FTP and cycle racing.

Miklos wrote: »

The more I see the results the more I see stronger riders being upgraded or on their way to being upgraded sharpish. A few of my stronger clubmates have been upgraded since the season started. Seems to me the system works.

Agreed, one of the stronger lads in our club was upgraded without winning a race.

InTheAttic wrote: »

This is my first season racing ever and I'm in A4. The more I watch the results in A4, the more sceptical I am of A4 'settling down'. I call bullsh1t on that for the reason that there are a lot of fellas in A4 being coached / training on power and this is resulting in some well trained and powerful riders. The entire A4 group is just going to get stronger with the open races and as the club leagues will be starting shortly. Not sure anyone will agree, but I think the corollary is that it will be harder and harder to get out of it.

The more I see the results the more I see stronger riders being upgraded or on their way to being upgraded sharpish. A few of my stronger clubmates have been upgraded since the season started. Seems to me the system works.

InTheAttic wrote: »

This is my first season racing ever and I'm in A4. The more I watch the results in A4, the more sceptical I am of A4 'settling down'. I call bullsh1t on that for the reason that there are a lot of fellas in A4 being coached / training on power and this is resulting in some well trained and powerful riders. The entire A4 group is just going to get stronger with the open races and as the club leagues will be starting shortly. Not sure anyone will agree, but I think the corollary is that it will be harder and harder to get out of it. I know I'm a strong rider myself with very good power. I haven't got my 'racing legs' just yet, but I will have them shortly enough. So will a lot of the other lads in A4. I wonder what the solution is - A new A5 category (will probably never happen)? More points needed to get out of A4? I don't know the answer.

I have only done the 2 races, Ras Luimni and Carrick but I saw nothing to fear in either race tbh. Race position is key from what I have seen and the ability to get power down quick for 30-45 seconds for the surges.
Strong lads will be upgraded quickly and alot will have points from last season so even the placed lads are getting out of A4, this will even it up a bit I think for us. More opportunities to get points on the board.

DirkVoodoo

InTheAttic wrote: »

I'm not bemoaning them at all. That's an insinuation.

I clearly misinterpreted, I didn't insinuate:

"I call bullsh1t on that for the reason that there are a lot of fellas in A4 being coached / training on power and this is resulting in some well trained and powerful riders."

What's stopping you doing the same then? If you want to get out of A4 you can't blame the quality of the A4 riders around you being too good. I'd also avoid thinking that "club league will make me stronger". All racing will make you stronger and racing with people just above your level will definitely bring you on.

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

You can't bemoan the riders around you for limiting your progress. They are faster or they are smarter, or both, but they are winning. Excuses don't win races.

I'm not bemoaning them at all. That's an insinuation.

I laud their progress. All I'm saying is that it's a stronger category than people realise.

Harrybelafonte

InTheAttic wrote: »

Yeh, that right? I bet I could outsprint you

Nice attitude

DirkVoodoo

InTheAttic wrote: »

This is my first season racing ever and I'm in A4. The more I watch the results in A4, the more sceptical I am of A4 'settling down'. I call bullsh1t on that for the reason that there are a lot of fellas in A4 being coached / training on power and this is resulting in some well trained and powerful riders. The entire A4 group is just going to get stronger with the open races and as the club leagues will be starting shortly. Not sure anyone will agree, but I think the corollary is that it will be harder and harder to get out of it. I know I'm a strong rider myself with very good power. I haven't got my 'racing legs' just yet, but I will have them shortly enough. So will a lot of the other lads in A4. I wonder what the solution is - A new A5 category (will probably never happen)? More points needed to get out of A4? I don't know the answer.

How would adding an A5 category change anything? Strong riders who dominate A4 races early on tend to be gone fairly quickly. If A4 is made up of a group of extremely strong riders new to racing, this won't change in A5, it just means it will take longer for them to reach A1/2 and each organiser will be under more pressure to fit in all the races on the schedule. We already have massive A1/2 bunches because there aren't separate A1/2 races, so expect to have A4/5 races?

I think Lumen is right, if you can't get out of A4 then it is the correct level for you at the moment, but that doesn't mean you won't ever get out of it or choose races that suit your strengths. Don't be racing the Des if you are around 3.2 W/kg, maybe some flatter races with sprints, multi-days with a TT, etc.

You can't bemoan the riders around you for limiting your progress. They are faster or they are smarter, or both, but they are winning. Excuses don't win races.

JK.BMC wrote: »

No simple answer

Although practicing how to sprint would be a good starting point

Yeh, that right? I bet I could outsprint you

Lumen

InTheAttic wrote: »

This is my first season racing ever and I'm in A4. The more I watch the results in A4, the more sceptical I am of A4 'settling down'. I call bullsh1t on that for the reason that there are a lot of fellas in A4 being coached / training on power and this is resulting in some well trained and powerful riders. The entire A4 group is just going to get stronger with the open races and as the club leagues will be starting shortly. Not sure anyone will agree, but I think the corollary is that it will be harder and harder to get out of it. I know I'm a strong rider myself with very good power. I haven't got my 'racing legs' just yet, but I will have them shortly enough. So will a lot of the other lads in A4. I wonder what the solution is - A new A5 category (will probably never happen)? More points needed to get out of A4? I don't know the answer.

The answer is to target late season races which struggle to attract entries.

edit: anyway, why would you want to "get out of A4" if the racing matches the level you're at?

JK.BMC

InTheAttic wrote: »

This is my first season racing ever and I'm in A4. The more I watch the results in A4, the more sceptical I am of A4 'settling down'. I call bullsh1t on that for the reason that there are a lot of fellas in A4 being coached / training on power and this is resulting in some well trained and powerful riders. The entire A4 group is just going to get stronger with the open races and as the club leagues will be starting shortly. Not sure anyone will agree, but I think the corollary is that it will be harder and harder to get out of it. I know I'm a strong rider myself with very good power. I haven't got my 'racing legs' just yet, but I will have them shortly enough. So will a lot of the other lads in A4. I wonder what the solution is - A new A5 category (will probably never happen)? More points needed to get out of A4? I don't know the answer.

No simple answer

Although practicing how to sprint would be a good starting point

dahat wrote: »

Early season A4 lads aren't so bad it seems.

Hopefully when it settles down a bit and fileds get a little smaller it will help lads like myself get a pt or two on the board.

This is my first season racing ever and I'm in A4. The more I watch the results in A4, the more sceptical I am of A4 'settling down'. I call bullsh1t on that for the reason that there are a lot of fellas in A4 being coached / training on power and this is resulting in some well trained and powerful riders. The entire A4 group is just going to get stronger with the open races and as the club leagues will be starting shortly. Not sure anyone will agree, but I think the corollary is that it will be harder and harder to get out of it. I know I'm a strong rider myself with very good power. I haven't got my 'racing legs' just yet, but I will have them shortly enough. So will a lot of the other lads in A4. I wonder what the solution is - A new A5 category (will probably never happen)? More points needed to get out of A4? I don't know the answer.

ballyharpat

We had a member 2nd last week in ras luimni and he was 3rd the week before, he's a good rider, but wouldn't be good enough to mix it up in a break or chase group for a3, he'd finish in the pack alright, but so do all decent a3's, it's another thing to be able to attack and hold it or to keep attacking.

Lyra Mammoth Slowpoke wrote: »

It was one tough race that, after a week and half off with flu I knew i was in trouble after the second time up the hill....I got back onto the coat tails of the bunch after a mad descent. Up until that I felt ok, I would challenge a lot of the guys who have been in A3 a while to come back down and get out of A4.....

ht9zni1gs28crp

It was one tough race that, after a week and half off with flu I knew i was in trouble after the second time up the hill....I got back onto the coat tails of the bunch after a mad descent. Up until that I felt ok, I would challenge a lot of the guys who have been in A3 a while to come back down and get out of A4.....

ballyharpat

harringtonp wrote: »

Guy I drove down with had a mechanical on the first section of second lap and turned around to go back. He was very surprised at how soon he met the A4s. He turned around again and finished the lap with them and about 6 other A3s. The A3 race was fast at times but on several occasions the race stalled to almost a complete standstill. First time I've seen this happen so much in a race.

It was stalled as we soft pedalled at the front, I had a team mate up in the break from 30km, so for about 5k, I soft pedalled and the same with the guys from powerhouse, when they had a few minutes gap, then we were able to lay down again, I was up in the split after that so I dunno what happened, but a team mate was still back there and said a lot of it was just riding around in zone 2-I flatted at 78k, I'd done what I wanted to do and had buried myself, it will pay off hopefully in the next few races.

Early season A4 lads aren't so bad it seems.

Hopefully when it settles down a bit and fileds get a little smaller it will help lads like myself get a pt or two on the board.

harringtonp

JK.BMC wrote: »

Was spectating/supporting today; 2nd time up the drag the A4 leaders were travelling harder than the A3s. Serious power in this A4 group but it was still interesting that a group of about 50 came to the finish together; leaving aside the strong juniors, I would reckon that any of the top A4 riders would easily compete in the A3, so those upgraded are probably riders to watch this season.
Really great to watch the long line of suffering each time up the long drag- very few races in the country are like the 'Des' and another great race today

Guy I drove down with had a mechanical on the first section of second lap and turned around to go back. He was very surprised at how soon he met the A4s. He turned around again and finished the lap with them and about 6 other A3s. The A3 race was fast at times but on several occasions the race stalled to almost a complete standstill. First time I've seen this happen so much in a race.

harringtonp

dahat wrote: »

Any joy at the Des Hanlon folks?

Was happy to finish it (A3 version). Bit short on miles and popped out the back 400m from the top of the climb on the last lap. Long race. Weather turned out way better than what it was when driving to it. Just 2 incidents in the A3 race I'm aware of where riders came down.

JK.BMC

Was spectating/supporting today; 2nd time up the drag the A4 leaders were travelling harder than the A3s. Serious power in this A4 group but it was still interesting that a group of about 50 came to the finish together; leaving aside the strong juniors, I would reckon that any of the top A4 riders would easily compete in the A3, so those upgraded are probably riders to watch this season.
Really great to watch the long line of suffering each time up the long drag- very few races in the country are like the 'Des' and another great race today

Seadin wrote: »

I'm having the same problem as you too.

Do Vo2 sessions to build up your heart and lungs. Endurance won't help with getting you up a drag at a fast pace, if you already have the power.

Seadin wrote: »

I'm having the same problem as you too.

There was a fair bit of grit and gravel on the road from all the rain, I heard some lad behind me's tube full on explode.

Seadin

Miklos wrote: »

I was going grand but got a flat on the long drag which put the tin hat on my race. Shame but that's racing I guess.

I'm having the same problem as you too.

I was going grand but got a flat on the long drag which put the tin hat on my race. Shame but that's racing I guess.

crazy_kenny wrote: »

Blew up spectacularly on long drag second time around. My power is up this year but my endurance is not where it should be.

Ouch..Plenty to work on then.

crazy_kenny

dahat wrote: »

Any joy at the Des Hanlon folks?

Blew up spectacularly on long drag second time around. My power is up this year but my endurance is not where it should be.

sullzz wrote: »

Same orwell lad who rode off the front for the win in newbridge took the win here too .

That's him upgraded then. Club mate took.2nd in A4 and upgraded also.

sullzz

dahat wrote: »

Any joy at the Des Hanlon folks?

Same orwell lad who rode off the front for the win in newbridge took the win here too .

Any joy at the Des Hanlon folks?

Sinbad_NI

Miklos wrote:

Yeah you can get numbers on the day for a tenner deposit.

Perfect. Cheers.

Sinbad_NI wrote: »

On a racing theme.
Upgraded my license from LC to A4 couple of weeks ago... any idea how long it usually takes to send out race numbers?
I assume organisers have some extra if the need arises?

Yeah you can get numbers on the day for a tenner deposit.