Stop and Go Stoplight Training
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kylie posted 9 weeks ago.
I try to find routes where I don't have that stop and go, although for some rides I just accept it.
I'm from Southern CA as well, and I find sometimes PCH isn't bad for lights on weekends, but then there are some stretches that are. Perhaps check out the other direction on it and see if you can find part with fewer lights. Another great ride is Santiago Canyon.
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GGehrke posted 9 weeks ago.
My only real thought on this is that I know a lot of times when I ride on really busy bike paths and I'm constantly slowing to a near stop and re-accelerating I get off the bike and my legs BURN. Though it's not training with specificity, anything that makes you hurt has got to be good training, right?
Watching my power meter, it's clear that starting from a stop, even without hammering at all, gets your wattage up pretty high, so it's not just my imagination.
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usasportstrain posted 9 weeks ago.
That is really tough. Have you checked with local triathlon/road biking clubs or bike shops about better areas to bike? I've surprised in the past when learning from others about 'hidden gems' in the area, when I thought I knew the area really well.
Otherwise, I suppose you could look at it as interval training. It would be nice if you could somehow prop yourself up and just spin.
http://www.usasportstraining.com - Triathlon Training Gear, DVDs, Books
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ryanweeg posted 9 weeks ago.
Thanks for the tips everyone. I mountain bike occasionally in the Santiago Canyon Area (although not anymore on certain trails after the fire this year), and that would be a good place to road train but I just hate driving that half hour to go ride a road, I guess I have to force myself if I want some longer periods of riding. And yeah, it is good interval training, i just want to mix it up a bit, PCH gets monotonous after a while.
"If one can stick to the training throughout many long years, that willpower is no longer a problem. It's Raining? That doesn't matter. I am tired? That's beside the point. It's simply just that I have to."
-Emil Zatopek
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GGehrke posted 9 weeks ago.
ryanweeg wrote:
PCH gets monotonous after a while.
I'm not familiar with the PCH in your neck of the woods, but I have to admit that I was a bit confused when you said it had stoplights and now that it's "monotonous."
This is what it looks like by me:
Unfortunately the road is too narrow and unsafe to ride :(
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Socket posted 9 weeks ago.
ryanweeg wrote:
that would be a good place to road train but I just hate driving that half hour to go ride a road
Maybe try riding there one day, then your not driving to ride? Or would that be a ride in and of itself?
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ryanweeg posted 9 weeks ago.
Well, first off, riding in Orange County is much much different than any riding on Highway 1 or PCH anywhere North of LA/Ventura area. I used to have riding like the photo you have but that was in Central California (and Highway 1 there actually had a nice wide shouldered bike line). I was in biker heaven there, atleast in college and just getting into cycling it was a revalation.
And yeah, riding out to Santiago would almost be a ride in itself (about 20 miles each way from my house) but it isnt out of the question for longer rides. That is what I had in mind on my longer sessions. I could do a 60 mile ride with 20 stop and go, 20 fairly steady, and then 20 stop and go...kind of like a 60 mile fartlek sort of work out yeah?
"If one can stick to the training throughout many long years, that willpower is no longer a problem. It's Raining? That doesn't matter. I am tired? That's beside the point. It's simply just that I have to."
-Emil Zatopek
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Raygir posted 9 weeks ago.
If you live in Orange county, why dont you head over to San Clemente, head south through Camp Pendleton to O-side or further, great ride few stop lights ,, bring photo ID for the base, couple of nice hills and plenty of straight road, I live in Oceanside and from my house to San Clemente, I ride maybe 4 miles of public road of a 55mile ride, I catch the bike path about 1 mile from my house to Oceanside harbor over to the base then up the coast.. on the base on weekends there more more bikes than cars... great ride on your TT bike or regular road bike,, although can catch some good head winds one way or the other, plenty of water available, bring your own repair supplies, check out San Diego Tri club website for better directions
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theShiba posted 9 weeks ago.
If you're already on PCH, you could head up the river trail... not much hills, but it goes a long way, and there's certainly not really interruptions to speak of. From PCH, you can probably go about 30 miles up the trail before you have to deal with any diversions or traffic lights.
"Every journey has a secret destination of which the traveler is unaware." —Martin Buber
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o2Ripper posted 9 weeks ago.
I'm not sure what part of Orange County you are in, but when I used to commute to visit my gf from SLO, Ca to Trabuco Canyon (which is near Rancho Santa Marg., and Mission V), I would ride Santiago Canyon Rd (aka S18). There is also a bike path near Portola Canyon that will take ya all the way to the ocean. I'd look into those.
-Branden
"Its an addiction"
So I'm pondering this lately on a run. My rides are typically on Pacific Coast Highway in the Orange County area and are very much Stop and Go with the stoplights. How much does this affect my riding when doing triathlon races. I also typically train with my dad, and we are both fairly avid cyclist's maintaining a pretty strong pace. We also do some centuries and longer training rides together.
When I trained in Central California in college I had open rolling roads and I think I was a stronger cyclist IN RACES then with even less training than what I am doing presently.
That being said, I rarely train alone and am worried the stop and go might affect alot, including tempo and overall mindset of going a straight 2.5 hour HIM ride. I want to know what people think or have experienced as far as the stop and go and training with partners and how that affects an all alone ride/race.
"If one can stick to the training throughout many long years, that willpower is no longer a problem. It's Raining? That doesn't matter. I am tired? That's beside the point. It's simply just that I have to."
-Emil Zatopek