Training Status??? (III)
07-10-13, 02:23 PM
#3851
**** that
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Suffering is definitely a part of succeeding in racing!
The other side of it though, and this can be a depressing side, is that not everyone is suffering the same. If you're at 2.5 w/kg FTP in a race against someone with a 4.0+ w/kg FTP, your suffering is their cruising speed. Their suffering is you getting dropped...
The other side of it though, and this can be a depressing side, is that not everyone is suffering the same. If you're at 2.5 w/kg FTP in a race against someone with a 4.0+ w/kg FTP, your suffering is their cruising speed. Their suffering is you getting dropped...
07-10-13, 02:47 PM
#3852
Making a kilometer blurry
07-10-13, 03:04 PM
#3853
Riding the bike I love.
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You're certainly not alone. I'm working on the mental side a lot lately, as well as the physical. Last night was the Orr Rd P/1/2/3/4/5/6 industrial park crit. My goal is to just hang on a little longer each time I go out. This time I got 2 laps not counting the neutral I think, so like 4 minutes. It's partly being able to ride smoothly and with little effort in a pack, partly learning to dig deeper to hold that wheel, and partly not having the power to hang. Doing the riser at 800W every lap takes it out of you when your 1 minute power is only 400 or so.
It can be a little depressing to watch everyone else riding like it's no big deal, attacking off the front at speeds I can only manage for a few seconds, etc. But if you keep racing and training and learning and suffering, eventually you'll get there (at least that's what I tell myself).
You also might be one of the slow starters (not the technical term) that Friel talks about in his bible. Some people go from untrained to relatively fast in a short period of time. Some people it takes them a long time but they can get just as fast or faster. People's bodies just adapt at different rates. I know it's depressing to get dropped from the group ride while everyone else is just chatting on the climb, especially when they've only been riding a couple years, but you can be one of those guys eventually.
It can be a little depressing to watch everyone else riding like it's no big deal, attacking off the front at speeds I can only manage for a few seconds, etc. But if you keep racing and training and learning and suffering, eventually you'll get there (at least that's what I tell myself).
You also might be one of the slow starters (not the technical term) that Friel talks about in his bible. Some people go from untrained to relatively fast in a short period of time. Some people it takes them a long time but they can get just as fast or faster. People's bodies just adapt at different rates. I know it's depressing to get dropped from the group ride while everyone else is just chatting on the climb, especially when they've only been riding a couple years, but you can be one of those guys eventually.
Also I agree it is depressing when you're suffering on a climb that people are talking on. that's why I don't entirely believe the 'when you're hurting, other people are too' because I think about my teammates that all go to nationals and one whose 16 years old and has won battenkill and many races in MY age group and know they're definitely not suffering! I always seem to do good in a paceline of 5-10 people rather than a race where I get stuck at the back. I think that's 75% of the reason I get dropped right away - every corner from the start I'm struggling in the wind to catch back on.
07-10-13, 03:31 PM
#3854
OMC
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Doing the riser at 800W every lap takes it out of you when your 1 minute power is only 400 or so.
__________________
Regards,
Chuck
Demain, on roule!
Regards,
Chuck
Demain, on roule!
07-10-13, 03:36 PM
#3855
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I usually do well at crits with hills in them, at least in the M45+ or older. The hills wear out the strong men and the sprinters.
07-10-13, 03:57 PM
#3856
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07-10-13, 06:09 PM
#3862
Powered by Borscht
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Suffering is definitely a part of succeeding in racing!
The other side of it though, and this can be a depressing side, is that not everyone is suffering the same. If you're at 2.5 w/kg FTP in a race against someone with a 4.0+ w/kg FTP, your suffering is their cruising speed. Their suffering is you getting dropped...
The other side of it though, and this can be a depressing side, is that not everyone is suffering the same. If you're at 2.5 w/kg FTP in a race against someone with a 4.0+ w/kg FTP, your suffering is their cruising speed. Their suffering is you getting dropped...
07-10-13, 06:12 PM
#3863
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07-10-13, 07:35 PM
#3864
Senior Member
this is something I have really taken to heart this year. I used to get super frustrated about riders who progressed really quickly while I seem to work hard and progress at a very conservative rate. i've since realized that no two people are the same and you can only control what's going on on your side of the spectrum.
07-10-13, 07:37 PM
#3866
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this is something I have really taken to heart this year. I used to get super frustrated about riders who progressed really quickly while I seem to work hard and progress at a very conservative rate. i've since realized that no two people are the same and you can only control what's going on on your side of the spectrum.
07-10-13, 07:45 PM
#3867
Senior Member
07-10-13, 09:31 PM
#3868
Making a kilometer blurry
I just have some sort of a one-off-errand phobia. Doctor, car service, bike service, etc. Don't know why, but I get really irritated having to go off my routine. Groceries, bank, and other more regular errands are just dandy. Maybe it's the money I spend at the one-off places or something, but I don't like something about them. I think it's a big part of my DIY motivation. I don't want to meet with architects and contractors to build a pergola, so I'm going to do it myself. Same with my kitchen cabinets. And my stairs. And master bath. Backyard landscape. Family photography.
Fine, you come up with the puns then. Don't expect me to work with you on it though. I'm more of a DIY guy.
Fine, you come up with the puns then. Don't expect me to work with you on it though. I'm more of a DIY guy.
07-10-13, 09:52 PM
#3869
**** that
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Valley Ride tonight, "won" all the sprints. (except the climb)
Form is looking good for Cascade. Two races this weekend, one more training crit on Tuesday, then rest until Cascade next Friday.
Form is looking good for Cascade. Two races this weekend, one more training crit on Tuesday, then rest until Cascade next Friday.
07-10-13, 10:07 PM
#3870
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Awesome. Which races are you doing? I changed my mind: I'll be at Foothill. More friends racing with me 
Strongly considering the San Rafael Twilight Crit as well...
Strongly considering the San Rafael Twilight Crit as well...
07-10-13, 10:56 PM
#3871
**** that
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And Foothill on Sunday as well. My race is like 6 hours after yours tho, but if I see a guy with a huge beard I'll say hi!!
Probably San Rafael depending on how I feel after Cascade - last year I remember not resting much after it and kind of burning out and doing really crappy in races for a few weeks.. but as a race junky it's hard to stop!!
Anyway after recovering from Cascade (and the peak leading up to it) I'll be doing pretty much every race on the calendar up to October or whenever the last local one is.
07-11-13, 08:34 AM
#3872
These Guys Eat Oreos
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Tuesday -1.5hr w/ 10x1min @ Max. Meh...did OK. Started fading a bit after 6.
Wednesday - 2hr w/ 5x10min @ threshold. Meh again...still having trouble mentally getting through threshold intervals. Always have trouble after breaks. Getting there though. Better than my last session.
Wednesday - 2hr w/ 5x10min @ threshold. Meh again...still having trouble mentally getting through threshold intervals. Always have trouble after breaks. Getting there though. Better than my last session.
07-11-13, 09:01 PM
#3873
Riding the bike I love.
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Thursday A group/hammerfest ride tonight. Hung in the bottom third/half of the group to try and hang on for as long as possible. Hung on for a whole 50 minutes 
Pace wasn't as high but the wind was. Then hit a crosswind section and got blown all around the road, yo-yo'ed a bunch and got within an bikes length a few times but just couldn't grab a wheel and after about 5 minutes of burying myself they finally rolled away. Joined a 5 man pace line after that for another hour and took my pulls. Felt great all night which means I didn't get much practice with that mental stuff.. but I'll take it FWIW. Definitely made a huge improvement tonight, learned a ton about stuff I thought I already knew, (eg. I finally see exactly why being on the back is soo bad), gaining a lot of experience. Thanks for the support everyone, it helps to know I'm not the only one suffering like I am and puts things into a more measurable, realistic perspective
Pace wasn't as high but the wind was. Then hit a crosswind section and got blown all around the road, yo-yo'ed a bunch and got within an bikes length a few times but just couldn't grab a wheel and after about 5 minutes of burying myself they finally rolled away. Joined a 5 man pace line after that for another hour and took my pulls. Felt great all night which means I didn't get much practice with that mental stuff.. but I'll take it FWIW. Definitely made a huge improvement tonight, learned a ton about stuff I thought I already knew, (eg. I finally see exactly why being on the back is soo bad), gaining a lot of experience. Thanks for the support everyone, it helps to know I'm not the only one suffering like I am and puts things into a more measurable, realistic perspective
07-11-13, 11:04 PM
#3874
Senior Member
Rode until I inadvertently bonked, but I actually felt motivated to make some efforts until then. Trainer so I only had to walk about 25 feet to get to the fridge. Advantage of riding inside.
