Help for 16yr old please

paldred
paldred Posts: 25
edited August 2009 in Training, fitness and health
Hi, im 16 and im looking to convert from mountain biker to roadie. Iv ridden at most trail centres in wales, but im always riding my hardtail on the road now. I was riding 30k a day for quite a long time at just under average 25 km/h. I was regularly overtaking road cyclists especially on hills. I have a vo2 max of 61 and really want to get more seroius. I can't afford a road bike at moment so i bought slicks. But after a week long holoday iv come back and my legs feel like lead and ican't do more than 30km now with slicks. i did do 65km on my knobblys. But im still not getting back into it now a week after coming back.

Any help please and how i can get more seroius?
Thanks

Comments

  • brownbosh
    brownbosh Posts: 602
    Hi paldred, well done for your efforts so far. I would strongly recommend you find a local youth friendly club (if there is one) and start there. So much can be learned from old codgers in one winters worth of club runs that this whole forum couldnt hold it! Good luck.
  • paldred
    paldred Posts: 25
    Thanks, but can can i join with only a hardtail! and any ideas of why im feeling so rubbish at the moment and how to improve it? cheers
  • brownbosh
    brownbosh Posts: 602
    Take two days rest from the bike. The most common mistake i see in youth riders is the constant pushing the limits and neglecting to fuel and hydrate properly. As for the bike you would have a difficult time to race with flat bars but i still think a good club is the place to get the knowledge you need. There is no reason you cannot do a club run on flat bars even if you may look a little out of place, the legs do the talking. Road bikes are not cheap and neither is the travel and race fees involved in competition. If you are not earning you will need some understanding support on your side! Many clubs will have riders selling used good quality bikes although without money that will be of little use to you.
  • nolf
    nolf Posts: 1,287
    If you're near cardiff, head towards cardiff Ajax. They are based at Maindy track and are a good introduction to competitive road riding- at a very low level. Whenever I've met Ajax riders they struck me as friendly and informed.

    Other than that try and find a local club who can help you out and give you training guidance etc.
    "I hold it true, what'er befall;
    I feel it, when I sorrow most;
    'Tis better to have loved and lost;
    Than never to have loved at all."

    Alfred Tennyson
  • nolf
    nolf Posts: 1,287
    If you're near cardiff, head towards cardiff Ajax. They are based at Maindy track and are a good introduction to competitive road riding- at a very low level. Whenever I've met Ajax riders they struck me as friendly and informed.

    Other than that try and find a local club who can help you out and give you training guidance etc.
    "I hold it true, what'er befall;
    I feel it, when I sorrow most;
    'Tis better to have loved and lost;
    Than never to have loved at all."

    Alfred Tennyson

Categories