How to pick up the pace?

[RoadRaven]

Time... yes...

Intervals... yes...

The other thing I would recommend is pace-line training. Its kinda what happens when you go out in the bunch and spend your time making enough effort to hang on to the tail...

Get yourself 1-2 people from the bunch you know are faster with you and plan to go out on a recovery ride with them.

Ask them to ride a few kms faster than you would normally do on your own and to keep that pace steady (if you normally avergae 27km/hour ask them to ride at a constant 30km/hour). This will be a recovery ride for them after a race or a long ride the day or two before your ride with them, so psychologically you will feel ok because you are not "slowing them down".

This will be a good training ride for you, because your job is to hang on to the back, not lead at all and if you feel like you are pushing pushing yourself ask them to lift it by a km or two and see how you feel.

You can also do it with someone who has a scooter or a car, and they can drive at 30km per hour and you have to stay with them.

Its a good way of lifting both speed and endurance.