
Westport Covey Wheelers – Sunday Spin Schedule – Oct to Dec 2016 – All Groups
The club will be introducing pre-defined routes, distances and efforts for winter training between October and December with the intention to make them more organised, set out some rules and basic things that everyone should know, or learn. Group spins are arranged with the intention of the group starting and finishing as a group.
Groups will be divided at the clock, the route MAY need to be changed if the weather conditions insist.
Unofficial group leaders will be assigned and riders are asked to respect those who will take on this role. The role of the leader(s) will be to keep the group together and keep an eye on average speed for that group.
Its not intended to restrict anyone to either group but just based on mileage required for racing next year. The two plans overlap as much as possible… so both groups may be heading the same direction initially which allows anyone to drop back if they need to.
The distances increase gradually, there’s a mix of hilly and flatter spins, supposed to be every second week, with different finishing directions as much as possible too.
Westport Covey Wheelers – Sunday Spin Schedule – Oct to Dec 2016
A1/A2/A3 – Senior Racing Group
Date | Route | Distance |
Oct 15/16 | Sat 1pm: Skate Park to Clifden via Doolough (with option of extra 10k Sky Road Loop) | 86k |
Sunday: Clifden – Westport | 65k | |
Oct 23 | Louisburg – Killeen – Doolough – Aasleagh – Aughagower – Mace – Westport | 90k |
Oct 30 | Leenane – Aile Dubh – Tourmakeady – Lally’s – Coilleach – Lankhill X – Westport | 99k |
Nov 06 | Newport – Keenagh – Lahardaun – Windy Gap – Castlebar – Newport – Westport | 109k |
Nov 13 | Sheefrey – Leenane – Aile Dubh – Lally’s – Coilleach – Liscarney – Westport | 115k |
Nov 20 | Srah (2nd Turn) – Tourmakeady – Finny – Clockbrack – Cornamona – Leenane – Westport | 118k |
Nov 27 | Ballinrobe – Claremorris – Ballyglass – Castlebar GC – Partry – Westport | 120k |
Dec 04 | Currane Loop – Atlantic Loop Achill – Westport | 124k |
Dec 11 | Lankhill – Lally’s – Leenane – Killeen – Louisburg – Harpers – Maum – Drummin – Westport | 127k |
Dec 18 | Ballinrobe – Cong – Clonbur – Maum – Leenane – Doolough – Louisburg – Westport | 132k |
Des 25 | Christmas Day | 0k |
A4/Club/Tri – Intermediate Racing Group
Date | Route | Distance |
Oct 15/16 | Sat 1pm: Skate Park to Clifden (with option of extra 10k Sky Road Loop) | 65k |
Sunday: Clifden – Westport | 65k | |
Oct 23 | Louisburg – Killeen – Doolough – Aasleagh – Westport | 76k |
Oct 30 | Louisburg – Silver Strand – Killeen – Cregganbaun – Louisburg – Westport | 80k |
Nov 06 | Newport – Kennagh – Glenisland – Newport – Westport | 87k |
Nov 13 | Ballinrobe – Ballyglass – Castlebar GC – Ballintober – Killavalla – Westport | 88k |
Nov 20 | Louisburg – Killeen – Doolough – Aasleagh – Aughagower – Mace – Westport | 90k |
Nov 27 | Srah – Maamtransa – Leenane – Westport | 90k |
Dec 04 | Currane Loop | 91k |
Dec 11 | Leenane – Aile Dubh – Lally’s – Coilleach – Lankhill – Westport | 99k |
Dec 18 | Ballinrobe – Claremorris – Ballyglass – Castlebar GC – Ballyhean – Westport | 104k |
Des 25 | Christmas Day | 0k |
Leisure Group – Average Speed 22-26 KMPH
Date | Route | Distance |
Oct 15 & 16 | Sat 1pm: Skate Park to Clifden (with option of extra 15k Sky Road Loop) | 65k |
Sun 9am: Clifden – Westport | 65k | |
Oct 23 | Route (11) Westport – Newport – Ballintober – Ayle – Westport | 60.5k |
Oct 30 | Route (9) Westport- Louisburgh – Killeen – Westport | 62.5k |
Nov 06 | Route (1) Westport – Cordarragh – Killavally – Westport | 41.5k |
Nov 13 | Route (6) Westport – Newport – Glenhest – Glenisland – Westport | 54.2k |
Nov 20 | Route (3) Westport – Drummin – Kilsallagh – Westport | 43.4k |
Nov 27 | Route (10) Westport – Lecanvey – Hapers hill – Louisburgh – Westport | 44.8k |
Dec 04 | Route (7) Westport – Louisburgh – Aasleagh – Westport | 76.44k |
Dec 11 | Route (4) Westport – Party – Ballintober loop – Westport | 45.5k |
Dec 18 | Route (8) Westport – Drummin – Louisburgh – Westport | 53.26k |
Des 25 | Christmas Day | 0k |
Notes:
- These are suggested routes… weather conditions and wind direction may necessitate changes
- Rear Mudguard & Light are mandatory (for safety and the comfort of your clubmates)
- Have your bike in good working order with decent winter tyres… and bring spare tubes, tyres levers & a pump
- Bring sufficient water and food for the duration… eat and drink early, little & often
- Club spins leave the clock at 9am sharp… arrive early and have a chat!
- Ride safely, calmly call and point out obstacles and don’t forget to always keep improving your bike skills… see 8 essential bike handling skills – and also ask questions of experienced riders, they should be very willing to help
- Groups of approx. 8 recommended (11 max – as we’ll split 12 into two groups of 6, so that everyone gets more benefit)
- Early winter Sunday Club Spins are intended to be group endurance rides (base training)… done in zone 2 (to low zone 3) to improve aerobic endurance… so target approx. 70% Max Heart Rate average for the spin (or 80% of LTHR – see zone training explanations below) & let HR rise slowly on any long climbs, to a max of 85% MHR (95% of LTHR) – read: training in zones & cutting out junk miles
- Go in a group that allows you to train in the correct zone & spend shorter times on the front if you find yourself above it. These spins are not races, do your higher intensity work during the week. Club spinning on Wednesday evenings in Scoil Padraig is perfect for this!
- As a result of the above points, there should be no need for any stopping to re-group… if someone punctures they should inform the group, one rider should stop with them to help and the rest of the group should ride on for 5mins before turning to come back for them.
- Some short Neuromuscular Power efforts can be worked into the spin… i.e. one 10sec Big Gear Sprint from a standing start every 10mins of the 2nd hour, done by the last two riders dropping off the back of the group and catching back up without disrupting the group pace.
- There may be 1 or 2 short (< 1km) ‘town sign’ sprints called during a spin (to Louisburg sign from Doolough side or Newport sign from Mulranny side are ideal as they are generally on the way home and safe), but racing back to Westport is not recommended. These are group spins, arrive home together!
- Social coffee stop afterwards is very much encouraged.
Some Nice Background Reading!
Group Spin Considerations:
http://www.stickybottle.com/coaching/coaching-its-time-to-assess-your-weekend-group-rides-heres-why/
Heart Rate (and Power) Training Zones… there are many training zone models, here is an intro:
https://roadcyclinguk.com/how-to/six-things-need-know-training-zones.html
http://home.trainingpeaks.com/blog/article/joe-friel-s-quick-guide-to-setting-zones
http://home.trainingpeaks.com/blog/article/power-training-levels
Power Meters are certainly not essential or even needed by most, but having a HR monitor & knowing your zones is recommended.
Zone | Name | % Threshold HR | % Max HR | Average Power | Perceived Exertion | Description |
1 | Active Recovery | <68% (of LTHR – Lactate Threshold Heart Rate) | 50-60% | <55% (of FTP – Functional Threshold Power) | <2 (out of 10) | “Easy spinning” i.e., very low level exercise, too low in and of itself to induce significant physiological adaptations. Minimal sensation of leg effort/fatigue. Requires no concentration to maintain pace, and continuous conversation possible. Typically used for active recovery after strenuous training days (or races), between interval efforts, or for socializing. |
2 | Endurance | 69-83% | 60-70% | 56-75% | 2-3 | “All day” pace, or classic long slow distance (LSD) training. Sensation of leg effort/fatigue generally low, but may rise periodically to higher levels (e.g. when climbing). Concentration generally required to maintain effort only at highest end of range and/or during longer training sessions. Breathing is more regular than at level 1, but continuous conversation still possible. Frequent (daily) training sessions of moderate duration (e.g. 2hr) at level 2 possible but complete recovery from very long workouts may take more than 24hrs. |
3 | Tempo | 84-94% | 70-80% | 76-90% | 3-4 | Typical intensity of ‘spirited’ group ride, or briskly moving paceline. More frequent/greater sensation of leg effort/fatigue than at level 2. Requires concentration to maintain alone, especially at upper end of range, to prevent effort from falling back to level 2. Breathing deeper and more rhythmic than level 2, such that any conversation must be somewhat halting. Recovery from level 3 training sessions more difficult than after level 2 workouts, but consecutive days of level 3 training still possible if duration is not excessive. |
4 | Lactate Threshold | 95-105% (may not be achieved during initial phases of effort) | 80-90% | 91-105% | 4-5 | Just below to just above TT effort, taking into account duration, current fitness, environmental conditions, etc. Essentially continuous sensation of moderate or even greater leg effort/fatigue. Continuous conversation difficult at best, due to depth/frequency of breathing. Effort sufficiently high that sustained exercise at this level is mentally very taxing – therefore typically performed in training as multiple ‘repeats’ or ‘blocks’ of 10-30 min duration. Consecutive days of training at level 4 possible, but such workouts generally only performed when sufficiently rested/recovered from prior training. |
5 | VO2 Max | >106% | 90-100% | 106-120% | 6-7 | Typical intensity of longer (3-8 min) intervals intended to increase VO2max. Strong to severe sensations of leg effort/fatigue, such that completion of more than 30-40 min total training time is difficult at best. Conversation not possible due to often ‘ragged’ breathing. Should generally be attempted only when adequately recovered from prior training – consecutive days of level 5 work not necessarily desirable even if possible. Note: At this level, the average HR may be due to slowness of heart rate response |
6 | Anaerobic Capacity | N/A | N/A | >121% | >7 | Short (30s to 3 min), high intensity intervals designed to increase anaerobic capacity. Heart rate generally not useful as guide to intensity due to non-steady-state nature of effort. Severe sensation of leg effort/fatigue, and conversation impossible. Consecutive days of extended level 6 training usually not attempted. |
7 | Neuromuscular Power | N/A | N/A | N/A | Maximal | Very short, very high intensity efforts (e.g., jumps, standing starts, short sprints) that generally place greater stress on musculoskeletal rather than metabolic systems. Power useful as guide, but only in reference to prior similar efforts. |