Road Bike Racing - trying to get faster and stronger

been riding with the racers lately i usually fall back on the 35 mph stretch. any pointers training food etc that will help me get there . i ride a lot of miles group rides etc all week and weekends usually max is 25 mph. any books that are good for this?

35 mph for how long???? An hour or 30 minutes???? Not even a cat1 can do that without a trickout TT bike.

Just guessing, maybe down a long 2% slope..maybe with a bit of a tailwind. This is where you have to be able to spin a big gear. If you haven't worked on it or are grinding one cog lower than you should be, when you wind in up to 35 and can't spin, you're off. If this is the problem, you'll have to go back and do some spin work in different cogs to develope your leg speed. With some work, it's pretty doable. Maybe time for a cadence counter?

Sounds like a downhill section to me, 2 - 3%, tailwind... nah...

I did 32 MPH solo easily on a 2 - 3% downhill (which is noticable going down but not bad) spinning at 105 RPMs in a realativly high gear last ride. At this speed it is not just about spinning but about spinning a real high gear. The difference I find is that you will lose speed very fast in a high gear vs a low gear. It seems to be related to wheel speed, but going down a hill or in a heavy draft (in a peloton) it should not be as much as an issue as a flat in a peloton where you are working.

How to stay on? Find a gear in which you can spin 100 RPMs or so (90 - 105 RPMs in about right), and do everything you can to stay in the draft. Strength is a major limiting factor here also, you need to be able to actually spin the gear, which is easier said than done.

BTW once in a group ride on a 2% grade I have hit 40+ MPH... it can be done.

35 on flats isnt that hard depending on who you are ridding with. even on your own if your in good shape its not too hard to hit, just staying there is the hard part.

I doubt its downhill, 35 isnt that fast going downhill.

when I was in top shape I hit 30 mph on flat ground for about five minutes and I have hit 34 down hill this year, my max down hill is 37 mph and I was riding my old Trek 500 series roadie, Now I have my 2005 Trek 1000 modified with 9 speed Ultegra and 9 speed 105. I am trying to hit higher speeds myself.

RacingPain

I was thinking of a group training ride as opposed to a race. 2-3% down and 60kph is not uncommon at all for a race peloton.

racing pain, ride up to Mt. Baker. Ride down. you'll go faster than 37mph, that's for sure, and the components won't matter a bit! Gravity is where it's at! :eek: :)

this is flat road highway shoulder 30 mph for about 10+ minutes. group ride. ar ethere any websites on spinning?

It seems to be related to wheel speed, but going down a hill or in a heavy draft (in a peloton) it should not be as much as an issue as a flat in a peloton where you are working.

Yeah, wheelspeed isn't important in a peloton. When you're in a peloton, your wheels don't even have to move.

Cole

Yeah, wheelspeed isn't important in a peloton. When you're in a peloton, your wheels don't even have to move.

Cole

Ahahahahah

Ruthless :D

The only advice I've got to give you is whats already been said. Condition yourself to spin a high gear.

wow , i hit 51 mph on a down hill ... it was hell on the way up..but down it was just insane

wow , i hit 51 mph on a down hill ... it was hell on the way up..but down it was just insane

Anything 50+ is a great feeling.