Insight to Cycling-Inform's really hard cycling training sessions

Over the last 12 weeks a dedicated bunch of Cycling-Inform coached riders have been attending a weekly training session; partly as a gauge on their fitness level and to get in a hard session at race pace.

It all starts the night before, when Brendan sends out the text message confirming its on. The meeting time is the same every week, and there’s no waiting  - if you’re 1 minute late – you’ve missed the bunch. For me it’s a 45 min warm-up to ride down to meet the bunch at Mordialloc, and then its ON for the next 22kms! It’s a training session that really extends you into that zone you only really reach in a race.

As we get around the Mordialloc roundabout and head down Beach Rd, its a matter of hitting the start-timer, getting out of the saddle and quickly accelerate up to speed.

With riders on different programs and objectives, initially the purpose is to sit on and survive as long as possible. Then as they improve, the aim is to join the working group for a certain section of the ride. (And hang on for the rest!) And we’ve seen progression through to joining the working group the whole way. Regulars like Harry, Lloyd, Chris, Simon, David, Jodie (occasionally!) and visiting Cycling-Inform coached riders like Myra from Tassie. Have a bad day and you’ll know it.

There are some mornings after a hard Tuesday night race or a big volume week where I have trouble getting my mind around another hard effort – you know the feeling when your legs are heavy, and they don’t want to spin. But you head down to meet the others because you said you would. Do a couple of stretches while waiting and then before you know it the group arrives. Brendan hits the gas out of the roundabout and you’re pushing the big gears again for another morning’s hit-out!

And... there are other mornings when the training’s going great, you’re in the groove, and just tapping out the pace. The other riders are strung out behind you, as you come into the last long straight along The Esplanade. Crank up a bit more speed and then Ka-chunk down a gear. Time to pull off, but instead get that gear wound up and then Ka-chunk down another. Legs are burning, lungs are heaving but keep the gas on over the slight rise and into the finish straight.  Swing off and get out of the saddle because you know its going to be really hard to get back onto that last wheel as the freight train goes past. Somehow you latch on as everyone is now going all out for the imaginary finish line, and hit the timer to see if we got a new record this time.

Warm down 15 mins to the coffee shop for a well earned coffee or hot chocolate, quick chat to the guys, and its off to work, having done another very high quality workout.

See you on the road!
Cheers,
Danny