is a good skill but it won't make you much fitter unless the rider in front is really motoring. Gotta stick your nose into the wind for that.