Watts required to race 4th cat?

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Comments

  • SteveR_100Milers
    SteveR_100Milers Posts: 5,987
    Tom Butcher wrote:
    Just going back a few pages - did someone say 25-28mph for a cat4 race ? My experience is that is a bit optimistic - 24/25 for a flat circuit race would be nearer the mark.

    I did, and its not average speed, but typical speeds that you might regularly encounter in the group. OK the sprint will probably be faster, and of course the average will be lower. <DaveyL PEDANT MODE ON> My post was in response to the question of "what are the typical speeds in a 4th cat RR" and not "what is the typical average speed" <PEDANT MODE OFF> :wink:

    and this thread is exactly the kind of thing I envisaged in the "amateur racing" section.....
    http://www.pontypoolrcc.co.uk/
    www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=44397853765
  • bahzob
    bahzob Posts: 2,195
    SteveR_100Milers wrote:
    Tom Butcher wrote:
    Just going back a few pages - did someone say 25-28mph for a cat4 race ? My experience is that is a bit optimistic - 24/25 for a flat circuit race would be nearer the mark.

    I did, and its not average speed, but typical speeds that you might regularly encounter in the group. OK the sprint will probably be faster, and of course the average will be lower. <DaveyL PEDANT MODE ON> My post was in response to the question of "what are the typical speeds in a 4th cat RR" and not "what is the typical average speed" <PEDANT MODE OFF> :wink:

    and this thread is exactly the kind of thing I envisaged in the "amateur racing" section.....

    Can be a lot faster as well. Got really excited first ever race at Thruxton when we hit near 40mph on the back straight...bit of a downer when turned the corner and uphill into the wind slipped back to 15mph... Still experience of doing that sort of speed in a group is great fun and reason enough to take part in a race or two I think.

    And yes it is nice to have a thread in "Race" that deals with racing.
    Martin S. Newbury RC
  • bahzob
    bahzob Posts: 2,195
    Blog of a 3 cat also racing at Hillingdon (in E123 field) here. Includes power figures and reinforces point that relationship between power input and result output pretty hazy at best.

    http://lbrc.org/blog2/default.aspx
    Martin S. Newbury RC
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Good link there bahzob, gives me some hope!
  • pinkbikini
    pinkbikini Posts: 876
    bahzob wrote:
    Blog of a 3 cat also racing at Hillingdon (in E123 field) here. Includes power figures and reinforces point that relationship between power input and result output pretty hazy at best.

    http://lbrc.org/blog2/default.aspx

    I have chatted to this guy before and I have to say (as I said to him) that I think his powermeter is pretty inaccurate - it's a Polar one that measures chain tension. At one of the races where we were doing (approx) the same amount of work his average W was at least 50W below mine (I use a Powertap). He's more powerful than he thinks!
    The point made about W vs. results is spot on though...!
  • Mettan
    Mettan Posts: 2,103
    mattybeck wrote:
    At 22 years old ran 1:56 for the 800 so i think i've got a reasonably good engine when it's trained up. I'm 35 now and after breaking my ankle and ending my running days at 23 i'm now getting back into a formal treaining regime which i enjoy. I hope that if i can get my engine back to reasonably close to what it was then i could give a reasonable account on myself.

    Sounds good - personally, I'd carefully pick a closed-circuit race (for your first race) - although the avg speed will be slightly higher than an on-road race, you'll just be able to ride, rather than paying too much attention to the road surface. There'll be enough going on as it is without having to contend with road surface issues.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    pinkbikini wrote:
    bahzob wrote:
    Blog of a 3 cat also racing at Hillingdon (in E123 field) here. Includes power figures and reinforces point that relationship between power input and result output pretty hazy at best.

    http://lbrc.org/blog2/default.aspx

    I have chatted to this guy before and I have to say (as I said to him) that I think his powermeter is pretty inaccurate - it's a Polar one that measures chain tension. At one of the races where we were doing (approx) the same amount of work his average W was at least 50W below mine (I use a Powertap). He's more powerful than he thinks!
    The point made about W vs. results is spot on though...!

    DOH!

    :(
  • doyler78
    doyler78 Posts: 1,951
    pinkbikini wrote:
    bahzob wrote:
    Blog of a 3 cat also racing at Hillingdon (in E123 field) here. Includes power figures and reinforces point that relationship between power input and result output pretty hazy at best.

    http://lbrc.org/blog2/default.aspx

    I have chatted to this guy before and I have to say (as I said to him) that I think his powermeter is pretty inaccurate - it's a Polar one that measures chain tension. At one of the races where we were doing (approx) the same amount of work his average W was at least 50W below mine (I use a Powertap). He's more powerful than he thinks!
    The point made about W vs. results is spot on though...!

    Can I ask how you determined this? On bike comparison or post ride analysis of the data?
  • jp1985
    jp1985 Posts: 434
    Sorry to hijack the thread but does anyone have any other peak power output values for the sprint in 3/4 cat races? Other than the data here http://lbrc.org/blog2/default.aspx which seem a little low i've only been able to find data for elite track and road races

    Cheers

    Joe
  • bahzob
    bahzob Posts: 2,195
    jp1985 wrote:
    Sorry to hijack the thread but does anyone have any other peak power output values for the sprint in 3/4 cat races? Other than the data here http://lbrc.org/blog2/default.aspx which seem a little low i've only been able to find data for elite track and road races

    Cheers

    Joe

    By coincidence just finished 7 races of Hillingdon winter series (highly recommended BTW). Managed to get just enough points to make it to 3rd cat and posted this summary for reference (with this thread in mind in fact).

    http://mr-miff-on-tour.blogspot.com/2009/02/3rd-cat-stats-summary.html

    As noted in post, peak power output is in fact not huge (and more often than not in my case did not happen during sprint itself).

    Despite this, in the sprints I was going for, I overtook quite a few and don't recall being overtaken much if at all. Key deciding factor in sprints was much more to do with being in right place at right time (especially to avoid being chopped up or worse). Further e.g. of this is that my peak power this season is 890W, 10secs 810W and didn't come close to matching this. Don't think this was due to being knackered but more because mind more focussed on picking right route/avoiding trouble than sprint technique.
    Martin S. Newbury RC
  • Alex_Simmons/RST
    Alex_Simmons/RST Posts: 4,161
    jp1985 wrote:
    Sorry to hijack the thread but does anyone have any other peak power output values for the sprint in 3/4 cat races? Other than the data here http://lbrc.org/blog2/default.aspx which seem a little low i've only been able to find data for elite track and road races

    Cheers

    Joe
    1000-1500W peak is pretty typical I'd say. I've seen higher.
    RST Sport : Coaching - Training Plans - Powermeters -- My blog -- AeroCoach Australia
  • bahzob
    bahzob Posts: 2,195
    Alex_Simmons/RST wrote:
    1000-1500W peak is pretty typical I'd say. I've seen higher.

    This would high for the 4th cat races I've been involved in, where 7xxW was enough to pass rather than be passed and end up in the points.
    Martin S. Newbury RC
  • mattybeck
    mattybeck Posts: 135
    OP here
    Did another test night after a weekend of rest.
    1hr - 306 watts
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,553
    softlad wrote:
    "slow down fellas, we're all pushing out far too many watts.." - its not gonna happen like that, is it..?
    You've ridden with my friend too then? :wink:
  • bahzob
    bahzob Posts: 2,195
    mattybeck wrote:
    OP here
    Did another test night after a weekend of rest.
    1hr - 306 watts

    Time to try a race or two then,,
    Martin S. Newbury RC

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