Beginner Bicycling 101 Part 4

Well some time has passed and the month of August could have had more training, but that is life. Unanticipated situations arise, and is dealt with the best way possible, at the time.

We discussed whether to race, even with so little training. I suggested racing anyway if you have the finances, for the experience. You cannot really learn a course unless its under race conditions. Racing is the best form of training in my mind. You need to learn how to push yourself, find out where you are strong and weak, with those around you.

Before heading out, we made sure your tires had enough air into them. As you know, they were low. You need to purchase a presta-shrader valve adapter, so you can go a gas station or make an investment and buy a presta foot pump. Keep the adapter on your bike all the time. Like I told you my Cinelli is over 40 years old.  You learned how to pump the tire up and found out it took some effort and you had a pre-workout, lol. Your chain was dry, so we used some synthetic oil and oiled the entire chain.

We started off riding uphill, within 2 minutes of warming up, and that was not pleasant. We looked at a few turns on the race coming up and then went down a long busier hill. The hill was straight down with no potholes, so spin it up and go into a tight tuck. As was noticed, the coach left you by several hundred meters, by the time we got to the bottom. If you can safely gain time on the downhill, so much the better and use the downhill, not just for rest. Sling shotting in and out of someones draft, we will learn once you get more experience and come down at much faster speeds.

Keep playing with adjustment of the height of your seat a millimetre at a time. Soon we will have to move the seat forward fractionally.

At the bottom on a flat round circuit, you practised riding fast in the tuck position. Do you stay in the drops or come up to the top handlebar position and bend the elbows at 90 degrees? What feels more comfortable?  As for the coach with his bigger belly and lack of flexibility, I can tell you staying up on the top bars is far more comfortable. Remember the closer the back is to being flat, the more the powerful buttocks muscles get used.

You practiced getting off your bike and running, while the coach pulled the bike beside you for a few minutes. You then immediately got back on the bike and did another lap, before doing running again.

You were reminded to constantly think of cycling in round circles. Cross as close to 90 degrees across larger cracks, especially that one metal bridge expansion joint, as possible. If that joint is wet, it will take some people down.

You play you pay the price sometimes!

Get out there and do serious training, keep the mental edge strong, including eating properly. Continue practicing drinking while riding at speed. At this point in time, think competitive not recreation training.

                                                   After all is said and done, Have FUN!

Looking to eat some small strawberries.