How much training should i be doing for U16 races?

Hunterg46
Hunterg46 Posts: 133
edited February 2010 in Training, fitness and health
So this will be my first year racing at under16 level, but how much training a week should i be doing? :?

Thanks.

Comments

  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    not too much, not too little...

    seriously - I don't think anyone can answer that. Might be an idea to add a bit more detail into your question. It's a bit like asking "how far should I be cycling?"....
  • Hunterg46
    Hunterg46 Posts: 133
    hmm okay fair enough.

    I do about 70-80 miles at the weekend, and i try to fit in about 30miles on the rollers during the week, should i be doing more? Less?
  • chrisw12
    chrisw12 Posts: 1,246
    Go and join a club and get real cyclists and qualified coaches to guide you.

    DO NOT take any advice from an internet forum yet.

    If there's no one in a club that can help you, then join another club.
  • mentalalex
    mentalalex Posts: 266
    are you a member of a club ?? I'm an u16 to.

    13 hours is the max you want to do in a week . annual hours of 350 ish a year.

    email me for some more details a.welburn@yahoo.co.uk
    I do science, sometimes.
  • DanEvs
    DanEvs Posts: 640
    mentalalex wrote:
    are you a member of a club ?? I'm an u16 to.

    13 hours is the max you want to do in a week . annual hours of 350 ish a year.

    email me for some more details a.welburn@yahoo.co.uk

    You'd do well to take advice from Alex, bugger passed me on a rigid singlespeed in last years Dyfi. :shock:
  • mentalalex
    mentalalex Posts: 266
    who are you ?? :) dyfi was good fun :)
    I do science, sometimes.
  • mentalalex
    mentalalex Posts: 266
    also what do you plan on racing Road ? MTB ? track ?


    do you ride cross atm ?
    I do science, sometimes.
  • DanEvs
    DanEvs Posts: 640
    mentalalex wrote:
    who are you ?? :) dyfi was good fun :)

    I finished 36th :( and you passed me on a fireroad about two hours in. I was close to death I think. :D

    Hopefully Dyfi 10 entries will open in the next few days. 8)
  • Hunterg46
    Hunterg46 Posts: 133
    How much do you do Alex? And im guessing you race?

    I'm hoping to start closed-circuit road races, but the club i'm at at the moment doesnt really cater for U16's, so i think im gonna have to change :?
  • mentalalex
    mentalalex Posts: 266
    i do a fair amount atm i have a training plan which i follow. but 8-10 hours depending on stuff.

    yes i race MTB ROAD and Cross

    Road racing alright then.


    where are you based ?

    are you going to do the national circuit series ??
    I do science, sometimes.
  • Hunterg46
    Hunterg46 Posts: 133
    West sussex, so i'm gonna start racing at Dunsfold i think. And yourself?

    No, when is it??

    And what are the road races like? Distance, Speed etc..? Thanks
  • mentalalex
    mentalalex Posts: 266
    i'm a member of lichfield ccc West midlands.


    they are the main ones there are ones at shrewsbury, mallory , darleymoor.

    think they are around 40mins-hour. speed is from 25 mph-30 mph but in a group this is fine tbh.


    I'm mainly a MTB racer but i will do road this year as well.


    have you had any past experience of racing ? what sort of speed do you generally average on your own >?

    are you better at climbing or sprinting or are you more of power house TT ?

    Have you used any power training devices before so you know what watts your putting out.
    I do science, sometimes.
  • Hunterg46
    Hunterg46 Posts: 133
    wow thats quite quick.

    Umm well i started with velodrome racing, and soon became a bit of an expert at that, but 25mph on the road is too quick for me!

    On my own, i usaully average about 20, if im gonna cycle for an hour, but ive never done a ride in a group averaging more than 15mph (becuase of how slow the group is).

    I'm assuming its slightly easier in a large group though?
  • Hunterg46
    Hunterg46 Posts: 133
    I'm defiantly a sprinter more than everything though.

    and no, iv'e never used a power training device thingy :?
  • mentalalex
    mentalalex Posts: 266
    Track Great. if you good at track youll be fine on the road races tbh

    have a go at cross its great for you bike handling skills.


    if you can average 20mph on your own you should be fine. thats what most of us do tbh

    What speeds do you sprint up to ?

    if you have a chance to use some watt bikes, (indoor train bikes go for it there great)

    i was in a large group on sunday we were cruising at just under 30mph its great cu's you just get towed along.

    p.s you got facebook ??
    I do science, sometimes.
  • Hunterg46
    Hunterg46 Posts: 133
    yeah, and its great fun :P

    what is cross? lots of people have been talking about it but im not sure

    on the flat i can reach 36-38 sprinting... not sure what thats like in comparison with others my age, but it feels bloody quick :D

    Wow thats good, umm yeah just search George Hunter :)
  • mentalalex
    mentalalex Posts: 266
    Cross bikes are basically road bike with knobly tyres and they have canti breaks and wider clearance for the mud.


    n you race them off road

    heres me at my local race.



    22641_271697199910_646104910_3193658_8228017_n.jpg

    use that image to add me on facebook i can't find yours.


    thats a good sprint speed thats top end tbh thats due to your track back ground., i can't sprint only get to around 34 tbh

    I'm a climber cus i'm really light
    I do science, sometimes.
  • Hunterg46
    Hunterg46 Posts: 133
    wow yeah, you certainly look like a climber ;)

    umm your name?
  • mentalalex
    mentalalex Posts: 266
    ta, Ale welburn thats my D.p as well
    I do science, sometimes.
  • mentalalex
    mentalalex Posts: 266
    Alex Welburn i mean sorry
    I do science, sometimes.
  • Hunterg46
    Hunterg46 Posts: 133
    Added. :)
  • jim one
    jim one Posts: 183
    Not a lot. Under 16 races are about 30mins long so focus on speed not distance.

    An example is Monday 45min spin
    Tuesday 5x2min efforts about 60 mins in total
    Wednesday rest day
    Thursday 2x 10min effort with 5min rest in between; again around an hour
    Friday 8x 30sec sprint attacks with 30secs rest in between; again around an hour with warm up/cool down
    Saturday 60min spin
    Sunday race or 2hour ride.

    The main thing at your age is to enjoy riding, dont get too caught up on specific riding. Best way is to work out an up and down route, where you nail the hills- like the short attacks that happen in races. FUN is the word :)

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