Discussion
Just reading through some of your blog and Strava etc... A good read really so thanks for that. A few questions as I think I'm in a similar situation to you a few year ago.
1. To get to Cat 2, was your main training riding to and from work with a longer weekend ride with a few sessions in the gym?
2. What power meter do you use and has the money you spent on it been worth it?
1. To get to Cat 2, was your main training riding to and from work with a longer weekend ride with a few sessions in the gym?
2. What power meter do you use and has the money you spent on it been worth it?
McFsC said:
Just reading through some of your blog and Strava etc... A good read really so thanks for that. A few questions as I think I'm in a similar situation to you a few year ago.
1. To get to Cat 2, was your main training riding to and from work with a longer weekend ride with a few sessions in the gym?
2. What power meter do you use and has the money you spent on it been worth it?
Hi, thanks for the compliment, I've had a few people collar me at races saying it was a good read, so its nice to know.1. To get to Cat 2, was your main training riding to and from work with a longer weekend ride with a few sessions in the gym?
2. What power meter do you use and has the money you spent on it been worth it?
1. Yes, mainly riding to and from work, one hard ride after work in the week, usually 1-1.5 hours as hard as I could go, then a race/or a longer hard ride on the weekends. No sessions in the gym, I've not been and lifted a weight in 6 months.
2. I have a Qaurq, it has been interesting, its hard to say whether its made me quicker, but it has helped in pacing, and indeed in knowing where I can go next. Today I was 7 seconds quicker than someone and did 70 watts more than them over an 18 mile TT, without the power, I could have thought it was because I wasn't strong enough, when in actual fact, I now know damn well its because I need to get more aero on the TT bike. I got it 2nd hand, for 650 I think, so not too bad. I think a LOT can be learned from the meters, and indeed you can track your performance increase, and also see where you're weak.
For any interested, some thoughts on the TT here - http://firstseasoncycling.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/r...
Intresting that you are going to be going for 1st Cat, which it looks like you will get, without doing gym work.
1st Cat is a bloody good level.
Cheers for that, I don't think I'm at a level where it will benefit me too much at the minute - not for the price anyway. If I can get some good results this year and try to push on next, I might shell out for one.
Thanks again.
1st Cat is a bloody good level.
Cheers for that, I don't think I'm at a level where it will benefit me too much at the minute - not for the price anyway. If I can get some good results this year and try to push on next, I might shell out for one.
Thanks again.
McFsC said:
Intresting that you are going to be going for 1st Cat, which it looks like you will get, without doing gym work.
1st Cat is a bloody good level.
Cheers for that, I don't think I'm at a level where it will benefit me too much at the minute - not for the price anyway. If I can get some good results this year and try to push on next, I might shell out for one.
Thanks again.
What relevance do you think gym work has? And what sort of gym work do you mean?1st Cat is a bloody good level.
Cheers for that, I don't think I'm at a level where it will benefit me too much at the minute - not for the price anyway. If I can get some good results this year and try to push on next, I might shell out for one.
Thanks again.
Core strength is one thing, and certainly has its place if you have a weak core (I don't thanks to years of lifting heavy weights), but you don't need to do anything beyond riding your bike to help with everything else.
Some people say squats etc help, personally I don't buy it, and neither do any decent coaches these days.
Some people say squats etc help, personally I don't buy it, and neither do any decent coaches these days.
I don't know any guys who use the gym, other than perhaps for a bit of core / cross training in the winter. The exception would be the track guys, some of whom spend a lot of time pushing weights.
2nd Cat is probably the widest spread of ability of road racers. To achieve your 2nd cat licence will mean getting fit, and then getting race fit - there is a big difference between riding 75 miles and racing over that distance. 234 races are a big step up from 3/4, and the guys at the sharp end of 2nd Cat will also likely be riding E123 races - albeit not necessarily contesting them. Getting to 2nd Cat in your first year of racing is a pretty good achievement. I suspect Okgo will push on for his 1st Cat and perhaps his Elite licence this year.
2nd Cat is probably the widest spread of ability of road racers. To achieve your 2nd cat licence will mean getting fit, and then getting race fit - there is a big difference between riding 75 miles and racing over that distance. 234 races are a big step up from 3/4, and the guys at the sharp end of 2nd Cat will also likely be riding E123 races - albeit not necessarily contesting them. Getting to 2nd Cat in your first year of racing is a pretty good achievement. I suspect Okgo will push on for his 1st Cat and perhaps his Elite licence this year.
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