What training do I need?

[TheFungle]

I've just spent a rather enjoyable 6 days at my cycling association training camp (RAF), it's my first time attending such an event and I was quite comfortable in the intermediate group.

I've had a good winter season with plenty of miles plus spinning sessions, sufferfest sessions and treadmill interval training, I'm quite happy sitting on the front of a group into a headwind and 'powering along', my individual riding would also suggest I'm capable of a good old slog.

My problem that I've discovered is that when the pace increases I just can't get onto the wheel and gradually start to slip back, riders which it had looked as if I was stronger than appear to have greater pace than me, most disheartening.

FWIW the pace was a very fast 25-26 mph and I was on my winter alu bike with full on guards - not ideal for a fast blast!

Interested to hear your thoughts.

[ditchvisitor]

Did Luke beat you (small world I know and not helpful at all!) ps I was supposed to attend but couldn't make it!

[TheFungle]

ditchvisitor said:

Did Luke beat you (small world I know and not helpful at all!) ps I was supposed to attend but couldn't make it!

Ha!

He was in the racing snake group so well and truly beaten!

[yellowjack]

Ooh! A CrabAir love-in.

Get a room boys


Love from A.Pongo xxx

[okgo]

So what is the issue? You got dropped? Was it on a hill?

[TheFungle]

okgo said:

So what is the issue? You got dropped? Was it on a hill?

I always get dropped on the hills!

Issue was that in a chain gang on the flat return leg the idea is to increase the pace, at about the 25mph I struggle to hang on, even in the slipstream and I get spat out the back.

[okgo]

So perhaps you need to work on your vo2 zone a bit? Many people are fast enough to hang on, but don't have the ability to put in a short dig to get a wheel, or do a turn etc and then return to that pace. It is what a lot of time trial type riders often lack when it comes to road racing.

Of course just doing more chain-gangs will help you too!

[Rocksteadyeddie]

The short answer is practice and intervals. As Okgo says the ability to push very hard for a short period and then return to a lower level of output is the key. To train for this you have to push yourself beyond your limits.