I feel the Need for Speed!

[Happy_Wheels!]

I know what you mean, Bklynmom !

I Like to go Fast, too!

I have one word for you: Intervals!!

Intervals Are Your Friend!

Intervals Will Make You Go Fast!

Intervals might also make you Puke but Hey, at least you will be FAST!

Luv,
Happy_Wheels!

[nomummytummy]

spin or rpm classes are great too

[RoadRaven]

Have you checked out books like Bernhardt's "The Female Cyclist" or Friel's "Cyclists Training Bible"?

They both give a good break down of the type of training you can do for the goals you have?

I have bought both - hated giving them back to the library

[Bklynmom]

I will get going with my intervals this weekend on the flats in Long Island then try them on our Brooklyn Hill. Thanks for the book suggestions.

I am going to try and do a Metric Century in Oct. and try and do it as fast as I can - maybe with the help of my fast new training partner! Wonder what book he has, he sure pulls me around Prospect park at a good clip.

The new bike seat and clips will help too.

L

[rij73]

Did you do the NYC Century? I heard mixed reviews about it... I chickened out after thinking about trying it.

I have to start trying intervals too. Actually you and I are going at about the same speed in the same park! Maybe we should ride together sometime? I think I might be brave enough to try that. I used to be too insecure.

[Eden]

Just be sure to not do intervals every day! Give yourself a few rest days every week too.

[Jiffer]

Hey ... I'd say we ride at a similar pace. And I just finished my first century as well.

One thing I can recommend is to ride with someone a little faster than you. I rode with someone yesterday that got my pace up faster than I would have made myself do on my own. I was proud of myself when I was done.

I know riding hills helps your pace on the flat.

Shorter speed rides where you really push yourself on time are good, maybe once a week.

I've seen my speed improve mostly just from riding and riding. Pushing myself a little more as time goes by. I think I may look into those books, though. Good luck with your quest for speed! I know I see women out there faster than I am and I tell myself, "Some day I'm going to be that woman!"

[violet]

Did you do the NYC Century? I heard mixed reviews about it... I chickened out after thinking about trying it.

i did the nyc century and while some of the views were amazing, i didn't enjoy it. my biggest issue was with the poorly laid out course - there were times we were climbing stairs (in cleats! not fun!) up bridges ... being dumped into serious intersections with no safe crossing (for peds or bikes) ... countless times we got lost since the green spray-painted Cs were hard to see or non-existent. and while i think it's great it's open to everyone, they may consider allowing groups to leave by experience level - a man who wasn't too savvy on his bike crashed in front of me going up a hill and took me out with him. my knee is a big swollen mess.

those things said, it was really fun to try out a velodrome (i think it was in queens?) ... ride down broadway through times square at dawn ... ride over the brooklyn bridge ... and through countless numbers of really beautiful ny neighborhoods. it was hard to keep a good pace, though, being so concerned with getting lost. in the end, it took 10 hours - which is absolutely ridiculous! i've done centuries in about 6 and was not prepared to spend all day on my bike.

anyway !!

in line with this topic - how fast do pro women riders generally go? i realize that is a broad question...but i really have no idea what to expect as far as a comparison.

[OakLeaf]

Ride rollers rather than (or in addition to) a trainer during the winter months. It'll really smooth out your spin and make you more confident with your balance. As for paceline riding, there's really no substitute for doing it, but the people you're riding with need to be understanding that you're still working on your skills. I find the best way to learn *any* physical skill is to join a group of people just slightly better than I am. Learn from your pro coach too, so you don't pick up any bad habits from your group.

And +1 on the intervals. And read about training nutrition - I'm sure there's lots on this site and many other places - timing and quantity of protein and carbs are really important when building muscle.