Training to race!!!

karries said:

I don't know if the heading is appropriate but here goes.This topic must have come up before but please bear with me.I need some help/guidance on how to prepare/train to be competive in races.I have been cycling for quite a time but have never "raced" and I want to be competative going into a race.Any help/tips is welcome.🙂

First, determine the type of race that you'd like try (crit, time trial, road race), distance, terrain, etc., since your preparation will be most successful if it's geared toward your specific goal.

If you have more detail on your goals, post it here for specific training tips.

karries said:

I don't know if the heading is appropriate but here goes.This topic must have come up before but please bear with me.I need some help/guidance on how to prepare/train to be competive in races.I have been cycling for quite a time but have never "raced" and I want to be competative going into a race.Any help/tips is welcome.🙂

As you'll learn from responses to your question, there are four completely different kinds of races - TTs, crits, short RRs and long RRs. How to train and prepare is different for each, but I'll assume you want to do something other than just TTs. You basically need to learn to stay with the bunch at front. This means surviving surges. You can do that with interval training, but the best way to do it is to find a racing club in your area and ask them if you can tag along on their rides. You will get dropped. That's not the point. All you want to do initially is to hang with them as long as possible. Initially, you might get dropped after 5 miles. Then, 7, 10, 15 and so on. And, when you ride in your first mass-start race, don't make the mistake of going to the back of the pack. Somebody in front of you will blow up and you'll have to close the gap. That's much harder. Stay with the guys up front as long as possible. When you get dropped, try to finish the race, solo if necessary. That horrible experience will provide huge psychological motivation to not get dropped next time. Once you get to the sprint finish with the lead group, congratulate yourself, even if 12 guys explode by you so fast you think they must be on steroids.

karries said:

I don't know if the heading is appropriate but here goes.This topic must have come up before but please bear with me.I need some help/guidance on how to prepare/train to be competive in races.I have been cycling for quite a time but have never "raced" and I want to be competative going into a race.Any help/tips is welcome.🙂

As others have said, we'd need to know what type of racing you want to do, and what sort of fitness and health level you have. Are you young, old, male, female?

ric

Thanks for the replies.I want do road racing.I am going to race in the vets category (40+)(Dont laugh at the age🙂 )I am in good shape(quite fit), male.Distances will vary 60km+.I hope this makes it easier for you to help.Thanks for the replies.😄

karries said:

Thanks for the replies.I want do road racing.I am going to race in the vets category (40+)(Dont laugh at the age🙂 )I am in good shape(quite fit), male.Distances will vary 60km+.I hope this makes it easier for you to help.Thanks for the replies.😄

I, for one, am not laughing. I am 61 and I am training up to race again after a long layoff due to "life." After 10 weeks back in the saddle, I am beginning to get back some speed and endurance so I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, in my part of the country they haven't slowed down much at 60. To win a TT, I'm going to have to do 25+mph. As I said in an earlier post, your first challenge is to be able to stay with the group at the front. This is easy during about 75% of a RR. It is hard when they surge and on climbs. It is very hard to learn to stay with the front group doing only solo rides. Intervals help a lot, but the best way is to find a fairly quick group and ride with them once or twice a week. Stay with them as long as you can, whatever it takes short of letting the air out of their tires. Part of the problem is clearly fitness, but part of the problem is psychological. You have to learn that you can, in fact, stay with them and recover later. This takes a few near-death experiences🙂 , but if you keep at it you will eventually be able to do it. Go for it!

RapDaddyo said:

I, for one, am not laughing. I am 61 and I am training up to race again after a long layoff due to "life." After 10 weeks back in the saddle, I am beginning to get back some speed and endurance so I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, in my part of the country they haven't slowed down much at 60. To win a TT, I'm going to have to do 25+mph. As I said in an earlier post, your first challenge is to be able to stay with the group at the front. This is easy during about 75% of a RR. It is hard when they surge and on climbs. It is very hard to learn to stay with the front group doing only solo rides. Intervals help a lot, but the best way is to find a fairly quick group and ride with them once or twice a week. Stay with them as long as you can, whatever it takes short of letting the air out of their tires. Part of the problem is clearly fitness, but part of the problem is psychological. You have to learn that you can, in fact, stay with them and recover later. This takes a few near-death experiences🙂 , but if you keep at it you will eventually be able to do it. Go for it!

Thanks Daddyo,I'll do that and all the best for you're quest.