What sort of times and training should I aim for?

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G'day guys, I've posted a few threads here lately regarding my start in track cycling and thank those who helped. I've had a couple of serious training sessions now and absolutely love it. Anyone reading and thinking about getting into the track I say just go fot it.

I'm now wondering what sort of times I should be looking for so I can identify my strengths and train for the appropriate events. Unfortunately I don't have much to go on so far and most of the results I've been able to find on the net have been for elite riders. Most of the guys at training are at a pretty high level so it's difficult to judge what I "should" aim for based on their performance. I just try as hard as I can and hope for the best

I'm 43 years old (male) so race in Australia as MMAS3. Unfortunately I don't have any flying 200m times but a few standing 250m, the best has been 21:92. I feel I'm better at the shorter efforts but tried a flying 500m and blew up spectacularly on the second lap (I was introduced into a whole new world of pain I never knew on the road. Thanks guys!) That time was a pretty miserable (the mind was willing, but the body...) 17:86/20:10. I've been asked when I will start racing but don't want to go out until I can at least compete and not just circulate.

For somebody of my vintage, racing, say C grade, what sort of times should I be looking at for flying 200m, standing 250m, flying 500m etc? I guess part 2 of the question is what sort of training would be best to improve my performance?

Thanks again for the help.

sideshow_bob

sorry i can't really answer your question regarding times.

but you are in about the same boat as me. after years of road racing, i took a plunge on the track this year. i've raced quite a during this season, and ultimately i've figured out my own strengths and weaknesses not only from the results of races but also how those races have finished.

for example i do well in more endurance style events, eliminations, point scores and scratch races. i'm about in the middle in pursuits and wheelraces and poor in short sprint style events.

ultimately for me i'm using it to improve my road racing, so i'm working on elements within that as far as training goes.

i suspect that you know where your strengths are starting to lean towards. you have the choice i guess of focussing on those strengths in order to compete at a higher level on the track, or focus on your weaknesses if like me you are maybe using the track for road training.

fwiw i'm in sydney as well maybe i'll bump into you at an event.

--brett