Better off with fast group or sticking to training plan?

[stretch]

My goal in cycling is to become a (state) A grade road cyclist. I have been cycling for nearly 4 months now and I have written out a training plan that sees me start Base 1 training next week. I will be entering some big events next year. I am one of the fastest B group riders but find myself getting dropped by the A group.

Basically I want to know if I should continue to push myself in the A group on the weekend or should I stick to the plan and ride base miles at a comfortable pace, most likely in the B group??

[toolonglegs]

Racing is the best training...so if you want to ride fast then you have to train fast.Stick with A...recover during the week.

[sogood]

For that level, I'd think guidance from an experienced coach is warranted.

[Alex Simmons/RST]

or ditch the bunches altogether and get some good training instead.

The only good bunches are small groups (up to say 6 riders) who are of similar ability and looking to achieve similar training outcomes.

Other than that, a faster aggressive bunch is better than a slower one when you want to practice some of the dynamics you'll encounter in a race.

Slower bunches are a waste of training time. They might be good for socialising though, which has its place.

[stretch]

or ditch the bunches altogether and get some good training instead.

The only good bunches are small groups (up to say 6 riders) who are of similar ability and looking to achieve similar training outcomes.

Other than that, a faster aggressive bunch is better than a slower one when you want to practice some of the dynamics you'll encounter in a race.

Slower bunches are a waste of training time. They might be good for socialising though, which has its place.

So train solo for endurance and speed skills through the base period?

[Alex Simmons/RST]

So train solo for endurance and speed skills through the base period?

Endurance - yes. although depends on what you mean by base period.

Speed skills - what do you mean? I didn't realise speed was a skill. If you mean riding skills in a fast bunch, well you get that from riding in a fast bunch. It makes sense to do that if that is an inhibitor to your race performance.

Solo riding time, used wisely, will be a lot more effective for fitness development than lots of bunch riding.

The balance between the two depends on what the appropriate development priorities are for you (and to some degree, motivational factors). That would require much more detailed individual assessment, rather than the general nature of advice bandied about on forums such as this.

[stretch]

Im really only looking to bunch ride on saturday and sunday. Saturday being about 85km and sunday about 125km+. By speed skills I mean pedaling/ cadence/ cornering/ technique drills and by base I mean a period of increasing endurance for the upcoming season.

Being a noob I have found my cornering sucks in the few crits Ive ridden but it gets better each race.

[Ant.]

I'm was toying with the group riding idea, but this morning, I thought eff it! I'll learn how to corner and draft in crits and road races.

[toolonglegs]

My group rides keep me sane...they are crap training even if we do get the heart rate up every so often.But they are totally for socializing!.