How fit do you need to be to race?

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  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Without looking at the garmin trace etc - the easiest thing to do is get involved with a club.
    Do their club runs.

    Learn to ride in a chaingang, and follow a wheel.

    Find out who races there and how they get on. If you can hold onto them - you'll do fine. If you cant - you'll need to train more.

    I really cant see a reasonably fit guy hacking it in a race - I know when I was racing I was more than reasonably fit - I'd done years of cycling and shedloads of specific turbo sessions and I didnt set the world alight.
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    oldwelshman wrote:
    Roughly if someone can average 18 to 20mph on lone rides, or maybe do 25 minute 10tt and maybe hit 30mph on the flat, then they should be abloe to do a 4th cat or go race.


    I know you said roughly - so not holding you to it...

    But I can easily do those things (including doing a sub-22 10 mile TT). Yet I get battered in road races. Why? Because I can't handle the changes of pace.

    That's definitely one thing I'll be working on over the winter to improve my racing for next year.
  • Pseudonym
    Pseudonym Posts: 1,032
    Milese wrote:

    I'm 28 so younger than you, but believe me, bar one or two riders, I am generally amongst the youngest, and you've certainly got another 10 years of 3rd cat racing in you, at least if you want it. Plenty seem to race into their 50's.

    at least 10 years, and probably a lot more. There are plenty of guys in my region who are comfortably holding onto second cat status well into their 50s...
  • oldwelshman
    oldwelshman Posts: 4,733
    Pokerface wrote:
    oldwelshman wrote:
    Roughly if someone can average 18 to 20mph on lone rides, or maybe do 25 minute 10tt and maybe hit 30mph on the flat, then they should be abloe to do a 4th cat or go race.


    I know you said roughly - so not holding you to it...

    But I can easily do those things (including doing a sub-22 10 mile TT). Yet I get battered in road races. Why? Because I can't handle the changes of pace.

    That's definitely one thing I'll be working on over the winter to improve my racing for next year.
    Yopu got battered in 4th cat races? :D dont believe you :wink:
    I said roughly but also added speed of 30mph on the flat which if someone can do should mean they have a good top end speed and change of speed to be able to handle change of pace, hopefully.
    http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/ll245/oldwelshman/
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK5Bfqj5fxY
  • Angoose
    Angoose Posts: 8
    Am finding this thread really helpfull, have spent half a season on 10TT's but am interested in venturing in the world of road racing. Finished my last TT of the season with a 25:38 so hopefully with some decent winter training and getting on the club scene i'll be set and game on.

    some great advice on here guys thanks alot.

    angus
  • oldwelshman
    oldwelshman Posts: 4,733
    Angoose wrote:
    Am finding this thread really helpfull, have spent half a season on 10TT's but am interested in venturing in the world of road racing. Finished my last TT of the season with a 25:38 so hopefully with some decent winter training and getting on the club scene i'll be set and game on.

    some great advice on here guys thanks alot.

    angus
    Shoul;d be ok for you.
    Base miles in winter and start doing more speed work from about JAnuary and your ready by April :-)
    I normally do about 8 to 12 weeks from a break to racing and being competative. Depends how your training goes,some do less some do more, some race all year round some take breaks.
    http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/ll245/oldwelshman/
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK5Bfqj5fxY
  • hammerite
    hammerite Posts: 3,408
    Pokerface wrote:
    oldwelshman wrote:
    Roughly if someone can average 18 to 20mph on lone rides, or maybe do 25 minute 10tt and maybe hit 30mph on the flat, then they should be abloe to do a 4th cat or go race.


    I know you said roughly - so not holding you to it...

    But I can easily do those things (including doing a sub-22 10 mile TT). Yet I get battered in road races. Why? Because I can't handle the changes of pace.

    That's definitely one thing I'll be working on over the winter to improve my racing for next year.

    Interesting discussion. When it comes to TTs I'm really not very good, I've managed 24m 20ish for a 10 this season, with all the gear. When it comes to road races I'm not much better! But I fair better in road races than some of the guys at my club who can put 2-3 mins in to my 10 time.

    Fitness obviously plays a big part in being able to race, but so does experience. I only started racing this season, probably did 8 races in total - I got dropped in 3 of them, but also managed get some places in others. Not one race was the same, I learnt so much, mainly to do with positioning and when to put efforts in. Certainly gave me an idea of what I need to do over the winter to train to be ready for next season.

    Back to the OP. You seem to be able to ride a decent pace considering you've only been riding a few weeks. Mix it up with group riding, some interval work, some longer rides (most important) and I think you'll be in a good place. Aim for some early season races, maybe a few in a winter series to just get an idea for what you need to do. If you get dropped early in those few races, go away and train some more before attempting to race again. If you do well, don't sit back thinking you've cracked it, train harder as you'll have to if you move up the ranks.

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