Pre 10 mile TT warm up

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Nosaj

Well-Known Member
Location
Rayleigh
I had terrible cramp in my calf (upper right) 1/2 way round (my post in riders tales tells more) I think I can nail it down to not warming up properly and riding at a far higher intensity than I am normally used to as opposed to fluid/Fuel intake etc etc although that may not be the case.

I do get cramp now and then but have only ever got it in my thighs after climbing a long hill towards the end of a long ride after a lay off and then I had warnings that it was going to go but this was just bang no warning at all. I stopped massaged it a bit limped a bit then managed to get back up to speed and ride it out but it is still tender today (TT was on Weds).

The trouble is that there was a lot of faffing round signing on, getting a number, mainly due to people not getting there on time as opposed to a lack of organisation. So warm up time was limited to about ten minutes before my off. I rode easy, with steady increase and threw in a few harder efforts. I arrived at the line warm and breathing heavier but not out of breath. Perhaps I should have split my warm up and instead of hanging around got out.

The weather was wet, windy and cold

Fuelling had a pasta & Veg lunch a banana in the PM, dried fruit and an energy bar on the way to event , lots of water, a hi 5 zero tablet in a pint of water prior to departing home and I another hi 5 zero in my water bottle which I took with me sipped on the way there prior to race and and finished off at the end.

I am 40, around the right weight at just under 12st and have cycling about 2.50 years but have done only slow steady stuff previously. Have been off the bike from Mid Jan to mid march for so have not had much to pre train either.
 

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
You need about 30 minutes warm up.
 

VamP

Banned
Location
Cambs
Having read your write up, I suspect your pacing was wrong too. Which is normal for a first TT. Start out a little more gently, and build up to your threshold pace over the first mile or so. Threshold pace is defined as the pace you can consistently sustain for the duration of the TT. It will take you some time to gain the experience to know what pace this is, and getting this right will make more difference to your early time improvements than anything else. Thereafter concentrate on your aero position, and obviously improving your power in the long term.

Events like this I would arrive a little early if possible, do a 30 minute warm up before signing on, then another shorter one leading up to the start. Make sure you don't get cold at any point! Experiment with your warm up duration and structure, everyone does it a little differently - make a note in your training diary of what worked and what didn't. Over time you will develop a regime that's perfectly suited to you.

Enjoy! :thumbsup:
 
OP
OP
N

Nosaj

Well-Known Member
Location
Rayleigh
Many thanks for the feedback yes pacing was off. I realised this and eased off a bit at the start. I did find it extremely hard to maintain a steady pace. It is a more or less a flat course with only circa 30m of ascent overall but I saw my speeds vary from around 16.5 upwards gradient to a max recorded of 26.5. I guess that is where more experience will come in

I know I under done the warm up it takes a good 5-6 miles of steady riding before I get in the groove so to speak. Time wise i'm a bit stymied as I have permission to leave work an hour earlier during the season but I will only be able to get the start circa 6.10-6.15pm and that is subject to trains and traffic behaving themselves!

Will make the best of the time available
 

VamP

Banned
Location
Cambs
Everyone gets their pacing wrong to begin with :smile:

In my first TT, I had recurring punctures ahead of the start (piece of glass in tyrewall I just couln't dig out) so I had no warm up at all, and finally rode the race on a borrowed rear wheel with shimano 9 speed cassette. My bike has 10 speed Campag :biggrin:

Also I had never been to Richmond Park before (and had not realised quite how undulating it was) so my pacing was atrocious.

Needless to say I had not set the cycling world on fire that day :laugh:
 
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