"Beating a training partner
I'm a male rider 35 years old, 72kg and 169cm tall. I have taken up cycling 5 months ago and was already reasonably fit from running. I have been training with a good mate who has been riding for a lot longer (6 years) and am doing 250 - 300kms per week over a variety of terrain. We both push each other hard on our training rides. My training partner weighs the same and is slightly taller - about 180cm.
When going for a ‘win’ on our rides he always pips me at the post on flat sprints and hill climbs. I know we are both at our limits and that he really is giving it everything, as am I.
My question is - if we are always training together on the same rides how can I improve more than him? Will I need to sneak out after we finish and do more riding behind his back?
I want to beat him - badly and consistently. How can I increase my fitness to overtake him or get the edge? I haven't incorporated weights into my training (neither has he), is this something to explore? Should I drop more weight?
Looking forward to your response so I can kick some ass for a change.
Andrew Hellmich
Scott Saifer replies:
( ... ) Do you want to beat him by matching him pedal stroke for pedal stroke, or do you just want to beat him? If the former, you're not going to be a bike racer any time soon. If the latter, [color=blue]it's time to take advantage of him tactically.
Let him take longer pulls and tell him how strong he is, that you can't come around because he is just going too fast. You lead in the tail winds and let him lead in the head winds. Do anything you can to make him do more work and you less before the final sprint. [/color]I raced for years against a guy who couldn't come within minutes of me in a TT, but routinely beat me in flat races because he could draft and sprint really well, proving that aerobic talent is not required for amateur bike racing.
( ... ) ".
http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id= ... tters12-05
....ok so a no go for paul...but hey the rest of you, how did you all get so big and strong?(fluttering eye lashes) 