Mate its more than just about raw numbers & learning how to increase them numbers is the part where you need to understand the science of power. Alex certainly knows the power side of things & he told me from the start that there is many ways to skin the numbers cat. I must admit at times I thought I was going around in circles & not making much headway but it is a building process & requires work & patience. I can highly recommend Alex & RST Sport if you want to get the most out of your power training. It is not free but it is well worth it in my eyes. I don't drink, smoke or eat badly so this helps enormously on the bike & saves me enough money per month to have a great coach.nickobec wrote:I have enjoyed this thread and it has got me inspired, especially by MJD's performances, to reassess my targets.
Background 51years old, 181cm, 79kg but could be 75kg or less, on PDD performance decreasing drugs ( beta blockers - reduces heart rate, but working that to my advantage in races, max HR at beginning of race is 160, after 1 hour max HR is 175 for final sprint) after myocardial infarction and resulting coronary stent. Been riding for a few years for fitness, only started racing at the beginning this road racing season (May). Been riding with a power meter for almost a year, slowly understanding how to use it. It is a heavy training wheelset, so I used it in my E grade races, but not in the hilly handicap or D grade races. My FTP at the moment is just under 3 watts/kg (2.91) 230 watts, was under 190 watts in January.
When I started racing in May, my aims other than survive were:
1. Be competitive - did that 4th, 6th, 4th, 1st, 2nd, 2nd
2. Get promoted to D grade by mid season - done, after 6 races I placed with the D graders in my 1st handicap, so I asked to be promoted
3. Be competitive in D grade by end of season - suffering with winter cold and the like, plus lack of training at moment (usually my morning 40km commute), finishing at back of bunch after putting in suicidal attacks with a couple of kms to go.
4. Get promoted to C grade by middle of next road racing season
5. Be competitive in C grade by end of next season
After last Saturday, where I felt like crap with a cold, I stayed with the bunch on a lumpy course, which was controlled by 3 riders who should be in C grade. We lapped was at a faster pace than the C grade. And I chose to put in a suicidal attack, instead of riding for a top 6 spot. I am now thinking I should be aiming at getting promoted to C during the summer crit series and to B by middle of next road racing season.
Is anybody going to tell me I am a crazy dreamer.
Or should I be emailing Alex, once I clear my usual winter malaise (every year lack of light, less riding and I get a cold that is hard to shake) and build my racing wheel with my new powertap + 50mm carbon rim is on the way from China.
Many a wet cold morning has been had on the bike this winter but it has paid off that's for sure. No point paying my coach & not for-filling my end of the deal.
Dream on & set yourself some achievable goals & they will get ticked off one at a time. One of my goals when I started with Alex was to be competitive in B grade