6ix
Posts:485
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| 11/13/2014 02:07 PM |
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I've suddenly found myself without any goals. I raced for 15 years and did pretty well before completely hanging it up when I was 30. After 5 years of gaining weight and looking more and more like a pear, I started up again last year for no other reason than I wanted to be healthy and strong again.
And that's where I am. I'll never be at the level I was at 30 but I'm about 80% there. Last FTP was 3.9 watts/kg. Nothing stellar but solid. I ride short but hard as I don't have the time to do 15-20 hours a week of training anymore. That's what it would take to start racing again but that's dangerous because I'm on blood-thinners.
With winter coming on and the indoor trainer begging for more of my time, I just don't know what to focus on. Where do I go from here if I don't really want to race again? |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 11/13/2014 02:21 PM |
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I don't race but want to stay fit and ride reasonably fast. For me focus comes from riding places I haven't ridden and typically with a bit of vertical. I ride 8x 0.5hr (4 coomuting days) and 1x 4hr per week.
Last year Colorado, before that Italy but I am sure you could find plenty suitable challenges relatively locally.
Next year Haute Route Alps. Care to join?
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 11/13/2014 02:30 PM |
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| I would find a nice group ride and go out and play. Chase some breaks, do some attacks...enjoy the form. |
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| -----
It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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6ix
Posts:485
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| 11/13/2014 02:42 PM |
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Agreed. The big challenge events are a good goal for me. Only drawback is that they are typically long and I just don't have the endurance any longer. I'll fall apart after 70 miles! Being in Asheville, NC, I'm surrounded by some extremely tough terrain. There are no easy rides around here! Every time I get onto the Blue Ridge Parkway, I turn it into an uphill time-trail to Craggy Gardens, etc. I'm always trying to improve but I'm quickly approaching the point where the gains are incredibly small.
Here is one thing I like about fast group rides now that I no longer race. I can chase down an attack, bury myself in pain and then simply sit up and let everyone pass on by. I have nothing to prove anymore.
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 11/13/2014 03:00 PM |
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Come to the dark side.....
Toss in a few runs, a little splashin' around in the pool.....and the racing is safer for us rat poison guys than going elbow-to-elbow in a crit.
Just do Sprints and Olympic distance races....longest race would be ~2:15, I'm guessing based on your FTP. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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jacques_anquetil
Posts:245
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| 11/13/2014 03:24 PM |
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do you get snow in Asheville? If so:
Srsly. It's not about goals tho. It's about feeling like you're 12 years old again, and it's awesome.
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 11/13/2014 03:47 PM |
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Posted By jacques anquetil on 11/13/2014 03:24 PM
Srsly. It's not about goals tho. It's about feeling like you're 12 years old again, and it's awesome.
Word |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 11/13/2014 07:55 PM |
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| Like. |
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dkri
Posts:95
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| 11/13/2014 10:29 PM |
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Enjoy being fit. It's a fabulous feeling. Ride when you can.
I read a thing a while ago that said two things are super likely to keep you on the wagon: 1. Train, don't work out 2. Have goal events. Definitely true for me.
You live in an awesome place. Thinking about possibly moving ops near there.
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| formerly dkri |
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79pmooney
Posts:3189
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| 11/13/2014 10:29 PM |
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Consider riding Cycle Oregon. It's in September, 450-500 miles in a week. Beautiful country, different route every year. For a week, you have to: eat, sleep, set up and pack a tent (optional, you can pay more and sleep in a porter tent) and ride. Where? In a loop, starting and ending in a location announced at the kick-off party, first week in February. Party starts ~5:00 pm. ~7 the route is announced. ~9 online registration starts. This year's ride didn't sell out (and might well have been the best ever). 2012, Crater Lake, sold out in 31 minutes.
Sign up and you have motivation. If it is like 2012 and this year, you will want serious climbing legs. 31 & 35,000 feet of climbing.
Very few days at Cycle Oregon are much longer than 70 miles and the have good sags so there is no worry there! Plus, with a great beer tent with microbrews, excellent ice coffee and a great dinner waiting served by locals who will thank you for coming, there is real incentive to make those last miles. And when you roll into camp, you will be greeted (often) by the local high school cheerleaders and (always) handed up a carton of cold chocolate milk.
Check periodically on the Cycle Oregon website for the kickoff day and time. (Looked at my E-mail - Feb 4th, 6-8, Registration time and kickoff location tba.)
Ben |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 11/14/2014 11:14 AM |
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If it wasn't for racing goals, I would have a very hard time training, especially on the tough days (cold, rain, winter or ANY swim session ).
Racing keeps me motivated to keep training and pushing myself.....or just draggin my sorry ass to the pool.
My 2015 season is completely undecided and my training is VERY unstructured right now. I have been running semi-regularly since Madison and just had a pretty decent time at the Chicago Hot Chocolate 15K (1:08:24, 18 / 386 in my age group). But now that it is behind me, even getting out and running is a bit of a chore.
What is motivating me currently is the 8 lbs I have put back on since Madison.... |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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zootracer
Posts:835
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| 11/14/2014 12:57 PM |
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| I've never raced, former runner, got into cycling in my mid 30's due to running injuries. I don't "train", my only goal is to try and hit 5000 miles for the year. Weather and time permitting, I try to get out 5 days a week. I ride because it's fun. I enjoy it most of the time. I look at it as a life style. I'm retired, it burns time and gets me out of the house. I'm 72, never thought I would be riding past the age 70. I still feel strong, although a lot slower than my former self. Lots of old guys still riding in my neck of the woods. We smile and nod at each other when we pass. We ride because we love it. You gotta love to ride just for the pure joy. |
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6ix
Posts:485
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| 11/21/2014 09:19 AM |
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I absolutely love cycling. Got into it when I was only 14 years old. I had a newspaper route to save up money for a moped but then decided to just get a nice bicycle instead. First nice bike was a 1992 Trek 700 hybrid which I traded in on a Trek 1400 road bike a little while later. And the rest is history!
Anyhow, just received my new bike a few days ago. Got a 2015 Scott Foil 10. Ended up having to ditch my Di2 7970 but think this new Ultegra mechanical will do me just fine. Haven't ridden it yet as I've been spending an inordinate amount of time getting everything perfectly dialed in.
Started using Trainer Road on the indoor torture device. Definitely makes the time go by a lot faster!!
Finally, supposed to get that surgery on my leg next month. Just had the MRI this week to nail down exactly where my popliteal artery is being squeezed. Apparently my calf muscle is tightening around it when flexed, thus causing the dead feeling and lack of strength when cycling.
New bike, repaired leg and better training over the winter is really going to help me improve for next season. Now thinking about taking a swing at some road races next spring and a few challenge rides like Assault on the Carolinas. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 11/21/2014 04:10 PM |
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6ix, I was reading this and it reminded me of your post
http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/11/training-center/get-back-saddle-make-gym-friend_353358
Just completed my low intensity Friday training ride...50+ mm rain day. It was a bit like swimming out there. Good to keep descent base shape but serious training will have to wait till early March. |
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stinkyhelmet
Posts:94
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| 11/24/2014 02:17 PM |
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| 6ix, give us a ride report on the Ultegra mechanical 11 speed when you can. I have been on 7800 forever and am skipping 7900 and going straight to Ultegra 11 speed mechanical. I am piecing a group together and it will be on my A bike next season. |
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