The C group wanted to start earlier then normal so Chris said he will rename them to D group for the day, which then made me a bit worried. I was thinking to my self "who am I going to ride with but but I am in C group" So there was no C group unless I wanted to ride by my self :S
Since part of the Peloton was doing another group ride at the dams the numbers were low so A & B group started together and I got thrown into the mix. Grant urging me on to get to the middle where its the best draft bits. So I followed orders and it was great, I was riding next to Chris and he was teaching me the basics of the pack and how to stay with them. I was at one point cruising at 45kph, I was thinking this is F..... awesome.
Now the crap bit, I think it was Chris shouting out "next sprint ahead up for the taking" and egging on John & Mike on to sprint. So the boys bunched up and looked like they were going to ponce and bolt to the hills. So me being a nub, I decide to sit sprint it up the hill. I was going great and looked like a pulled far ahead and tried to catch my breath and then (forgot his name) dude in Cervelo Soloist Group A pulled up behind me going you broke to early and I knew from then I was hunted down the packed drafted off me when I broke off and I miss calculated the end sprint point. The start was at the peak.. FFS I burnt to much energy that it takes a few minutes for me to catch up. I just slowly fell back. When I did catch up again I just had nothing in the tank to keep up with the pace.
I AM NEVER going to SPRINT again when I am meant to be TESTING the course out. FFS
Grant was nice and he stayed back for me, we rode up a few hills and he suggested to turn around and cruise it back and hopefully the D group will catch us and we ride back with them. I don't know what was wrong with me maybe because I am so use to riding with Keong that when Grant says "mate relax and breath we are in no rush, just take it easy just don't brick out on me, don't want to be carrying you back" I didn't really slow down, I tried to maintain a decent pace, push & relax, push & relax (feel like a pregnant woman about to have a baby anyways) We cruised it back on 30kph up hills and flats and he was continuing on explaining how Peloton sprints and so worked.
Got back to the Coffee shop, disappointed with my so called "Test run" on the S2. So this whole week apart from the ride with Sheldon, I am going to try to do the Jindelee to Two Rocks in the morning solo on the OPPY, see if I can improve my self.
Great blog mate. Excuse me if you already know this stuff. It is stuff I've learnt over the last 8 months and has really helped. Firstly were you professionally fitted for the s2? If your seat is to low or high or reach is wrong you'll be wasting a lot of energy. My performance improved dramatically when I finally got it right. 2 ndly build your confidence in the draft position about a wheel width of the guys rear tyre. You'll save 20-30% energy. Don't try to pull an equal turn. Let the experienced fitter riders do the work until your conditioning matches theirs. Also work within your heart rate. Those glycogen stores you're referring to below drain VERY quickly if you stay in the breathless range for more than minute or 2. Eg for me I can maintain155-171 bpm for an hour. But dip into 180+ for more than a few hills. I hit the wall. It is a hard choice between hanging onto the tail of a strong group or riding alone with a significant drop off. I did the same thing with my attempted sprints. Too early. A pack coserves energy until the last20-50 metres. Unfortunately my genes don't include sprjnters legs. So I have to rely on getting super endurance fit and tiring the sprjnters out by upping the pace. Give me another year! My odds of winning a stage are low. But hopefully, with endurance I'll get in the placings at the end of a long ride. I love the strategic aspects of riding. Mike and Garth pulled a false breakaway which I fell for and my calves are still in spasm!
ReplyDeletehmm, in summary, you're just an impatient, competitive bugger.....welcome to the club!
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