Where can one do 2x20 in Sydney?

sogood

Yes, that's the problem with training in Sydney and the reason for the question. Up to this point for me, Centennial Park seemed to be the safest place for this kind of training. As you and others have suggested, I will check out Olympic Park and the loop there and see how it works out. M7 is just too far from where I am.

Thanks all.

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Morphed Bianchi Camaleonte IV 2006, Ridley Damocles 2006, Garmin, Mac

sogood

Good that we've established you are not some form of apparition from the past. Now you can go and read up on the latest cycle training technique.

As for your 13.3km of 2x20... Well, sounds like 2x20 can really benefit you.

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Morphed Bianchi Camaleonte IV 2006, Ridley Damocles 2006, Garmin, Mac

531Aussie

I can't believe no-one's done the "Syd vs Melb" crap

You're obviously in the wrong city:

Beach Rd: 12km between Mordialloc and Bay Rd, Sandringham, with only a few pedestrian crossings in between

Then, going inbound, the next five sets of lights are T-intersections, so if you get all greens, there's another 4km before the crap starts in Brighton.

But seriously, are there any long climbs around there?

sideshow_bob

For what it's worth, I gave up tyring to do these out on the road. Just in the too hard basket, between interupted sections of road, uninterupted sections with crap in the cycle lane and punctures right as you are starting to burn.

I use my trainer exclusively these days for interval work (either low reps @30min or high reps at 4min). Very very boring, but you can perfectly control the workout (including ensuring your HR is at around LT if you train using that tool) and also at times ride close to exhaustion, which I don't think is especially safe out on the road.

--brett

matagi

I'll confess my knowledge of Sydney roads is fairly limited, but what about Captain Cook Drive down at Taren Point? Any Sutherland locals care to comment? I reckon it would be pretty quiet on the weekends. Not sure how long it is, though.

Otherwise, head towards the Central Coast, take the Calga exit to Peats Ridge and ride Peats Ridge Rd - bugger all traffic, reasonable surface and has a shoulder (interrupted in a few spots, but almost continuous)

The section between the Calga exit and the Somersby exit is around 25-30km, the first 12 km has a few small hills, otherwise relatively flat.

sogood

Correct, exactly my concern with doing these out on regular roads. Cycling is fun and the training is good for health. But like most, I also have a family to be responsible for. Hence Centennial Park, the round loop (approx 4km) is excellent where one can safely ride non-stop.

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Morphed Bianchi Camaleonte IV 2006, Ridley Damocles 2006, Garmin, Mac

sogood

Thanks Matagi for the suggestion. Captain Cook Dr around Kurnell may be an option and I should check it out. As for Peats Ridge Rd, unfortunately it would be too far for me to make it a weekly activity.

I guess it's a case of accepting what's available in our neighbourhood.

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Morphed Bianchi Camaleonte IV 2006, Ridley Damocles 2006, Garmin, Mac

sogood

As I suspected, you are from the PAST!

Andrew Coggan who also frequent here on cyclingforums.com has written books and articles on this exact subject for quite a while now. 2x20 and other interval training schemes is hardly "new revolutionary".

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Morphed Bianchi Camaleonte IV 2006, Ridley Damocles 2006, Garmin, Mac

robalert

I just did the classic hillclimb.... Bobbin Head on the weekend, exhausted the hell out of me

Plenty of interval work around Hornsby area... Bobbin Head, Brooklyn Bridge Old Pac Hwy, Galston Gorge, Berowra Ferry

I suppose that only works if you live in the North West

I see plenty of people doing the M4 Penrith to Glenbrook climb

Honestly, if you want to go that fast, then just hit the road... why ride around a park?

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Rob

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sogood

But you are talking about hill repeats/intervals. Not quite the same as flat land interval AFAIK. On early weekend mornings, there are a lot of cyclists training in Centennial Park. They/we are there for a good reason I think.

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Morphed Bianchi Camaleonte IV 2006, Ridley Damocles 2006, Garmin, Mac

sideshow_bob

yes and no. at a high level intervals are intervals. you stress your body for a defined period of time and then let it recover for a set period of time, rinse and repeat.

whether that is on a hill, or on the flat is a bit irrelevant from a pure fitness point of view. however, it's generally easier (for me anyway) to be able to do that on a hill, as opposed to putting my head down and time trialling at say 40+km/h for 30 minutes at a stretch. by the same token, there are no hills around sydney that i can think of that you can do 20 minutes on, let alone 30 minutes. bit different if you are talking about 3-5 minute intervals.

the suggestion for captain cook drive out to kurnell is good. it's a decent, quite and relatively clean stretch of road. if you were really keen you could roll with the LACC bunches on Tue/Thu mornings at 6am around Homebush. Not really intervals, but a good simulation of racing conditions that will give you approximately the same outcome. Personally 6am in the cold and dark ... I'm still asleep in bed and nice and warm.

--brett

531Aussie

ah, come on!! That was gold!!! Some of my best work

j.r.hawkins

Is Camperdown Velodrome still operating?