Advice on endurance (I think)

Jon8a

I did the Colomba Chemo Classic yesterday and while I put in what I think is a respectable time I was dying on the last few climbs. I could spin, and luckily I was on my old bike with a triple because I was using it, but as soon as I tried to actually put any power into the pedals my legs went to jelly. I was perfectly happy on the flat and could hold 20mph but there was still no power in my legs to go any faster.

So any theories - I know I went out too fast at the beginning (I would have finished in 3.30 had I held that pace). I think I was eating enough and didn't feel like I had bonked (I've done that and it's much worse).

If it's a physical thing what sort of rides do I need to do to improve. My typical rides are 60-70 miles with some hill but no more than 8-900m of climbing. Ride longer or ride more hills or something else?

jgsi

You said the answer..

learn how to pace yourself better
cheat.... tuck into a group and hide :twisted:

Alex_Simmons/RST

Training to raise threshold power does wonderful things for our endurance.

sagalout

You got the 2nd fastest time of the day from what I can see, so I wouldn't be too hard on yourself!

Jon8a

Yes but I was beaten by a guy a was dragging up all but the last two hills when my legs gave out.

bahzob

Improving FTP will help, it usually does. Also worth thinking about specificity. I do events where last climb is the decider and one way I prepare for them is to ride until tired then try to do a sustained final effort. Part of reason for doing this is physiological benefit but part is mental . Just trying to find something to latch onto that keeps u going. (In my case its a combination of keeping cadence above 70rpm and breathing loud + in extremis counting the white dashes on the road edge..whatever works).

If you are used to doing 60 - 70 mile rides how about making one route 3x20 mile loops ideally with some climbing in last couple of miles. Then aim to do each loop same or quicker than last one pace. Final one should hopefuly get you close to how you felt in race.

Or do some hill reps, trying to replicate the feeling you had on the last couple of hills then keep repeating until cant do any more.