Team Addiscombe

[Keith]

I've been wanting to raise this topic for some while, but first the weather and then other commitments have kept me away from the Training Group. (I was hoping to introduce this to the proposed racing circuit recces.) I don't want to miss raising this before it's too late to have an impact on this year's race season. Even if I'm unable to take part, it's something that could be introduced.

How can we improve our race performances, both as individuals, and as a club?

The Training Group has been cited as the tool to bring on current and aspiring ACC racers. However I believe that the present format won't help us in the long run for the upcoming race calendar. Don't get me wrong, I love the Training Group. It is however too short to be of real use for the coming race season. There's really only 1 hour 15 minutes of ride to the cafe. It is therefore an opportunity for some of us to have a blast and get a good workout. This is useful for winter short circuit training but ain't going to help me and others in the Surrey League races, for example. Also, I believe other potential racers find the current format intimidating.

So, how about a change?

• We could do with riding for 2-3 hours. This is typical race duration.


• We could all do with a more disciplined ride as a team, for at least half of the ride.
  
  
  
  • With more working together, we'll get far better training for racing than just chasing strong individuals.
  
  
  • With smoother more disciplined team riding, more will be able to join in. It simply requires the ability to hold a wheel. This will nurture more potential racers.
  
  
  • We'll get used to working together as a team, rather than "making it up" in a race.
  
  
  • Very importantly, disciplined group training will lead to safer riders. The amount of crashes reported at Hillingdon this winter is alarming. I found the E123s less in control than I'd imagined.


• It would still incorporate a sprint or hill top finish towards the end of the ride.

• This necessarily doesn't have to replace the Saturday Club Run Training Group. It could run at the same time, or additionally, on another day. (Sunday?)


• There will still be cake involved at some point.

Opinions please.

[George]

Lets start this Saturday then with a longer more organised racing group ride finishing at a cafe after 2.5 hours

[Toks]

Another great idea Keith I'm not sure how many are in the 'training group' on an average saturday but if the ride was 2 - 2.5 hours it should be aimed at 3rd cat level - say on average 20-22mph with 12-15 riders perhaps doing through and off where possible. The last 30-40 minute could be used as a tear up for the twitchy fast boys. With 20-22mph as a promised average in a large group even strong 4th cats and 2nd cat women could take part.

[Marek]

Very good idea, we should have been doing this over the winter, but better late than never. The ride we did to the Abinger Hammer cafe was a bit longer and a tougher circuit. That is the type of ride we should be doing every week. I defo think we need to chuck in some more hills as well, but if we just arrange to go and do a race circuit then this will increase the time in the saddle before a stop etc so will cover both the recce and increase time etc. I might not be able to get out this Saturday but Sunday ride is good for me if anyone else is available.

First race coming soon, yikes.

Cheers

Marek....

[Sylv]

Yeh sod the cake, I'm up for it

[Keith]

So how about for the first week we ride down to the Crowhurst circuit. (Kirdford is the first Surrey League race, but it's too far for a first outing.)

We can through-and-off down there, then do say 3 laps of the circuit as a team, then a final 4th lap where anything goes. (We can adjust the number of laps once we work out how long it'll take.)

Crowhurst is ideal as it isn't too far away if people have found the pace a little hot. Also doing a pre-defined circuit means anyone can drop out knowing they can get a free ride back with the group afterwards. We'll have a set meeting point where we can ensure we've picked up everyone before heading home.

(Also, it's not far from home for me, so I can not do too much distance - I'm riding in "The Puncheur" the following day. )

A map of the circuit can be found at [url]http://www.surreyleague.co.uk/courses/crowhurst1.htm[/url]

[Antloony]

Great idea Keith.

Not sure if I'm quite strong enough yet to hang on to you guys for that length of time if I come along but you know me, I'll do my damned hardest to give it a try and you never know, might still be there for the 4th lap and get to do the one thing I'm half decent at and thats a sprint finish.

[huw williams]

Excellent idea - It'd have to be well marshaled of course - anyone who starts attacking at too high a pace and it quickly becomes the training group again

Toks' suggestion for pacing sounds about right as that puts the ride within the compass of most of the riders who race in the club

Riding to a circuit and doing laps means developing riders not quite capable of living with training group or chain gang pace can take a lap out if they're finding things a little tough/get dropped. Could use any number of the Surrey league courses - Newdigate, Rusper, Norwood Hill, South Nutfield and the Horne circuit would all be excellent

Why not do a race at the end of the session? - After everyone's had a decent two hour or so ride as outlined by Keith - do one or two laps (as agreed by those present) as a race - gives the fastest training group guys their chance for an all out tear up and there's no better way of getting the wannabes up to speed???

[huw williams]

[quote="Sylv"]Yeh sod the cake, I'm up for it

[-Adam-]

Ok, this coming weekend is my last free weekend before my season really kicks off. As a result I need some good long hard rides at the weekend. I'm sorted for Sunday, but a Saturday ride like this would be ideal.

Keith, your idea is absolutely spot on. I'd ideally like to meet at least some of the group at CSS as I'm not entirely sure of the way to, or indeed, the circuit itself.

I suggest anyone wanting to race at Chertsey the next day, not to do this ride!

4-5 laps of this course would be good, run off at a highish intensity. But no attacking until the last lap as already stated. For the length of time, a continued through and off is difficult to keep disciplined. What I suggest is for a part of the course, to do T&O, say 2 miles or so, wherever the breeze is behind us. Then the rest of the course do usual 2-3min rotations, but with the riders on the front still keeping the pace up. This allows anyone struggling to sit on the back, but still get a good workout. I have used this method to great effect in the past few weeks when training with my team. For example, just yesterday one of the first year juniors decided to come with the faster group, and he initially tried working the same as all of us. But when we reached the T&O section it soon became clear he couldn't cut it. So I said to him it was ok just to sit on the back, as a result he got an ideal workout at the back keeping his HR right in his threshold zone, but without digging too deep and getting dropped. Everyone's a winner this way.

Am I right in saying Crowhurst is fairly flat, but a bit draggy? I think I've ridden most of it. So it should be a good one to start on.

Oh yeah, and it's often said, the difference between British riders and Continentals, is our stopping halfway through every 'training' ride for cake!

These sessions should, if done right, bring everyone up to just the right level to control the SL races.

My opinion is that its too late and it will have a negative impact on some riders.

One of the best race specific training rides we have done this year was on Saturday 15 Feb and I would like someone to explain how this suggestion would be better for the riders that went out in the training group that day.

[quote]There's really only 1 hour 15 minutes of ride to the cafe. It is therefore an opportunity for some of us to have a blast and get a good workout. This is useful for winter short circuit training but ain't going to help me and others in the Surrey League races, for example. We could do with riding for 2-3 hours. This is typical race duration.

[Keith]

[quote="-Adam-"]I'd ideally like to meet at least some of the group at CSS ....

[Michelle]

Yes we can do tea and something at our house.

I may be out on the clubrun though

[Sylv]

Is Paul dissing the idea just because Adam approves of it

[-Adam-]

[quote="Sylv"]Is Paul dissing the idea just because Adam approves of it