Help me go faster

[e-rider]

Anglia Velo is an open event where entries closed yesterday evening. There are other open TTs coming up on fast courses towards the end of August (VC Norwich on the Bank Holiday Monday) and early September.

Best local course is probably Godric's at Earsham - straight out and back on a reasonably quiet A143. I did 21:43 there last night.

That is a nice stretch of road and as you say, it's fairly quiet too.

21:43 is very speedy indeed. I know (Knew) a guy who would often ride under 20 minutes - he was more machine than person. I could realistically only imagine riding about 24 minutes and that's probably a couple of years away.

 

[e-rider]

Presume this is a serious post?? Hard to be sure after reading about taping holes up in your helmet.

Anyway, what sort of training do you do?

an 80 miler on the weekend (av. 17mph) plus three fast 25 mile rides in the week (av. 18-20mph) plus some swim sessions

 

[colinr]

21:43 is a crazy fast time! Earsham is a 30 mile round trip, I'm not that curious.

I ride for VC Norwich; and yes it's the Anglia Velo 10 - I would like to go sub 26 minutes!

I rode with VCN Tuesday night (my first ever club ride). Bike computer says the average was 22, are they usually that fast on non-chaingang rides? (got dropped near the end so headed home and didn't get a chance to ask at the finish)

 

[e-rider]

yes, I can't make tuesdays but I sometimes ride on Thursdays - I usually get dropped towards the end too (on a hill usually). My speedo usually says about 21.0 so either it was extra fast or your speedo needs calibrating.

Are you out tonight? I have a Black, red and white FOCUS CAYO if you want to say hello.

 

[montage]

an 80 miler on the weekend (av. 17mph) plus three fast 25 mile rides in the week (av. 18-20mph) plus some swim sessions

If you want to race at a speed, you need to train at a speed. Gone is the old philosophy of "if I ride a 100 miles at 20mph then I can ride 10 at 28mph" - doesn't always work that way!

This is why interval training is so popular.


Regarding an instant fix to speed you could get:

disc wheel cover (Should be around £100 at a guess)
skin suit (I'd imagine £60-70..cheaper second hand)
faster tyres (you are looking at spending between £60-80 for top quality)
trim and excess nostril/ear hair

 

[Will1985]

Do you ever go on the Sunday runs? I'm second claim VCN and go in the "mentalists" group. Trying to think if I've seen a Cayo at the Forum or cake stop in the past.

I'm off number 5 at Anglia Velo - far too early!

 

[colinr]

What are the Sunday rides like, do they run several groups? I intend to join one at some point, but Saturday nights often get in the way of my good intentions I think I'd go for a step down from 'mentalists'.

(feel free to PM responses as I'm thread hijacking here)

 

[e-rider]

If you want to race at a speed, you need to train at a speed. Gone is the old philosophy of "if I ride a 100 miles at 20mph then I can ride 10 at 28mph" - doesn't always work that way!

This is why interval training is so popular.


Regarding an instant fix to speed you could get:

disc wheel cover (Should be around £100 at a guess)
skin suit (I'd imagine £60-70..cheaper second hand)
faster tyres (you are looking at spending between £60-80 for top quality)
trim and excess nostril/ear hair

you forgot to mention - lose weight - I'm a fat ba$tard!

 

[e-rider]

Do you ever go on the Sunday runs? I'm second claim VCN and go in the "mentalists" group. Trying to think if I've seen a Cayo at the Forum or cake stop in the past.

I'm off number 5 at Anglia Velo - far too early!

I haven't recieved anything yet so I don't know - no doubt if I'm 1-4 you'll catch me! You can assess my technique as you pass.

 

[Will1985]

You're number 19 I think. I'll be hanging around at the end to chat.

 

[e-rider]

VCN training ride averaged 22.3mph last night - pleased to hang-on all the way back to the outskirts of norwich - not sure if the other guys were too pleased about me sitting on the back though! Now that I'm getting fitter I'll probably take my turns on the front next time; although this will almost certainly mean getting dropped before the end.

onwards and upwards

 

[e-rider]

You're number 19 I think. I'll be hanging around at the end to chat.

do you have insider knowledge? interesting to see how you worked out my identity - perhaps I'm the only VCN rider you don't know!

 

[colinr]

VCN training ride averaged 22.3mph last night - pleased to hang-on all the way back to the outskirts of norwich - not sure if the other guys were too pleased about me sitting on the back though!

I must say, my first impressions was that they were overly serious for what was advertised as a club run (i.e. not chaingang / training ride). Someone explained formation riding to me at the start (I'm new to group riding), but that seemed to get ignored when the faster riders wanted to get ahead.

Anyhow, good luck with the TT chaps.

 

[e-rider]

I must say, my first impressions was that they were overly serious for what was advertised as a club run (i.e. not chaingang / training ride). Someone explained formation riding to me at the start (I'm new to group riding), but that seemed to get ignored when the faster riders wanted to get ahead.

Anyhow, good luck with the TT chaps.

I'm sure they are sold as meaningful pace training rides - I'll check the website.

They are clearly overly serious but ...........

 

[colinr]

Website says:

Club rides means that the group will ride at the pace of the slowest rider...

Reality was, slowest riders got dropped. Quite enjoyed it but due to other stuff, Tuesdays and Thursdays will be out for me, so will just have to try for Sundays. Or see how Norwich ABC are, but their kit is absolutely vile!