Think i've hit another training plateau... What to do???
Comments
-
Bhima, what are you actually training for?
Are you racing yet, and if not are you planning to? What type of thing do you think you might be good at - track, climbing, TT's, crits, road racing? Training is quite specific, so it's not hugely beneficial to do short hard TT efforts every day if you want to enter an average fifty or sixty mile 3/4 road race for example. I find it helps to have some sort of target, or rough aim for the year.
I also think that racing is the best training, so if you don't think you're good enough, just get a licence anyway, enter some events and smash yourself up - you'll soon get up to speed and find out what your strengths or weaknesses are.0 -
Right, yeah, i'm going to get in a race before August - that's my target.
Just looking on the BC website for races near Manchester - the closest ones seem to be around Preston/Rochdale - pretty far away! I'll get a BC membership this week and enter one in July, so I can book some train tickets early.
Edwin - i'm training for TTs/Road Racing but TT skills can be used in Road Racing to an extent, so I don't think i'm wasting my time, if I decide to focus on just Road Racing...
Anyway - the latest update:
I went out riding yesterday with a mate in an attempt to share the work over the 5 miles. We did it in an average of 27mph - it was brilliant! He commented on my insane cadence and mentioned that I was a lot more out of breath than he was afterwards. I think my unexplainable "freshness" afterwards can probably be explained somehow by the fact that I don't tend to push big gears...0 -
Anyway - the latest update:
I went out riding yesterday with a mate in an attempt to share the work over the 5 miles. We did it in an average of 27mph - it was brilliant! He commented on my insane cadence and mentioned that I was a lot more out of breath than he was afterwards. I think my unexplainable "freshness" afterwards can probably be explained somehow by the fact that I don't tend to push big gears...[/quote]
Why do a 5 mile TT and share the work????? You done 27mp/h avg for the TT :roll: Start doing some 20 mile TTs and post times.
After reading your posts for a few weeks, you seem to be a bit of a tosser who loves to talk it up. Or maybe thats just what i have percieved. :P2009 Cervelo S1
2008 Specialized Allez Elite0 -
Well said snadden9485.0
-
Where's the handbag emoticon when you want one
0 -
The TT the other day was supposed to be a "recovery ride" - obviously, I didn't stick to the plan. That was just a bit of fun really and is irrelevant - I was just mentioning that I need to drop my cadence a bit.
I've been trying to do longer TTs - but to get to decent roads, it takes time, and recently i've had limited time to get out riding so have stuck to the 5-mile route.freehub wrote:What is your job?
Got a regular courier job on Saturday evenings and I also record gigs with my portable studio. Really really busy night.0 -
If I have only 2 bananas an hour, I start to run out of energy and, with the weather i'm getting here, 1L of water/hr
What?!!If that is true never do a 80 mile road race because you'd need panniers to carry the 3.5L of water and 10 bananas. :roll:0 -
Bhima wrote:I've been trying to do longer TTs - but to get to decent roads, it takes time, and recently i've had limited time to get out riding so have stuck to the 5-mile route.
Do it twice then!!"There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world, t'would be a pity to damage yours."0 -
A TT will be an out and back event anyhow, so do 5 miles, turn around as quick as possible and go back to the start. TBH unless you are doing repeated 5 mile efforts, as a form of interval, then just doing a 5 mile TT will not help greatly with a 10 or 25 mile TT.
I don't think on a 2 hour ride you will run out of energy, I've done a couple of 50m TT's with just one gel, and a couple of swigs of drink in that period of time, and although completely knackered by the effort, still had plenty of energy.0 -
Right.SBezza wrote:A TT will be an out and back event anyhow, so do 5 miles, turn around as quick as possible and go back to the start. TBH unless you are doing repeated 5 mile efforts, as a form of interval, then just doing a 5 mile TT will not help greatly with a 10 or 25 mile TT.
I don't think on a 2 hour ride you will run out of energy, I've done a couple of 50m TT's with just one gel, and a couple of swigs of drink in that period of time, and although completely knackered by the effort, still had plenty of energy.
Didn't know that - I thought they'd just be loops or straight lines, etc...
Been meaning to try it, but I always overcook it, getting to the end of the 5 miles wrecked and can't be ar5ed turning round! The reason I want a powermeter is to help me pace myself a bit better. I guess it just takes practice. Only been doing it for 2 weeks now so it's early days... Perhaps a powermeter would not be needed once I get into it more...
As for running out of energy - I don't feel like I run out of energy on just 1 banana per hour but, as I add more bananas, I tend to feel progressively better, somehow. 4 is a step too far and makes things worse because I feel like I want to puke. I've experimented for months and there's probably no scientific proof I can give you to justify having 3, but it just "works" for me. 0 -
I've just done my first chain gang since the break, 30 miles at a hard pace and drank just 250ml of water.
You need to get on some chain gangs bhima, asap...0 -
Which chaingang did you do? With a particular club?
Done a couple of 2-man chaingangs in the past week. Not the same though.
I'm keeping an eye on the wheeler's website as they always put up chaingang info at the very last minute. :shock:0 -
Macclesfield Wheelers, there was about 12 or so of us. Every monday night at 7pm except bank holidays.0
-
I'm genuinely interested - Where do you keep so many bananas?
If I'm heading out for 5 hours, I might take a banana, a jam roll and maybe an energy gel, as well as a couple of litres of water. You'd take 15 bananas. The only gain I can see that this will bring you is accelerated weight loss, because after 15 bananas you wouldn't be getting off the loo all night.0 -
he reason I want a powermeter is to help me pace myself a bit better. I guess it just takes practice.
There is things called heart rate monitors. They are somewhat more affordable than a power meter. Regarding the banana intake, you may need to learn to start living without them for racing. Good luck peeling a banana in a road race @ 40 km/h! I can go out for a 3 hour ride with 1 litre of water and no food and feel fine afterwards. I ensure i have a decent breakfast or feed before the ride and eat when i return. If its a long ride (eg 4 - 5 hrs, a few musli bars, a gel and some bread is more than enough with about 1.5 - 2L of water.2009 Cervelo S1
2008 Specialized Allez Elite0 -
Oh yes, I remember you mentioned that in another thread - where do you lot meet? Could I turn up next Monday? Or do I need to be a member? Might join actually...NapoleonD wrote:Macclesfield Wheelers, there was about 12 or so of us. Every monday night at 7pm except bank holidays. There seems to be a lot of rides going per week, compared to other clubs.
I rarely go out for 5 hours anymore! I'm usually out for 3 hours, and 3 bananas fit quite easily in each jersey pocket, equalling 9. When I used to go out for hours, i'd stop off at shops to buy loads of bananas. You can have a bunch of 5/6/7 in each pocket if you have some hanging out the back, if you know what I meanwhyamihere wrote:I'm genuinely interested - Where do you keep so many bananas?
If you think that looks bad, I cycled past someone fixing a puncture today and noticed he had a banana and energy bar stuck to the top-tube with gaffa-tape.
Oh really?whyamihere wrote:The only gain I can see that this will bring you is accelerated weight loss, because after 15 bananas you wouldn't be getting off the loo all night. I can't tell if this is a joke or not - I always thought i'd have trouble losing weight if I was overeating - as i'd be taking in more calories than i'd be buring on the bike... :?: 0 -
Bhima wrote:The reason I want a powermeter is to help me pace myself a bit better. I guess it just takes practice. Only been doing it for 2 weeks now so it's early days... Perhaps a powermeter would not be needed once I get into it more...
Why do you need a powermeter? Start going on club runs, learn how to race in a bunch, learn how to ride in the wind, learn how to hold a wheel, then start perhaps thinking about thinking about getting a powermeter.
Once you're in the gutter getting a good kicking it means nothing!"A cyclist has nothing to lose but his chain"
PTP Runner Up 20150 -
I'm with you shocked... Numbers are no bloody use if you're getting a shoeing. You KNOW you're getting a shoeing. I find that all my HRM, speed data etc is of purely academic interest to racing, and I only got one after about 5 years of cycling where my entire training plan was "ride up every hill in the lakes as hard as you can- Then go race"
To be honest I find scientific training a bit dull sometimes, but you've got to maximise your time and now i'm no longer a single man, that's where it's at. I can get a pretty decent bike for the price of a power meter too.
As for you 'nanas Bhima... You will simply be unable to peel a banana every 20 minutes in a race. Not possible. So you're going to have to sort that too."In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
Also Bhima WRT buying train tickets to go racing... As a man without a drivers license, I find this to be one of the many benefits of being in a club. For less than the price of a ticket your mate will take you to and from your door and listen to you griping about how nobody can ride in a stright line anymore on the way home."In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
I'd like to nominate this post as the funniest Bhima quote ever................and it has got some serious competition.Bhima wrote:I'm usually out for 3 hours, and 3 bananas fit quite easily in each jersey pocket, equalling 9. When I used to go out for hours, i'd stop off at shops to buy loads of bananas. You can have a bunch of 5/6/7 in each pocket if you have some hanging out the back, if you know what I mean
0 -
Bhima,
WRT the banana fixation, you would be unable to peel a banana on a chain gang, you can manage drinking ok though so it would be good practice. I only have something to eat if the ride is over 2 hours!
If you are wanting to come along, have a look at the website and look at the 'training' section.
http://www.macclesfieldwheelers.org.uk
It says average 17-18mph however last night was about 21.5 on the laps (mine slowed quite a bit on the last climb, lack of fitness more than leg problems) so my average ended up being 19.9). More than enough for someone who broke a leg less than three months ago and has put on over 10 kilos!0 -
I really can't work out if this post is a joke. Bhima sounds more like a mobile greengrocer than a racing cyclist. How about fitting a basket on the front to carry more bananas? Or get one of those delivery bikes like butchers used to have in the old days?
Seriously, if you want to race you need to get used to riding in a bunch and holding a while, and eating less over long distances. Your body should actually adapt to training and start utilising fat more effictively, reducing the need to use top up with carbs contsantly. That many bananas is just ridiculous. Even over an 80 mile race I'll only take two 750ml bottles of energy drink and two or three gels at the most.0 -
Pokerface wrote:NapoleonD wrote:
If you are wanting to come along, have a look at the website and look at the 'training' section.
I'd actually like to come along to one of those - but it says members only. Hard and fast rule or is it actually open?
I'm not sure tbh, pretty sure you have to be a member but it's 12.50 well spent 0 -
NapoleonD wrote:Pokerface wrote:NapoleonD wrote:
If you are wanting to come along, have a look at the website and look at the 'training' section.
I'd actually like to come along to one of those - but it says members only. Hard and fast rule or is it actually open?
I'm not sure tbh, pretty sure you have to be a member but it's 12.50 well spent
Well - I'm looking for a new club and DO work in Macc. Perhaps I'll come out to the next one on Monday for a trial ride before signing up for good.0 -
Give John Jackson a bell (number listed on the website) just to let him know your intentions, shouldn't be a problem.0
