UPDATE 2 months gone

[ColinJ]

Doesn't follow that your core is weak though - it might be a function of your position, bike fit or something completely unrelated.

Actually, one factor is possibly the fact that my left leg is significantly shorter than my right leg. When I used Look pedals I used to shim the left cleat to compensate and that did seem to help. These days I use mountain bike SPD pedals and shimming those is not so straightforward.


Got sidetracked again ... Hopefully, jamma will find enough time to train hard enough to enjoy his racing next year!

 

[Dirtyhanz]

Jamma let me give you some advice to race Crits you need speed and endurance that will only come from hours of training everyday at a high intensity now I am old and a bit knackerd so I can not do it anymore but what you need to be doing is an hour and half in the morning at a good level aim for about 25 miles do as quick as you can then in the evening spend another two hours at a good level try and find some good hills and bury your self on them aim to pick up good strength in your legs and the speed will come what your looking at for a good amateur rider is about 3 to 4 hours a day every day and it's not just about getting fitter and quicker you need to build a relationship with your bike you need to understand how it handles and that just takes time in the saddle anyway best of luck just remember cycling is hard at the best of times but racing well that's just another level best of luck with your training and enjoy it I am very jealous wish I could say I was training to race again all the best

 

[Dirtyhanz]

Also have a go on a fixed wheel great for learning bike handling skills or try your hand on the track do you live anywhere near a velodrome great for winter training

 

[winjim]

Doesn't @jamma have a coach now? In which case shouldn't he stick to the training plan he's been given rather than listen to some random opinions on the internet?

Keep at it @jamma, I hope you prove all the doubters wrong.

 

[S-Express]

Jamma let me give you some advice to race Crits you need speed and endurance that will only come from hours of training everyday at a high intensity now I am old and a bit knackerd so I can not do it anymore but what you need to be doing is an hour and half in the morning at a good level aim for about 25 miles do as quick as you can then in the evening spend another two hours at a good level try and find some good hills and bury your self on them aim to pick up good strength in your legs and the speed will come what your looking at for a good amateur rider is about 3 to 4 hours a day every day

Smashing yourself for four hours a day is simply not sustainable or advisable - in fact it's absurd. I would ignore this.

 

[JoshM]

Doesn't @jamma have a coach now? In which case shouldn't he stick to the training plan he's been given rather than listen to some random opinions on the internet?

Keep at it @jamma, I hope you prove all the doubters wrong.

Indeed. Assuming the coach is qualified I'd be listening to him, rather thsn this lot.

Keep at it @jamma that's a decent increase from your previous levels ofactivity if i remember correctly. Keep it steady and consistent and you'll stay uninjured and constantly moving in the right direction. Good luck

 

[Shortandcrisp]

I swim 12 to 14k a week, but although I engage the core I am sure it is not as beneficial as the other core work I do.

Now kayaking done properly really does give the core a workout.

Suffered a spinal injury in April. core went to pot.
Rehab includes (listed in order of how hard they are for me with the hardest activity first):

1. Swimming
2. Running
3. Weights and other core stuff
4. Walking
5. Cycling

7 months on from bruising the spinal cord through my neck, I won a press up competition at the end of a gym core session run by our local cycling club with 68 press ups in a minute. P*ssed off some other club members.
Can do some pull ups, the plank and so on reasonably comfortably.

Swimming however, is a different kettle of fish! My core is still so weak I have great difficulty holding myself horizontal in the water and my legs sink to the bottom. Couldn't swim 2 metres when a first tried after my accident and, even now, it's a real struggle to manage one length of the pool. I'm still aerobically fit but this effort leaves me gasping for breath!
So I stand by my original proposition.

Edit. I've yet to try Kajaking!

 

[Shortandcrisp]

If your goal is to achieve the 'ultimate core' - then crack on. If, however, your goal is to get good on a bike, then simply riding a bike will give all the muscles involved in riding a bike the perfect workout.

This is also true, but cycling does very little for core strength. It's probably beneficial to engage in some other activities that help to improve and maintain core strength, especially for those of us who can remember Dr Who the first time around!

 

[screenman]

Swimming is far more about technique than many realise, Most very fit cyclist could not swim 50 yards without getting out of breath, like you I have had back injuries one taking 17 years to get pain free from.

Push the trunk down and the legs will come up, even swimming with the core totally relaxed that will help hugely. The other one is the pull bouy which is a great piece of kit, when my back is painful I will use this along with keeping the knee's slightly bent to releive pain.

As for feet sinking, there is no way I can lay flat on the surface, my bouyancy is such when tested I go under even with a lung full of air.

I should add my swimming is not fast my average is only about 1min 50sec for a 100 and 30 minutes for the mile.

 

[Shortandcrisp]

Swimming is far more about technique than many realise, Most very fit cyclist could not swim 50 yards without getting out of breath, like you I have had back injuries one taking 17 years to get pain free from.

Push the trunk down and the legs will come up, even swimming with the core totally relaxed that will help hugely. The other one is the pull bouy which is a great piece of kit, when my back is painful I will use this along with keeping the knee's slightly bent to releive pain.

As for feet sinking, there is no way I can lay flat on the surface, my bouyancy is such when tested I go under even with a lung full of air.

I should add my swimming is not fast my average is only about 1min 50sec for a 100 and 30 minutes for the mile.

Thanks Screenman, I'll give this a try!

 

[screenman]

Thanks Screenman, I'll give this a try!

Off topic I know, check out Swim Smooth.

 

[S-Express]

This is also true, but cycling does very little for core strength.

Cycling does as much for your core strength as is required for cycling. Whether you wish to do more for other reasons is entirely up to you. This thread is about cycling though.

 

[Bollo]

Jamma let me give you some advice to race Crits you need speed and endurance that will only come from hours of training everyday at a high intensity now I am old and a bit knackerd so I can not do it anymore but what you need to be doing is an hour and half in the morning at a good level aim for about 25 miles do as quick as you can then in the evening spend another two hours at a good level try and find some good hills and bury your self on them aim to pick up good strength in your legs and the speed will come what your looking at for a good amateur rider is about 3 to 4 hours a day every day and it's not just about getting fitter and quicker you need to build a relationship with your bike you need to understand how it handles and that just takes time in the saddle anyway best of luck just remember cycling is hard at the best of times but racing well that's just another level best of luck with your training and enjoy it I am very jealous wish I could say I was training to race again all the best

I disagree with this ....errr.... sentence?

 

[TissoT]

Also have a go on a fixed wheel great for learning bike handling skills or try your hand on the track do you live anywhere near a velodrome great for winter training

Oh so true .Track cycling is good for cadence tranning through out the winter months .. and it will also sharpen up your bike handling skills group riding at speed etc

 

[Dirk]

......Track cycling is good for cadence tanning through out the winter months ......

Is that done under a UV strobe ?