To race VA

[Alfa147GTA]

Okay, so I can pedal a bike at an okay speed. Ridden a few times in AL and can kinda hang on in most cases.

 

So my question is, how much training are you guys doing to ride in VA?

 

I have a full time job, married, no kids and I can't see how I would ever get to racing in VA? How long have the guys been riding?

 

Just some questions as I am curious. I don't exactly sit back yet I appear pretty far off.

[Zatek]

If you are able to run with the 1st 20 in AL in all the races then you still need to do some work to go to VA's. There is about 7 min difference between VA and front of AL.

 

My 2c worth

[Alfa147GTA]

Understood, but what sort of training are people doing and the amount of hours they putting in?

[Zatek]

If you are able to run with the 1st 20 in AL in all the races then you still need to do some work to go to VA's. There is about 7 min difference between VA and front of AL.

 

My 2c worth

[Zatek]

I am doing 10 hours a week and my training is power based except for weekend ride.

[TALUS]

Hi A

I rode and finished with you once this year (R4S or MacSteel?). I have also ridden VB a few times. I could never race there. I am approaching VC. According to times in the races I will only be midpack there. I think that the racers are born to race meaning that they were competitive at all ages. If you were a racer before then better training will help - otherwise we are always going to be racing against our selves.

 

PS. According to my wife I am also loosing THAT race.

[devocean]

I just started riding VA. I commute 10km to work every day (so 20km a day total). This last racing season was the most training I'd ever done (before that was purely my commute), with a long ride (100km - 140km) every weekend or 2nd weekend and then one 80km before work one day during the week (mostly ride solo and just under my threshold), then Killarney on a Wednesday maybe once a month.

 

Did the Argus when I was a kid but didn't really get back on a bike until I got my first road bike in 2008. Did a couple of pedal power races and ended up with a B group seeding, but then after that I stopped doing races besides riding the Argus once a year. Started doing races in Spring last year and went from E to VA.

[Li Mu Bai]

In VA be prepared to hang on to attack constantly, every rise, and when theres gutter oppertunity, the guys in front take it, mercilessly.

Your high intensity training needs to be in full gear.

you do improve riding with faster guys, in the beginning you may be dropped often, but if it motivates you to put in the training time, you might finish closer to the bunch.

dont expect to enjoy yourself for a while

[Alfa147GTA]

Hi A

I rode and finished with you once this year (R4S or MacSteel?). I have also ridden VB a few times. I could never race there. I am approaching VC. According to times in the races I will only be midpack there. I think that the racers are born to race meaning that they were competitive at all ages. If you were a racer before then better training will help - otherwise we are always going to be racing against our selves.

 

PS. According to my wife I am also loosing THAT race.

Hey Talus, yes we did. You paced me perfectly up that one hill in R4S. Thanks mate, I enjoyed that ride.

 

But this is my point, I rode alot as a youngster, stopped for 12 years and now been back for just over a year. This includes a complicated break of the collarbone. But even with this, I have a pretty decent structure during week and weekends I follow up with decent 120-140km rides.

 

How much more is everyone else doing?

 

PS. Your wife is wrong, we never lose to ourselves, I have seen you on your bike. Losing just not an option.

[Donovan Le Cok]

Understood, but what sort of training are people doing and the amount of hours they putting in?

Simple answer 10 to 15 hours a week.

[TALUS]

Combined experience from ultra running at decent level and cycling later in life. Intensity is key. Every hour must count. Warming down you do in the shower. Base at 10 to 12h or High intensity at about 8 hours per week before real life interferes. And injuries. And schoolconcerts.

[Underachiever]

I also raced VB last year (this year life happened) - also close to VC age.

 

How? I dropped from 80 to 72 kg - which was my race weight in the '80's, averaged 9 hrs per week of high intensity training - have no hills where I stay - and started doing real power work and intervals.

 

A few top 10 finishes in VB.

[NotSoBigBen]

I have long gone realized that no matter much I train (hours or intensity) I don't have the 'genes' to be a racer and compete in something like the licensed racing bunch so am happy to amble about in the alphabet soup ..... Embarrassed myself enough times there years ago!

[Long Wheel Base]

Whats your seeding index? You can train mega hours at high intensity, but if your index is above 20 you unfortunately wont get into vets.

But how much to train is like asking how long is a piece of string. Personally I would say its about quality training and not quantity. I am in the same situation as you(job,married,no kids unless 2 dogs and 2 cats count? ........) I TRY ride 1hr/1hr45m most mornings before work and then in the afternoon its either another hour on the bike or gym(weights, swim or run). I finish work fairly early(15h15) luckily but at the end of the day I need to be home by about 1700 the latest as there is always something that needs to be done at home(clean pool, mow lawn,make dinner......). On the weekends I try do 150/250 km but the intensity isn't as high. I race VA and am definitely not a front runner. So I would love to be able to train more but life gets in the way.

[Paulst12]

If you did well in A, you will do fine in VA. To be competitive though will take a bit of learning. You will need to learn when the break is serious, who to watch, how to pace, how to ride in a pace line, and how to sprint. Rule of thumb in ever group is try save as much until the end. The best i found was to train harder for longer than the average race distance and also combine it with lots of hill training. VETS racing usually takes place on the climbs, or when there is a cross wind in which case its like riding a TT because of the guttering which will take place.
One last thing,... to do well, give VA racing a go for a year... your fitness and riding strategy will improve substantially. Then after a year, if you feel its just not for you reconsider. I am willing to bet you will be in the mix after a few races.

[Patchelicious]

Understood, but what sort of training are people doing and the amount of hours they putting in?

If you come front of AL, you can hang with VA at most races.

HOWEVER, it will be very different, there are attacks that will stretch you.

 

So short answer is I think you can stick with most VA races on about 12-14 hours a week, then you will sitting mid to back pack on the flatter races, but it will need to be structured training as its not a constant steady speed like you find in AL.

 

If you want to stick with the guys on the climby races, well then you need to escalate things drastically