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Fitness question

by Daveyraveygravey
Sat, Sep 27, 2014 19:58
8

Did the Legs of Steel today, gutted I missed the gold standard by just under 4 mins, but 5 mins better than last year. For me, 3 hours is a very long time to be looking at,the Garmin thinking "I'm not going fast enough"...
Towards the end, last two or three climbs there was a guy ahead of me, he'd be half way up the hill and I'd be at bottom but would catch him by the top. As soon as it levelled off he'd pull away until the next climb. I felt I had nothing left so was really surprised to catch him going up and then so frustrated to not be able to keep up,when it got easy. Why is that? I've done a lot of climbing recently - do I need to work on my speed on the flat?

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Daveyraveygravey | 10 years ago
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The frustration comes about because I am 49; next year the gold standard gives me an extra 15 minutes to do the trip, and I just want to do it in 3.10. I am actually thinking about having another go sometime in the next month or two before the weather gets nasty.
Last year I was 10 minutes outside, and all year I have been thinking if I can take a minute out of all the climbs, that's almost it. Need to think about all 50 miles, not just the 10 or so that are major uphills.

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SideBurn replied to Daveyraveygravey | 10 years ago
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Daveyraveygravey wrote:

The frustration comes about because I am 49; next year the gold standard gives me an extra 15 minutes to do the trip, and I just want to do it in 3.10. I am actually thinking about having another go sometime in the next month or two before the weather gets nasty.
Last year I was 10 minutes outside, and all year I have been thinking if I can take a minute out of all the climbs, that's almost it. Need to think about all 50 miles, not just the 10 or so that are major uphills.

49.....
The youth of today. Eh? back in my day etc. (yawn.... )

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SideBurn | 10 years ago
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Martin K has already said what I was going to say; most people sit up a bit at the top of a climb, but this is where you need to attack! When you train ride up a hill expecting to give it the beans at the top!
Also it is worth remembering that hills tend to close people up, the other rider gets to the top and rides away while you are still struggling up the hill (same as at corners).
But you have got it right when you say, 'work on my speed on the flat' you have obviously got the strength.
When you say, 'I missed my target by seconds 20 ' I had to smile... welcome to cycling 16 The frustration is part of the fun!
You could always take the credit card down to the bike shop and ask how much cash and carbon fibre will make me 4 minutes faster! (Or ask yourself what would Merkx do?)

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notfastenough | 10 years ago
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On the great Manchester cycle there's a lot of bigger riders, because the fast flat course suits them. That said, it's worth practising your efforts on the flat too. Works for me.

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Daveyraveygravey | 10 years ago
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Sorry about the double post, not sure why my phone put it up twice. He was a bigger guy than me. It was frustrating because I didn't have anything left, I didn't think I was pushing myself on the climbs I was just trying to get up them.

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Crosshair | 10 years ago
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Was he bigger than you?? On the Brecon Beast last year, I noticed several times how on a long steep climb followed by a long gradual one, the light guys and gals would speed off, then the stronger bigger guys would take over and a mile later, we'd all be in the order we started. It's just power-weight ratio in action 1

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Martyn_K | 10 years ago
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As above.

You have probably burnt yourself chasing up the climb and then have nothing left over the top. A good gauge of your cycling fitness is not how fast you can get up the rises but the pace you can maintain when the road levels off again. One of the comments from riders stepping up to the top level of our club rides is how the speed does not drop at the top of the hills, they don't get any respite as the pace stays high.

If you are looking to develop your fitness then i would advise working at about 50-75% of you max for the duration of climbs and then trying to power your way over the top. Maintain the push until half a mile after the road levels off. Another good way to bring that fitness up is hill repeats. Do a google search on the most effective hill repeat training and try and get a couple of sessions in each month.

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CXR94Di2 | 10 years ago
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He could of been pacing himself or you weren't as fit as you thought.

I found out I was still a little off a club cyclist pace after joining a club. It is very surprising how quickly you can improve when challenged to keep on the back of a fast pack. My average has jumped upto 19 mph over 70+miles. I still get dropped but at a faster pace 1

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