Women cyclists all have one common dilemma: we participate in a sport that men dominate.
We usually don’t have to worry about race days because a group of us gathered to compete (although I have been to races where they grouped the women with the men because there weren’t enough female racers to constitute a race).
However, training days are another story.
How To Get The Most Out Of Training With Men
Unless each of us female racers gets 10 of our closest friends on bikes and is interested in cycling, we’re going to have to get used to training and riding with the guys and learn to make the most out of it.
#1 Men are stronger than women, usually. Use this to your advantage.
Yes, there are men out there that I can ride off my wheel, but there’s no competition when it comes to pitting me, a Category 2 female, against a Category 2 male racer. I’m lucky if I can stay on his wheel.
I have spent many training hours working hard to stay with three of my male training buddies.
Each of these guys has raced professionally at some point in their careers and is anything but slow. So an “easy” ride for them will find me in high Zone 3, and that’s all right by me.
Riding with the guys has greatly improved my endurance and ability to keep on their wheels.
- Ride with men even if they’re faster.
- Push yourself to stay on their wheels.
- Make a goal for every training ride to not get dropped.
Having the mindset and the strength to “hang with anyone” has crossed over nicely regarding race day in the women’s peloton. I have found that I’m stronger than many of my competitors, and I’m able to reel back breakaways or confidently take a break of my own.
I know it’s a combination of actually being stronger because I’ve been training with stronger people, and it has the mental toughness to not back down from a challenge.
#2 Make the most of race day: race more than one race.
This suggestion depends on your rapport with the race officials but can usually work at smaller races.
Not every race is a world championship, nor should it be treated that way. We all have races on our calendars that we compete in but consider them more of a training race than something we’ll put on our racing resumés.
A women’s criterium race will often be 30 minutes plus three laps, or a women’s circuit road race will be short, say 40 miles.
Why not race in another field in addition to the women’s race?
Yes, it is more riding with men, but it will give you a chance to ride extremely hard and improve your riding skills.
- Ride in a lower category men’s race or a junior men’s race.
- Bow out of the sprint points or finish lap, but stay in for the duration of the race.
- Hone your skills for riding in a bunch.
I wouldn’t be in the way when it came to the finish, but I would mix it up in the field and be part of the field when it surged. Doing this taught me a lot about what to expect for my first professional women’s road stage race.
#3 Buy the best women’s cycling shorts money can buy. And buy five pairs.
This may sound like a novice tip, but it’s worth repeating again and again. A lot is riding on your nether regions. An uncomfortable seam can take you off the bike for a week by way of a painful saddle sore. Untreated saddle sores can become infected, lead to vaginitis or bacterial vaginitis, and even more time off the bike.
After you’ve found the most comfortable bike shorts available (keep in mind they could be men’s shorts…my current favorite chamois are a men’s cut), buy several pairs. I always say five because I only ride six days a week, and by the time I’m onto day six, I’ve already done laundry.
Chamois time is NOT ride time.
In other words, being in your shorts for extra time post-ride doesn’t add to your training time.
As soon as you can, get out of your shorts. Sweaty, wet, warm cycling shorts are a breeding ground for bacteria. After a ride, wash as soon as possible and choose a pair of underpants (or none at all) that are moisture-wicking.
Good ventilation is critical after a ride. It gives your skin a chance to dry out and prevent the festering of any friction-related issues that may be developing.
Finally, don’t be intimidated when riding with the guys; they’re secretly stoked you’re there.
Cycling men are an interesting bunch. Even the guys who seem less than thrilled to see you hanging onto the peloton are probably impressed that you accepted the challenge to ride with them.
After a while, the guys will start to encourage you. I’ve ridden with many men and one man I remember particularly well as one who’d always find himself next to me on a tough climb and would practically cheer for me, saying “C’mon, Cece! Up-up!” as we pushed our way through the field.
Making little goals during the ride will encourage you to stay with the guys even when the pace is blistering. I used not to allow myself to be last up a climb. I also would force myself to contest every sprint, even if there was not even the slightest chance of me coming out ahead of the pack. The men appreciated my efforts, and the hard work paid dividends.
We’re all on a quest to be the best on every ride with the men. And, I believe, training at levels much higher than your personal best will ultimately make you a much better rider.
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