Mr Average

[huw williams]

Yes that feature made us all happy - and a public thanks to Mr A for coming in and doing it

Some intesting numbers in there too about how much people ride/race percentage of racers in what category etc.

Another feature

I'm going to have a real treat for someone soon - we want to give an average(ish) rider the full works in terms of bike-fitting, professional coaching, training plans the lot, to see how good we can make a fairly ordinary rider

The feature(s) will be starting just after xmas and run over the course of a year so I'll need a rider who can

A) comit to the programme for a year
b) devote about 7-10 hours a week to training (bike + gym)
c) give us a clear cycling goal based on what kid of rider you are already... we're interested in road racing, time trialling or sportive riding goals

Anyone who's already a decent 3rd cat or above - forget it, your too good

Anyone who can go under 25mins for a 10 - get lost, you'r too fast

Anyone who's used to doing half a dozen sportives a year forget it too - far too experienced.

So if you think it might be you and you want a very expensive training schedule and coaching foisted upon you gratis - now's your chance

[-Adam-]

Me!?

I certainly have the time

[George]

adam i think you need some more exposure in cw,

[-Adam-]

Me too George... gotta get the sponsors in the press somehow lol

[Will]

I reckon Elliot is your man

[mlocke]

If only I was good enough to be average

[Snoop Doug]

Sounds very interesting Huw. Unfortunately I'll have to decline as I'm currently being tortured by, errr I mean working with, one of the best in the business. Watch out y'all next year I'll be transformed from enthusiastic lanterne rouge disciple also ran to.......well who knows. I spotted today that I wear the same cycling shoes as George so there's hope for me yet, he he.

Snoop

[Michelle]

Yes please!

Wouldn't having 2 months off skiing put me out of contention though?

Also you probably want blokes, seeing as 98% of you out there have the dangly things.

Ps thanks to marco! I'll pay you later

[Dombo]

Yes, please. Sounds like one for me. Been mtb-ing for a bit, got road bike a year ago (bought from Ev**s rather than a proper bike shop and chose it first by size of discount, then because it had a triple, finally fit) and joined ACC, settled in 18s but still use mtb shoes and pedals.

Club run once a week, sometmes wearing a parachute-like rain jacket for extra drag (hardly a clever, experienced cyclist). Did the Mr Average Gentlemen's Dragon (medio Fondo 80-miler) last year at a feeble 15 mph riding time. Own a heart rate monitor but only look at it out of idle curiousity rather than for training. Occasional commute to work but only when it'll be sunny coming home.

Average height, average build, mid-forties so middle-aged, average car, house and number of little Dombos.

Goal for next year is to complete L'Etape in the saddle rather than slumped against the windows of the broomwagon.

[huw williams]

Thanks once again for all your help and for the early response folks

Interesting that most people are nominating others rather than themselves.

From the names so far I'd say generally the standard of rider put forward is a little too high - If you can win sprints or sit comfortably in the training group then you're a bit too good.

Ideally I want to keep it real-world and inspirational - taking someone who at the moment can only manage say the 18s group and getting them up to being comfortable in the training group and racing comfortably, knocking significant chunks off their TT best or doing a sub 6hrs for a hilly sportive.

In short someone who is dead keen but has so far found it hard to make the commitment - I know Sean has too many commitments to do it this year but he's the kind of rider I'm talking about - we know he wants to be fast, we know that in short bursts he CAN be fast and we know that with proper training he would be fast.

Given that the 18s group is so vast these days - I'm sure theres someone in there who fits the bill - don't be shy in nominating/coming forward

Michelle - women's racing being what it is I think you'd be a bit too good too quick - you're already too far ahead

Dombo - you sound the best bet so far and you're on the shortlist if you don't mind considering a few road races in your prep for the Etape. Seeing as a major sportive is your goal 'getting around in the saddle' wouldn;t be a realistic goal - we'd be looking at a decent standard in your age group and I know that any coach would be looking at long TTs for you as part of the plan so bear those early mornings at the side of some godforsaken dual-carriageway in mind

keep them coming and thanks again for your help

[adrian]

Ooooh, me, miss, me!

I'm of above-average height, below-average intelligence, but am outstandingly unremarkable in all other respects.

[huw williams]

And I'm sure Mrs Adrian would be more than happy with you dissaperaing to go training/racing at all hours - what with the iminant addition to the family and all

[Richard (Apples)]

I had a lot of fun doing it , thanks to all at CW

Cheers Huw for organising it.

So far I've signed my average number of autographs

[Grahame]

<Waves_hand_in_air_desperately_seeking_attention>

Me, sir, me (at least I got the gender right)

I can even provide another goal - 10 kg weigh loss.

And you could feature the benefits of a couple of weeks at altitude (we wouldn't need to tell the readers that this is already arranged)

There's a gym at work that I can use in lunchtimes, and come the spring I'll be commuting home 2 or 3 times per week - this could be spun as a new part of my training.

Oh, and I may even reconsider my stance on not buying a racing licence.

The only real problem I forsee is my onbsessive side letting me limit it to 10 hours training per week.

[adrian]

[quote="Richard (Apples)"]I had a lot of fun doing it , thanks to all at CW

Cheers Huw for organising it.

So far I've signed my average number of autographs