Training question

Amprodude

Is it possible to become better than a stronger rider than you in a club?

There is this rider in our club who was and still is a class act. I'm normally destroyed by him up a hill or on the flat it doesn't matter. Usually last 500m on a climb or a sprint. I have been trying hard to get stronger over last 2 years, I'm new to racing I hired a coach this year and thought this would help me greatly with structured sessions etc, this guy in club has been racing for ages but I use him as my role model and try to reach his level but I never have or can. I always do my best to train with him when I can. I train hard and do my sessions by coach but I still can't hold this club member on a club spin when he puts the power down. He does less training than me too so it's demoralising after this weekend when he destroyed me on a few occasions on spin and dropped me with ease. I'm on my 3rd week of winter training and I suppose I'm not up to speed at the moment. I guess you can't beat natural ability no matter how hard you try. Fair enough it's hard to.be better than someone who's stronger than you but the structured sessions I have been doing for last few weeks would surely account for something and put me in better position and make it harder for him to get away.
Confidence gone out the window for next season already. Please someone restore my love for racing and get me back on track with some motivation and advice. I feel I'm going backwards at the moment.

Cee-Jay-Cee

How do you compare against all the others in the club?

He's obviously a very talented rider and like you said natural talent is also part of being good. Build, strength, age, conditioning, experience etc are also factors that determine your ability to do well.

I don't race and I don't train particularly hard so can't give you any advice in that regard but I do think you've become fixated and in doing so are not enjoying the sport any more. There will always be better/faster/stronger cyclists than you and no matter what you do you will never reach their level. That is a simple fact of life, not everyone will reach the top no matter how hard they try.

I train much more than the lad I cycle with, he goes weeks on end without doing a tap yet will drop me on hills every time. I peak, fitness wise in the middle of the summer and no matter how often or hard I train after that I don't seem to get any faster. I just accept it, my age plays a part (46) whereas my buddy is 42, not much a gap but probably enough to make a difference. I don't let it bother me because if I did I probably wouldn't bother cycling anymore for fear of being beaten or feeling useless

lennymc

if it was me, i wouldnt worry about the other guy, but rather focus on working with your coach to achieve your goals and objectives. The other guy could be riding at a high level for years. Look at your training in terms of what you want to achieve for next year. Beating someone in December is of absolutely no value when you are lining up to start a race in May or June!!

Dont get disheartened. Talk with your coach, let him know your concerns and he should be able to advise you on the best course of action specific to what you want to achieve.

Seriously, don't stress it. Enjoy your training, focus on your goals and why you are training, listen to your coach, go hard when you are supposed to go hard and importantly, go easy when you are supposed to go easy.

DirkVoodoo

Ahhh...I've missed these threads!

Having lots of driving lessons won't make you better than Lewis Hamilton, having one-to-one coaching at the driving range won't make you better than tiger woods, etc.

This guy just sounds like he is naturally very talented, and there is no guarantee that you will ever get anywhere near his level. Some guys just pick up a bike and are unstoppable from day one, while others have to work incredibly hard to develop their ability...but still, no guarantee they will ever get close.

I'm sorry to tell you this, but there will always be someone better than you, unless you are ridiculously talented. And if that was the case, you'd probably be a professional cyclist.

You should just focus on your training, become a better rider if you can, but enjoy the cycling for what it is.

I'm sure this guy in your club is asking the same questions of other riders he lines up against on a Sunday, or sees in pro teams coming over to the Ras.

Carawaystick

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I'm sorry to tell you this, but there will always be someone better than you, unless you are ridiculously talented. And if that was the case, you'd probably be a professional cyclist.

and even then there'll be someone better than you... unless you win every race

Bloggsie

Amprodude wrote: »

Is it possible to become better than a stronger rider than you in a club?

There is this rider in our club who was and still is a class act. I'm normally destroyed by him up a hill or on the flat it doesn't matter. Usually last 500m on a climb or a sprint. I have been trying hard to get stronger over last 2 years, I'm new to racing I hired a coach this year and thought this would help me greatly with structured sessions etc, this guy in club has been racing for ages but I use him as my role model and try to reach his level but I never have or can. I always do my best to train with him when I can. I train hard and do my sessions by coach but I still can't hold this club member on a club spin when he puts the power down. He does less training than me too so it's demoralising after this weekend when he destroyed me on a few occasions on spin and dropped me with ease. I'm on my 3rd week of winter training and I suppose I'm not up to speed at the moment. I guess you can't beat natural ability no matter how hard you try. Fair enough it's hard to.be better than someone who's stronger than you but the structured sessions I have been doing for last few weeks would surely account for something and put me in better position and make it harder for him to get away.
Confidence gone out the window for next season already. Please someone restore my love for racing and get me back on track with some motivation and advice. I feel I'm going backwards at the moment.

my tuppence worth, enjoy cycling for everything other than winning, if you really love cycling, the training and coach will be able to drive you on towards a target, however make it a realistic target one you can reach, no point in flogging yerself both physically & mentally if you havent a snowballs chance in hell of reaching an unrealistic target.

I played soccer for a 13-14 years, I was never the most skillfull player but I enjoyed it, loved the crack in training hard with lads and weekends would look after themselves! We won some bits & pieces over the years but not much in the grand scheme of things we played to our level(most of the time).

Taxuser1

He's putting the hammer down on a club spin in November ?

Rambling Man

Taxuser1 wrote: »

He's putting the hammer down on a club spin in November ?

Designated sprints maybe.

wirelessdude01

Is this club mate a winter warrior?