How fast is A4 now ?

levitronix

Just curious how fast A4 goes now ?

Been over 10 years since I raced last ,just curious how fast it is now, is everyone at 4watts per kg and over ?

I feel I have top end power comparing charts from 10 years ago but not great mid range yet !

I plan on racing in about 3 weeks just finishing off a training block, then I ll dive in

Raymzor

Strava is your best bet to get average speeds. newbridge gp today is a lumpy circuit (https://www.strava.com/segments/971310). Last weeks Navan Race Seamus Kennedy Race (https://www.strava.com/activities/6781465899/segments/2935531525390968554) 37kph.

if you want relatively up to date power output from Irish racing have a look at Premier Endurance website or maybe facebook page. i saw charts showing power to weight ratios recently.

If you have raced before you will have the experience at drafting so just go and enjoy it!

levitronix

That's what I did look at, I seen the power profiles and thought yikes , everyone must be so strong

Thx for the strava I ll check it out

levitronix

260 watts averages for A3. Didn't see any profiles for the A4 race.

Raymzor

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CramCycle

In A3 myself now so take this with a pinch of salt. There is no way to know in A4. It is more consistent at the end of the season in my experience but at the beginning, it could be dog slow or worse than A2 to hang in there. You might have a field of veterans or a few new faces who destroy everyone. Turn up, ride it like you could win it and see how it goes is my only advice.

daragh_

I did that Navan Race and it didn't seem any faster than normal. I was still terrible though :-)

Don't overthink it. Just jump in.

Chips Lovell

If you're still able to put out 1,000+w for 10 seconds, you'll be grand. The fact that you've raced before will stand to you as well. You know what you're doing and won't waste efforts. Good luck.

Galego

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058237233/how-fast-is-a4-now

In my view, there's so much more than watts per kg in a one day race (specially short ones). I've seen people with very "low" power levels win races. I could do f** all the whole race but then get in the right breakway at the right time and just do a decent 2 mins effort up a hill and win the race and yet be nowhere near 4wkp in one hour effort.

Plus dont rely on people power meters as God knows how accurate they are!

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118782320#Comment_118782320

That's 95% of A4s who just had their hearts broken

daragh_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118782616#Comment_118782616

It's where dreams go to die. Or is that a Handicap in Mondello?

Chips Lovell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118782616#Comment_118782616

Raced against the OP back in the day. He always had a great gallop.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118782540#Comment_118782540

You're spot on about this. Numbers are only a very approximate guide and how smart you race is arguably even more important than the watts you can put out. Even bike handling can make a big difference. Relatively simple things like how well you corner can really add up.

levitronix

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118782980#Comment_118782980

i had a look a few strava files from the guys who placed, i would of been dropped on the climb at the newbridge grand prix

I still have a sprint its bigger than it ever was, i was hitting 1400 watts when doing the bmx racing, started the poly and sprint block training so hoping for 1200 for 5 secs, so hope it comes back quick.

But i only started training again on the road in december so no time really to build ftp

Not to hijack your thread OP, but I was wondering how bad an idea it would be to jump into a couple of A4 races with very limited group ride experience? I think I know the answer but have my license and could probably squeeze in two races this year.

I only took up cycling in the lockdown and have a newborn and two toddlers at home so mostly train on my own or with one other person. Unfortunately, the times of the local group rides don't work with small kids. I'm up to 4 watts p/kg.

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118796849#Comment_118796849

What times do work? Lots of mid week club leagues, training sessions with clubs on random days etc.

magicbastarder

I was wondering how bad an idea it would be to jump into a couple of A4 races with very limited group ride experience?

i have no experience to inform an answer here, except that i am very cautious cycling in groups due to my inexperience with group cycling, let alone entering a race...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118797584#Comment_118797584

Realistically, on a good day I could get out the door at 7.30pm. Lots of other days it might be a lot later so even in mid summer I struggle to make anything formal. I've looked into spins in my area and nothing really works.

I usually cycle really early in the morning or even at night with good lights. I use the trainer a lot as it means I can just jump on for an hour whenever the opportunity arises.

I'd love to race as I'm a competitive person, but would not do anything that would risk my safety or the safety of others.

eeeee

Don't do it. Really don't. Racing is a whole other story, and it's not just about your own but everyone else's safety.

Join a club and do the club league, plenty of them around the country. You group and bunch experience with the added bonus of actually learning how to race, so that when you do an open race you can actually make the best of yourself.

CramCycle

Not ideal but most club leagues are out the door at 7pm, so slightly earlier than you'd like but only once a week. Several riders if you join a club will have evening training spins. After that you have Mondello A4 where you can hang at the back in about as safe a race situation as you could hope for. Long story short, I'd hang off a weekend A4 race before any of the above. Sundrive training sessions, albeit track, will get you used to close contact riding and in my opinion should be mandatory for all new racers but that is another discussion.

beggars_bush

You'll be fine dancinpants

Try a race out and see how you get on. Most cycling people overestimate the difficulty of races.

Mainly it's stay with a group and position for climbs or end sprint

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118799974#Comment_118799974

Thanks a million. I'll look into all of those.

It's a pain as I've gotten myself fit since October after getting a trainer, but it's coincided with a time in my life when I can't put it to good use. Add to that I am not getting any younger at 41!!

nilhg

Would TTs be an option for the OP? Certainly very competitive and can be done on a road bike (with clip ons if wanted). At 41 the Vets might even be an option?

I'd suggest the Naas TT as a starter on the 28th of May, a good safe course, plenty of categories and a proper test, if you can hold 4W/kg on it you'll do OK

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118800765#Comment_118800765

Great idea. Naas wouldn't work for me but I'll check out something more local.

I made a big jump in my FTP recently but have been able to do all the interval sessions at 4w/kg.

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118800073#Comment_118800073

This is true, most of us would have just turned up one day and learned on the job. Done a club league first myself but on the same note, it was too well run, so when I got to an open race, it was not the same. This said, even a few spins with others, if only to learn the etiquette, the dos and do nots is worth it.

Macy0161

My club ran race training skill sessions, tbh I found them more useful than club leagues when I moved to open racing. I do think it's important, for everyone's safety, that you're comfortable with riding close* and with contact without panicking or over reacting.

*I was the same, and it was a more experienced club mate who had a work/ worked on it with me when I first joined a cycling club (after a few years tri/ solo).

Benny Cake

Not necessarily related to the thread but said I’d ask here rather than start another one. I upgraded my license online last week and haven’t yet received the numbers in the post. I was in touch with cycling ireland and they’re saying it could take 2-3 weeks. Can I race this weekend without the physical numbers in my possession and just have a copy of the licence and obviously paid the registration fee for the race itself?

wpd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118822205#Comment_118822205

Dont think you will be allowed race with no numbers,commissare should let you

race if you show copy of online licence printed off at sign on.

I would suggest trying to make a set of numbers for you jersey maybe you could use the back of old numbers?

easygoing39

in the past I've seen Commissare's give a loan of numbers for a small deposit to people who's numbers havent arrived in the post.Hand back the numbers after the race and get youre deposit back.

CramCycle

Old numbers and tell the COmmisaire so they can make a note of it pre race is all you need to do.

Samuel323

I think that you will be able to hit the speed of 120 MPH or more than it.

IrishCycleSport Endurance

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118782540#Comment_118782540

Bang On @Galego Well said

levitronix

Anyways here goes, tomorrow first race back after 11 or years, i think i done enough ? will post how i get on.

Seen someone posted about vets racing, that looks harder right now than A4

daragh_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118941324#Comment_118941324

For the Vets it depends on which category you are in. The top two groups would be a lot faster than A4.

levitronix

Still not sure what happened, didnt stay around to see.

Anyway the race went fine, seen one familiar face so tucked in behind Burtie for first 2 laps, pushed into a really good spot with about 4km to go setting up the last corner, i was about 4th wheel feeling really strong, then a motor bike gardai showed up and turned it into a **** show.

Had few people moaning about my lines in corners but in my defense from bmx racing and mountain biking i probably corner a bit more aggressively than some people like .

Still all good, i had fears i was going to get dropped before the race , happy to get the first one done and dusted

A4droppedalot

I had a good view. Basically towards end of race a garda bike passed the group in opposite direction at exact same time a rider w a green jersey was on wrong side of road on a blind bend. Cue the Garda doing a u-turn and bollocking the lead car, then neutralising race till literally just after the roundabout on the finishing straight w 400m to go. Complete mess of a finish but happy to stretch legs.