TheKillerPenguin

Dragon flying is great for raising your LT

zimbo

Well, sure, but the scales are a b!tch on the taint.

--Steve

TheKillerPenguin

The LSD makes em feel like rainbows.

Yep

See, now you're just encouraging him.

Snicklefritz

That's what saddles are for. They use them on horses all the time. Now, I don't know who
carries saddles for dragons but hey it's SF! You can find just about anything there...

Bantam

I did some LSD at one point in my running career. I actually thought it was boring.

waterrockets 

Yeah, that just wouldn't work for me. I'm too much of a sprinter. If the pace gets hot in a pack I'll tend to conserve and wheelsuck in case something goes down -- gotta preserve the legs. I just don't get as good of a workout in a pack like that. Even last week's Tuesday Nighter with the As who are much stronger than me -- I got back to the car fairly fresh after a 27mph race with hills, wind, and elite riders.

I have to get out for drills or I'll take it too easy on someone's wheel. I think it's just part of my DNA to sit in. I'll work a paceline with the best of them, but in a general pack I sit. If I go out for intervals or sprints, I can get into a zone and systematically pick myself apart until I have to limp home.

I am trying to work on it in the groups though. Last night I bridged a break and worked with them for about 6 minutes before we were swallowed up --- but then I sat in for the sprint

I guess this just proves that different personalities require different beatdowns

Stallionforce

My friend, don't pack it in before you've even begun! It is true that you can't lose if you don't try; but you can also never win if you don't try. As others have said -- and it is a consistent theme -- riding with those stronger than you is the best training possible. Almost without exception, the local guys who are the strongest were the guys who, when they began, were the most stubborn: they kept coming out even though they were getting dropped. It's rare for a guy to just jump in and roll with the strongest. You get dropped; you come back next week and try again.

Eventually you'll find that group rides aren't the best training because you've progressed to a point where you're the strongest, or one of the strongest around. Then you really do need some specific training.

Anyway, don't be discouraged, you're just starting out. Get out there, have some fun, and mix it up!

curiouskid55

I take it you are fairly young since you are being driven to races. That being said I assume you would be a junior or cat 5. Unless you are a ciggarette smoking coach potatoe you alredy have all the cardio base you need to race short events. Get off your butt and go race. You need to race , and race, and race. Getting your ass handed to you once an a while is great motivational device. I always say it is easier to have someone else kick your ass than to do it yourself.

DreamTheater

Lost cause in April? Man, get on your bike. You'll be flying by July if you work hard.

I started mid April several years back and won my first race in July. I showed up at the club rides in april of that year and was getting dropped. By June I was riding at the front with the strongest guys. I just think you are wrong about this year being a lost cause. Pick some races to target in the 2nd half of the year. I'm sure there are some good races on your regional calender for July, Aug, Sept. and Oct.

ivegotabike

Ha, i just came to the realization that ill be a junior, i guess that means i need to change my gearing... wtf, more money... that proabably means im gonna have to buy a new rear wheel (the one im using was made by a french company, mallard, in the 1980's using a proprietary design, so just getting a junior casette is out of the question, so my choices are finding a smaller big chainring for my 1980's Campy Crankset (im sure some other random brand fits, but the campy ones are so pretty), or get a new rear wheel and respace my frame, or block out my smallest cogs right. Having only seven cogs, there isnt much room for blocking out, before i know it ill have 4 speeds.

ivegotabike

well ive been wanting to upgrade my drivetrain for a while...