BigSean

I did my first road race this weekend and got shelled on the first climb. The Patterson Pass Road Race. I consider myself a decent climber for a 195lb guy. But I learned real quick that my fitness is not what it needs to be. I also realize that this race was not really suited for someone my size, but I dont want to let that hold me back. Im 6'3 so its not like Im carrying alot of extra weight. Like alot of people I dont have aot of time to train. 2 weekday rides of about 90 minutes each and 1 longer ride on the weekend. I am planning to get a trainer to do intervals on 2 additional days of the week. What advice would you add to improve.

Today I am planning on hill repeats to try and improve my climbing.

calhoun1

Do you ride solo or in groups?

I have yet to race, but have found a group ride that I have yet to be able to finish with. However, I am able to hang on for about 2/3 of the ride and keep hanging on longer and longer. I also am not the only one who gets dropped, so there is always 1-2 other people at least to work with.

But with that group ride, I have seen my solo times improve dramatically. This spring I was able to average maybe 15-17 for a 20 mile ride. With this group ride, I am able to average 18-20 solo. And with groups, 21+ for the same distance.

Do you use a heart rate monitor? That can help gauge effort to be sure when you are pushing, you really are pushing.

BigSean

I do group and solo rides. The club training rides on saturdays can be quite fast. I seem to hang just fine on the flats, and on the climbs I am middle of the pack, depending on the size of the group. I do solo during the week so that Im not drafting and having to do all the work. I have yet to do interval work and am now wanting to add that in. I do have a HR monitor and use it. However all that does is tell me Im not strong enough and IM gonna blow up trying.

MDcatV

1 - find a coach to work with given your time constraints and goals. IME, this is the #1 way to maximize limited training time.
2 - keep racing, it's a hard sport and the more you race, the more you'll learn.
3 - lose weight if you want to race in climbing events.

timmhaan

at that weight you're always going to be at a bit of a disadvantage on most climbs. There will be guys driving the pace that are a full 50-60 lbs lighter.

my advice for training: climb, climb, climb.

as for racing: try to get near the front before a climb. as you drift back, you can tag yourself onto the back of the pack and not get dropped. then work yourself back up.

Duke of Kent

If you're 6'3" and 195, you could lose 15lbs easily. One of my friends is a Cat1; he's 6'4" and 170. Climbs very well.

Racer Ex 

BigSean, at that weight without a giant motor you're going to get shelled on the big climbs like Patterson regardless. NorCal breeds climbers like crazy, even in the lower Cats, what you saw was just a taste. But you can improve a lot if you train smart, to where you'll be competitive on the smaller hills. The biggest thing for me was to make the best use of my training time, which meant structure, not "just riding". Friel's book is an excellent place to start, some of Carmichael's stuff is more accessible if you know nothing about training to start with.

What it meant for me as an older, fatter guy coming into the sport was doing some type of training year round, with a few breaks to let my body recover. I've been constantly surprised at my year to year improvement. It's an integrated process (if you are serious) and can't be boiled down to one of Bicycling Magazines "!0 Ways to " lists.

It's definitely effort in/results out.

YMCA

What do you consider climbing? Anything less than a mile is just a power-climb and your weight won't be such a hinderance. Since most races and group rides do not include long extended climbs, you just need what everyone needs. High fitness and lots of race experience. Worrying about your weight should only be an issue if it is at an unhealthy level. Get strong, race often, then report back with improvements.

Timmhaan had good advice - start at the front before the climb starts, this allows you to drft back as the climb progresses and latch onto the back of the group as it crests the hill.

asgelle

Kidding, right?

BigSean

Well this is California, and there are long climbs all around my home. So basically almost every ride has long extended climbs. High fitness is part of what I need to improve, perhaps first and foremost.

BigSean

Well I could, but not sure how to go about it in a healthy manner. I would think 10 lbs is more realistic for my build. Of course 10 lbs would make a big difference.

BigSean

I ordered Friels book yesterday. Ive been doing century's with some up to and beyond 10,000ft of climbing. Seems the climbs with better then 8% grades hit me hard, anything less and I can power up em pretty good.

zvalmart

While the previously given advice of more structured training and weight loss is undoubtedly the way to go in the long-run, in the short-run you should go race Dunnigan Hills on Saturday. Despite the name it is NOTHING like Patterson Pass. I suspect it will give you a bit of a confidence boost.

Good Luck

Racer Ex 

+1

grebletie

+2

I'll be there as well. Nothing like an 86 mile group ride / race to improve your fitness!

BigSean

Cant make Dunnigan, but how about San Ardo?

NomadVW 

I used to think the same about myself at 6'2" 195. Then I met the 168lb me. Now I consider myself a decent climber and I'm at as low a weight as I would go.

As an echo to everyone else, structured training is the key - and knowing how you want to race. In Japan, flat industrial park criteriums don't happen, so if I want to be competitive, I have to stay light otherwise I'm getting shelled going uphill to guys weaker but lighter.

If you want to race climbing races and do well, you have to become a climber and that means losing weight. If you're 195 now, I'd bet you could get to 175 comfortably but it's a "how you feel" aspect. 165 is my limit at 6'2" for my body before I start feeling sluggish with every move I make. Becoming a competitive athlete means really getting to know what your body can/can't do and being meticulous about your health, training, diet, etc...

But the place you start is setting goals. Once you do that, write them down and tell others about them and find out how to get from where you are to there. Stick to it! It's a ride of suffering to get to where you want to be, but good God it's fun.

Coyote2

He climbs well...But does he ever get laid?

Coyote2

PS: agree with other posters about a few issues: take up a real training regimen (Friel's book is good) and try to lose some weight. Dropping ten pounds should not be too hard at your size, and it'll make a very noticeable difference, esp on the climbs.

CastIron

Fookin priceless!


Training for wussy!

BCgoFHS

Well during Fall come up with a good base training program. Either from a coach or by reading tons of books. Overall this will mean to slow down, and don't do a whole lot of group rides. They are fun, but not really productive. Also during base training is the best time to loose weight. Towards the end of the program pick up intensity, and do lots and lots of hill intervals.

YMCA

Not for nuthin', but this is a bland and boring program, regurigitated for the masses, straight out of the Eddy B handbook for burnout.

You guys have got to stop squelching the fires burning deep inside the newbies. Nobody in their first 5 years should be slowing down and missing group rides. How's he to learn the craft of bike racing with solo training and LSD?

BigSean - get out and ride with everybody better than you, often. Then when you have the technique and tactics of a pro, maybe think about getting on a program.

asgelle

The USCF coaches manual recommends the pre-competitive phase last about 2 years. Why do you suggest 250% longer before entering structured training?

YMCA

5 years is the minimum number of years before any racer can get a decent grasp on tactics and riding technique. That number is adjustable, depending on the amount of races one might do in a year.

The less you race and train, the longer it will take.

For a newbie that races 50x a year, plus another 50+ fast paced group rides, it will be a much quicker process than the newbie who races 15x a year and goes to the occasional group ride.

You have to understand, I am completely against training programs for bike racers. Most guys come into the sport looking to get stronger, as if that's what bike racing is about.

With a full grasp of pack riding, strategy, bike handling, etc, fitness becomes only secondary. Old vets who raced for 20 years, but now only have time to train 8 hours a week now, prove it over and over.

UT_Dude

I call BS there. It does not take 5 years to get a "decent grasp". Maybe (A) year, but not 5.

Though you are right, the less you race and train, the longer it will take.