Saturday, March 20, 2010

Rolling in the right direction

Aging cyclists need every advantage they can get!

I bought a copy of the Cyclist's Training Bible by Joe Friel late last year (November?), and have been following most of the principles all through the winter. I started with taking a serious look at what matters to me as far as results and races. I decided that my 'A' races are:
  • April and May Track racing
  • Masters Nationals in September
Tuesday night crits (TNC), while a complete blast, are a D race for me...which means I will miss most of them. If I do them at all, it will be primarily to work on the technical skills of riding in a pack at full speed and close quarters. Trackies ride much closer together than critters.

October - January were my base months. Most of my friends started ramping up before I did after their base, as they are competing in a variety of road races and crits well before my season starts on April. This is Texas...there is no off-season for a cycling addict.

In February and March, I've been building strength, intensity and endurance...both short and long. I need to be able to respond to frequent short bursts of speed as well as be "fresh" at the end of a 50 lap scratch or unknown distance race. Recovery days and weeks have been very helpful in this process, as much as I'd rather get out there and ride.

As a test, I did do the season opener of the TNC in the C race, which is now open to Cat 4 as well as the 5 and juniors it has always been for. It went well. 25 minutes and I sat top ten or five pretty much the whole race. Closed a gap, hid from the wind properly, took a pull or two here and there when it suited me. I was still top ten on the final lap when I slowly drifted back and out of the pack intentionally. Winning was never on my mind and the first race of the season is no place to crash and ruin the year. There was a crash up ahead of me 5 seconds later. My acg speed showed 24.6. The B race runs 25.5, and the C race used to run 22.5.

My fitness is exactly where I was hoping for. My weight this morning is below 160. 5 pounds to go to my goal of 155 by April 2. I might make it, maybe not. But its much better than 173 or so on January 1.

I'm feeling very strong, and tomorrow begins a recovery week for me. Luckily I have my recovery weeks on the same week I am on call for work, so my real rides rarely get interrupted.

The peak or first A race is Friday, April 2. I may not win, or even place...but I'll know I was ready. With any luck my competition will be at a different level of ready than me.

All of this is fun for me...but glorifying God is the real goal. Ya'll help me keep that in focus, k?

Cyclist to pray for: Everyone racing in horrendous weather in Fayetteville, TX this weekend.

DB

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Whoopin up on the young'uns....

Some standing start Kilo times from this afternoon's track workout

Landon - racing age 15
Lap 1 - 25.18
Lap 2 - 22.23 - Fastest
Lap 3 - 25.79
Lap 4 - 27.84 - Slowest
Total - 1:41.04


Christina - Junior
Lap 1 - 28.19
Lap 2 - 24.20 - fastest
Lap 3 - 27.06
Lap 4 - 29.13 - slowest
total - 1:48.58

Jon - Brand new Cat 4, 28 yrs old
Lap 1 - 28.41
Lap 2 - 23.60 - fastest
Lap 3 - 25.50
Lap 4 - 26.71 - slowest
total - 1:44.22

Kevin - Cat 4, 2 yrs track exp, racing age 42
Lap 1 - 24.84 - slowest
Lap 2 - 21.21 - fastest
Lap 3 - 22.80
Lap 4 - 23.29
total - 1:32.14 (Junior gear - 48x16)

For reference:

Current Elite Kilo winning time (2009):
1:02.8

Current Masters 40-44 winning time (2009):
1:08.1

Juniors only do a 500M tt at Nats...not a kilo.