Training hour and racing grade/category

[sogood]

Just curious, is there any loose correlation b/n training hours/mileage and one's racing category/grade? As an example, for someone who spends 10 hours a week (250km) training, is it possible to move to the middle and upper categories? Obviously this assumes some form of structured training. Is it true to say that in order to move and stay in the upper categories, one really need to devote a much more significant amount of time to training?

Generalization called for here. Natural talents and 21 years old aerobic capacities excluded.

 

[michelbrazeau]

Hi,

In Joe Friel's Cyclist's Training Bible he gives a breakdown:

Pro 800-1200 hours/year
Cat 1-2 700-1000
Cat 3 500-700
Cat 4 350-500
5/junior 200-350

This gives you a guide line. If you have done lost of racing/cycling in the previous years, you may trim it down a bit, by focusing more on intensity, but no matter how good you are, I don't think you can cut this done more than 25%.

On the other hand, training more, doesn't mean you'll move up. Your workout time needs to be used effectively to make improvements.

Regards,

Michel
www.freetrainingplan.com

Just curious, is there any loose correlation b/n training hours/mileage and one's racing category/grade? As an example, for someone who spends 10 hours a week (250km) training, is it possible to move to the middle and upper categories? Obviously this assumes some form of structured training. Is it true to say that in order to move and stay in the upper categories, one really need to devote a much more significant amount of time to training?

Generalization called for here. Natural talents and 21 years old aerobic capacities excluded.

 

[sogood]

Thanks and it made sense. Of course, efficient use of the available training hours is a given.

 

[Steve_B]

Just curious, is there any loose correlation b/n training hours/mileage and one's racing category/grade? As an example, for someone who spends 10 hours a week (250km) training, is it possible to move to the middle and upper categories? Obviously this assumes some form of structured training. Is it true to say that in order to move and stay in the upper categories, one really need to devote a much more significant amount of time to training?

Generalization called for here. Natural talents and 21 years old aerobic capacities excluded.

I know some people who are legitimate Category 2 riders (in the US, this means just below elite amateur and frequently race with the pros) who seem to get by on 10 hours/week on average. Of course, they are exceptionally talented individuals in my opinion and that helps, but it is possible.

 

[sogood]

I know some people who are legitimate Category 2 riders (in the US, this means just below elite amateur and frequently race with the pros) who seem to get by on 10 hours/week on average. Of course, they are exceptionally talented individuals in my opinion and that helps, but it is possible.

I guess it's also possible if it's just keeping in maintenance mode. It'll be a bit tougher if working up from a lower grade.

 

[daveryanwyoming]

... you may trim it down a bit, by focusing more on intensity, but no matter how good you are, I don't think you can cut this done more than 25%....

Friel's annual hour guidelines can't be seperated from Friel's LSD based training philosophy. It's a pretty big generalization to say you need X hours to compete in a given category if you don't also discuss the way those hours will be spent. If you base your winter training on long slow rides, you're going to need more hours than someone with a Lydiard based SST focus.

You can do an awful lot on 10 well spent hours a week. But if you prefer to spin easy gears for a third of the year and ride long slow rides weekly you're going to need a lot more hours to fit it in.

-Dave

 

[sogood]

You can do an awful lot on 10 well spent hours a week. But if you prefer to spin easy gears for a third of the year and ride long slow rides weekly you're going to need a lot more hours to fit it in.

I'd think that given a style of training, time spent will remain to be a variable. Even with most dedicated power based training plan, 10 hours won't likely to take one to the pro level, right?

 

[daveryanwyoming]

.... Even with most dedicated power based training plan, 10 hours won't likely to take one to the pro level, right?

No, probably not. Especially if you're talking about euro-pros riding grand tours. But there are a lot of categories and quite a few years before that becomes a concern for most. I'd argue that 10 well spent hours can get you into the upper amateur categories. If you make it that far and your pro future looks bright I suspect you'll find the time to ride more....

-Dave

 

[sogood]

Thanks Dave for your insight. Despite your optimistic outlook, unfortunately the biological clock is downhill all the way for me, 10 hours of power training or not.

But it is good news. I've been wondering if I'll ever be able to compete with those guys who ride twice as many hours in a week as I presently do. Maybe I still have a chance if I plan my training better.

 

[michelbrazeau]

I agree it's a huge generalization. And indeed a lot of racer's do quite well with about 10 hours a week. Usually, I find that these racers that do quite well with a low volume, are the racers that have been active for many years, and conditioning comes quickly to them. Also Friel counts every training hour, bike, weights, cross training, so 10 hours comes quite quickly.

Michel
www.freetrainingplan.com

Friel's annual hour guidelines can't be seperated from Friel's LSD based training philosophy. It's a pretty big generalization to say you need X hours to compete in a given category if you don't also discuss the way those hours will be spent. If you base your winter training on long slow rides, you're going to need more hours than someone with a Lydiard based SST focus.

You can do an awful lot on 10 well spent hours a week. But if you prefer to spin easy gears for a third of the year and ride long slow rides weekly you're going to need a lot more hours to fit it in.

-Dave