On Jun 12, 11:17 pm, Mark <
[email protected]> wrote:
> On Jun 12, 4:41 pm, "[email protected]"
>
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> > What happens is I get dropped on hills in the 1-2km long at 4-6%
> > range.
> > to keep it redlined for a few more seconds. What is my limiting
> > factor? What should I do about it?
>
> The pat answer is train your weakness and race your strengths. If it's
> the sudden surge uphill that you can't do then you have to train to do
> that by doing pick ups in the middle of climbs and focus on the short
> duration power generation needed to hang on.
I suppose I should ride more hills. The problem is the island I live
on has only short ones, so I have to drive (only 30 minutes or so) to
where some longer hills are and thus that doesn't happen that often.
How often do you suppose I should do these not-getting-dropped
simulations?
> In terms of strategy, perhaps you can change your positioning in the
> pack. If you know a longish climb is coming up where you are likely to
> have trouble then get near the front for the climb. If you can set the
> tempo others might blindly follow in your comfort zone. Worse case as
> you get shuffled back in the surge you'll end up at either at the tail
> toward the top or perhaps have a chance to bridge back on when the
> group settles. But at least try something different from what is not
> working.
We have races just about every Tuesday so I have tried a few different
stategies, all to no avail so far. The races have been on courses that
have been new to me, so that didn't help. Later in the season some of
the races are on the same courses and I'll at least know what is
coming. I do position myself toward the front before climbs and I end
up sliding backwards. Over the top, I keep the effort up and work my
way up toward the front again. Often this can only be done by going up
the open windward side of the road which has backfired a few times as
I have already got my HR up high just as we roll into another (bigger)
hill. On these hills where I have been getting dropped, a few strong
climber types go clear, and the group goes like Hell to keep up. If
the climbers go clear, the fast guys in the group (several of whom do
10km TT's in the 12 minute range) set up a rotation and hammer to
catch the break. In those situations, the chances of me being able to
bridge is pretty much zero. I usually pick up a few other stragglers,
but they rarely have my speed on the flats, so it turns into a
training ride where we try to see how narrow we can hold the gap.
> Obviously at your size you need to change your power to weight ratio
> to climb better and you are unlikely to ever to climb like a 120
> pounder. It's usually easier to drop weight but if you are already a
> lean but large guy it's going to take specific training and time.
I've got about 10lbs extra which is slated to be gone. That's the plan
at least...
>
> FWIW - for some reason a lot of folks want to do well at certain races
> that really don't suit them. Sprinters doing hill climbs and 120
> pounders trying to race crits banging away with the big boys. Rather
> than worrying about circuit races with long climbs perhaps you'd be
> better focusing on races where your size (and presumed power) would be
> an advantage as opposed to a liability?
I dream of the day one of the local races is tailor made for me. There
is some punishment to be dispensed! The strong guys around here would
of course dominate these races as well, but I wouldn't really be on
their radar so anything could happen. The races so far have been from
60 to 80km long with none less than 400m of ascent. I might suffer the
same fate from all the short bursts in a crit, but I reckon I'd do
better there no matter what.
Joseph
