gycho77

How do you guys practice for track races(point race)

I do not live near velodrome, so I usually ride my track bike on road(usually hills)

Can you give some tips for training

Also tips for point race!!

wens

If you're trying to train for points races and don't live near a track, race road. Do some high cadence high power interval training. Watch video of points races and figure out why the top finishers did what they did.

RISKDR1

it is important that you learn to ride in close quarters at fast speeds. Criteriums come to mind. I rode points race on the track once a week and also rode criteriums. Road racing not so much. You will need an explosive sprint as well.

queerpunk

Sometimes in the winter I do points race simulations on rollers or a trainer. Every 2.5 minutes, I rev up for 30 seconds. Repeat 10 times.

When I'm not yet in shape, the 2.5 minutes are rest, easy spinning. As I get in better shape, the 2.5 minutes are closer to a high tempo or sweet spot. When the 15-30s sprint being well into v02max. If I'm in really good shape, then I will "take a lap" in the middle of the workout with a 3-min effort.

They are hard - maybe harder even than a points race.

chas58

Good point. We have some very fast road training rides around here where there is a lot of very tight riding on twisty roads. It is a good start and can be decent pace line training, but with the track:
- you need to be comfortable spinning at a very high RPM
- you need to do explosive sprint training when your legs are fresh and strong.
- track racing is still a lot tighter than road
- Track strategy can really only be learned on the track.

Crits to me are kinda booring. I ride around in circles for an hour and then there is a sprint at the end. Track racing is a lot different.

gycho77

Thank you for your advice.

gycho77

Wow you are so lucky.
I hope I live near a velodrome haha
Thank you for your advice

gycho77

Wow
It looks really hard.
I definitely have to try this session

gycho77

So I should try low gear ratio and go to a velodrome a lot

MrMinty

Any drills to practice getting a quick recovery rate, as you'd need for repeated sprints such as a points or elimination race?

Baby Puke

Sounds like interval training to me.

carleton

This is probably just as much about cardiovascular fitness as it is about cycling. The nuance of the points and elimination races come with learning how to conserve energy in a war of attrition...and then knowing your opponents and picking your battles to "burn matches" to gain points. You'll only get the latter from experience racing. But you can train the cardiovascular part several ways.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-i...erval_training

dunderhi

If you haven't done so yet, sign up for try the track: https://www.bikereg.com/2015-try-the-track-program They will provide a bike if you don't have one.

Also, the physical demand of points races is all about quick recovery, so intervals is the way to go.


There are a couple of Masters who race every Saturday who are from Delaware. So if you make it out to Ttown, look for the "big guy" and I can introduce you to them.