Good form, no results

DavidJB

Had 5 chest infections this season so never hit form, just as I'd start feeling good I'd get ill again!

Sounds like you're doing too much work on the front and exhausting yourself. You can be twice as strong as anyone else but if you've not kept your powder dry you'll have nothing at the end of the race.

Remember to respect your opponents...they are doing just as much training, if not more than you!

Tom Dean

You need to start looking at your weaknesses instead of thinking your strengths are going to guarantee you race wins.

I assume you are getting some professional coaching?

okgo

Very hard one to get right, I agree that you're strong enough to be winning the races at regional a level (I can't remember your exact figs, but they were decent), I too was finding it hard to get results until it just kind of clicked a little bit in the regional a races, following the wheels, and not being afraid to commit to an attack, that is probably the key thing, when you go make sure you commit if it looks good. I've got probably my best results ( two wins and a 3rd the other week) from committing to a move and putting my all into it. On the other hand I've had a fair few races where I've missed the main move etc too, its very frustrating.

I doubt you have any weakness to worry about fitness wise but probably will get where you want to be if you can get the tactics bit right.

In racing I've been doing its always never the strongest that wins and almost always the one who dared to take a risk.

imposter2.0

madasahattersley wrote:

All helpful suggestions cheers, and I guess there is still a couple of months left...

Tom Dean wrote:

I assume you are getting some professional coaching?

Not really, I feel like most coaches around here at least have just read a book on coaching and are charging £60-£100 a month to do what I could do myself!

Recommendation is a good way of finding a good coach. It's a safe bet that at least some of the guys beating you to the line are being coached professionally. Find out who they use - if you want to go down that route. You just have to personally weigh up the costs against the potential benefits, I guess.

Tom Dean

For a young rider with talent and ambition I don't think self-coaching is the way to go. You are putting yourself at a disadvantage if you don't get the best possible guidance.

You may need to make sacrifices. Sorry if this comes across as harsh, but you will not make it to the top level if you compromise on this sort of thing.

markhewitt1978

If it was all about personal power and speed then all races would be won by time trial specialists, but they aren't.

Tom Butcher

Sounds to me like you need race advice and maybe motivation rather than fitness coaching. Do you know any of these old hands who are beating you, do you train with them?

Sounds to me like if you could get into an environment where you are getting input from people who have been there and done it you would benefit. T Hat might come from a coach but it's going to need a coach with a certain background and someone that actually sees you race or at least takes time to talk through races with you.

Pross

madasahattersley wrote:

All helpful suggestions cheers, and I guess there is still a couple of months left...

Tom Dean wrote:

I assume you are getting some professional coaching?

Not really, I feel like most coaches around here at least have just read a book on coaching and are charging £60-£100 a month to do what I could do myself!

I've got a friend who lives Cambridge way and who has come on loads with the help of a coach, riding better as a 40 year old than he was at 20 and with far less time riding. In his case it is time trials but a good road coach should be able to tailor plans to suit objectives. I can try to get the details if you'd like?

Unfortunately winning races comes down to more than just your FTP.

sub55

As said, its not all about power figures.
Its also in your head, i know from my own personal experiences, when i was at my best i was on the start line knowing i could win. I wasn't there to make up the numbers , i was there for the glory . That sounds pompous and self rightous, but thats the difference between winning and not.

jordan_217

You need to cut back on racing like an excited puppy dog. You have an awesome engine and can no doubt TT most riders into the tarmac but you can't rely on that ability alone to win races, e.g. You can't just sit at the front towing the field around a course and expect to still have something in the tank to kick for the line.

Don't start doubting your fitness and talent - you have lots of both. I really think you just need to hold back more for the first 95% of the race and only make/follow moves when it's absolutely necessary, and not just because you can.

I would start looking for a proper coach and stop working with you're current 'mentor', his ego is too big for a start and he will always see you as competition rather than a talent to nurture and get the best out of.

I hope this doesn't come across as patronising, it's just my observations of riding with you over the last year.

Please get it sorted and get a pro contract so that when me and the kids are watching you on Eurosport - I can tell them I've got the jump on you a few times

Stay positive!!!!!

maryka

Yep, what the others said. The fitness/FTP is just what gets you TO the race in a position to win it, it's what you do IN the race that dictates whether you actually get a result or not.

Have some confidence in your numbers, race smart, don't be too eager. Be ready to bury yourself if you attack/bridge, otherwise be a bit more patient while sitting in. Bridge rather than chase breaks. Don't be on the front pulling the bunch along unless you know exactly why you're doing it. Start noting down the numbers of the good and experienced riders in races that you do, and watch what they do during the race. Be near good wheels and riders at all times. Stay alert the whole time, don't lose focus and drift to the back at the very moment something is happening at the front.

"Reading" the race is a skill just like any others. One of my best results this year came from a national-level race where I started out feeling rough so sat in for the first half, then attacked up the hill on lap 3 for the 2nd hill prime and was joined by a couple of riders who I didn't actually think could make a break stick so I sat up and let them go. Next lap, one of them was still away and 10 others had chipped off the front to join her and get a proper break going. Coming up to the hill again I knew my only chance to be in that break was to bridge across and get to them by the top of the hill (hills being my thing). So I went... watts were crap, legs were screaming, I looked back a few times and nobody from the bunch did a thing to chase... but I made it and caught them just at the top of the hill. Worked together for the final lap and finished 4th. Not sure I would have had the same result had I stuck with the 3-person break to begin with though, but that comes down to knowing myself, knowing the competition, taking a chance to bridge across and getting a bit lucky with a bunch that was too tired to chase much.

Just keep working at it, it will click at some point. Funny thing is once you stop worrying about results, they start to come a bit easier sometimes!

GiantMike

Pross wrote:

madasahattersley wrote:

All helpful suggestions cheers, and I guess there is still a couple of months left...

Tom Dean wrote:

I assume you are getting some professional coaching?

Not really, I feel like most coaches around here at least have just read a book on coaching and are charging £60-£100 a month to do what I could do myself!

I've got a friend who lives Cambridge way and who has come on loads with the help of a coach, riding better as a 40 year old than he was at 20 and with far less time riding. In his case it is time trials but a good road coach should be able to tailor plans to suit objectives. I can try to get the details if you'd like?

Unfortunately winning races comes down to more than just your FTP.

Agreed. A chap I'm coaching has progressed from 4th to nearly 2nd cat this season. Most of the work I do with him is about race tactics, technical aspects and self-awareness. Since he's started training to race, rather than just riding to train, he's made huge improvements.

Pross

madasahattersley wrote:

Cheers guys all good suggestions and motivation. Now searching the market for a good coach.

Pross - could you PM me the details? I'm curious if it's the one I'm thinking of.

Yeah, I'll text my mate and let you know. He may not be local to your area, it's possible he gets his advice / feedback via email but he swears by him and the results a pretty good for a mediocre rider with limited time.

mentalalex

Adiran Timmis is a top coach! as well as a superb bike fitter!

I'm a similar age to you at 19, make thing is don't get to focused on numbers just because they are what they are doesn't mean your going to win. if done very well at Junior cross

Make sure you enjoy it! i wouldn't go down the self coaching route at all i been there and it went wrong....badly wrong, ended up in 4 months of the bike.

I've been with Ada this season and he's been great to work with.

Pm me if you want any advice or anything! again just enjoy racing don't get hung up to much about numbers!

mentalalex

Bit of both really! his shop is in the next village from me so if i want to speak to him i do it in person as its a 10 minute ride and the coffee is good!

so if i need any advice or anything ill just pop in, he know's his stuff and i feel confident with what he tells me to do!

also as i did very well at junior cross national champs with a low FTP 268watts 5 secs of the win!

okgo

Well done today!

okgo

Nope. Just a twitter trawl and saw your name and remembered this thread.

JustinLeeAtkinson

Yeah well done on Sunday Luke, I was in the 4th cat race, didn't hang around for your race, but saw the result online. Lapped the field! Thats a result!

okgo

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