I have decided to help my MTBing and for general fitness to give over a 2.5-3hr chunk of riding time (once per week not 3 x 1hr sessiosn) to road riding/training. That is as far as i have got!!
To maximise this i need a bit of a plan - To start with i will be riding from south west Chesterfield if anyone has a route idea.
Thinking a 20 minute or so warm up, some hill climing, some sprints, cool down.
shite idea?
Without going into any rigid structure, I'd say just go and ride with gusto, don't cheat yourself when no ones looking and you'll see a difference.
All you need really for fitness.
One of the best things I learnt from road riding which I've transfered to MTB is an effective spinning technique. Just trying to keep the cadence around 80 to 90 rpm and focusing on spinning circles. It's made a massive difference to my climbing.
You cold try and carry out some intervals, which I find are a little easier to carry out on a road bike rather than on an MTB trail.
shite idea?
yes. long steady miles while not going into the red. save the reps/sprints for when you have less time and in the spring when it warms up a bit.
i would say just get used to riding for a few hours, mtb rides are far more stop start than road and it does take it little adjustment to get used to just turning the cranks for a couple of hours.
Once your used to riding start playing games, be it intervals, sprinting for signs, beasting the hardest climbs you can find, etc.
I tend to find the faster I get on the road bike the slower I get on the MTB (well, what I mean is that I lose the absolute ultra grunt you need to get over a big step or similar).
Hope it doesn't affect you similarly...
Any road cycling clubs nearby ?
It'll encourage you to get out and they'll know plenty of different routes.
joeegg not a chance mate!! This is as an extra not instead of MTB and not sure any will ride 3-6pm on a thursday 
You'll get way more out of 2 shorter sessions as you you'll be able to do hill reps, intervals etc.
Just a petty thing, or maybe not. Clothing....you might be freezing on the road in the stuff that keeps you warm off road. You might want to nut that out.
Oldgit +1. I was suprised with the difference.
Also interested in any training ideas, collect my first road bike in literally decades tomorrow and would welcome any suggestions for training guides/books/websites.
May join a club in due course but would like to regain some roadcraft, let alone fitness, before making a total punnet of myself.....
here is the course that i will be tackling in the summer - shitting it!
http://www.ironmanuk.com/uk-ironman-703/event-information/course/bike-course
I'd echo oldgits first comment, we get a lot of club riders trying to fit very technical training regimes into narrow time slots and not going it that well. Ride your local loop with ball's and enjoy it, you will soon learn your strengths and weaknesses, and start to tailor your loop accordingly. Good luck with your event, have a blast.
cynic-al - MemberYou'll get way more out of 2 shorter sessions as you you'll be able to do hill reps, intervals etc.
+1
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