Cycling training advice needed

[mikeyboyo]

Hi everyone how are you all doing? I am nearly 21 and am a member of my University's road cycling club, today we had our AGM, 7 people turned up, there were 9 positions going, they had to be filled otherwise the club would have to disband, so by a bizarre twist of fate, I am going to be the training captain next year (unopposed, there wasn't even a vote). I am quite keen on cycling but need to improve my fitness, which I intend to do over the summer. Have any of you got some advice you can offer to me, both as regards improving my fitness and being a training captain. The position involves leading spin classes and organising the odd ride.

Cheers
Michael

 

[Godwin_Austen]

Re:

This is a good starting point

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/insigh ... ning_plans

 

[mikeyboyo]

Re: Re:

This is a good starting point

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/insigh ... ning_plans

Thanks, looks like they have a lot of useful documents

 

[fagin]

Plenty of beer and pies.

 

[REKIBorter]

Plenty of beer and pies.

Calories are very important part of cycle training. I regularly calorie load before a ride, sometimes I calorie load without going for a ride.

 

[mattr]

I suspect you'll get better advice from searching through somewhere like weight weenies, slow twitch or the time trial forums.
Other than that, get yourself a couple of proper training guides. Joe Friel is fairly well regarded, or it was last time I needed some sort of training reference material. Pretty sure there will be plenty more to choose from now.

Might need to actually know what you are doing before offering anyone any advice as a "training captain" or leading any training sessions.

Bad training is quite possibly worse than no training.

 

[ti_pin_man]

I'd imagine theres better advice out there and british cycling is a good starting point. In very general terms I'd look to build the riders engines in the next few months, get some miles in, couple of long runs with a cafe stop, a nice chain gang to a village with a nice cafe. Do this as an endurance period, up to 3 months usually then look to build in anaerobic sets, spin classes up to 6 weeks. BUT you also need to line this up to the goals you have for the team, races? mtb races? time trials? summer or build for next year? Good luck. Oh, and enjoy the time you have around lectures, once you start working then work usually gets in the way.

 

[mikeyboyo]

Thanks for the advice everyone, as it currently is we do not have the time or interest to put together a team for competing, we are a fairly small club. Went to spin today for part one of the handover, my predecessor is going to give me all of her sets that she has created, and she led me through what to do. I shall go cruising around Aberdeenshire in my free time and see if I can find some good routes for possible rides.