nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

FTP and cycle racing.

Alfasudcrazy

What sort of a FTP should I have for A4 racing. Not so that I win everything but just to not make a fool of myself. My current FTP is a bit weak at 208 watts but if I knew what was required I would have some idea where I need to get to as regards FTP.

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

crazy_kenny

Seadin wrote: »

I had 210w average power in the a3 race. I was in the bunch sprint at the end. AVG heart rate was 165bpm with max of 192bpm. My heart rate is always around the 165-170bpm when racing. Don't know if this is a good or bad thing.

What was your watts per kg?

dahat

crazy_kenny wrote: »

4 iii left side only. Crash happened just in front of me. Managed to squeeze through gap. By this stage main group was gone. Put the hammer down and passed 5 or 6 before finishing.

Crash happened just behind me, we got away from there, looks like I came in about 15th looking at pictures.

I'm left side only power also which was put to the sword here last week.
Avg power 250 watts with avg hr 150.

Seadin

crazy_kenny wrote: »

Just looking over my power data from the first 3 A4 races of the season.

Race 1: Lacey Cup 71km
Average power = 197 Watts, 3.13w/kg
Average heart rate = 156

Race 2: Des Hanlon 76km
Average power = 183 Watts, 2.9w/kg
Average heart rate = 157

Race 3: Dungarvan Gp 72km
Average power = 161Watts, 2.56w/kg
Average heart rate = 149

In the Lacey cup and Des Hanlon I was dropped on the climbs and fought on to rejoin with others. Yesterday in the Dungarvan race I pretty much stayed with the bunch all the way around. Would I be correct in concluding that I didn't put in enough effort yesterday? And how do others measure this in a race situation? Do you use data from power meters or by feel?

I had 210w average power in the a3 race. I was in the bunch sprint at the end. AVG heart rate was 165bpm with max of 192bpm. My heart rate is always around the 165-170bpm when racing. Don't know if this is a good or bad thing.

crazy_kenny

dahat wrote: »

You must have been close to me then if you were in the main bunch in Dungarvan?

What power meter are you using?

4 iii left side only. Crash happened just in front of me. Managed to squeeze through gap. By this stage main group was gone. Put the hammer down and passed 5 or 6 before finishing.

dahat

You must have been close to me then if you were in the main bunch in Dungarvan?

What power meter are you using?

crazy_kenny

Just looking over my power data from the first 3 A4 races of the season.

Race 1: Lacey Cup 71km
Average power = 197 Watts, 3.13w/kg
Average heart rate = 156

Race 2: Des Hanlon 76km
Average power = 183 Watts, 2.9w/kg
Average heart rate = 157

Race 3: Dungarvan Gp 72km
Average power = 161Watts, 2.56w/kg
Average heart rate = 149

In the Lacey cup and Des Hanlon I was dropped on the climbs and fought on to rejoin with others. Yesterday in the Dungarvan race I pretty much stayed with the bunch all the way around. Would I be correct in concluding that I didn't put in enough effort yesterday? And how do others measure this in a race situation? Do you use data from power meters or by feel?

JK.BMC

buffalo wrote: »

To attack well you don't really need to be able to sprint well, just to launch a sprint at the right time - when nobody is watching/expecting, or can/will respond.

Which is not to say that a sprinting ability doesn't help, but you can do well without it.

Yes- tactical awareness etc helps. Not everybody thrives on sprint finishes and the like.
But the point I keep coming back to is that practicing/training sprint-like efforts will almost certainly help with performance in A4 races- if not all racing really

buffalo

JK.BMC wrote: »

What are you disagreeing with? Your friend in A2 must obviously have sprinting ability if he knows how to attack. One is needed for the other to occur usually.

To attack well you don't really need to be able to sprint well, just to launch a sprint at the right time - when nobody is watching/expecting, or can/will respond.

Which is not to say that a sprinting ability doesn't help, but you can do well without it.

DKmac

Sarz91 wrote: »

I wouldn't worry too much about "scoring points" or "upgrading". There seems to be a lot of emphasis on the points and upgrades rather than the fun of it.

If you aren't at minimum A3 you find yourself excluded from a number of races most notably a number of 2-3 day events.

Derrydingle

Sarz91 wrote:

A3 class? Wouldn't put yourself down. A lot of lads took advantage of the free upgrade going around a few years back in order to get out of A4.

Can vets still upgrade themselves to a3 apart from doing longer races what's the idea behind it if your having trouble getting points in the a4 races

Daroxtar

Maybe. Do you ride a TCR?

Bambaata

I've never been involved in a sprint and have gotten to A2 with some points on the board so far so am curious about the kind of power needed to be capable of sprinting? I know there's more to it than this but what Ind of w/kg would be needed and roughly for how long?

I really don't consider myself a sprinter so try to get away beforehand

Kaisr Sose

JK.BMC wrote: »

What are you disagreeing with? Your friend in A2 must obviously have sprinting ability if he knows how to attack. One is needed for the other to occur usually.
Anyway, you are free to keep disagreeing with a fairly fundamentally obvious aspect of road racing, which is 6-10 sec maximal power , as well as the 30-secs intense efforts needed at the sharp end of a race.

Agreed. To be successful in any category, get the gap and then maintain it, you need explosive power. At any finish from a group, odds are the one with the fastest gallop will be successful in most straight sprints for a line. That rider may not have been the stongest in the groom but first over the line is all that matters.

JK.BMC

InTheAttic wrote: »

I disagree. There are guys who cannot sprint, and have placed in races. A few weeks back I was out on a spin with a small, slight A2 fella who said he cannot sprint but has placed in races by being cute and attacking when he knows people are tired.

What are you disagreeing with? Your friend in A2 must obviously have sprinting ability if he knows how to attack. One is needed for the other to occur usually.
Anyway, you are free to keep disagreeing with a fairly fundamentally obvious aspect of road racing, which is 6-10 sec maximal power , as well as the 30-secs intense efforts needed at the sharp end of a race.

wirelessdude01

InTheAttic wrote:

You don't have to be a sprinter to win races.

Trust me it certainly helps to get out of A4. The higher cat races are generally sorted long before the end as a break is up the road. Even in those if you want to win you have to be able to have some form of sprint.

Sarz91

InTheAttic wrote: »

You don't have to be a sprinter to win races.

No but it certainly makes things easier in a country where ~80% of the races are more or less pan flat.

InTheAttic

Sarz91 wrote: »

There's a difference between "I'm A2 I can't sprint" and "I'm A4 I can't sprint".

You don't have to be a sprinter to win races.

CramCycle

InTheAttic wrote: »

A new A5 category (will probably never happen)? More points needed to get out of A4? I don't know the answer.

What would the point be, s others have said, your either better than A4 (you get upgraded) or A4 is better than you (you get better over time).

dahat wrote: »

Am I correct in thinking it takes most lads two seasons to get out of A4 with the odd exception of course?

Some of us take longer, like a fine wine.

Sarz91

InTheAttic wrote: »

I disagree. There are guys who cannot sprint, and have placed in races. A few weeks back I was out on a spin with a small, slight A2 fella who said he cannot sprint but has placed in races by being cute and attacking when he knows people are tired.

There's a difference between "I'm A2 I can't sprint" and "I'm A4 I can't sprint".

InTheAttic

JK.BMC wrote: »

Or to put it another way, if you neglect it totally you haven't a hope of succeeding in road racing unless you have bucket loads of natural quick-twitch talent and bike handling to match.

I disagree. There are guys who cannot sprint, and have placed in races. A few weeks back I was out on a spin with a small, slight A2 fella who said he cannot sprint but has placed in races by being cute and attacking when he knows people are tired.

dahat

Sarz91 wrote: »

You doing kilmessan?

No staying local again, Dungarvan as.it isn't finishing up Coligan hill this year so if I can survive that twice I'm hopeful of being involved if things go my way.

JK.BMC

InTheAttic wrote: »

Yeh, that right? I bet I could outsprint you

Ah here - chillax man. Don't take it personally but in my experience a lot of bike races involve sprinting, either out of corners, onto the right wheels or in the finale itself. Ever notice that yourself?
It's a fundamental skill/fitness indicator that can be trained. Or to put it another way, if you neglect it totally you haven't a hope of succeeding in road racing unless you have bucket loads of natural quick-twitch talent and bike handling to match

So as a follow up to what I said earlier, how about working on sprinting. I think that is a thoroughgly reasonable bit of advice.
Plus I don't give a monkeys if you beat me or not at the moment.

Bambaata

If you're looking to get upgraded then hit the stage races, loads of points on offer at them!

Sarz91

dahat wrote: »

I'd like to get a pt or two on the board this year as a marker or reward even for a lot of work this winter on my part.

I have really enjoyed the two races and have learned from alot from both about myself as a cyclist. Hopefully I can use this over the next few to maximize my chances of a prominent finish somewhere.
I do hope to try get away with one or two lads somewhere and hopefully hang on as that to.me would be a glorious way to get placed!

You doing kilmessan?

dahat

Sarz91 wrote: »

A3 class? Wouldn't put yourself down. A lot of lads took advantage of the free upgrade going around a few years back in order to get out of A4.

I'd say two seasons sounds about right with outliers on either side of that. I wouldn't worry too much about "scoring points" or "upgrading". There seems to be a lot of emphasis on the points and upgrades rather than the fun of it.

I'd like to get a pt or two on the board this year as a marker or reward even for a lot of work this winter on my part.

I have really enjoyed the two races and have learned from alot from both about myself as a cyclist. Hopefully I can use this over the next few to maximize my chances of a prominent finish somewhere.
I do hope to try get away with one or two lads somewhere and hopefully hang on as that to.me would be a glorious way to get placed!

Sarz91

dahat wrote: »

Am I correct in thinking it takes most lads two seasons to get out of A4 with the odd exception of course?

I'm in no hurry whatsoever to leave A4 as I'm nowhere near A3 class now or ever likely to be.

A3 class? Wouldn't put yourself down. A lot of lads took advantage of the free upgrade going around a few years back in order to get out of A4.

I'd say two seasons sounds about right with outliers on either side of that. I wouldn't worry too much about "scoring points" or "upgrading". There seems to be a lot of emphasis on the points and upgrades rather than the fun of it.

dahat

Am I correct in thinking it takes most lads two seasons to get out of A4 with the odd exception of course?

I'm in no hurry whatsoever to leave A4 as I'm nowhere near A3 class now or ever likely to be.

Homer1798

Racing settling down, don't mean getting easier, it means that lads are less nervous/anxious and therefore the races tend to be (a bit) safer and the bunch easier to move around in. Riders get fitter as the season progresses. If a rider can't get out of A4 then racing against the best juniors in A3 is gona kill them. The best in A4 will move on as soon as the get the points, the best in A3 (usually juniors) are there for the year.

dahat

InTheAttic wrote: »

I am.

Whether I get out of A4 or not, does not bother me at all.

Perhaps I misinterpreted what this "settle down" (based on dahat's post before) actually means. My interpretation of it, was that a category "settling down", means it gets easier?!

When the one day lunatics are gone and massive fields of 137 like in Caherconlish aren't to be faced.

InTheAttic

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

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?

I am.

Whether I get out of A4 or not, does not bother me at all.

Perhaps I misinterpreted what this "settle down" (based on dahat's post before) actually means. My interpretation of it, was that a category "settling down", means it gets easier?!