Training this winter

I was reading somewhere that its much more beneficial to do short, intensive interval training; half hour sessions or so, than longer, less hard sessions. Even just 3 of these sessions a week are meant to increase your fitness massively.
The thing with the 20ks at the league, for me, wasnt the length, because they couldnt have lasted for more than 30 mins. It was the intensity. The lack of recovery time. People would get on the front and ramp up the speed then peel off. Short rest, then some other fucker would sprint off the front, and the rest would chase. Over and over again.
I reckon, and I am probably wrong, that the best training for that is intervals, with hardly any recovery. So continually having to sprint while still out of breath. That how it felt in the races. Then a final longer sprint towards the end when you already truly fucked already. Its enough to make me feel faint, and sick, and wobbly. Just like I did after the 20ks.
I also dont know how you can sit on a turbo for more than 45 mins. Id go insane.

ahh thats why I am using rollers. I hate turbos. But rollers are actually pretty enjoyable as it gives more of a cycling feeling.

There is so much advice out there and so much contrasting stuff, that I am going to stick to this one plan this year and see what happens. If it doesn't work for me then there is always next year to modify it and try something different. But believe me come the Spring it is mostly pure interval work.

I done a bit of interval stuff in the pool when I was away. 2 lengths flat out, then a 30 sec rest then repeat. I was almost vomiting by 10 laps. I can see how that will improve my fitness massively, but I am just concentrating solely on endurance for now.

I am missing HH though and seeing everyone all the time. I used to see you lot far more than my non-cycling friends

Aaah, yes - rollers. The thrill of balancing. One could never grow tired of that :p

I also dont know how you can sit on a turbo for more than 45 mins. Id go insane.

Still need to warm up and cool down properly, add this time to, say two 15min blocks of effort (intervals+rest or tempos) and you've easily got yourself 45-60 mins.

Fuck me, that sounds exciting. I might take a sickie and jump on the bastard now.

10 min warm up, 5 mins warm down. 15 mins of severe pain.
Ive never really seriously trained over winter specifically for racing next season, so I'll see if I'm better next year.
I'm missing HH more and more too. Although Im aware my memories are a bit rose tinted. For a start i know it wasnt all lovely warm summer evenings, but that s how I remember it.

Don't listen to the sceptics. I knew there was a reason I hadn't posted on here in a while ;)

Back to the exciting, challenging, rewarding rollers for me later then :)

10 min warm up, 5 mins warm down. 15 mins of severe pain.
Ive never really seriously trained over winter specifically for racing next season, so I'll see if I'm better next year.
I'm missing HH more and more too. Although Im aware my memories are a bit rose tinted. For a start i know it wasnt all lovely warm summer evenings, but that s how I remember it.

Warm summer evenings being being bitten to fuck by evil black flys with meat grinders for a mouth.

Warm summer evenings being being bitten to fuck by evil black flys with meat grinders for a mouth.

Yes, Particularly fond of Guys legs I recall. Little bastards came out as soon as the sun started to go down. Like Pitch Black!

An orange box van belonging to Whitten Timber has just driven past my office window on Euston Road.

I am choosing to interpret it as a good omen that augurs well for my training efforts not being in vain. Anyone else seeking inspiration from commercial vehicles?

Maybe it means you will turn into Jim Robertson!

One's enough.

Jesus Mike! Anything over an hour on the rollers, and either my balls or brain would explode.

Anyway, fear not, the track league will be spiced up quite a lot for next year. Any requests for events? I've already got scratch, points and devil - there are probably a few others I can't think of right now...

Can you scratch the devil?

He's got a pitchfork for that.

Ha!

I'm missing HH more and more too. Although Im aware my memories are a bit rose tinted. For a start i know it wasnt all lovely warm summer evenings, but that s how I remember it.

If you don't want to sit on your turbo / rollers for the next few months, numbing your nether regions / mind, the winter league has just started up at Hillingdon on Saturdays. Gets you out on the bike at least!

Wot, no fixies?

I like the idea of the Italian Pursuit, but I don't suppose team events happen at the HH league. And the Australian Pursuit.

There seems to be a theme developing :/

Team pursuit
Team sprint
Kilo

Devil take the foremost?

Infield 2 to 3 hour roller race - for mikec.

50m sprint - for gizmond.

Devil take the foreskin?

Racist

Took mine at the ripe old age of 14. That was a laugh, I can tell you :/