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Posted

Now I got you curious and thinking what in the world is this all about....

 

Well, here's my dilemma. Im a keen one day event racer, 55-85km events and usually finish in the top 10-15%. I can do better if it wasn't for this little issue I cant seem to resolve.

 

I just cannot for the life of me stick to the franatic pace of the start upfront, especially starts with a longish flat section, or even an immediate climb. My first 15km in a race feels like death row and the period my mind plays the most tricks on me, "you are unprepared", "okes behind you gonna catch up and drop you like fly" "not gonna be a great day in the saddle" and so it goes on...

 

After about 15km or so I will start reeling guys in as I've settled into a rhythm and as I said finish in a fairly good position top 10 or 15

 

Now my question, is this just my fate, I have a diesel engine and will have to live with it or can I become a 2l Turbo at the ripe old age of 35years?

 

Maybe I started cycling too late, only 3years ago?

 

I dont know, any constructive comments will be appreciate!!

 

Thx

Brandon

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Posted (edited)

A really thorough warmup beforehand could change things dramatically. High cadence, light force warmup of just 20 minutes shortly before. Include a few short very high intensity sprints to wake up the "fast guy within". You should be sweating lightly or you are not doing enough.

 

Other than that, high intensity interval training twice a week van also increase your tolerance for that crazy race start pace.

 

(B.t.w. I'm a high mileage diesel and I have always been surprised at how quickly I can become "fast" (ha ha) with just 2 months worth of proper intervals.)

Edited by DJR
Posted

I can relate. I'm nowhere near your level of fitness, or that interested in competitive cycling. But i too suffer from delayed turbos. I refer to it as 'my second wind'. For my first race i entered the 22km argus challenge i think it was. You know. baby steps. It went ok and and i finished somewhere in the middle. But when i was done i felt very dissatisfied. I got my second wind just before the end of the race. I felt like i was only realy ready to ride after i had completed.

Posted

its not how you start, its how you finish.. :ph34r:

 

like the other guys said, intervals and a good warm-up should get that sorted

Posted

get a road bike and join a club with super strong riders and try to hang on, this changed how I ride, I joined Velo a few years back and couldn't hold on, now (well not at the moment, been off for a few months) but I can dish out the pain as well - its the surges you need to be able to hold onto, you can simulate this on the IDT or in training on hills, but when you are out there, you have to push so much harder and sometimes so much longer to hold on... your MAX becomes much higher when you have to hold a wheel..

Posted

i personally prefer the torque of diesel ;)

 

as said above its how you finish :) you sound pretty strong!

hahaha sure....diesel is strong, diesel is efficient. But unless you twin turbo it....you will never be fast. Nice thing about the human "engine" is you can train it to become a turbo petrol if you want. Also why I liked matchstix post

 

The similarities between the human engine and mechanical engine is actually much closer than we think. Both engines need to move X weight over Y distance.

Posted

 

hahaha sure....diesel is strong, diesel is efficient. But unless you twin turbo it....you will never be fast. Nice thing about the human "engine" is you can train it to become a turbo petrol if you want. Also why I liked matchstix post

 

The similarities between the human engine and mechanical engine is actually much closer than we think. Both engines need to move X weight over Y distance.

 

......don't forget the BEER truck comparison.......my favourite......:-P

Posted

hahaha sure....diesel is strong, diesel is efficient. But unless you twin turbo it....you will never be fast. Nice thing about the human "engine" is you can train it to become a turbo petrol if you want. Also why I liked matchstix post

 

The similarities between the human engine and mechanical engine is actually much closer than we think. Both engines need to move X weight over Y distance.

 

Or in my case XXL weight over Y distance :cursing:

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