Books

[Bridget]

Can anyone recommend some good books on training?

thanks,
Bridget

[Jon H]

The Lance Armstrong Performance Program

[Robh]

Using which method to gauge effort, heart rate or power?

[Ben]

Road Racing Techique & Training by Bernard Hinault & Claude Genzling. Published in 1994.
Ignore any of the stuff on watts, it won't catch on.

[Bridget]

Heart rate for now. I'm thinking of getting a power meter but not really sure I can justify it for the amount I do.

Ben, I think the power stuff has rather caught on!

[Robh]

How much riding do you actually do?

[Robh]

Last blood lactate testing I did Marco was actually on myself with an aid of an assitance sometime mid 2009.

Put the testing and riding on hold as I got injured in May 2010. So am I still testing the answer is no.

Sorry if topic has got diverted.

[Bridget]

Rob - over the last few weeks, two x 50/60 miles rides at the weekend but not much in the week - 7 hours average per week.

Ongoing, aiming for 1 longer ride, 1 shorter ride at weekend (or two long rides depending on time availability), plus two sessions in week. So probably 8 hours per week riding, plus two strength/resistance training sessions. I don't think I could manage much more than that time-wise.

Thanks,
B

[Toks]

Hi Bridget, if you PM with your address i can definitley send you 2/3 different books on training which you can borrow for a few months and post back to me when you're done with them. If you're really serious about getting fit and racing how about getting a good coach - there's a BCF coach called H. Williams who I here is pretty good

The cheaper option is to simply start training properly. This usually means training harder. With an average of 8 hours per week you could get pretty fit on 1/2 medium lenth rides per week and a couple solo 20-40 minute time trial paced ride per week. If you find it hard to motivate yourself to ride hard then get out on some faster group rides or do actual TT's as training. Oh and in my experience and others I've spoken to the worst thing you could do as a time crunched amateur is more slowish (15/16mph) long group rides -apart from noobies and those with 25hrs + training they really don't help you get much fitter once you'e reach a certain level of fitness. In short get your butt into the uncomfortable zone for at least 90 minutes per week and after a few weeks you'll start to notice the difference. Good luck

[Phil H]

Graeme Obree's training book is coming out soon. When I spoke to him about it, reckons it's aimed at the time-limited rider. I'm not sure if it requires you to have your own welding equipment and spare kitchen utensils (and be barking mad) to take advantage.

[Paul H]

Ive got Obree's book and wouldnt recommend it.

This is a good read to start with

[url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Smart-Cycling-Successful-Training-Racing/dp/0684822431[/url]

[Bridget]

Thanks Paul,

Yes Phil, I may be slightly less obsessive than Obree

[Freddie]

Hi Bridget,

I have recently purchased ''the advanced cyclist's training manual'' from Waterstones. About £15 or so and have a personal trainer twice a week from now through to the new season. I am then going through the routines in this book which is written by a proffessional rider and a member of the Sky Team on a turbo trainer.

Some people say its basic, but if they can tell you the difference between type 1 and type 2a muscle fibre's their usage and how to train them, then I would call them liars!

Have a look on line on the Amazon book preview first to see if it takes your fancy.

Regards

Freddie