you guys might get a huge laugh out of this, and probably think I'm a BIG tosser, but I've tailed Kathy Watt a few times when she's being doing some sort of intervals, and if I couldn't beat that midget on a flat time-trial, I would give it up and only ride on the Yarra bike paths

come on...rip into me

For me LT doesn't come into it. Everything is based on incremental change to intensity or duration of pain, coupled with liberal doses of rest.

Since I can't afford a power meter the intensity is based on heart rate zones. The zones are relative to maxHR and are set based on the results of vomitous tests which were used to estimate my LT in the absence of a lab.

Now HDT is on the right track because LT will change with training, so you have to retest periodically to keep your training zones in check. NSWIS recommend once every 3 months, otherwise their lab techs sit around with nothing to do. At mug level like me, once every 6 months is enuf.

I've smoked her going up hill on the crit circuit at Kew Bvld....admittedly she was riding slow and talking to her coach in a car at the time...

I've got one of the Carmichael books (The Lance Armstrong Performanc Program; 7 Weeks to the Perfect Ride), but it doesn't go into enough detail -- it only briefly describes the various techniques. All it says about threshold is that sometimes "the aim is to stay aerobic and stay under the threshold", but he doesn't really explain why.

One thing weird about that book is that Carmichael says that if someones spends more than (i think) 45 mins aboive their threshold, they need at least 2 days recovery rides, but his 7 week program recommends hard days on Thurs, Sat and Sun, then 'spin' days Mon Tues Wed.

She's too small for a flat course, that's why she won the time-trial the other week -- coz it was rolling terrain.

I've never seen her break 45kmh, even with a tail wind and her disc wheel!! Chicks!! Sheesh!!

dunno about you guys, but chick cycling is about as good as chick football

ok maybee my understanding of this is incorrect.... why is itthat as soon as you think you understand, its more than clear that you dont...

if my method is flawed, how do i determine my hr zones for training? or have i mssread and the method im using to determine HR is OK, but the resulting number as an indication of fitness is irrelivent?

What is the method you are using to set your HR zones?

as above, 2 X 8 min LT test, then looking up the chart in Friels book from the results.

have you figured out some sort of maximum?

not as such, have used the above method to do it. highest ive seen my HR go is around 199 - 200

So what's wrong with that?

Use that method to set your zones, remembering that it can't be used as a comparative test. For a comparison you need a constant.

you reckon that was as hard as you could go?

If so -- and 200bpm is a common max (mine is about 203), so it's probably right enough -- I'd work off that to get your zones

ah goodo. ok so as a comparo it means nothing but its still worthy of getting a rough idea for training zones. thanks for that jock

yer was close, could probably go a little harder id say id top out around 205 or so, but no more than that.

Haven't read it. Brilliant piece of marketting for the title, sounds just like one of those telemarketting ads that promise the world and a set of steak knives.

I can only guess that the "staying aerobic" statement relates to preservation of energy systems that can't be replenished easily or without rest. Ergo if you go anaerobic early in a race then you will burn out before you reach the end, or you will be beaten by someone who has more left in them. A key element relating to that statement is that with training you can raise the limit: ie you can go faster for longer without going anaerobic.

The second part is pure long term self preservation. Its not necessarily a hard and fast rule, but a bloody good rule of thumb. It can be adapted in any way you want, but the bottom line is you can't go hard forever. Without suitable rest/recovery your body can't make adaptation, in fact it will suffer badly. You don't make gains on the bike, you make them off the bike as tissues are rebuilt, restructured, or redeployed to suit the demands being placed on them.

nope, Ive never raced bikes (or in fact competed in a sport) but I am coming down to watch the events (saturday or sunday), so if we want to put a bikeforums crew together im up for that

Hey, is it true that there is a track racing World Cup Round in Sydney this weekend?

https://www.cyclingnews.com/track/200...ults/sydney061

It's on right now smoothie.

yeah, get down there, it's never full, I went last year. Kersten is ripping it up in the keiren Go NSW !!!

Went for another mtb ride with my sister around the local xc loop today. First lap came around near the highway, near where the toilets are, only to fnd one dude sucking another dude off. They could care one bit that we saw them. Next lap two other dudes came out of the toilet, one pulling his duds up. On the last lap I fell off my bike. Kids go riding around that track for gawds sake. Don't think I want to go riding up there anymore.

i'm surprised you can type after that, I may have had to poke my eyes out after seeing that. What's the loop called? Brokeback Trail?

Maybe you could take a paint-ball gun with you next time. Couple of rounds from close range.... you get the idea

whats the john dory with Kersten getting relegated?

'irregularities in the sprint'

Kersten has no idea

https://www.cyclingnews.com.au/track/...ults/sydney061

go complain to the council

It's the country for gawds sake. Only you city folks and the movies get up to that kind of rubbish. I felt like throwing stones at them like you would a pair of dogs getting up to no good, but I guess that's getting a bit biblical. Needless to say there will be some complaints going in to the cops or council if I see that rubbish again. Knowing them though I doubt they'd do anything.

Never before has me wearing lycra seemed like such an issue.