Also is your schedule a bit busy/conflicting for best performance?
this,
you have a power meter now, what does your power profile suggest is your strength?
. It's not strictly as above - it's every other day so I get a day of rest.Also is your schedule a bit busy/conflicting for best performance?
Shedbrewed - wow that sounds challenging. I recently took a test to find out I have a "TT" rider profile although I've never done it. I should try it as I quite enjoy the head down at fast pace churning the big ring type of ride. I'm currently (when deferring to the Turbo) using TrainerRoads Road Climbs plan as this should raise my FTP and muscle endurance, and address my weakness - climbs. Before anyone suggest different for Crits I completed the Crits plan and XC race plan back to back ending a week ago.
It's not points necessarily I'm chasing, it's a quantative measure of success which allows me to mentally justify the time and effort, but basically show that I'm a half decent rider rather than a crap one. Having said, mind mindfulness practise tells me I shouldn't care two hoots but I do.
Hells Bells I've been moaning all day, time to stop and get on with it. 😐
Crap. Now I'm think I should go back to the Crit plan and just use the club rides for the longer blocks. Aaaargh, need to put iPad down....
So much about crits is in the head, you need to try to stop over thinking things and allowing negative thoughts in - whether that be putting pressure on yourself to get in the points or worrying about not being fit enough or worrying about the riders beside you or worrying about your tyres grip in corners (and so on). Frankly if one steps back and thinks about it all there are alot of things to worry about and put doubt in ones mind but none of that is going to help in a race - whereas having a certain degree of confidence and assertiveness can be a huge aid.
Think of it in terms of mountain biking - when you are doing a jump the most important thing after getting the process right is committing to it, if you start to overthink or doubt yourself half way through then it becomes so much harder. A crit is the same in that respect.
The bad days will make the better ones seem sweeter. Or at least that's what I'm telling myself today.
My tale of woe for the week is sneaking on the the front row of the local crit for that all important good start, only to spin out my rear wheel on a wet manhole just off the line and drop my chain. Straight out the back and chasing only to discover I'm not feeling as fresh as I thought and max HR is at least 10bpm down. Still, I got plenty of cornering practice.
The next race can _only_ be better.
I'm not expert in anything training related but it sounds to me like your just trying a bit too hard!
Why not just stop with the turbo sessions and spend more time out on the bike, take the MTB out for a few rides, fast up the hills then enjoy yourself on the way back down, same with the road bike, just take it out and do some proper rides with a few faster bits thrown in?
I can't imagine that spending any time on a turbo is enjoyable when you could be outside riding instead.
The thing is, when I'm on it, and dug into that 10m TT or tussling for places in a cross race it's absolutely worth it.
This +1000 . I'll never win a race, I may finish top ten a few times a season. I WILL enjoy every second of killing myself for the team. There is no rush like it and I'm missing it so badly I'm doing turbo sessions (And that's a first for me).
I've said it many times, but club rides are NOT good race training. They are either not hard enough or not easy enough (recovery). Tuesday evening BC West Thames 3/4 race at Hillingdon, no points, just good racing. [b]Come on down![/b]
I can't TiiRed as Mrs K has her dance class on Tuedays, otherwise I'd be be there. Agree with the sentiment, finishing in the bunch was great.
Anyway, I've abandoned my "hill road race" training. It's for one sportive in 2 weeks time Wtf was I thinking? Instead I shall repeat the last week or race week of "Crit" training where I have to be on the turbo, with my XC races indispersed until my target event at the end of July, but riding outside where possible. After that I shall focus on end of year crits, points or no. After all I enjoy them secretly. 🙂
Did I read you were training for the velothon Wales? The Caerphilly mountain climb isn't too bad and the pull up the Blorenge is a climb of three parts but you really shouldn't struggle up it with your form. Just enjoy all the other bits, there are some nice roads. I would wave as you passed my house but I'm away.
TCC E1234 Masters every other Wednesday? Next one is in two weeks and I should be able to marshall by then.
The Beastway XC series is on Wednesays until July 8th. Shedbrewed - yep I'll be there.
I did my first two road races this season - first one got dropped on the descent in crap conditions, second one I got dropped but got back on when it slowed. First crit this season got dropped after 3 laps and it has to be cos I started from the back. 2nd crit of the year at a circuit I also did better at last year and sure enough I hung on with relative ease just cos the circuit suit me better. Well, being slow to get clipped in caused me a few problems for the first few laps as I had to work my way up steadily.
Have you tried open road races Kryton? Seem to me that they're a bit more forgiving of bad tactics and if your endurance is good, you could do better. Still hard, but no one goes totally nuts off the line usually.
Kryton are you doing velothon wales?
Quick straw poll. Many on here competing and doing well at more than one discipline at a time?
Nope, I'm doing badly at all disciplines.
I did beat someone in the southern XC yesterday though, not a DNF, an actual finisher! #smallwins
I used to be able to mix it up (MTB/TT/RR) with all disciplnes 'seriously' and also ride all year with CX in the winter, but as I've got older I find that I just can't do it anymore. So I stick to what I do best and hit CX hard with everything else thrown in for fun when I feel like it.
Reading the last couple of pages of this thread makes me think that there's a tendency to take things far too seriously. The thing with amateur cycle racing is to realise that you're crap. No matter how good you are, Elite, 1st cat, whatever, still crap in the grand scheme of the things. Get over that and you can start to enjoy it more.
Compete in Road, XC, track and cross. Finish top third in all four. Top 10 is a rare bonus. Will be racing TTs as my wrist won't be up to road racing for a couple of months. Road fitness definitely helps me make the most of my limited skills and single gear in XC. Limited XC skills help me be competitive in cross.
But nothing comes close to road 😉
I'm tempted to not comment on here again, but I feel I have to say something..
K, pick one or two disciplines and stick to them only. Do the others for fun or training only then go give your wife and kids a hug on the days off..
You sound like you need a rest to me, a break from pressure only brought on by yourself in an attempt to be some superhero bike'ist.
Train and race by all means but make time for mental and physical recovery and use that time for family.. take your mind off it all... I bet whilst you are with your family you are still thinking about training/racing plans/goals.. aren't you 😆
molgrips - Member
Kryton are you doing velothon wales?
Yes I am - will you be there Molgrips?
You sound like you need a rest to me, a break from pressure only brought on by yourself in an attempt to be some superhero bike'ist.
An interesting observation which I genuinely thank you for Bikebouy. I'm have a highly strung character but trust me, I'm not 24/7 training or racing or dieting or not sleeping over this, I think its just my writing style. I don't want to be a superhero, just some small recognition that I've done something quite good. But...
I bet whilst you are with your family you are still thinking about training/racing plans/goals.. aren't you
Yes 🙁 I put a lot of mental pressure on myself to be "good" at things, becuase most of all I'm pretty average at everything, a classic "nearly man". That's not a cry for attention its just an honest statement.
K, pick one or two disciplines and stick to them only.
I mulled over this last night over some Shiraz. What I'd done was to use the T d'Cambridshire and Velethon Wales as target events, and orientated part of my training plan around that. Now, becuase of my illness leading to EIB at the beginning of the year, my XC/Crit plans have only just finished and I've panicked over these two having not completed the third round of a training block. What I SHOULD be doing is concentrating on the short XC races and crits as my secondary target events, and the above two should just be enjoyable opportunity's with no pressure on times and performance. As of today, that is the case.
The Bonty 24/12 is my real target for this year, with the XC stuff leading up to it basically being high performance exercises - category B races on the Friel scale of things. After the Bonty I continue monthly with Mud Sweat and gears until September, will try a TT or two for giggles and do some crits.
mental and physical recovery and use that time for family..
I have a one year old and a three year old, there is no "mental and physical recovery" in time spent with them 😉
Bonty 24/12 is my real target for this year,
What's the specific target?
Only an observation from what you've said on here K, clearly you know best but from a total observation POV, it looks like to me you are doing too much "stuff"
Anyway, next race is when ??
😆
What's the specific target?
Top 5 24 Solo Vet, with a stretch to 3rd. I was 8th last year.
Anyway, next race is when ??
Ha Ha. Saturday - Rd 2 of the one I've been moaning about, I decided to go an do it again with the strategy and advice above at the forefront of my mind.
Quick straw poll. Many on here competing and doing well at more than one discipline at a time?
I race Expert XC in the Midlands (and just about starting to get some form back!) and am a Cat 3 in road racing (in which I can hold my own). Haven't done any TTing or CX for a long while, but may have a tinker later in the year.
will you be there Molgrips?
Yep - home town, closed roads, it'd be rude not to.
[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/please-sponsor-me-lets-make-it-interesting ]Sponsorship thread[/url]
Quick straw poll. Many on here competing and doing well at more than one discipline at a time?
Not me, focus is all on road racing with some crits from time to time. I think if you want to commit to something that the training has to be so specific that not many people can be successful across many disciplines - not talking pros here, and obviously some people are just naturally good/talented, but for the mere mortals who have to work at fitness/skill.
I'm still very sore, whiplash has gone but bruised ribs impacting ability to train/race so DNS in my race yesterday. Can't see me being fit enough in any sense of the word for this coming weekends stage race either. Can't climb out of the saddle or sprint due to the pain in my ribs and its another hilly course so not ideal!
I think if you want to commit to something that the training has to be so specific that not many people can be successful across many disciplines
I think it depends on what kind of success you are going for. Competent amateur - I think you can do road and MTB. Anything more you might need to specialise.
Some things are exclusive based on physiology though - being a strong track sprinter doesn't lend itself well to hilly MTB marathon races, I suspect 🙂
*waves* at DGOAB, thought you'd given up on STW but you seem to keep coming back to the racing threads 🙂
I race Expert XC in the Midlands
*waves*
We probably ran/slid past each other at some point yesterday 😆
Oh I wish I could have, been ill and snotty all week so didn't race yesterday 🙁
Also Lee, checked the results and congrats on the podium!
I think it depends on what kind of success you are going for. Competent amateur - I think you can do road and MTB. Anything more you might need to specialise.
And that's really the point. If you're after points in a 34 race then you're up against a bunch of 3's who are already well experienced and chasing points for their cat 2. Also if you're just dabbling you're up against a bunch of racers who's training will be focused solely on that discipline. Unless you happen to have a real natural aptitude for it then it's going to be hard. So fine to dabble but be realistic about expectations and who you're up against.
TBH, if you're main goal is to be good at 24hr solo XC why are you bothering with racing a 1hr thrash around a circuit?
Kryton are you staying overnight on Saturday in Cardiff? Fancy a pint or a spin?
Its this years goal MrBlobby, it might not be next years. I accidentally did well last year so thought I pursue it as a potential, plus I like the Bonty and am going with friends. The road crits are because I'd quite like to try my hand at road racing, and they act as good training events for the XC races also.
The "multi discipline" issue is interesting; with 6-7 hours only a week to train I might be better of focussing on XC only in 2016, just using the road bike to train and for fun road rides rather than crits.
molgrips - Member
Kryton are you staying overnight on Saturday in Cardiff? Fancy a pint or a spin?
I am! I've bribed - my wife has little bike-empathy - a weekend away by treating the family to a weekend in Cardiff. I have to dutifully do some sightseeing and shopping + dinner on the Saturday but could find some time somewhere.
Hah, I have to do the same thing with my tentatively planned Trans-Cambrian way attempt in July.
Let me know what you fancy. Could be a quick spin around town.. there isn't really any gentle off-road to do. I'm expecting a couple of others to be down too but I am not sure if they will come. What's your start time?
Well, 8:50, but in the interests of getting the kids home for bed on time I'm going to try to join the 7.45 pen illegitimately with a club colleague.
Ooh, I wouldn't.. you might get DQed... It looks like a slick run operation.
The "multi discipline" issue is interesting; with 6-7 hours only a week to train I might be better of focussing on XC only in 2016, just using the road bike to train and for fun road rides rather than crits.
If I had a 24hr solo XC as my goal that's probably what I'd do.
Edit... having said that, off 6-7 hrs a week I'm not sure I'd have considered 24hr solo. I would have thought to be competitive you'd need miles. Must be a good natural fit for you.
TBH, if you're main goal is to be good at 24hr solo XC why are you bothering with racing a 1hr thrash around a circuit?
Exactly what I was thinking, they are essentially the complete opposite of one another. TBH I'd bin the crit racing, unless you are willing to use it as motivation for hard training in place of say a chaingang.
If you are doing well in XC and longer mtb events, then I'd strongly suggest that if you want a chance of success on the road you should be doing TT's and proper road races. Definitively not punchy, flat crits.
(Sportives are not races and don't need training for, unless you are starting out cycling IMO. Instead go and enjoy the ride, scenery and people.)
I watched the Barrow round of the Tour Series on TV last night (first time this year I've managed to see any of it), it looked really exciting and I suddenly wanted to be crit racing again!
I think if you want to commit to something that the training has to be so specific that not many people can be successful across many disciplines - not talking pros here, and obviously some people are just naturally good/talented, but for the mere mortals who have to work at fitness/skill.
I dunno, I raced Expert MTB and 1st/2nd Cat road for at least a couple of seasons, I think they backed each other up.
Track and CX racers usually benefit from crits too. I don't like too much specialising - I think it's beneficial to mix things up a bit.
I'd agree that XC, road races and TT's work fine together.
But crits and 24 hour mtb races, not so much.
Obviously if you are on a limited time budget like most of us, then you just have to make do with what you can fit in. But I'd try and at least tilt my training towards the event I was focused on most. Still all cycling is good 🙂
Edit... having said that, off 6-7 hrs a week I'm not sure I'd have considered 24hr solo. I would have thought to be competitive you'd need miles. Must be a good natural fit for you.
Well I got my 8th in baggies with no training or racing of note, 3 hours sleep, couldnt be bothered with the final lap at 11:59 on Sunday was riding an (ill fitting so STW says) Yeti ASR5 with a camelbak.
Although I expect competition to be stiffer this year, I'm 2 stone lighter in lycra, XC race fit (I like to think) and will be on a 24.5lb Anthem 29er with a bottle cage, and have a different strategy. 🙂
Yes I'm better the longer races go on, I seem to "last" better than some others. Personally I think XC with TT's for shits and giggles is the way to go.
Time trialling can be quite addictive. You have been warned 🙂
🙂 Following my profile test I bought some Deda clip ons...
I'm sorry that this last few pages seems to have evolved around me, I feel a bit guilty about the amount of real-estate I've used up.
There's some useful stuff in here though, I hope it helps others as it has refocused me, so thanks to the contributors so far...
Time trialling can be quite addictive
Not for me. I'm not that bad at it, I can summon up the required iron will for 23 (or 25!) mins but *** that shit. It's boring as hell. MTB racing is far more interesting!
MTB racing is essentially a TT.
