Myself and a gang of mates are going to France in October to do the Roc D'Azur. We've entered a 40k race on the Friday and the 58k "Roc" on the Sunday. Obviously for me a "finish" is the number one priority but there are a few guys that I'd like to "finish" before!!! From what I understand the course is not particluraly technical (probably because in excess of 5000 people start on the Sunday!).
With the evenings getting longer I intend to increase my spins to 4 per week. Two of these will be "social" type spins with Epic or mates but I'd like some advice on what I should try to do on the other days (Approx 4 hours in total). Just get out and ride? Concentrate on building distance or trying to improve my technique? Concentrate on climbing? Does it matter at my stage/age? Any advice would be appreciated.
Here, cop on to yourself...
race, race, race and then race some more, do one long spin on a sunday and go hard and fast on a Tuesday with the *******s in the Summer and do the Club league on the Thursday..
if you make a show of us in the Roc, you'll be tormented in a way you can't even imagine..!!
from what I hear Technique is unneccessary for those events ..
Do the XC NPS, it'll kill you but it will make you stronger !!
Richie is right. Apart from bike time, Racing gives you short term goals. Beating someone who previously beat you will motivate you. Also, lose the granny ring....
I did the ROC in 2007, What a great event it is, TBH Richard expect it to take you 4 hours plus, So get loads of big spins in this spring/summer, And just concentrate on lasting the distance and let your speed come as you get fitter, Deffo do some racing this season with Masters or vets, The sports races here are not enough, You should be able to last the whole sunday spin 4/5 hrs plus, and don't be skivving off early, After I did my race I got back to my hotel and showered and was having a beer on the beach, And still people comming home 6 plus hours later. (savage)
The coarse is mainly rough old fire road and jeep tracks with some single track and a bit along the beach coast cliff walk which is cool.
Wish I was going this year, Instead I might have to eat coddle here instead !
good man Rory, Rich, you heard the man, and while you're at it ask the Buggle lad. if you are going to race at any level, the only way to get better is just race. Everybody has different opinions on racing and getting fit for racing but ask yourself this, who are the fittest, strongest people in your age category ?
Just listen to them..
Yes, Buggle is a great example, He won his catagory that year as well, He was motoring then. He trains alot on the road, Which is really good cause it's less intermitent pedaling than being out on the mtb