redal

Since you're in San Dimas, you have plenty of options with the Montrose ride since it goes right through San Dimas before it starts heading back to Sierra Madre. My suggestion would be to meet the ride on Longden or Arrow and head back toward San Dimas with the ride since Longden, Arrow and Gladstone are generally pretty fast. Stay with the group as long as you can and if you make it to the finish, leave earlier the next week and meet them farther out.

The Bud's ride is on Wed. nights at Bonelli Park. Three laps around the park and there are people that take shortcuts across the dam.

umd

But it's a good place to start for someone just starting. Once you've been riding for a while you get all the gains you are going to get from just riding around... that means your base is established and you can start doing more structured stuff...

MONGO!

Intervals are great and all but I got my biggest gains from long, fast group rides and racing.

You may have got dropped after 26 mins but I'll bet that was the toughest 26 mins on a bike for you.

Don't forget the recovery is as important as the training, post workout drinks and eating enough protein in a building stage helps, also rest days/recovery rides before a race.

Congrats on a good first effort.

urbanknight

So all the gains I'm going to gain from just riding around are Cat 4 pack fodder on a good day?

timmhaan

keep in mind, as a newer racer, you're probably not terribly efficient either. little things like anticipating pace changes, keeping (and defending) a good position, not dragging people around, etc. you might not even need a huge amount of training, just more experience racing.

mollusk

I think that this is probably true for most folks, but I might be the exception that breaks the rule. I don't ever push myself so hard on a group ride that I am not in total control of my bike. When riding by myself I will go way beyond that. I am a believer in the "Cry in the dojo, laugh on the battlefield" way of training.

audioslavery

Wow I wish I could quote everyone in this thread, some really really great responses thank you ALL.

I'm definitely going to do that fast Rose Bowl group ride every day possible to get myself up to snuff. I did it once and could barely hang on for a lap (Pack dynamics are intimidating! I think I was more worried about holding my line than keeping up!)

I'm going to keep the intervals up at least twice a week and I'll give both of the plans listed in this thread a shot.

I'll report back after my race on 5/17, I have a race on 5/25 after that and then mid june i have 2 more planned! I can't wait to get out there when I'm more prepped.

ljrichar

Also a very important skill to learn.

Grumpy McTrumpy

rollers help a lot with the lineholding thing.

SushiJoe

Agreed.

Laggard

You need some group riding just to learn basic group bike riding skills. The idea of someone entering a crit who has very little group riding experience is a bit terrifying for those around them.

efficiency

Since you lasted with the pack for 26 minutes, you probably have the fitness to finish the race. You just need to develop better skills.

I think your intervals are too short if you're just starting out racing. If you have the Friel book, look in the appendix with all the workouts and do the "Cruise Intervals," but not more than twice a week. You could also do the 2x20 minutes as suggested earlier.