Getting Smashed
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Getting Smashed
Postby TREKKER_MIKE » Tue Oct 15, 2013 8:46 pm
Started Bunch rides at Homebush, and i am getting smashed in the slowest group.
its depressing, but not off putting, in fact it makes me hungry to train harder to get in the group and get fitness.
Here is the thing, i can sit at my own pace, and ride for a few hours no problems, but try and go at a higher speed / cadence, and i die in the Arm.
Any suggestions on training techniques that might help me get some speed rather than cardio endurance
Hope that makes sense
Mike
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Re: Getting Smashed
Postby ft_critical » Tue Oct 15, 2013 9:08 pm
Getting smashed is part of cycling. The better you get, the better the guys who smash you are. Which is kind of rewarding in a sadistic way.
Advice. Keep going back. Don't worry that you are doing something wrong - technique or anything. Aim to last a lap longer, or some such measure, each week. You will surprise yourself how quickly you improve. The bunch will teach you all the technique you need.
As best as you can, don't hang around at the back, in the concertina (even though you probably think this is where you belong,) it is easier in the middle.
Well done for getting involved.
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Re: Getting Smashed
Postby trailgumby » Tue Oct 15, 2013 9:08 pm
I used to do two classes back-to-back on each "on" night, but unfortunately my gym changed the schedule and my works hours changed as well so I can no longer do that.
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Re: Getting Smashed
Postby lobstermash » Tue Oct 15, 2013 9:14 pm
If you don't have any kids, get an old beater steel roadie and punish yourself on that.
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Re: Getting Smashed
Postby vander » Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:41 am
EDIT: BTW losing weight helps for these group rides also.
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Re: Getting Smashed
Postby macca33 » Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:18 am
Keep at it mate.
cheers
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Re: Getting Smashed
Postby TREKKER_MIKE » Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:09 pm
I want to stay at the back as i guess i am worried i will die and cause a major stack, but you are right, being in the middle is most probably easier. I was doing spinerval's DVD's for a while there as i couldnt get out (my wife was really sick in hospital and i have the 2 babies to take care of), i might incorporate one a week now i am back doing outdoor training. I think my weight is the biggest thing holding me back, more training and proper diet will fix that. (already on the proper diet)
Thanks for your comments !!! i am enjoying riding with groups, meeting new people who like cycling.
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Re: Getting Smashed
Postby Cul » Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:23 pm
I started riding with a group back in April when I got a road bike (after 5 years off), I was regularly struggling to stay with even the slow bunch... Now 6 months later I am putting the fast bunch in the hurt locker on occasion. Riding with those that are faster will hurt, but hell it will make you faster!!!
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Re: Getting Smashed
Postby Xplora » Thu Oct 17, 2013 11:04 pm
I think you really have to just "chip away". If you get dropped after 6 laps, try and last 6.5 laps. Go as often as you can. If you manage to survive, go up a group and get dropped. When you go back to the slower group, you'll cope better and will get stronger.
Something I advocate is taken from bodybuilding - go to "failure". Knowingly embrace getting dropped. Give it absolutely everything, and accept the result. Cadel Evans would get dropped in your local ride if he turned up and sprinted half the laps. Everyone runs out of steam; better riders apply themselves carefully. I often blow up doing the M7 rides I do, because I am hitting 100% with stronger riders. That's OK. Your body responds really well to getting dropped, even if your ego doesn't. You are getting the best workout in the whole group if you are getting dropped. That means you are getting faster more than everyone else. Hopefully that's an encouragement. Plenty of dudes with big guts get around OK on a bike. Just keep riding.
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Re: Getting Smashed
Postby g-boaf » Fri Oct 25, 2013 9:58 pm
Now I'm giving it the lot. It hurts sometimes and tonight I did go near failure - but eased back a bit to get home. But that's alright - the bits I wanted to attack, I did.
The M7 is like a time-trial - you have to ride with your head, save your energy in certain places and hammer away in others and keep that average speed up.Xplora wrote:I often blow up doing the M7 rides I do, because I am hitting 100% with stronger riders. That's OK
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Re: Getting Smashed
Postby autumn acid » Mon Nov 11, 2013 1:40 pm
I believe I may recognise who you are from Tuesday and Thursday SOP training rides.
Firstly, a preface - I started riding October last year to work on a MTB, bought a road bike in Feb and started racing now (C/D grade).
I'm at 171 cm, weighed 95 kilos and smoked 3/4's a pack a day.
I now weigh 79 and stopped smoking some 3 months ago.
My progress has been very quick, but required discipline and commitment. Cycling is fun, but keeping up and pushing hard is rewarding in it's own right!
Those Tuesday and Thursday training rides ARE hard if you haven't ridden them before. There are folk in group 5 and 6 who have been riding for years. Some are new, but most are comfortable at that pace for their fitness level/level of riding.
Some suggestions that helped me through:
- Long solo rides on bike tracks like the m7 and Cooks River.
- Laps at Centennial Park
THEN I went out to SOP - not on a Tuesday, but a Wednesday. Wednesday is the leisurely ride. The pace is much slower. It's a group ride without the pace line, and hardly ever does anyone take a turn. I did this for a month or so before moving to training rides and by this time my fitness was at a level from which I could hold on.
Humility is a good thing. Ride around the kiddy section of Sydney Park if you like, but the important thing is to ride, ride ride. Is it hot? Ride. Is ithe road wet? Ride Is it cold as !! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !!? Ride.
Further, weight is an issue for acceleration. Weight and momentum are a great thing, but not so much up hills or from a standing start. Combined with good diet, riding will get your weight down
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Re: Getting Smashed
Postby TREKKER_MIKE » Mon Nov 11, 2013 3:00 pm
I do prefer the wednesday ride for sure, but i started a crit race yesterday, thats a great motivator !!
looking forward to more training, and keeping an eye on the weight is a number one priority. trim the weight down, and ride the bike all the time, results will happen, regardless of the program
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Re: Getting Smashed
Postby donncha » Mon Nov 11, 2013 4:25 pm
That was the biggest difference I found when I joined a club after riding on my own for years. I could handle the distance OK, but all the short surges (e.g: group maintains speed over a short rise, whereas I'd normally just slow down on my own) sapped my legs. Took me a month or two to adjust to that style of riding.
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