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Sunday 9am ride
Nobody else out this morning so did a little loop down to hexton/sundon/sharpenhoe and back up lilley's bottom. A regular route used by the club.
I'm not around a huge amount at the moment as I'm working up north, and was a bit sad that I had nobody to chat to, especially when I passed a 20 strong bunch of Nomads out around Hexton. CCA turning Fairweather? It's okay, the voices in my head kept me entertained.
I was having a little think about the sort of riding the club runs do and would like to suggest doing a differently paced ride on a Sunday morning at 9. Us racers have had enough of smashing it up hills all summer so we slow down a bit in the winter, and it's nice to do base mileage with other club members as opposed to on our own, so I'd like to do a base ride at 9am. This will be something like 4-5 hours of steady effort (zone 2) so we'll go slowly up the hills and into the wind, but carry on pushing down the hills and with a tailwind. For example, the last time I rode this route with the club I found myself pushing well over my threshold power with my eyeballs hanging out just to keep up with the guys on the hills which is not ideal for winter mileage. Today I rode it all in zone 2 and it felt a lot less like a hammering and more like a training ride. The difference in average speed, for those interested in speed, I went 0.3mph faster today on my own at a steady pace than in a group of 15 or so at a hard followed by easy pace. For those interested in power, there was a difference of 10W between my NP and average power on this ride, and the last time I rode it with the club a difference of 80W.
I'm not saying there's anything wrong with riding like that, it's just it hurts my little legs and I'm not up for doing that till February, really. So whenever I'm around, I'll be out on a Sunday at 9am for a long steady, as will some of the racers too.
Everybody's welcome, but you will have to abide by a few rules that don't apply to other club runs if you want to ride with us (mainly because I'm a bit of a miserable so and so in the winter).
It's winter, full mudguards on both wheels preferably with a flap please. If you don't have full mudguards with a flap you may be asked to ride at the back for the duration. Nobody likes a face full of road grit and it's dangerous when riding in a close, tidy bunch to have muck flying up into your faces/over your nice shiny oakleys and meticulously polished helmet. Full mudguards are fine for you, but without a flap you're still covering whoever's on your wheel. It's dead easy to attach a bit of old folder, a ruler, a cut up plastic bottle using cable ties to any mudguard, even clip on race-blades.
No half wheeling, if you do this repeatedly you will be probably not so politely asked to go and train on your own.
Finally, don't think that this is a "nasty" ride. As it's steady, there's no racing involved. If you're looking at power, it'll probably be averaging around the 180-220 watts for the ride, that seems to be where most of us are riding at the moment. Average speed will change depending on the route and weather, but probably 17-18mph so not silly fast and if you're not feeling too strong then you can always sit in for the majority of the ride. There will probably be coffee and cake. Mmmmm.
If you're interested in road racing/crit racing/time trials this would be a good chance to learn how to pace properly and also find out a bit about training/racing from some of the guys who are starting to get quite experienced now, with a handful of 2nd cats, and a load of 3rd cats and the occasional flying visit from our esteemed 1st cat looking for base miles. You might even see a few of the TT record holders out as well...
I'm not around a huge amount at the moment as I'm working up north, and was a bit sad that I had nobody to chat to, especially when I passed a 20 strong bunch of Nomads out around Hexton. CCA turning Fairweather? It's okay, the voices in my head kept me entertained.
I was having a little think about the sort of riding the club runs do and would like to suggest doing a differently paced ride on a Sunday morning at 9. Us racers have had enough of smashing it up hills all summer so we slow down a bit in the winter, and it's nice to do base mileage with other club members as opposed to on our own, so I'd like to do a base ride at 9am. This will be something like 4-5 hours of steady effort (zone 2) so we'll go slowly up the hills and into the wind, but carry on pushing down the hills and with a tailwind. For example, the last time I rode this route with the club I found myself pushing well over my threshold power with my eyeballs hanging out just to keep up with the guys on the hills which is not ideal for winter mileage. Today I rode it all in zone 2 and it felt a lot less like a hammering and more like a training ride. The difference in average speed, for those interested in speed, I went 0.3mph faster today on my own at a steady pace than in a group of 15 or so at a hard followed by easy pace. For those interested in power, there was a difference of 10W between my NP and average power on this ride, and the last time I rode it with the club a difference of 80W.
I'm not saying there's anything wrong with riding like that, it's just it hurts my little legs and I'm not up for doing that till February, really. So whenever I'm around, I'll be out on a Sunday at 9am for a long steady, as will some of the racers too.
Everybody's welcome, but you will have to abide by a few rules that don't apply to other club runs if you want to ride with us (mainly because I'm a bit of a miserable so and so in the winter).
It's winter, full mudguards on both wheels preferably with a flap please. If you don't have full mudguards with a flap you may be asked to ride at the back for the duration. Nobody likes a face full of road grit and it's dangerous when riding in a close, tidy bunch to have muck flying up into your faces/over your nice shiny oakleys and meticulously polished helmet. Full mudguards are fine for you, but without a flap you're still covering whoever's on your wheel. It's dead easy to attach a bit of old folder, a ruler, a cut up plastic bottle using cable ties to any mudguard, even clip on race-blades.
No half wheeling, if you do this repeatedly you will be probably not so politely asked to go and train on your own.
Finally, don't think that this is a "nasty" ride. As it's steady, there's no racing involved. If you're looking at power, it'll probably be averaging around the 180-220 watts for the ride, that seems to be where most of us are riding at the moment. Average speed will change depending on the route and weather, but probably 17-18mph so not silly fast and if you're not feeling too strong then you can always sit in for the majority of the ride. There will probably be coffee and cake. Mmmmm.
If you're interested in road racing/crit racing/time trials this would be a good chance to learn how to pace properly and also find out a bit about training/racing from some of the guys who are starting to get quite experienced now, with a handful of 2nd cats, and a load of 3rd cats and the occasional flying visit from our esteemed 1st cat looking for base miles. You might even see a few of the TT record holders out as well...
Comments
I seem to remember getting spat out the back of every festive 50 I rode as soon as we hit a hill! Along with Cam...
I hit nearly 40mph on a 75" fixed going downhill on a wet ride and wouldn't want to do that again
Effort does not mean pace. I could run an average pace ride at 15 or 17 or 19 mph even up here but I can assure you the effort you would expend would be radically different.
I can see where you are coming from and I am sure that there are sufficient riders of your calibre to make a good bunch. However there needs to be a less hard pace ride for those who want to ride fixed or simple go slower.
So if you're riding at what feels like 15-25% of your total available power on the flat to maintain 17.5mph with the group, when you hit a hill, on this ride, you will find you are still using no more or less power; instead you have lowered your gears and massively scrubbed speed to maintain the constant, steady, sensible power/effort output. Makes a lot of sense will, just need to get mudguards sorted.
Geoff - the pace at 180-220w will not be unsuitable for most. The idea is a constant effort at a similar level, within a suitable cadence. Of course the level of effort will be more for some than others based on fitness levels, but the nature of the ride will still be constant. Speed and distance shouldn't be looked at, Time and Power will hopefully be used. Those without power meters can benefit from training with those that do. As Will says, it won't be for everyone, but offers a very well structured ride in great company.
By a "flap" I guess you're talking a small section of plastic at the bottom of the rear guard? A photo would be a big help!
Will's proposed ride will be a good addition to the weekends and would like to join occasionally. As a died in the wool weekend warrior I promise to behave.
Hopefully you'll post on the forum to keep everyone in the loop.