Way to Cat1

Though slightly unrelated, you actually may be able to help me out deciding whether to start in the D's or C's. I took 8 months off after the end of my rowing season (since late May 2011), meaning I didn't work out at all. I have been riding for the past two weeks. On one of my rides my power output was ~230watts/avg or 3.45 power to weight for a 41 mile piece. This piece was just above my aerobic threshold and always under my LT, and was in the middle of a 55mile ride. I'm mainly wondering if I should avoid the dangerous D's.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by nfeht [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Though slightly unrelated, you actually may be able to help me out deciding whether to start in the D's or C's. I took 8 months off after the end of my rowing season (since late May 2011), meaning I didn't work out at all. I have been riding for the past two weeks. On one of my rides my power output was ~230watts/avg or 3.45 power to weight for a 41 mile piece. This piece was just above my aerobic threshold and always under my LT, and was in the middle of a 55mile ride. I'm mainly wondering if I should avoid the dangerous D's.

I started out in D last year although my form was more for C/B. This was a great decision as it is much easier to get the feel for riding in a pack when you are not at your limit. Just stay in the top 15 all the time then its no more dangerous than C. It can take a while to upgrade from D if you don't have a strong sprint because no-one knows how to work in a break.

Thanks. That was pretty much what I was thinking but I wanted a 2nd opinion. I raced two years back and had mixed results due to inferior tactics, working to much, and mediocre bike handling skills. Fortunately, at least compared to D's, I have a strong sprint. I can only agree that D's don't work well together in breaks or chasing.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by nfeht [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Though slightly unrelated, you actually may be able to help me out deciding whether to start in the D's or C's. I took 8 months off after the end of my rowing season (since late May 2011), meaning I didn't work out at all. I have been riding for the past two weeks. On one of my rides my power output was ~230watts/avg or 3.45 power to weight for a 41 mile piece. This piece was just above my aerobic threshold and always under my LT, and was in the middle of a 55mile ride. I'm mainly wondering if I should avoid the dangerous D's.

5' 9" 154lbs male who is a rower that likes to cycle.

The p/w doesn't exactly compute...

If you're a good sprinter then stay up the front towards the end. If you have a really good 1 and 5 minute power then take full advantage of that, otherwise wear a good helmet, several layers, good mitts and ride a steel bike. :P

On a typical crit with wide corners that you can pedal through most of them, you can hang around anywhere in the bunch - even towards the back in Cat 5, as the guys in the front chase everyone down like leemings going off the edge of a cliff and they all seem to follow each other with their best 30 second effort. If there's a few sections of a course that are particularly tricky - narrow sections with tight corners or hills then stay towards the front but done necessarily force yourself to follow the wheels with the same scuicidal tendencies that everyone else will. Semi-pace yourself and keep an occaisonal eye on the back of the bunch and just drift back upto the front when the pace slows as it nearly always does. 230watts isn't a whole bunch of power but used wisely it'll get the job done unless the course is demanding.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by swampy1970 [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

The p/w doesn't exactly compute...
If you're a good sprinter then stay up the front towards the end. If you have a really good 1 and 5 minute power then take full advantage of that, otherwise wear a good helmet, several layers, good mitts and ride a steel bike. :P
230watts isn't a whole bunch of power but used wisely it'll get the job done unless the course is demanding.

oops. My weight there is wrong, sry, I've lost some weight since I last changed my signature...i need to change that. the p/w is right for what I weighed the day of that ride, sorry for the confusion. I weighed 148 today and am still leaning slightly to "racing weight". Also the watt output certainly wasn't all out and was for 2hrs rather than the usual shorter test pieces. I'm also just transitioning to cycling and just working out again after letting knee and back injuries heal. so my power output is increasing noticeably week to week. In May I broke 6:40 on my 2k at 143lbs (rowing) so I had quite a bit of fitness then; my body just has to adapt and get back into it after letting injuries heal. But with 230wt I know I have some work to do, i was training for a 6min race before so cycling is a different kind of beast.

Also in 2010 I won a cat 5 level race on my 1984 Raleigh; 31lbs of twisted steel and sex appeal. This is now my commuting bike, but I take it on long rides and climbs sometimes...have to keep both bikes happy.

No worries about the "weight in the signature" faux-pas, I was just curious as you seem to detail numbers to two decimal places :P

You'll probably find that the VO2 type efforts that you did in rowing will carry over quite well into cycling. Of course specific training can't really be beat but you're coming into cycling with a big head start over someone with no background in a competitive sport.

thats awesome progress man, what power meter are you using?

Love the graph,

It's good being able to compare....I'm aiming for a similar outcome.

Paul

[IMG]cyclingforums.com246Open ↗[/IMG]

Great work

My Performance Manager shows a similar profile

Paul

[IMG]cyclingforums.com246Open ↗[/IMG]

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by fluro2au [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Great work

My Performance Manager shows a similar profile

Paul

[IMG]cyclingforums.com246Open ↗[/IMG]

You should edit your starting LTS for a better graph - except if dec was you first day of training for like 6 months.

I wouldn't have a clue where to start in terms of the number to use

You think your sprint sucks check out mine.....LOL

5 sek – 1018
1 min – 588
5 min – 427
10 min – 390
20min - 355
FTP - 320
Weight 76kgs

In saying that I have only been focusing on TT's (40-90km)

Paul