Machka 

Absolutely!!

ls01

and you are fat.

ls01

Yes you are Tubby

waterrockets 

fify

THSdrummer

A bit different scenario but I'm going to the local hard drop rides in my area. I threw my ego aside and just hold for as long as I can. I may get spit out the back and have to limp back home, but I learn each time. I'll stick to them by the end of the summer.

And, as everyone else has said, surges are so important. Crits/road races aren't about sustained power, like a TT or running, they're about hard surges and sticking to the competition.

DinoShepherd

Cat 4 or 5 racing is funny.

In higher categories, every rider is tactically smart, fit and a good bike handler.

4s and 5s any combination of two of the above will probably finish you with the pack.

The point being, even a very fit, but inexperienced racer, can easily get spit out.

waterrockets 

DaveWC

Oh come on, be nice. An hour at 22mph isn't a stretch for a non-racer. Hell, I did it last summer when I was 50 for over 2 hours.

gregf83 

It would be difficult around here as there aren't many places to ride continuously without having to slow down for stops or corners. Once you add a 1/2 dozen stops or turn-arounds it makes it harder.

IthaDan 

I wish the nice weather were here already, benchracing season is a drag.

Scummer

Don't forget to yell "Close the gap!" when you are in the back of the pack and 1/3 of the pack is about to get dropped.
It's part of the cat 5 etiquette. After all, some good encouragement might make the other guys work harder for you.

hhnngg1

Garmin file or it didn't happen.

Drafting doesn't count.

DaveWC

It happened. Solo ride.

https://connect.garmin.com/activity/204267303


Seriously? Nowhere out of town on highways?

DaveWC

btw, my goal for 2013 is a 40k hour. Seems like a huge leap from 22mph.

hhnngg1

That's a good ride. Props - 268W for 2 hrs is pretty good. You'd toast most nonracing roadies.

hhnngg1

That's a good ride. Props - 268W for 2 hrs is pretty good. You'd toast most nonracing roadies.

How much do you train to stay in that type of shape? I suspect you ride a LOT more than a typical nonracing roadie.

DaveWC

I ride every day, average 1,000 kms a month.

hhnngg1

Yup, sounds like the typical non-racing roadie rider who both:

1. Owns and uses as powermeter
2. Rides 1000km (620 miles) / month, or at least 155 miles per week.

Riggghhttt.....

Your stats sound lot more like an ex-competitive road racer, not a total nonracer like OP.

gregf83 

Have you been to Vancouver? We have rivers, mountains, bridges and tunnels. You can't ride on the highways even if you wanted to. Rural roads usually have stop signs or highway crossings that can't be avoided. I'm sure you could probably drive to some remote location if you wanted a 40k TT course but it's kind of pointless just to lay down a high average speed.

I have a loop to do my intervals on and I can keep constant power but I brake while pedaling on the corners so my speed drops significantly every 4 minutes or so.

gregf83 

Merckx class it's a big leap. With your power and a decent position on a TT bike you shouldn't have a problem going under 1hr.

gregf83 

That's excellent power for 2 hrs, although it's possible your speed was helped a little by traffic on a divided highway. I know my speed jumps by 3-4kph every time a truck passes by.

hhnngg1

260watts for 22mph sounds about right without all the aero goodies. It's a good showing - but not that special for an ex-racer or current racer on the bike. That's exactly the type of NP required to hang on the local "B" group ride here in Norcal where about half the riders are 50+. Also agree that 1hr 40k should be doable at 280+ watts for an hour (doable for DaveWC I'll bet) with all the aero goodies (tt bike with optimized position, skinsuit, wheels, etc.)

For someone with zero competitive racing experience though (like the OP), in triathlon or bike racing, that would be an impressively good showing. Not fair to throw yourself in OP's rookie category if you were racing a fair amount sometime in your past. Even if it was something as 'soft' as triathlon racing.

DaveWC

I've never raced, never done anything more competitive than about 3 MS150 rides about 20 years ago. I just ride for recreation & fitness. All of my rides are solo. I hope to do the 40k hour with my road bike, no TT stuff. Probably not going to happen but something to shoot for.

hhnngg1

Props then! Keep the power up!

Dan333SP

It has to be asked- why don't you want to race? It seems like such a logical progression to go from caring about power and 40k times to wanting to see how you compare to others either in TTs or mass start races? I guess not everyone fits this mold, but it's so much fun and you'd probably crush it with all your riding!