FTP and cycle racing.

ht9zni1gs28crp · 16-02-2017 1:09pm

Im fecked so for 2017, A4's talking watts and ftps!

I remember that Stamullen race, I got away in the first break, the repeated climbs up Snowtown at that pace eventually saw my lard arse drop down the pecking order....

DKmac · 16-02-2017 2:53pm

FTP is not a direct indicator of how decent you'll do in a race. You could have a high FTP but still ride like a moron e.g. ploughing off the front repeatedly and getting caught or sitting on the back and having to sprint flat-out through every corner to stay on.
IMO FTP is useful for training but in A4 its the wheel in front you need to be watching not your watts. If you're planning a breakaway or sprint you'll need to go flat out to get away and stay away but sure everything is chased down anyway.

Inquitus · 16-02-2017 5:09pm

DKmac wrote: »

FTP is not a direct indicator of how decent you'll do in a race. You could have a high FTP but still ride like a moron e.g. ploughing off the front repeatedly and getting caught or sitting on the back and having to sprint flat-out through every corner to stay on.
IMO FTP is useful for training but in A4 its the wheel in front you need to be watching not your watts. If you're planning a breakaway or sprint you'll need to go flat out to get away and stay away but sure everything is chased down anyway.

I'd agree, most important things in Irish racing:

Race sense
A decent sprint
Good Short term power in the 1-10 min range
FTP

I would caveat that without an FTP sufficient to get you round in the bunch without suffering too much you are fecked.

ballyharpat · 16-02-2017 11:32pm

I would have to agree with this, I raced in the USA, where we had real mountainous races, I was able to place or win all the way through from cat5 to 2

Over here, there are no real mountains and if there are long climbs, there can often be a headwind and some rollers before and/or after a climb, which takes a toll on skinny guys like I used to be..... Ive seen a few seasoned lightweights that have power on the flats as well though, so they have an advantage....

Inquitus wrote: »

I'd agree, most important things in Irish racing:
Race sense

A decent sprint

Good Short term power in the 1-10 min range

FTP

I would caveat that without an FTP sufficient to get you round in the bunch without suffering too much you are fecked.

niceonetom · 20-02-2017 2:00pm

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/a4-riders-first-race-attacks-gun-wins-minutes/

Is that lad on a TCR?

clod71 · 20-02-2017 4:10pm

niceonetom wrote: »

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/a4-riders-first-race-attacks-gun-wins-minutes/

Is that lad on a TCR?

harringtonp · 20-02-2017 4:18pm

harringtonp wrote: »

Suspect you are right here even though you'll usually get 1 or 2 each year who just time trial away on their own and are out of the category in a flash.
.

First one this year

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/a4-riders-first-race-attacks-gun-wins-minutes/

sy · 20-02-2017 7:08pm

I know this young man and yes a serious talent. Mind you it runs in the family as his cousin Luke Smith(also from our club) was selected on the National Junior development squad. Luke rode the Junior Track Championships for the first time last year and won 2 golds a silver and a bronze on a borrowed bike! and that was a few weeks after his first ride on a fixed wheel!!. Shane has the ability to go all the way to A1 in next few seasons. Genetics play a big role in FTP

Best of luck to all you budding A4 riders this season, stay safe and enjoy the fun.

dahat · 20-02-2017 7:24pm

Cracking performance in fairness and sounds like he knew he had the power to stay away.

Kaisr Sose · 20-02-2017 9:06pm

Impressive-that's how to solo to victory!!

CramCycle · 20-02-2017 9:21pm

DKmac wrote: »

ploughing off the front repeatedly and getting caught or sitting on the back and having to sprint flat-out through every corner to stay on.

But it is so much fun, I done it in several club races last year and enjoyed all of them. In one race I done it three times but the race was repeatedly neutralised for safety.

Ride it like you stole it in A4, tactics are for the higher up types.

dahat · 20-02-2017 9:41pm

CramCycle wrote: »

But it is so much fun, I done it in several club races last year and enjoyed all of them. In one race I done it three times but the race was repeatedly neutralised for safety.

Ride it like you stole it in A4, tactics are for the higher up types.

As I'm a fat old man in cycling terms I'm quite likely to head off the front if I can manage it in a race or two. Highly unlikely to place in any race do may as well have a ball and enjoy the cost of the license at least.

Kaisr Sose · 20-02-2017 9:54pm

dahat wrote: »

As I'm a fat old man in cycling terms I'm quite likely to head off the front if I can manage it in a race or two. Highly unlikely to place in any race do may as well have a ball and enjoy the cost of the license at least.

Exactly! The fun is greater if you make the others work for their bunch sprint. Attack, attack. Sometimes they stick or you get like minded riders with you and you will be gone. I know you say you are no eagle, but it's always worth having a pop off the front at, or near the top of a hill/drag.

InTheAttic · 20-02-2017 10:13pm

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

I know you say you are no eagle, but it's always worth having a pop off the front at, or near the top of a hill/drag.

I didn't make annaclone GP on Saturday, but my buddy did.

He told me that A4 were free-wheeling down the drags. He spoke to the fella who won and mentioned that the winner did not free wheel down the drags. He kept the power on and he won, in fantastic fashion!

dahat · 20-02-2017 10:32pm

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

Exactly! The fun is greater if you make the others work for their bunch sprint. Attack, attack. Sometimes they stick or you get like minded riders with you and you will be gone. I know you say you are no eagle, but it's always worth having a pop off the front at, or near the top of a hill/drag.

Exactly, the one time I got away in a club race was near top of a drag, quite enjoyed that night.
As I have said I'd rather have some fun and see how we go but I'll wait till I get "race legs" first.

Kaisr Sose · 20-02-2017 10:51pm

InTheAttic wrote: »

I didn't make annaclone GP on Saturday, but my buddy did.

He told me that A4 were free-wheeling down the drags. He spoke to the fella who won and mentioned that the winner did not free wheel down the drags. He kept the power on and he won, in fantastic fashion!

Makes me want to race again...at 48, I may not win anything but I would certainly be attacking off the front just to be social

InTheAttic · 20-02-2017 11:09pm

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

Makes me want to race again...at 48, I may not win anything but I would certainly be attacking off the front just to be social

Sssshhhh. Otherwise everyone will want to attack off the front during this weekend's Cycleways Cup and Mick Lally memorial races!!

dahat · 23-02-2017 10:08pm

Going to race in Limerick on March 12th as a starting point but in the week build up I'm not entirely sure how to go training wise..

Sunday spin...2 rest days (stretch etc) an easy 15km road spin, 2 rest days (stretch etc) then a 20k spin with 3/4 sprint's day before race.

How does this sound to experienced racers?

Plastik · 23-02-2017 10:41pm

You're overthinking it. Just go and race.

On the week of a race I'll have commuted 46km each day Monday to Friday. I'll have done anything from 1.5 to 3h extra on a Tuesday evening. I'll have done an hour at a club league race on Thursday evening. And if the race is Saturday I'll race Saturday, or if it's Sunday I'll take Sat off.

dahat · 23-02-2017 11:04pm

Plastik wrote: »

You're overthinking it. Just go and race.

On the week of a race I'll have commuted 46km each day Monday to Friday. I'll have done anything from 1.5 to 3h extra on a Tuesday evening. I'll have done an hour at a club league race on Thursday evening. And if the race is Saturday I'll race Saturday, or if it's Sunday I'll take Sat off.

Being honest I do over think things...

Kaisr Sose · 23-02-2017 11:28pm

dahat wrote: »

Being honest I do over think things...

I think you will be fine. You can regard the race as a hard training session too and you will only benefit from it even if you blow up. Now go and surprise yourself...best of luck!

InTheAttic · 24-02-2017 12:33am

dahat wrote: »

Being honest I do over think things...

+1 let the races being you on, so don't worry about getting dropped. Go into them with an open mind, put in a performance you're happy with and have fun as well.

dahat · 24-02-2017 8:08am

Thanks all...Turn up and have a lash then. I'd love to get in a decent breakaway in one race at least this season. Won't be early doors but ya never know.

If he see a fat lad tearing off the front on a TCR at a race down South it will likely be me!

harringtonp · 24-02-2017 10:00am

dahat wrote: »

Going to race in Limerick on March 12th as a starting point but in the week build up I'm not entirely sure how to go training wise..

Sunday spin...2 rest days (stretch etc) an easy 15km road spin, 2 rest days (stretch etc) then a 20k spin with 3/4 sprint's day before race.

How does this sound to experienced racers?

If you were racing a lot and had that routine before every race your fitness would go downhill rapidly.

Train as you normally would to improve fitness as if races did not exist and only when you get to Friday consider what you need to do to be both rested and primed for Sundays race.

dahat · 02-03-2017 6:54pm

Looks like I may head to Newbridge Sunday, weather dependant .

Apparently it's a handy enough circuit? Any one able to confirm?

sullzz · 02-03-2017 7:10pm

dahat wrote: »

Looks like I may head to Newbridge Sunday, weather dependant .

Apparently it's a handy enough circuit? Any one able to confirm?

Its a hard circuit , couple of tough drags each lap .
Clonard on the saturday would be a lot easier , flat and fast .

dahat · 02-03-2017 7:12pm

sullzz wrote: »

Its a hard circuit , couple of tough drags each lap .
Clonard on the saturday would be a lot easier , flat and fast .

Must have gotten them mixed up then.

Can't make Saturday so I'll see, how tough are tough drags?

JK.BMC · 02-03-2017 7:16pm

dahat wrote: »

Looks like I may head to Newbridge Sunday, weather dependant .

Apparently it's a handy enough circuit? Any one able to confirm?

Haha haha...... Handy!!! I'm wondering what you mean by that?

Newbridge GP circuit has two climbs, neither very steep but the early season gallop means that they are taken at full whack each time.

Usually a good race with no place to hide

sullzz · 02-03-2017 7:17pm

dahat wrote: »

Must have gotten them mixed up then.

Can't make Saturday so I'll see, how tough are tough drags?

Thry are very manageable if you can climb , but it will split the group so make sure youre near the front

JK.BMC · 02-03-2017 7:21pm

sullzz wrote: »

Thry are very manageable if you can climb , but it will split the group so make sure youre near the front

To be honest, it's not about 'climbing' but whether you can knock out decent 3 and 5 minute power efforts.
Some fairly lumpy lardy lads have contested the sprint on this circuit and the vets race there all the time. These aren't 'climbs' if we are being serious

FTP and cycle racing.

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