Really fit = no life?

inseine

And would you also consider that 5 hours at, say, 18mph would be a waste of time?

Ruth

Well, for someone like you who rides 100s maybe not though since you can get them over in 4 hours then perhaps it's an hour more than necessary!
I guess that unless one seriously tries the long rides v high intencity over different seasons you'll never know what works for you. I'm fine on 7 hours a week, wouldn't mind doing 10 if I had the time, but know I would go backwards on 15-20 hours. That's just me.

celbianchi

BeaconRuth wrote:

celbianchi wrote:

I certainly subscribe to the theory that 5 hours riding on a Sunday at 15mph is a waste of time for my race training.

And would you also consider that 5 hours at, say, 18mph would be a waste of time?

Ruth

For me, not a waste of time, but not essential to my training. I do spend long days in the saddle for enjoyment. E.G when i am away in France, some winter club runs.
however, with a pretty good base and my road races lasting generally up to around 3 1/2 hours max, a steady plod for 110 miles i don't think helps significantly.

Of course, if my racing involved 150 miles over mountainous terrain lasting 6 hours, I'd prepare for that.

BeaconRuth

inseine wrote:

And would you also consider that 5 hours at, say, 18mph would be a waste of time?

Ruth

Well, for someone like you who rides 100s maybe not though since you can get them over in 4 hours then perhaps it's an hour more than necessary!

I wasn't implying any reference to my own training with my question, but I would like to dispel any suggestion that I only train for 100s. I have achieved top 10 placings in open 10 mile TTs (ie. against blokes) before now, but they have only come after a serious block of long endurance training (ie. lots of 5hr rides) as well as plenty of much harder stuff.

I guess that unless one seriously tries the long rides v high intencity over different seasons you'll never know what works for you. I'm fine on 7 hours a week, wouldn't mind doing 10 if I had the time, but know I would go backwards on 15-20 hours. That's just me.

Doing one long ride a week doesn't imply a 15 to 20-hour week, though, surely? Just as doing a 5hr ride doesn't imply pootling along at 15mph, which was kinda my point to Celbianchi.

Ruth

BeaconRuth

celbianchi wrote:

BeaconRuth wrote:

celbianchi wrote:

I certainly subscribe to the theory that 5 hours riding on a Sunday at 15mph is a waste of time for my race training.

And would you also consider that 5 hours at, say, 18mph would be a waste of time?

Ruth

For me, not a waste of time, but not essential to my training.

There are certainly many ways to achieve the same end. My point really was that just because someone goes for a long ride, there's no reason to assume they're going for a pointless potter.

I do spend long days in the saddle for enjoyment. E.G when i am away in France, some winter club runs.
however, with a pretty good base and my road races lasting generally up to around 3 1/2 hours max, a steady plod for 110 miles i don't think helps significantly.

A 5hr steady plod for 110 miles............ I make that 22mph........ :shock:

It's always struck me that the fastest, strongest riders don't seem to be the fastest, strongest riders because they've done their intervals harder, or more of them. They seem to be the fastest, strongest riders because they've got the biggest basic, aerobic foundation to their fitness. You get a hell of a dose of aerobic training from a 5-hour non-stop ride at a fairly good pace.

Ruth

inseine

I wouldn't dare to cast doubt on your training Ruth but do you know for sure that you are faster over 10 miles after lots of 5 hour rides?
Lets get this straight, you're seriously fast and I'm a 2nd cat and 1.58 50 rider so what do I know? But I get by on 7 hours a week and the only time I rode a 100TT I did it on the same volume. Only managed 4.16 but not sure I could have gone quicker with different training.
Personally I only do 2 x 1 hour on the turbo, 1.30 on Saturday and 3.5 or race Sunday. After my turbo sessions I need a day off or I just train slower and slower. I know other people recover better than me, but I'm sure others just target volume and the intensity just has to fit in.

shockedsoshocked

Slow1972 wrote:

ShockedSoShocked wrote:

Slow1972 wrote:

... and Hayles seems to "get by" on his training regime!

Must be why BC dropped him like a hot brick!

But if there's other reasons you "know" why not share them?

It's all in the public domain.

Newton is of a similar age and is gunning for 2012. The only difference is one of them hasn't been pulled out of competition.

celbianchi

BeaconRuth wrote:

celbianchi wrote:

BeaconRuth wrote:

celbianchi wrote:

I certainly subscribe to the theory that 5 hours riding on a Sunday at 15mph is a waste of time for my race training.

And would you also consider that 5 hours at, say, 18mph would be a waste of time?

Ruth

For me, not a waste of time, but not essential to my training.

There are certainly many ways to achieve the same end. My point really was that just because someone goes for a long ride, there's no reason to assume they're going for a pointless potter.

I do spend long days in the saddle for enjoyment. E.G when i am away in France, some winter club runs.
however, with a pretty good base and my road races lasting generally up to around 3 1/2 hours max, a steady plod for 110 miles i don't think helps significantly.

A 5hr steady plod for 110 miles............ I make that 22mph........ :shock:

It's always struck me that the fastest, strongest riders don't seem to be the fastest, strongest riders because they've done their intervals harder, or more of them. They seem to be the fastest, strongest riders because they've got the biggest basic, aerobic foundation to their fitness. You get a hell of a dose of aerobic training from a 5-hour non-stop ride at a fairly good pace.

Ruth

you've mis-interoreted what i was saying, I would not class 110 miles in 5hours as a steady plod. The 5 hours scenario and the 110 miles (which we'll often do as a club outing) are not one and the same ride. Club run in winter probably averages 17.5mph for 5 hours or so.

inseine

I think we are getting OT with talk of 5 hour rides. The opening post asked for ideas to get fot for the time poor. Telling the guy that 5 hour rides will improve his 10 times is going ot be a bit off putting. I was trying to say that you can get to a reasonible level without the need for this.

Jeff Jones

In my experience, I need a mix of long rides, tempo and intervals to get properly fit. And whenever possible, go out for a pint or two. Just not before a big race.

inseine

go out for a pint or two

Any particular brew?

Jeff Jones

inseine wrote:

go out for a pint or two

Any particular brew?

Belgian (Chimay, Rochefort, Leffe, not Stella etc.), although you don't normally get that in pints. I usually don't notice that the next day on the bike. Otherwise something like San Miguel or Kronenbourg.

I'm afraid I can't get used to British beers of any sort, mostly because I like beer cold. I've had some drinkable ales and ciders, though.

Slow1972

ShockedSoShocked wrote:

It's all in the public domain.

Newton is of a similar age and is gunning for 2012. The only difference is one of them hasn't been pulled out of competition.

Oh, I see where you're coming from now. Not sure how the fact that he's ridden in UCI world cups for BC between last year's worlds and from what i hear has spent a lot of time down at the track with BC fits into that theory but fair enough, each entitled to their own and all that

Nelson Longflap

Jeff Jones wrote:

Belgian (Chimay, Rochefort, Leffe, not Stella etc.), although you don't normally get that in pints..

Indeed, Leffe Brune comes in 750ml bottles at 2 quid from the supermarkets! It's been my downfall this winter, and has led to me scouring the internet for dodgy suppliers of Westvleteren, in order to feed my developing Trappist beer habit.

Jeff Jones

Nelson Longflap wrote:

Jeff Jones wrote:

Belgian (Chimay, Rochefort, Leffe, not Stella etc.), although you don't normally get that in pints..

Indeed, Leffe Brune comes in 750ml bottles at 2 quid from the supermarkets! It's been my downfall this winter, and has led to me scouring the internet for dodgy suppliers of Westvleteren, in order to feed my developing Trappist beer habit.

Good luck! Westvleteren is the definitive beer. Not exactly light on the head, but hey...

Wogan

I'm delighted to see this has turned into a beer thread. It gives me hope that you can be a fit cyclist and still enjoy life.

I gather that the answer is "ride harder, not longer" - easier said than done when you commute in London, but I'll certainly give it a try and make the most of the weekend rides.

Interesting that the discussion descended into, "just ride for 5hrs at 18mph" for a while though. That's the kind of unrealistic commitment that I was talking about, and the kind of talk that makes the gentleman amateur think, "bugger it, might as well give up now and nurture my beer belly".

Bhima

While we're on the subject of beer, I was climbing the cat and fiddle the other day (flat out) and some nutter on a time trial bike (disc wheels, pointy helmet, the works) overtakes me at 25mph one-handed while swigging on a bottle of Carlsberg. :?

My first reaction was "What the fff.... :shock: " and I was about to shout it too - but as he went past me he turned round and said "want a beer" in a German/Polish accent, which totally threw me off my rhythm. I had to shift to the smaller chainring and, as a result, got left behind. He had 2 more bottles in his back jersey pockets!

What a crazy encounter! :shock:

derekwatts

Not read all of this thread, but I sympathise with the original poster with regards to following a lot of the training plans.

I work for a long haul airline and so spend my life in a permanent state of jetlag. By the time one's body is almost recovered, you go away again. So 'form' just seems to follow a sequence of peaks and troughs that often don't bear much relation to how much you are riding or what you are doing. I just ride as often as I can when the weather is good and if not, put in an hour or two of intervals on the rollers. I try to ride hard when I get on the bike, and if I want to rest, I sleep! I know I won't ever be able to race because the job will interfere too much, so I just try to gain motivation from small improvements in my own fitness and performance, enjoy it and perhaps take the bike away to ride on trips to some nice destinations. Maybe do some sportives cos I like a long 6 hour ride over challenging terrain.

I recall something Greg LeMond said relating to time management for racers that are either in a full time job or full time study, or have family commitments. He said limit training to 7-8 hours a week, as more than that will probably do more harm than good as you try to cram too much into your valuable time and end up tired, stressed and under rested.