A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS...

[huw williams]

For the Latest Cycling Weekly fitness guide: Anybody got any thoughts on these...

Q) Have you ever done a hill climb race? Did you enjoy it?

Q)Have you ever done a cyclo-cross race? What did you learn from it?

Q)Have you ever or would you consider doing a triathlon?

Q)Do you take a rest at the end of the summer season? What do you do?

Q)How important are carbohydrates to your diet? Do you follow a high carb diet to improve your performance?


Thanks as ever for your valuable input

H

[-Adam-]

Q) Have you ever done a hill climb race? Did you enjoy it?

Yes, and yes, but only after the taste of blood in my mouth had subsided...

Q)Have you ever done a cyclo-cross race? What did you learn from it?

NO, NEVER! WINTER IS FOR TRAINING NOT GETTING DIRTIER THAN NECESSARY!!

Q)Have you ever or would you consider doing a triathlon?

NO, NEVER, TRI IS LIKE BEING BI-SEXUAL! PICK A SPORT AND STICK TO IT!

Q)Do you take a rest at the end of the summer season? What do you do?

Yep, leave the bike alone for as long as I can keep away from it. Usually not much more than a week, and get drunk in the meantime, takes the mind off it you know!

Q)How important are carbohydrates to your diet? Do you follow a high carb diet to improve your performance?

Probably

[Dominic]

Q) Have you ever done a hill climb race? Did you enjoy it?
No.

Q)Have you ever done a cyclo-cross race? What did you learn from it?
No but would consider it.

Q)Have you ever or would you consider doing a triathlon?
Yes and am currently considering trying it again!!!

Q)Do you take a rest at the end of the summer season? What do you do?
Relax and not worry about riding the bike, but usually do keep riding for pleasure.

Q)How important are carbohydrates to your diet? Do you follow a high carb diet to improve your performance?
Very, but I am currently reviewing this. Not sure if is to improve performance per se, but to make sure I have enough energy for everthing

[Sylv]

Q) Have you ever done a hill climb race? Did you enjoy it?

Yes once, three longest minutes of my life. I enjoyed it ... afterwards. Amazing atmosphere, a tunnel of fans and a wall of sound which make you feel like a Tour de France rider.

Q)Have you ever done a cyclo-cross race? What did you learn from it?

Yes two full seasons plus the odd race now and then. I learnt that it's ok to be lapped twice, because in cx anyone can be racing against some of the top national athletes.

Q)Have you ever or would you consider doing a triathlon?

I do some running so would do if only I could swim, cycling hasn't done great things for my upper body strength, and for anything longer than a pool length I have to revert to breast stroke ...

Q)Do you take a rest at the end of the summer season? What do you do?

Break comes naturally with fewer race opportunities, but I never feel the need to be off the bike, and never am for more than a few days year round.

Q)How important are carbohydrates to your diet? Do you follow a high carb diet to improve your performance?

My favourite food is bread, and I love cereals, so it doesn't take much of an effort to follow a high-carb diet - in fact most often I have to limit myself. Big rides and races are a good opportunity to eat more with peace of mind.

Thanks as ever for your valuable input

You're quite welcome.

[Andrew G]

Q) Have you ever done a hill climb race? Did you enjoy it?
Yes and yes, it hurt a lot but the pain goes away soon and you get left with a warm fuzzy feeling. The Bec Hill climb is an amazing experience and everyone should do it at least once.

Q)Have you ever done a cyclo-cross race? What did you learn from it?
Yes. Only one so far but will probably do the odd one now and again. I'll treat it purely as fun and don't care about any result (which is handy considering I'll be at the back of the field). What did I learn? - Don't race at Penshurst Off-road club (PORC) as it's on a big hill which I didn't like trying to slither up.

Q)Have you ever or would you consider doing a triathlon?
No, no. I sprint quite fast but not interested in running more than 100m. I can swim enough to avoid drowning too quickly but that's it. Anyway once you've done a time trial you should enjoy a chat with mates, a cup of tea, and a big piece of flapjack - not go for a run.

Q)Do you take a rest at the end of the summer season? What do you do?
Yes. A week or two where I won't ride at all (or just a couple of commutes) and then start the winter riding with a fairly gentle beginning, on fixed with mudguards of course.

Q)How important are carbohydrates to your diet? Do you follow a high carb diet to improve your performance?
Not important in that I just eat a balanced diet and fairly healthy food and don't concentrate on any particular area. I do love bread and eat quite a lot of pasta though so probably consume a fair amount of carbs.

[Toks]

[quote="huw williams"]For the Latest Cycling Weekly fitness guide: Anybody got any thoughts on these...

Q) Have you ever done a hill climb race? Did you enjoy it?
Yes, I even I won it I can't say almost having an asmatic attack was enjoyable

Q)Have you ever done a cyclo-cross race? What did you learn from it?
No

Q)Have you ever or would you consider doing a triathlon?
No. I'd love to give it a go but like most people I'd need a good few swimming lesson first

Q)Do you take a rest at the end of the summer season? What do you do?
I have a definite no riding 10-14 days in late October. Throughout the season colds, work schedule, bike repairs, girlfriend, my son, social events and less than ten hours per week training time mean there are enough natural breaks such that I'm never bored with riding.

Q)How important are carbohydrates to your diet? Do you follow a high carb diet to improve your performance? Quite important especially if I'm doing a Sportiv or long Road Race. I've bonked loads of time but with increased fitness this happens a lot less now. Cereal, Quaker Oats, Bananas, Pasta, Rice and Nutri grain bars all feature highly in when is carb time

Thanks as ever for your valuable input
No Problem

H

[Rob C]

Q) Have you ever done a hill climb race? Did you enjoy it?

Did Bec Hill Climb last year, nice and local with a fantastic atmosphere. Not had a racing experience like it, absolutely brilliant even if my lungs did burn for about a week afterwards.

Q)Have you ever done a cyclo-cross race? What did you learn from it?
Not yet, meant to do some last year but still had plenty of excuses. Now the excucses have run out it's much more likely to happen.

Q)Have you ever or would you consider doing a triathlon?

Yes, lots, was how I got into cycling, it's a great sport that requires a lot of dedication.


Q)Do you take a rest at the end of the summer season? What do you do?

I didn't really have any goals this year so haven't felt the need for a designated rest.

Q)How important are carbohydrates to your diet? Do you follow a high carb diet to improve your performance?

I drink alot of London Pride, doesn't seem to help too much with performance. Perhaps I should carry on reading after to headlines...

[Jon H]

Q) Have you ever done a hill climb race? Did you enjoy it?
Yes I did four in one weekend last year and enjoyed them retrospectively.

Q)Have you ever done a cyclo-cross race? What did you learn from it?
Yes. I learnt that cleaning mud off a bike when it's cold, dark and raining isn't the best way to spend Sunday evening.

Q)Have you ever or would you consider doing a triathlon?
I've considered it, and would consider it again if they did away with the running part.

Q)Do you take a rest at the end of the summer season? What do you do?
Just take it easy for a while, ride if I feel like it, don't ride if I don't.

Q)How important are carbohydrates to your diet? Do you follow a high carb diet to improve your performance?
Everything in moderation.

[Jon H]

[quote="-Adam-"]
Q)Have you ever or would you consider doing a triathlon?
NO, NEVER, TRI IS LIKE BEING BI-SEXUAL! PICK A SPORT AND STICK TO IT!

[quote="Jon Hemming"][quote="-Adam-"]
Q)Have you ever or would you consider doing a triathlon?
NO, NEVER, TRI IS LIKE BEING BI-SEXUAL! PICK A SPORT AND STICK TO IT!

[huw williams]

This is excellent stuff chaps, thanks - and keep it coming

Aren't there any girls out there who have done/wanted to do Triathlon/'cross/hillclimbs?

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Q) Have you ever done a hill climb race? Did you enjoy it?
Yes.....No - worst experience ever on a bike.

Q)Have you ever done a cyclo-cross race? What did you learn from it?
Yes.....have been riding them since the age of 12 and only recently stopped when suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Riding at a high level, bike handling skills are vital, as are techniques for getting on and off the bike and over obstacles. Made me a more confident descender.

Q)Have you ever or would you consider doing a triathlon?
I can ride OK, Run, not too bad, but swim like a brick - so NO

Q)Do you take a rest at the end of the summer season? What do you do?
About the end October, I take 4 weeks off cycling completely, but do a bit of running and some gym work

Q)How important are carbohydrates to your diet? Do you follow a high carb diet to improve your performance? Vital. I only concentrate on this for 12 hour, but also the 50,s and 100's. I take carb drinks in the shorter races and when road racing, and during the winter for hard training sessions. Generally a balanced diet with lots of fruit, nuts and pasta.

Guru P

[Paul on the Pearson]

Have you ever done a hill climb race? Did you enjoy it?
Yes and yes. did the club one and Kingston Wheelers one up Leith Hill

Q)Have you ever done a cyclo-cross race? What did you learn from it?
No

Q)Have you ever or would you consider doing a triathlon?
No. Have never run, except for a bus and can swim about ten yards.

Q)Do you take a rest at the end of the summer season? What do you do?
No

Q)How important are carbohydrates to your diet? Do you follow a high carb diet to improve your performance?
Important. I always have pasta the night before a ride.

[Amy]

[quote="huw williams"]This is excellent stuff chaps, thanks - and keep it coming

Aren't there any girls out there who have done/wanted to do Triathlon/'cross/hillclimbs?

[adrian]

Q) Have you ever done a hill climb race? Did you enjoy it? No, haven't done one yet but would like to give it a go at some point.

Q) Have you ever done a cyclo-cross race? What did you learn from it? No. Not keen on the mud and anyway I'm not sure my bike-handling is up to it.

Q) Have you ever or would you consider doing a triathlon? I would like to do a triathlon because it would mean having to learn to swim properly. At the moment I can only exhale in the water - which means that I start off feeling like Michael Phelps, and within a length-and-a-half I'm thrashing around like a piranha-attack victim.

Q) Do you take a rest at the end of the summer season? What do you do? Not really. I might do more running and/or circuits if the weather's really bad.

Q)How important are carbohydrates to your diet? Do you follow a high carb diet to improve your performance? I try to eat pretty healthily and reckon I'm getting enough of everything already without consciously planning it in.