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Very similar to TiRed on the previous page. As in the occasional crit racer but mainly concentrate on TT’s especially the longer distances. I’ve done ok this season, won a open event, finished on the podium several times and came inside the top ten in all but one of my TT events this year. Done this on between 8-12hrs a week of riding/training. Off the bike I know I could do better. Sleep and alcohol intake being the two main problems. At 45yrs old and a shift worker my lack of sleep really takes its toll (when I’m on nights I’ve done well if I can get 5hrs kip when I hit the sack) The amount of times I’ve finished a 12hr day shift, got on the bike to do a workout and gotten off within 10mins because I’m barely able to turn the peddles I’m that knackard. As for the alcohol it’s a habit I need to get out of. I’m not an everyday type of drinker but when I do (once or twice a week) but when I do it’s to excess. Next year the national TT 12hr Championship is being held on the course I’ve done a couple of times so want to enter and pit myself against the best in the country. I want to do well in it so I know I’ll need to sort out the drinking and try and get more sleep (although the latter might be a problem) I want to finish that race in August safe in the knowledge that I did everything I could to get me in the best shape in readiness for it.
What a lot of us posting in this thread have in common is that we have in the past tried to live like an athlete and experienced the journey to see how fast we could get.
From my first race I wondered how fast I could get. Maybe I was an undiscovered talent?
Did a couple of years of book led training followed by three years of coach led.
The reality that I was just ‘quite good’ probably hit around year two of coach led. Year three I went all in to see if I could turn quite good into national top ten but I’d reached my limit and finally I broke mentally and physically.
Ditched it all this year and have enjoyed coming out of the madness.
Training is like a drug. It’s pretty fun for a while but eventually it takes over your life.
But do I regret that period of singleminded focus on training and competing? No.
I’ve got race numbers pinned to my wall with mud spattered on them like memories. I managed top twenties in National cx and xc and I kept up with Nick Craig and Paul Oldham for 60km once!
Priceless memories.
I was never an athlete, had an unhealthy relationship with food all my life, and was 105kgs once upon a time.
My dad has type 2 diabetes, his dad probably did too, so I decided it was time to change, or face lifelong medication. Focused on eating first, portion sizes and realizing how much you actually need to eat in a day. Then started riding a bike, enjoyed it. Then started doing events and training more seriously. Now I'm at 70kg (1.8m), and enjoy riding my bike. I am still no athlete, I'm no where near the power of a club rider, but I enjoy heading out to different places in Europe and making up the numbers doing interesting events.
My choice is try to push back the diabetes as long as possible.
What a lot of us posting in this thread have in common is that we have in the past tried to live like an athlete and experienced the journey to see how fast we could get.
From my first race I wondered how fast I could get. Maybe I was an undiscovered talent?
Did a couple of years of book led training followed by three years of coach led.
The reality that I was just ‘quite good’ probably hit around year two of coach led. Year three I went all in to see if I could turn quite good into national top ten but I’d reached my limit and finally I broke mentally and physically.
Ditched it all this year and have enjoyed coming out of the madness.
Training is like a drug.
What a great post. Not at your level but as you know I’m right at this point in general.
It’s pretty fun for a while but eventually it takes over your life.
I had this out with my coach a while ago after getting to -84 TSB after 4 weeks, in tears and not being able to turn even recovery watts. It’s mentally draining to feel like that when your at best top 20 in certain events. Things have now changed very much for the better and I’m looking forward to my final year being a positive reason to train yet not weekends and evenings spent in despair. Pizza and beer are on the menu occasionally 😀
Proper athletes really are special people.
50:50
Train around 15 hours a week: drink around 30 units a week.
Mostly eat well but also eat junk.
One of the fastest TTers in the country, competitive at Cat 2 road racing and was a decent triathlete when I gave it a go.
In truth I'm naturally blessed with a high VO2 max, low body fat and a pretty muscular build. So naturally quite a lot of an athlete.
So.. what I’m really saying is… she’s single, has 2 kids, a job…. yet still trains like a looney in the pool..
Who says it can’t be done?
It can, but it depends on your relationship with your family. I could **** off riding for 8 hours each weekend, but it would upset the rest of my family quite a bit because we are all a bit co-dependent.
Absolutely, I omitted the fact that her mother is pretty much a Nanny in the truest sense.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with challenging yourself, if you want to compete or just become faster and willing to train for it then why not. The discipline will do you good but be prepared for family (if you have one) to suffer if they’re not as committed as you are.
But... you do see folks out every weekend either taking part in some sport or training for their sport... which is great.
Training is like a drug. It’s pretty fun for a while but eventually it takes over your life
Without a doubt.
It was ok when all I had was about 8hrs of uni a week and 18hrs of work in anti social hours ....would work till 3am then go for a ride because let's face it sleep wasn't happening
Although I enjoy training I'm training for arbitrary goals that I set rather than chasing position . While I could be committed and get back there I've just had a little one and don't want to go down that rabbit hole. Got that tee shirt. -kind of follows on from my unwillingness to drive across the country every weekend. It's not fair on the little one or the wife.
Unless you enjoy it, which I do.
I really enjoy the structured training and the discipline is gives, it kind of helps my mind as much as my legs.
The food is no real chore, it’s as easy to make healthy stuff as it is unhealthy.
+1.
What a lot of us posting in this thread have in common is that we have in the past tried to live like an athlete and experienced the journey to see how fast we could get.
From my first race I wondered how fast I could get. Maybe I was an undiscovered talent?
Did a couple of years of book led training followed by three years of coach led.
The reality that I was just ‘quite good’ probably hit around year two of coach led. Year three I went all in to see if I could turn quite good into national top ten but I’d reached my limit and finally I broke mentally and physically.
Ditched it all this year and have enjoyed coming out of the madness.
Training is like a drug. It’s pretty fun for a while but eventually it takes over your life.
Sounds familiar..
I started competitive cycling once my children had grown up. While they were growing, I used to take them for nice rides in the countryside on the kiddyback tandem and rode the occasional sportive. I also long-distance commuted a bit too (bike-bus-bike to london and about 30 miles riding a day). First competitive race was at 44, and I have improved year on year since then...
"I could have been a contender"...Except I've never been able to sprint. And long distance endurance racing is an old man's game anyway! I did get my second Cat license the hard way though, and retained it. But not this season.
About 12 hours a week will get you nationally competitive. That is very hard with a young family and a profession life.
Nah, not at all really. I have some times of the year when I can ride a few times a week and the fitness comes. Definitely not structured training. Races- well I enter a few and enjoy them, but we're talking mid-pack mediocrity. Often I have large chunks of the year when I seem to go from illness to illness or have injuries. Diet - not great, but not bad. A bit of booze at the weekend too. But all this is as much as I can do. I couldn't sustain structured training without falling apart, so it's all just for fun, including any races.
Think I read or heard somewhere that about 85% of your calorie intake should be from healthy food - whether that's each day or saving the 15% for a blow out at the weekend. I have pizza or dinner out when my partner suggests it, but the rest of the time I'm fairly sensible aside from too much of a sweet tooth. I wouldn't go so far as Pro tour riders do. I keep it varied and in moderation - good quality main meals, not going to stress too much about the odd pizza, burger, fish and chips, glass of wine.
And when I say "healthy" I still mean stuff like real butter on bread, sugar in an espresso etc. No joy in living like a monk when you're not paid for it is there!? 😀
sugar in an espresso
Even as a non-athlete thats just very wrong. And double detention for posting it on a cycling related forum!
Another consideration here is genetics...some people are pre exposed to it.. another is some people bodies need near constant food(including mine..meds cause that..)I can still hold my own and dont gain much weight ..am I an athlete..no ..am I fat and lazy ..no ..so where does that put me?..a bit above average.. not a bad place to be considering the effects of a very structured diet leads to lots of time being I'll and throwing up(it gets that bad..)when I need food...I NEED food..but work my body almost all day to keep my weight down..
Something to think about there..were not all cut out to be athletes but we can be better then average with enough work...
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were not all cut out to be athletes but we can be better then average with enough work
In terms of genetics this was always me. Playing Kent league Rugby I had to train twice a week and be in the gym 3 times to keep up with those who'd roll off a building site Saturday mornings with a box of Sandwiches, smash a game then neck a few pints after full time.
Such is life.
Shred
Member
I was never an athlete, had an unhealthy relationship with food all my life, and was 105kgs once upon a time.
My dad has type 2 diabetes, his dad probably did too, so I decided it was time to change, or face lifelong medication. Focused on eating first, portion sizes and realizing how much you actually need to eat in a day. Then started riding a bike, enjoyed it. Then started doing events and training more seriously. Now I’m at 70kg (1.8m), and enjoy riding my bike. I am still no athlete, I’m no where near the power of a club rider, but I enjoy heading out to different places in Europe and making up the numbers doing interesting events.
My choice is try to push back the diabetes as long as possible.
This is inspiring. Thanks for posting.
Would I consider myself an athlete... No.
But I love competing, whether that is with myself, with others, for the win (very rarely) or just trying to beat the guy in front and stopping the guy behind beating me.. I enjoy the thrill of it and always have done from when I played schoolboy football, rugby, golf, motocross etc I enjoy competition.
I have followed a plan this year and it has lead to some good results for me, but I haven’t done it religiously as real life (self employment, 3 kids, house improvements etc) gets in the way, and you have to let it otherwise you’ll destroy yourself mentally and physically. My best result this year was a 4th place 12hr solo at the 24/12, which was the best I was ever going to do considering who was in front of me. I would consider them to be athletes, in their early 20’s (I’m 39) and train/ride all the time at very high level. I was buzzing just being up there and their pit crews keeping an eye on me!!! You have to be realistic in what you are willing to give and what you expect to achieve.
At the level most of us race the margins are large between winning and midfield mediocrity so if we have a pizza or a beer or 2 it’s more than likely not going to affect your result, so crack on and enjoy life. We’re not talking split seconds where everything makes a difference, if you eat pizza all day and drink beer all night then you won’t be much kop, but don’t deprive yourself the joys of life, whether that’s food, drink, time with your kids etc to try and gain a couple of watts or FTP or something else.
Enjoy it all, you can’t buy time so don’t waste it fretting over something that in the scheme of things won’t make a blind bit of difference.
I've been mulling this thread over. Once again Kryton has tapped into something with his open and honest approach to life.
I'm asking myself; what do I want?
I stopped racing because I was tired of the:
Suffering,
nervous exhaustion,
guilt from missing training,
travel,
constant analysis.
I miss (in this order) the:
Camaraderie, the hugs and the sheer joy shared between the guys,
the feeling of being on the very edge of control on the bike,
the sight of my legs still pumping up and down despite complete exhaustion,
The pride at getting a good call up,
The knowledge that I'm a cool, hard, killing machine out on the bike.
I don't really know where this leaves me to be honest. I've been away from the scene for 9 months now and still enjoying the release, yet I'm excited about racing again.
I'm at the point where I'm trying to find a path where I can maintain peace and happiness, yet also find that drive to go out on those tough training rides that are somewhat a necessity in such an endurance based sport.
See Kryton, I think you *are* an athlete. You obsess about training, you focus on different disciplines year on year and aim to improve. From your posts on here, you don't seem happy "just" riding your bike. But don't beat yourself up when you're not following a strictly calorie controlled diet of steamed fish, brown rice and vegetables....
There's a difference between being a professional, paid athlete and being an amateur athlete. Its all on a spectrum.
You have to enjoy what you do, whether that's train and eat properly, just train or just ride or somewhere amongst it all.
Couple of months ago i remember finishing a 10 mile tt with a time of 23.30 and was pretty chuffed with myself. Asked the next guy to finish how he’d done. 19.40…..
There are people doing 18mins at sub 280 Watts with the right aero kit. I used to a 10m TT at 330W and never got below 25 mins mainly as I was on a normal road bike and not that bothered about the time.
I've been gradually getting into the mindset of training and racing, and feel I would like to go further, but I just seem pre-disposed to injuries!
Whenever I feel like I'm getting somewhere, maybe actually improving on PBs or setting respectable times on big climbs, something hits the big reset switch and I have to spend weeks ir months off the bike getting depressed and slow again.
I'd just give up riding altogether but think I'm just too far gone, can't imagine what else I'd do! Feels like maybe I'm not cut out for proper dedicated training and just need to be satisfied with plodding around at a nice easy pace everywhere ☹
There are people doing 18mins at sub 280 Watts with the right aero kit. I used to a 10m TT at 330W and never got below 25 mins mainly as I was on a normal road bike and not that bothered about the time.
You should probably let Alex dowsett know. Took him AVE 426 to go 19 and change.
Unless the right aero kit is a prone /low rider recumbent.
From your posts on here, you don’t seem happy “just” riding your bike. But don’t beat yourself up when you’re not following a strictly calorie controlled diet of steamed fish, brown rice and vegetables….
There’s a difference between being a professional, paid athlete and being an amateur athlete. Its all on a spectrum.
indeed. This post wasn’t a moan, just in interested question. Personally I’m in a lot happier place now, having had a Demi rant at my coach and a bit of self belief was injected by placing in the top 10 at 24/12 when I went “just to ride my bike”.
Training will contain a bit of fun stuff and the objectivity I needed to see, my weight’s coming down to where <i>I</i> feel comfortable, and finally I’m at a place with work where I’m less mentally trapped in a corporate cycle. In the main Ive stopped thinking about where I finish and have redirected that to how I perform. As long as I’ve rocked up and made the most of things nothing else really matters. This last bit was inspired by the non winning athletes in Doha who seem very comfortable that where they were in there performance cycle is part of a process and PB is as good as a gold medal.
Being fit is part of my DNA, I can’t be unfit and lazy but am appreciating that it’s a hobby not a job, and had some great MTB rides locally in the last of the summer sun to remind me of that.
I made a conscious choice in 2018 to do whatever it took to finish my PhD. As I was still working almost 50 hours per week and have kids (7and 2) This meant working until very late in the evening and required regular infusions of crisps and wine. I put about 8-10kgs over this period.
Come January 2019, I started riding to work every day (38mile round trip) come March, I was running 3-4 times per week doing initially 5ks then 10ks, now half marathons every month.
My weight has dropped to 70kg (6’) and I’ve my power is up to about 4.5w/kg, my half marathon times (not in any races) are about 1:45 and my 10k at 45m.
I haven’t dieted at all, just worked a little harder, trying to do all my exercise either commuting or with the kids. My 10k is usually pushing the Chariot whilst my son rides alongside.
Now am I fit? Maybe a little more than average? On strava, across regular segments I’m often in the top 20-30.
Am I an athlete? Hell no! I’ve tried to attack some of those segments and follow some people who’re properly fit and do massive amounts of training. I’ll never be that quick, but then, I don’t really aspire to be either.
80:20 rule. For everything.
Its funny. Ive just dropped my 10yo off to the local grammer school where he's been invited for a Sport Scholarship try-out for next years entry.
The last thing i said to him before I left was "just enjoy yourself and do your best, no one can ask more that that from you"
How very hypocritical... 😀
I'm Jackie Moon I am 🤣🤣
You should probably let Alex dowsett know. Took him AVE 426 to go 19 and change.
But that's actual real WTP ratified data
The only time I've had a 6 pack was between 1989 and 1992, but that was down to spending my weekends at the Hacienda.
That's about as close as i got to being an athlete
There are people doing 18mins at sub 280 Watts with the right aero kit. I used to a 10m TT at 330W and never got below 25 mins mainly as I was on a normal road bike and not that bothered about the time.
That dude put out 380 watts and is top 20 under 23 level. The course isnt stupidly fast though, so my time was still a decent effort imo. He won by about 2 min over rest of field.
Point being, the difference between proper athletes and mere mortals is huge.
The Definition of Athlete
Merriam-Webster defines it as “a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.” ... In other words, an athlete can be a top competitor — or an average finisher.
Completely agree with mtbtomo adding the reminder, athlete doesn't just mean pro or elite level athlete.
Listening to Bradley Wiggins at his "An evening with" the other week, he nonchalantly says how he could hold 400 watts for an hour. Ridonculous! My wife asked me how long can I hold 400 watts - she was surprised when I said 2 minutes at the very most and even then I'd be absolutely cream crackered.
The older I get, the better I was...
But, I pretty much live with all things in moderation. Except class A's I guess.
I pretty much do everything to about 80% effort, cycling, work, whatever. I was a semi-pro level footballer 20 years ago, but was never interested in putting in the effort to get fit enough to do really well.
There's always something else that interests me that stops me from getting completely absorbed. I'll ride three or four times a week, like to improve but won't commit to make massive gains. I only drink Friday to Sunday (and once a month i host beer tastings), quit eating refined sugar but still maintain the same ~95kg i weighed 25 years ago at uni... even if it my centre of gravity is lowering.