Races etc Who Bothers with a Warm Up?

jgsi

Without a solid warmup I am next to useless.
However, it is noticeable how many don't bother and still put in good efforts in the event.
How do you do it?
(Don't turn up for a 10am race which actually starts at 9am and expect miracles :oops: )

imposter2.0

JGSI wrote:

Without a solid warmup I am next to useless.

Same here. I know lots can seemingly ride hard from the start with little/no warm up - but I don't kow how they manage it.

fish156

It depends. Is there a lengthy neutralised section out to the race circuit, or is it out of race HQ and immediately up a hill?

jgsi

Even with a neutralised section (and they are never that long are they? ) it can still go total balls out almost from the off.
For me, I just cannot cope with those huge Hr spikes so early on if I have not prepped properly.

mrc1

I am one who definitely needs to warm up. If I don't warm up then particularly in cold weather I get that burning throat feeling after the first hard effort which I never really recover from and makes me feel awful.

I did an open TT on a new course for me last week which is near our new place. I rode up there planning to use the ride over as a warm up (about 10 miles of riding with some harder stuff worked in) but due to it being very busy on the night I was shoe horned in without a proper start time meaning I ended up standing around for 45 mins at the start line waiting for a gap in entrants. Meant that by the time I did set off my legs had seized up and the whole thing went to pot.

Tom Butcher

I never get there in time for a decent warm up - ideally though I would - certainly on club rides I go better after an hour or so but most road races a quick spin up and down outside the HQ has to suffice.

danowat

I certainly don't "need" a warm-up, I've done some of my best rides "cold" (normally turning up late with literally minutes before my start time!).

If I have time to warmup, I will, not specifically for physical reasons, but I find a warmup can get my head in the right place if nothing else.

colinsmith123

My guess is all those that can't race, balls out from the start without a proper warm-up are over the hill. Like me.

buckles

Warm ups usually reduce my performance

xscreamsuk

My first season racing TT's and I have a set warm up I do on turbo before every race. I do the same warm up before every turbo session as well so i know it well. Helps get me in a routine etc mentally as well as physically.