How many group rides per week
01-18-22, 09:23 AM
#76
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01-18-22, 12:42 PM
#77
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If the OP really wants to do something, which I take it is in question, then one competitive group ride per week is the usual dose. That's your fitness test, see what you got. The rest of the week is prep for that group ride, i.e. structured training trying to fix what you're worst at. Hopefully that focus will change as the year goes on. I wouldn't mind seeing comments tying "what you're worst at" to structured training responses. That would be useful.
I used to ride with some champs too, when they were slumming in the winter. I think the attraction was that we showed up, worked hard, and didn't have accidents. It's called "safe, cooperative riding." Which doesn't mean you don't try to pull the socks off the other riders. That's also cooperative. You just don't ride away when you do, you go to the back of the line and let someone else try to kill themselves. That's how good group rides are not races - well except for the finishing sprint and the preceding lead-out. One of the objects of the game is to be there for that. That last couple of miles, things do get strung out. That's how we did it, anyway.
Some of our riders quit us and took up crit racing. Their comment was - we hadn't been doing nearly enough anaerobic work and recovery from same. 4-6 hours was too long, but I think that's what mid-week is for. Group rides are for learning how to behave while having fun being challenged. The folks who left to go race were ready - no accidents that I ever heard of. One learns how to tell a rider to be near vs. a rider to stay away from.
And I guess it's an ego thing. You don't show up for a group ride on a SS or fixed bike, not unless you're going to be one of the strongest riders there, able both to drop people on long 10% grades and hit 30 for short periods. That's not helpful for you or anyone else. One of the things I learned early on was to match my cadence to the rider in front of me, so we'd both respond the same to changes.
I used to ride with some champs too, when they were slumming in the winter. I think the attraction was that we showed up, worked hard, and didn't have accidents. It's called "safe, cooperative riding." Which doesn't mean you don't try to pull the socks off the other riders. That's also cooperative. You just don't ride away when you do, you go to the back of the line and let someone else try to kill themselves. That's how good group rides are not races - well except for the finishing sprint and the preceding lead-out. One of the objects of the game is to be there for that. That last couple of miles, things do get strung out. That's how we did it, anyway.
Some of our riders quit us and took up crit racing. Their comment was - we hadn't been doing nearly enough anaerobic work and recovery from same. 4-6 hours was too long, but I think that's what mid-week is for. Group rides are for learning how to behave while having fun being challenged. The folks who left to go race were ready - no accidents that I ever heard of. One learns how to tell a rider to be near vs. a rider to stay away from.
And I guess it's an ego thing. You don't show up for a group ride on a SS or fixed bike, not unless you're going to be one of the strongest riders there, able both to drop people on long 10% grades and hit 30 for short periods. That's not helpful for you or anyone else. One of the things I learned early on was to match my cadence to the rider in front of me, so we'd both respond the same to changes.
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01-18-22, 03:35 PM
#80
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You need an objective measure, like a cyclocomputer. A lot of serious cyclists don't ride as hard after racing season is over...
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01-18-22, 10:56 PM
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4-5 drop rides is way too much. It depends on your age and fitness and ability to recover. When I was younger, I raced once on the weekend and one hard group ride after work during the middle of the week. Intervals one day, sprints another day. Two rest days. Sunday was the long steady ride.
You also have to take into account your alcohol consumption. That puts a load on your system. too
You also have to take into account your alcohol consumption. That puts a load on your system. too
01-19-22, 01:00 AM
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01-19-22, 08:42 AM
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