Jim's Training

 

Training Ride Eight

Saturday, 21st February 2009
Sproatley Circuit

 

 

Well! A bit of wind and you're all at sixes and sevens. Even some of the riders in the first two groups were blown out and perhaps it is understandable that the last group on the road couldn't get around the first lap, supposedly the ‘chat' lap, altogether because they were all of differing age groups and abilities. What went wrong?

 

Let's go back to the basic concepts of these training rides, it's to get you used to riding together in a group that enables you to go faster than you can on your own. The ‘elite' group know exactly how to do this and you could learn by watching how they do it, we don't expect you to be able to stay with them. The idea is not to show that you're stronger than the rest of the guys in your group but that you should feel that you should get along together to further the speed of a group effort. Although you don't wait for anyone who can't match the pace, you shouldn't try to lose someone who's just done his turn at the front. And the chat lap is to tune you up, both mentally and physically. Obviously some are stronger than others and more capable of moving faster, so maybe they can do longer turns, rather than faster ones. There's no real rule how long you should do your turn. If there's four of you of reasonably equal abilities riding for a couple of hours I'd suggest about thirty seconds each, but if it's for ten miles then about 10 seconds each. If you can monitor it properly you should just go over your threshold at the front but not long enough to be unable to recover when you come off the front. In a wind like Saturday's it's a matter of echeloning and coming off on the leeward side of the wind (different when you're trying to get rid of someone). On a square sided course like his one it's easy to know which side to go round when you turn a corner, if you're not sure if everyone's aware of it then just shout out, it can save a lot of hassle.

 

Many of you seem to have problems getting around corners. If you're averaging 25s along the straights and you slow down to 15s on the corners then you've got to sustain something like 35 mph to close the gaps and that really takes you into the red. This is a good opportunity to see how the smart lads do it, they don't lose speed on the corner because they take the best line, they don't go into the red, are unaware of the gaps behind them and maintain their average. Follow them, and practice when you're on your own.

 

You should stay as close as possible getting the right shield from the wind. Most importantly you've got to trust the other riders and they've got to trust you. Always ride in a straight line, don't brake unless you have to and issue a warning when you do.

 

I'm not sure if I've got everyone named correctly I these groups, you'll have to tell me if I haven't.

Group one had Peter Fielding-Smith, John Ketley, Paul Hickman, Jason Young, Richard Moore, Nathan Wilson, Matthew Enticknap, Lee Watson, John Askew, Karl Downes, Mark Ollerenshaw, and Brian Greensmith.

Group two was Dave Hudson, Andy Tummons, Steve Macklin, Greg Morgan, Chris Goodway, Rob Busby, Craig Medcalf, Phil Eden, Mark Philipson, and Andy Faichney.

Group three was Mark Robinson, Christian Colbeck, John Galbraith and Neil Dean.

Group four comprised Paul Hayward, Sarah Carpenter, Jodie Brumhead, John Brearley, Dave Watson, Tony Washbrook, Ivan Daleo and Steve Carrigan.

Group five was Stuart Wadsworth, Alex Saleh, Scott Redmond, Richard Allen, Joe Faichney and Eric Brumhead, and Charlie Cromack joined in to help the youngsters.

 

Lap times were: -

	Group One	Group Two	Group Three	Group Four	Group Five
Lap One	7.40	7.30	7.48	8.58	13.24
Lap Two	6.40	6.47	6.57	7.50
Lap Three	6.20	6.43	7.40	8.02
Lap Four	6.30	6.45	7.54	7.50
Lap Five	6.25	6.45	7.07
Lap Six	6.41	6.50
Lap Seven	6.24	7.13
Lap Eight	6.59	6.50
Lap Nine	6.31	7.02
Lap Ten	6.40	6.54

 

 Next week will be the last one and we've had some good numbers which have made it worthwhile. Thanks once again to Don, who rarely misses coming to help, and Terry who's also been marshalling every one this year. Sheila also helped this week, and Richard as my assistant has been there every week. Richard has to do a presentation to complete his coaching exam and wants to talk about the importance of having a training plan. He needs an audience so why not come along; watch this space.

 

John Galbraith	Stuart Wadsworth	Sarah Tock	Eric Brumhead	Andy Tummons
Phil Eden	Scott Richmond	Stephen Carrigan	Dave Watson	Eric Brumhead
Craig Medcalf/Andy Faichney	Chreis Goodway	Paul Hayward	Sarah Carpenter	Charlie Cromack
Alex Saleh	Sarah Tock	Christian Colbeck	Dave Hudson/Steve Macklin	Paul Hickman
Jodie Brumhead/Tony Wash	Sheila Sampson	Nathan Wilson	John Ketley	Neil Dean
John Galbraith	Steve Macklin	John Brearley	Paul Hayward	Joe Faichney
Lee Watson	John Ketley	Phil Eden/Neil Dean	Christian Colbeck	Stephen Carrigan
Dave Watson	Ivan Daleo	Jodie Brumhead	Stuart Wadsworth	Mark Robinson
Peter Fielding-Smith	Matthew Enticknap	Mark Ollerenshaw	Sarah Tock	Jodie Brumhead
Neil Dean	Jason Young	Paul Hickman	Mark Ollerenshaw	Rob Brusby
Sarah Carpenter	John Ketley	Mark Philipson	Richard Allen	Craig Medcalf
Tony Washbrook	Jodie Brumhead