|   How beneficial are TRAINING PARTNERS anyway?????????? | Kaparzo
Jan 6, 2004 3:28 PM | | I live in Sudbury, MA and have zero, zilch, no training partners to speak of. One reason is because few people bike and the other is because the people who do are either dirt jumpers, trailists, or posers that run track and like to call themselves bikers. I was wondering if there was a real significance to having training partners and if not having any is harmful to my training. |
| re: How beneficial are TRAINING PARTNERS anyway?????????? | refuel
Jan 6, 2004 5:41 PM | | You don't NEED training partners, but sometimes they are nice to have around. For things like intervals/other trainer workouts, weights, X-training etc you don't need someone else around. For longer rides - either road or mtb, it is nice though. When you're not feeling great, they'll hammer and keep you going, and then vice versa.
Another idea would be to do weights in the morning and then ride with slower riders on trails that evening. Evens things out.
Are there local (fast) roadies you can ride/race with? Or can you drive an hour to meet others for epic rides on weekends? That works too. Good luck. |
| Group rides | GlazedHam
Jan 7, 2004 7:09 AM | | Most hard core XC racer have their own agendas, so it is difficult to agree on what aspect of fitness to train during any period of time. If you are beginner/sport, this may not matter because any riding will improve your fitness.
I prefer group rides. For instance, the local, unsanctioned criterium and the Saturday morning road ride. "There is safety [from cars] in numbers." Maybe you could hookup with the closest group on occasion if for no other reason than to break up the monotony. |
| training partners=good | rpi
Jan 7, 2004 7:53 AM | | training partners can help you fulfill your plans- accountability. if you have to tell someone you're not meeting them for the ride, versus just skipping it and not having anyone know, you're more likely to do the ride.
also no doubt I will work harder and longer at my intervals with a partner of similar or greater ability or fitness. |
| re: How beneficial are TRAINING PARTNERS anyway?????????? | revworksX
Jan 7, 2004 11:18 AM | | Training partners (I find) are only good for a few things.
1) some motivation to train.
2) some company on nite rides.
3) some insight into others habits, styles and trail knowledge.
but thats about all training partners do for me. Training partners often either slow me down on the trail, add 30 minutes to total ride time or waste my time waiting around because our schedules are so different.
For example they can only meet at 6:30 and I get off work at 5.
Or we meet at 6:30 and they are not ready to roll until 6:45 or later.
Train by yourself but mentally dig deep for incredible motivation.
I have a friend who lives a few hundred miles away from me who niterides PA backcountry 5 nites a week SOLO!
the incredible inspiration made me ride solo at nite as well.
That was 2 years ago this started.
Also I find that solo workouts I can get done quicker and more efficiently.
Why would I want to drag a friend along to the gym with me when we would just waste time talking and BS'ing.
My advice is just do it alone but you must summon incredible will and drive from within.
reading posts on the net sometimes inspires me to train and ride.
there are guys out there who ride 30 mile nite rides alone daily.
you can do it too.
come back in Spring a CRUSHER! |
| Training Partners??? We don't neen no stinking training partners | Tryin2B
Jan 7, 2004 11:28 AM | | I have found that other peoples fitness, agenda, abilities, time schedule, desire to work rarely meet with mine.
Like others have said, why have someone to wait on, BS with, etc, when you can just go get your scheduled work done and get it over with. When I was going to the Y for lifting, I was in and out and home in less than hour. No BS, no waiting. Much more efficient.
I train mostly in my garage, on my 1UP trainer. Most of the reasons have to do with family and time considerations. This week alone I have over 5 hours of riding (over 70 miles) including high intensity intervals. If I had to add upto 3o minutes of travel time each way plus waiting on someone else AND fit it into what my family needs, I wouldn't be able to train for racing. I would be a casual rider at best.
I save group rides (road or dirt) for when I just need a breath of fresh air and/or want to socialize with no riding agenda.
Just my $.02 on what works for me. 41 with a wife, 4 kids, etc.
Tryin2B |
| sometimes yes, sometimes no... | shawndoggy
Jan 7, 2004 2:12 PM | | Ask yourself this question: Are you faster timetrialing out by yourself or racing with others? For just about everybody it's racing with others. Why? There's motivation in racing with others. Same goes for training. For doing long rides or hard interval sessions, nothing beats doing it with others.
When is having a partner not good? If you are trying to do a specific workout and your partner isn't on the same page, then you are probably better off doing your own thing. If your partner is into the same specific workout though, you've got a net gain, not drawback.
But I disagree with the "training partners are bad" mentality overall. You need to find the right group to ride with, but once you do, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
T2B, you are the man, doing this with 4 kids. I've got two and sometimes they're too much to handle. But I'll betcha there's someone out there who'd be willing to come ride trainers with you in your garage. That'd certainly help on those days when you just don't feel like doing it. |
| A good disciplined training partner is the best thing | Trevor!
Jan 7, 2004 7:51 PM | | I have to say I am lucky I guess. My first ever mountain bike group ride included somebody who was and still is ranked in the top 20 in the world of elite racers. I learnt alot from ride, and till this day with the same group and similar roadie groups have given me great opportunities to learn what needs to be learned.
I have a training partner, and find him to be an invaluable asset. When we need to go hard we have each other to push and when its to be easy you can have somebody to watch you to ensure you don't go over the top with training.
Again, if they are disciplined and skilled and have an idea about training then yep a partner is an invaluable asset. |
| They're important to me... | aosty
Jan 10, 2004 10:38 PM | | Training partners are important to me... especially someone faster/stronger...
- Motivation.
- Someone to try to keep up with.
- Someone to beat to the top of climbs.
- Someone to whoop your ass! |
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