Help me select a new coach.
It's not as bad as it sounds, really.
I'm choosing to forego triathlon next year in favor of qualifying for, then participating in Paris-Brest-Paris, a 761 mile brevet held in late August. I rolled the January OS this past winter, successfully completing the Beginner's plan. Although I never rode more that 65 miles all winter I did then complete a full series of brevets: 200k, 300k, 400, 600k, then added a 1000k like a cherry on top! As an aside, I came in 5th in the 300, 2nd in the 400, and 4th in the 600. Not bad for an old, low-powered guy.
Once I figured out that I wouldn't be racing IM this year I gave up running, a move that paid immediate dividends on the bike. I'd like to continue on training the EN way, albeit with a singular focus on cycling long distance. So I'm looking for a coach; I did post this question over on the macro thread, but it must have stumped the chumps.
Any ideas? Suggestions? The one guy that keeps popping up in the rando world is John Hughes, an accomplished ultra-cyclist; unfortunately he seems to espouse the classic base/build/race format.
Maybe just kludge the OS to my needs? I will roll a 200k brevet every month during this upcoming winter; gotta shoot for that R12 award!
Comments
You may know this, but I'd suggest reaching out to Ed Pavelka of Roadbikerider.com. He has ridden in PBP a number of times and knows a ton of people in cycling. Could probably give you a few good suggestions.
Sounds pretty easy to me. Do the regular Tuesday bike and maybe add an extra 30' at 85% instead of the brick run. Then on Wednesday, just do the same bike again minus the extra 30'. Do the Thursday bike per the plan. Add 30' at 85% to the Saturday bike to make up for the lack of brick run, then repeat the Thursday bike on Sunday. Seems like fun except when you find yourself doing 5 days worth of 30/30s per week!
Come on, just try it and let us know how it goes!
your 2nd, 4th, and 5th place finishes tell me you've got a pretty good coach now
Not sure what advice you need. You know what it feels like to sit on the bike for days on end. Raise the right, fill the left, rinse and repeat.
After that, I don't have any suggestions.
As far as those high brevet placings go, I made all kinds of mistakes but I slow down less than the rest of the field. Most everyone is strong through 200 miles, then real attrition begins. This is where power-based riding is key; not making stupid pacing f-ups early on. Another place I've excelled is at controls; I'm quick in and out, just like speedy transitions in triathlon, lots of time to be gained. But I digress...
As far as The Time Crunched Cyclist goes: I'm not that time-crunched. Those workouts are like EN on steroids; waaaay over the top for me.
@Nemo: this year's efforts simply pre-qualified me for PBP; I'll still need to ride a full series early next year (before 6/20/11). And you thought the early IM sign-up was a difficulty...
As for your local cycling coach, I'm finding that most of them are in that same camp.