Winter training?

[TSCfree]

I've slightly modified my winter training based on an incremental blood lactate test and ramp test. My lactate turn point begins for me at 165bpm, so my 'base'zone 1 is everything up to this heart rate. This is my second week in and I must say that it's harder riding than I initially thought given the mileage I'm trying to achieve.

[Ponk]

Bit of a bump from beyond here.

Anyone have experience of the various winter race series at the likes of Hog Hill, Hillingdon or Cyclopark?

I'm in two minds whether to try the 4th cat only at Hog Hill next weekend.

[okgo]

HIllingdon far easier than cyclopark, and cyclopark probably a fair bit easier than HH. I think crashes are fewer at HH and Cyclopark and the racing is much more attritional because of the hard corners and of course the hill at hog hill. Hillingdon is very easy and many people are still pretty fresh come the sprint and it all goes mad with people sprinting for all sorts of positions and going for gaps that are not there etc!

I started at Hillingdon, but I think the other two would have been safer.

[anonymous-user]

Hillingdon winter racing is a gamble. Generally lots of riders with no brains all trying to kill each other for a halo point. Too many on track and...well I just think it's a bit risky.

Hog Hill is better as the climb weeds out a fair few. The sprint finish is up a long drag and even the most determined lemming would struggle to eject.

Cyclopark is the pick IMO. Technical in parts and a small ramp again to the finish. Grippy enough and good facilities.

Edit. All 4th cat events...keep an eye out for the aggressive riders, the ones that sling there bikes about and others who don't hold a line. Keep talking to people around you and don't half wheel. I found it safer to be in the top 10 and hold an inside line everywhere possible. At least then you have the grass and only front, back and behind to worry about

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 3rd January 17:58

[BMWBen]

Ponk said:

Bit of a bump from beyond here.

Anyone have experience of the various winter race series at the likes of Hog Hill, Hillingdon or Cyclopark?

I'm in two minds whether to try the 4th cat only at Hog Hill next weekend.

I did a 3/4 in the summer series a couple of years ago - was great fun, until I was dropped. Very selective circuit, which is a good thing if you like your skin the way it is There are some very fast technical corners, so not sure how I'd feel about it in winter conditions. You've got nice grassy run-offs though, so if you do overcook it and bail out you're not going to hurt yourself.

Cyclopark is also selective, but without the brutal hill each lap, just a slightly more friendly one. Certainly the most enjoyable race I've done, perhaps because I won it, but it's a damn good circuit.

[Ponk]

BMWBen said:

Ponk said:

Bit of a bump from beyond here.

Anyone have experience of the various winter race series at the likes of Hog Hill, Hillingdon or Cyclopark?

I'm in two minds whether to try the 4th cat only at Hog Hill next weekend.

I did a 3/4 in the summer series a couple of years ago - was great fun, until I was dropped. Very selective circuit, which is a good thing if you like your skin the way it is There are some very fast technical corners, so not sure how I'd feel about it in winter conditions. You've got nice grassy run-offs though, so if you do overcook it and bail out you're not going to hurt yourself.

Cyclopark is also selective, but without the brutal hill each lap, just a slightly more friendly one. Certainly the most enjoyable race I've done, perhaps because I won it, but it's a damn good circuit.

I was expecting hog hill to be technical and fairly gruelling but I think riding it in the wet would actually terrify me! I've heard it's pretty bad for punctures in the rain. Perhaps not the best first race of the year. Lol Saying that though it's 4ths only so surely most are in the same boat?

I like the sound of Cyclopark, a few friends that have ridden it rave about it. I think the only early season races are E/1/2/3/4 though.

[Gruffy]

Back on topic, my winter training consists of 30% climbs in -15°C.

http://www.strava.com/activities/235688042

[MadDad]

Erm, someone appears to have pinched your jacket......I am shivering looking at that photo!

[Gruffy]

I ride hot

[Ponk]

Got round my first proper race of the season on Saturday (punctured after 5 laps the week before) at Hog Hill. My target was to finish with the bunch so I'm pretty chuffed with 19th from 40+ starters.

Next race I want points! We shall see.

https://www.strava.com/activities/245444840

[madzo14]

Finally able to get back on the good bike this weekend, my club's reliability run on Sunday and it will be full on training for the racing starting toward the end of next month.

Dragging the winter bike (tank) around for the last couple of months has torn the legs of me.

[okgo]

Good work Ponk. Tough circuit that.

First race is in two weeks for me, a time trial though, even still 30 minutes at full tilt will be very unpleasant.

[anonymous-user]

okgo said:

Good work Ponk. Tough circuit that.

First race is in two weeks for me, a time trial though, even still 30 minutes at full tilt will be very unpleasant.

Where's that?

[okgo]

yonex said:

Where's that?

Two laps of this one mate http://www.strava.com/segments/887665

Kingston Wheelers Sporting 14

[nammynake]

First year I've 'trained' through winter. Was starting to stagnate in terms of performance, but I've been getting out on Saturday training rides with the guys who race in our club which has brought a whole new level of pain!

Short (17 miles) chaingang plus ride to/from start on Saturday (55 miles total) plus the first of our local 'Reliability Rides' yesterday (50 miles plus another 35 to/from the start) - this was essentially 50 miles at threshold, although I suffered in the last 10 and pace slipped off quite a bit.

[Rolls]

Another one who did one of the local reliability rides here : 107km , plus the ride there and back..
So obviously had to tip it over the 162 km mark in total just to make it s proper 100...
Bit tired today mind!
Back on the commute tomorrow!

[whatleytom]

yonex said:

Hillingdon winter racing is a gamble. Generally lots of riders with no brains all trying to kill each other for a halo point. Too many on track and...well I just think it's a bit risky.

Hog Hill is better as the climb weeds out a fair few. The sprint finish is up a long drag and even the most determined lemming would struggle to eject.

Cyclopark is the pick IMO. Technical in parts and a small ramp again to the finish. Grippy enough and good facilities.

Edit. All 4th cat events...keep an eye out for the aggressive riders, the ones that sling there bikes about and others who don't hold a line. Keep talking to people around you and don't half wheel. I found it safer to be in the top 10 and hold an inside line everywhere possible. At least then you have the grass and only front, back and behind to worry about

Edited by yonex on Saturday 3rd January 17:58

I've done the Hillingdon Winter races the last two weekends, as my second and third Cat 4 races (First was in 2013). The first race was controlled, people communicated and it went without hitch pretty much, although I wasn't in the mix to contest a sprint so not sure what that was like.

Second race was way more sketchy, plenty of people not holding lines and a couple of tumbles, none that looked too serious in my race, but I think one in the womans race broke a collar bone.

Given those were my first two, i'll be interested to see how HH and Cyclopark compare!

Full write up on blog of sorts if anyone is interested
http://thomaswhatley.blogspot.co.uk/

[upsidedownmark]

Having been stupid enough to enter a fairly significant race in March, have been working pretty hard through the winter (work schedule allowing). Long rides at the weekend, couple of turbo sessions during the week (plus swim/run). Last weekend was 103 miles on saturday, had to resort to motorbike gloves and more layers than I'd have thought possible. Followed it up with a cheeky 15 mile run sunday. This weekend 'just' 145k - but the first time on the TT in a while. After a shade over 5hrs on the aerobars my shoulders are destroyed and my a** is sore. Stayed in bed yesterday

[Ponk]

whatleytom said:

yonex said:

Hillingdon winter racing is a gamble. Generally lots of riders with no brains all trying to kill each other for a halo point. Too many on track and...well I just think it's a bit risky.

Hog Hill is better as the climb weeds out a fair few. The sprint finish is up a long drag and even the most determined lemming would struggle to eject.

Cyclopark is the pick IMO. Technical in parts and a small ramp again to the finish. Grippy enough and good facilities.

Edit. All 4th cat events...keep an eye out for the aggressive riders, the ones that sling there bikes about and others who don't hold a line. Keep talking to people around you and don't half wheel. I found it safer to be in the top 10 and hold an inside line everywhere possible. At least then you have the grass and only front, back and behind to worry about

Edited by yonex on Saturday 3rd January 17:58

I've done the Hillingdon Winter races the last two weekends, as my second and third Cat 4 races (First was in 2013). The first race was controlled, people communicated and it went without hitch pretty much, although I wasn't in the mix to contest a sprint so not sure what that was like.

Second race was way more sketchy, plenty of people not holding lines and a couple of tumbles, none that looked too serious in my race, but I think one in the womans race broke a collar bone.

Given those were my first two, i'll be interested to see how HH and Cyclopark compare!

Full write up on blog of sorts if anyone is interested
http://thomaswhatley.blogspot.co.uk/

I've only seen one actual crash at Hog Hill in two races. Few close calls but generally lots of shouting gets people to hold their line.

I did also see one chap end up on the mtb track after running wide at the first corner. Still not really sure how.....

Any tips for a TT noob Rob? I've got my club's TT coming up in a month and a half. Its also a 14 but I won't be doing it in 30 minutes! I know the course so I reckon 40 mins is a good target. 2 x 20s ahoy!

[okgo]

The old classic is a good one - don't go out too hard!

Even a ten mile TT should probably feel OK, even controlled for the first third I think. Beyond that it's a massive can of worms