Beach Rd on the weekends?

[zill]

Maybe you people who doubt my recovery rides are not at my level yet. When I started seriously riding two years ago, I was aiming to ride hard everyday and aiming for constant pace with no rest days since I was also interested to lose weight as well. I rode literally everyday for about 10 months although not necessarily big km on any given day. Everyday in the big chain ring but some days obviously didn't feel powerful, nonetheless tried to ride hard everyday. As my power improved and the rides became faster and longer, some days my performance was really down. Also felt fatigued at times and unable to train fully, body was shutting down. That is when I started to schedule rest days into my training and that helped a lot. Now currently, I take two rest days per week meaning two days in the small chain ring. This enables me to train hard on the other days. At my peak fitness before my injury, I took three rest days per week and did hard intervals on the other days. Was able to reach 5w/kg for 20min or 335W for 20 min.

[dalai47]

Saying W/kg without time period is pointless i.e 5 W/kg 5 sec vs 5 W/kg FTP...

[zill]

Saying W/kg without time period is pointless i.e 5 W/kg 5 sec vs 5 W/kg FTP...

Have added details in above post.

[Calvin27]

Maybe you people who doubt my recovery rides are not at my level yet.

No mate, most of the time we don't question others achievements, but you've been 'mistaken' more often than not. Just post some strava segments and we'll all shut up.

[defy1]

zill is a D grader with delusions of grandeur

[Marx]

I love racing my bike on the climbs along Beach Rd, but finding a car park at the bottom of them on the weekends is sometimes difficult.

[queequeg]

I'm not a racer, so I might look stupid asking..

Isn't that pretty much what happens? You enter a race anywhere, and your performance determines what grade you are?

That's my experience, having only started racing at the end of April this year, and progressed from D Grade to A Grade in that time (3 months, give or take a couple of days).
I commute 250km p/w on a purpose built commuter bike with panniers, mudguards and an totally practical 46/38 Set of chainrings. There is no racing on commutes. I do get some riders trying to earn CCR points but I don't take the bait.
My "training" consists of targeting a specific strava segment each week, nearly always hills. Otherwise my commutes are mostly done at Z1/Z2 effort

[queequeg]

Bigger fields means you can keep your nose out of the wind more...

But potentially more attacks so more accelerations.

In my experience you don't see much of that until A Grade Level. In the lower grades the pace is generally consistent with accelerations limited to coming out of turns. It's not unusual to see the lower grades have a higher avg speed on the same course, or for a lower grade to overtake a higher grade on the course.

[zill]

I love racing my bike on the climbs along Beach Rd, but finding a car park at the bottom of them on the weekends is sometimes difficult.

Are you from Kensington? Surely, you can ride to beach rd from there?

Once I rode 85km to a crit then raced and finished it without a break since I arrived with no minutes to spare. Took a train home afterwards though.

[zill]

Bigger fields means you can keep your nose out of the wind more...

But potentially more attacks so more accelerations.

In my experience you don't see much of that until A Grade Level. In the lower grades the pace is generally consistent with accelerations limited to coming out of turns. It's not unusual to see the lower grades have a higher avg speed on the same course, or for a lower grade to overtake a higher grade on the course.

Do you think you can podium in A grade soon?

You'd improve more with some structured training but doing well not to take the bait from fellow commuters.

[queequeg]

Do you think you can podium in A grade soon?

You'd improve more with some structured training but doing well not to take the bait from fellow commuters.

I have no idea. The difference with A grade is that it is full of NRS riders, ex-professionals and Ex-champions, plus guys who have been racing for 20 years in A Grade.
Right now I am pack fodder. Too strong for B Grade, but at the bottom end of A.
However, I am not doing it for podiums, so that is not a big motivation for me.
I was at least encouraged that in
my first race I was middle of the pack at the finish, and I handled the constant attacks pretty well. I'll need to do a fair few more races to sort out which type of course suits me the best. Right now I have switched focus to training for the Fitz's Epic in October, once that is over we'll see.

[__PG__]

Anyone like to comment what Beach Rd is like early during the week? I work in Docklands and I'm thinking about riding to work, dropping my backpack and doing a quick 80 km or so before work.

What is it like 6-9 am on a weekday?

[zill]

Anyone like to comment what Beach Rd is like early during the week? I work in Docklands and I'm thinking about riding to work, dropping my backpack and doing a quick 80 km or so before work.

What is it like 6-9 am on a weekday?

After about 7:30am on a weekday, it's pretty bad.

On the weekend, before noon is good but 8am seem to be when most people are riding. After 9:30am, gets quieter and many have finished.

[__PG__]

Consensus from my mates on Facebook is on the way back to Melbourne to take the bike path from the baths to the ferry.

[zill]

Consensus from my mates on Facebook is on the way back to Melbourne to take the bike path from the baths to the ferry.

Yes, if later than 7:30am as traffic can get congested there.

[danny the boy]

Consensus from my mates on Facebook is on the way back to Melbourne to take the bike path from the baths to the ferry.

I'd second this, the part that is called StKilda St (Beach Rd has about 4 different names) is the worst. I mostly ride mornings after 9 and even then it can be bad somedays. Look up North rd ride if you feel safer riding in a group, can get quick though.

[macca33]

I've ridden Beach Road a fair bit between 0530 - 0900 during weekdays and for the most part, it is fairly pleasant. There are heaps of bunches - some well-behaved, others less so, but there is also ample opportunity to ride solo, or share some work with other commuters. I reckon it does tend to get busier after 0730, but drivers are well aware of the presence of bicycles, so it is not too bad.

I don't take the bike path from StKilda through to Port Melbourne, but one does have to be cognisant of cars moving into and out of parking along that stretch, as well as the accompanying car doors.

Overall, it is a good spot for a ride - hence the popularity!

cheers

[zill]

Overall, it is a good spot for a ride - hence the popularity!

Good compared to lots of other roads but pretty bad compared to the Kew Boulevard or Richmond Boulevard when it gets busy.

[__PG__]

I'd second this, the part that is called StKilda St (Beach Rd has about 4 different names) is the worst. I mostly ride mornings after 9 and even then it can be bad somedays. Look up North rd ride if you feel safer riding in a group, can get quick though.

Too old and slow for the North rd ride

Also don't like riding in big bunches. I'd prefer to go down with some clip-ons and do solo work.

[yehuda]

No way this guy is real!
Some of the best trolling I have seen.

[dalai47]

Lots of people to race this Sunday!

[zill]

Lots of people to race this Sunday!

Why is that?

[biker jk]

No way this guy is real!
Some of the best trolling I have seen.

I suggest that obvious trolling can't be regarded as being the best.

[macca33]

Lots of people to race this Sunday!

Hahaha - don't worry, by Monday we'll be sure to hear about how he came first out of eleventy-hundred riders on Sunday!!!

cheers

[Duck!]

Lots of people to race this Sunday!

Why is that?

Oh, nothing in particular, just the biggest day on the Victorian recreational ride calendar....