Today's ride - odd experience. - Page 3

01-16-2005, 05:26 AM

On Sun, 16 Jan 2005 09:03:49 -0500, "Matt O'Toole" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>Great!
>
>Was there any difference in how you rode before the hill? If you had more of a
>warm up, or if you had been riding slower than usual, it could make a huge
>difference in your performance on the hill.
>
>When I ride with slower groups, I steam up hills that are tough when I'm riding
>alone or with faster groups.
>
>Matt O.

As I said in this or maybe a similar thread, I'd been working on my three
point stance on the bike - 30% of weight on saddle, 30% on handlbar, 30% on
pedals, and going for a more aerodynamic position. There were some gusts of
wind and I remembered the idea I'd been reading about, essentially gearing
down and really stomping the pedals in bursts. So when the wind came up,
instead of staying plunked down on the saddle, taking the gusts and slowing
down, I used it to get aero and do mini-bursts.

Then I rode up to where the hill starts, turning out of a commercial
parking lot - so there was essentially no run-up. I resumed the same riding
style I used in the flats, perhaps unconsciously, but I think I changed it
slightly to 10% weight on handlebars, and let the rest of the weight fall
where it would - the weight on the saddle seemed the same, but I was
thinking 'stay light on the bike'.

Immediately felt the power in my legs/quads increase - essentially I was
standing up to pedal, but still remained seated. So I seemed to have the
power of standing pedalling, without the high energy cost/fatigue in the
thighs that happens after about a minute or two like this.

Definitely a neat feeling, and it really made me want to go ride again
immediately after I got home. Quite a high...I didn't realize the magnitude
of the 'discovery' until I got home. Woke up the wife and made her coffee
and a treat and let her watch my TdF 03 CD with me on the big screen tv in
the bedroom.

(It was funny actually, b/c I couldn't stop bouncing around and left the
bedroom soon after that. About 10 minutes later, a still sleepy wife
emerged and said 'you're torturing me, you know that, don't you? You made
me watch the TdF and left the room!' Of course she was smirking when she
said that.)

jj

01-16-2005, 05:26 AM

On Sun, 16 Jan 2005 09:03:49 -0500, "Matt O'Toole" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>Great!
>
>Was there any difference in how you rode before the hill? If you had more of a
>warm up, or if you had been riding slower than usual, it could make a huge
>difference in your performance on the hill.
>
>When I ride with slower groups, I steam up hills that are tough when I'm riding
>alone or with faster groups.
>
>Matt O.

As I said in this or maybe a similar thread, I'd been working on my three
point stance on the bike - 30% of weight on saddle, 30% on handlbar, 30% on
pedals, and going for a more aerodynamic position. There were some gusts of
wind and I remembered the idea I'd been reading about, essentially gearing
down and really stomping the pedals in bursts. So when the wind came up,
instead of staying plunked down on the saddle, taking the gusts and slowing
down, I used it to get aero and do mini-bursts.

Then I rode up to where the hill starts, turning out of a commercial
parking lot - so there was essentially no run-up. I resumed the same riding
style I used in the flats, perhaps unconsciously, but I think I changed it
slightly to 10% weight on handlebars, and let the rest of the weight fall
where it would - the weight on the saddle seemed the same, but I was
thinking 'stay light on the bike'.

Immediately felt the power in my legs/quads increase - essentially I was
standing up to pedal, but still remained seated. So I seemed to have the
power of standing pedalling, without the high energy cost/fatigue in the
thighs that happens after about a minute or two like this.

Definitely a neat feeling, and it really made me want to go ride again
immediately after I got home. Quite a high...I didn't realize the magnitude
of the 'discovery' until I got home. Woke up the wife and made her coffee
and a treat and let her watch my TdF 03 CD with me on the big screen tv in
the bedroom.

(It was funny actually, b/c I couldn't stop bouncing around and left the
bedroom soon after that. About 10 minutes later, a still sleepy wife
emerged and said 'you're torturing me, you know that, don't you? You made
me watch the TdF and left the room!' Of course she was smirking when she
said that.)

jj

01-16-2005, 06:59 AM

jj wrote:
> As I said in this or maybe a similar thread, I'd been working on my
> three point stance on the bike - 30% of weight on saddle, 30% on
> handlbar, 30% on pedals, and going for a more aerodynamic position.

Well there's your answer! You lost 10% of yourself, so of course you were
faster...

(Where's me hat?)

01-16-2005, 06:59 AM

jj wrote:
> As I said in this or maybe a similar thread, I'd been working on my
> three point stance on the bike - 30% of weight on saddle, 30% on
> handlbar, 30% on pedals, and going for a more aerodynamic position.

Well there's your answer! You lost 10% of yourself, so of course you were
faster...

(Where's me hat?)

01-16-2005, 06:59 AM

jj wrote:
> As I said in this or maybe a similar thread, I'd been working on my
> three point stance on the bike - 30% of weight on saddle, 30% on
> handlbar, 30% on pedals, and going for a more aerodynamic position.

Well there's your answer! You lost 10% of yourself, so of course you were
faster...

(Where's me hat?)

01-17-2005, 05:58 AM

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 22:55:14 -0500, jj <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>Had an odd experience on today's ride. On a whim, I rode over to a 3/4 mile
>hill, after about 20 min warmup - my regular route had been covered in mud
>after the torrential down pours Friday night.
>
>This difficult hill is one I've been dreaming of riding, with significantly
>steeper sections than I'm used to, and I was basically able to sprint up
>it, seated. Just a few months ago I rode -down- this hill and hit speeds
>over 35mph not even pedalling, even braking a couple times.
>
>Going up it a glance at my inclinometer pegged it at 11-12% in the last
>100yds, 7-8% for most of the run-up.
>
>Even when I've been doing a lot of small but modestly steep hills, I've
>been a bit out of breath at the 1/2 mile point. Today, breath was
>completely calm, no pain in the quads -at all-, though they did seem
>pleasantly slightly pumped at the top, for a moment. Very strange. I felt
>like I could just step off the bike, yawn, and stretch and take a nap or
>something, lol. Could the darling wife be slipping me EPO in my geritol?
>;-D
>
>Wonder what could happen that would give an old clydesdale such a jump in
>ability. I was trying to stay 'light on the bike', and be a little more
>aero, as I mentioned early.
>
>I've been averaging only about 70-100 miles/week since Oct, about half my
>normal mileage, very little of it in the foot-hills, and I've be-moaning my
>apparent loss of conditioning. Last week I had been picking up speed, and
>have been doing some modest intervals, but not enough quantity and quality
>of training to justify this insane jump in ability - or so it seemed to me.
>
>I get out every day, rain or shine. Rode ~330 days in 2004, 3200 miles -
>fairly modest mileage, imo.
>
>Anyway, I'm psyched.

Two things. There really are biorhythms we really do have a few biological
cycles going on and some days are simply better than others.

I find improvement comes in leaps that pay off the previous work. Now that may
just be me recovering from having been out of shape - I'm sure that if I were in
great shape any improvement would come in smaller increments.

Here, you've combined an ongoing fitness program with recent improvements in
technique and then put the combination to the test.

Sounds like a formula for success.

Enjoy.

Ron

01-17-2005, 05:58 AM

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 22:55:14 -0500, jj <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>Had an odd experience on today's ride. On a whim, I rode over to a 3/4 mile
>hill, after about 20 min warmup - my regular route had been covered in mud
>after the torrential down pours Friday night.
>
>This difficult hill is one I've been dreaming of riding, with significantly
>steeper sections than I'm used to, and I was basically able to sprint up
>it, seated. Just a few months ago I rode -down- this hill and hit speeds
>over 35mph not even pedalling, even braking a couple times.
>
>Going up it a glance at my inclinometer pegged it at 11-12% in the last
>100yds, 7-8% for most of the run-up.
>
>Even when I've been doing a lot of small but modestly steep hills, I've
>been a bit out of breath at the 1/2 mile point. Today, breath was
>completely calm, no pain in the quads -at all-, though they did seem
>pleasantly slightly pumped at the top, for a moment. Very strange. I felt
>like I could just step off the bike, yawn, and stretch and take a nap or
>something, lol. Could the darling wife be slipping me EPO in my geritol?
>;-D
>
>Wonder what could happen that would give an old clydesdale such a jump in
>ability. I was trying to stay 'light on the bike', and be a little more
>aero, as I mentioned early.
>
>I've been averaging only about 70-100 miles/week since Oct, about half my
>normal mileage, very little of it in the foot-hills, and I've be-moaning my
>apparent loss of conditioning. Last week I had been picking up speed, and
>have been doing some modest intervals, but not enough quantity and quality
>of training to justify this insane jump in ability - or so it seemed to me.
>
>I get out every day, rain or shine. Rode ~330 days in 2004, 3200 miles -
>fairly modest mileage, imo.
>
>Anyway, I'm psyched.

Two things. There really are biorhythms we really do have a few biological
cycles going on and some days are simply better than others.

I find improvement comes in leaps that pay off the previous work. Now that may
just be me recovering from having been out of shape - I'm sure that if I were in
great shape any improvement would come in smaller increments.

Here, you've combined an ongoing fitness program with recent improvements in
technique and then put the combination to the test.

Sounds like a formula for success.

Enjoy.

Ron

01-17-2005, 05:58 AM

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 22:55:14 -0500, jj <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>Had an odd experience on today's ride. On a whim, I rode over to a 3/4 mile
>hill, after about 20 min warmup - my regular route had been covered in mud
>after the torrential down pours Friday night.
>
>This difficult hill is one I've been dreaming of riding, with significantly
>steeper sections than I'm used to, and I was basically able to sprint up
>it, seated. Just a few months ago I rode -down- this hill and hit speeds
>over 35mph not even pedalling, even braking a couple times.
>
>Going up it a glance at my inclinometer pegged it at 11-12% in the last
>100yds, 7-8% for most of the run-up.
>
>Even when I've been doing a lot of small but modestly steep hills, I've
>been a bit out of breath at the 1/2 mile point. Today, breath was
>completely calm, no pain in the quads -at all-, though they did seem
>pleasantly slightly pumped at the top, for a moment. Very strange. I felt
>like I could just step off the bike, yawn, and stretch and take a nap or
>something, lol. Could the darling wife be slipping me EPO in my geritol?
>;-D
>
>Wonder what could happen that would give an old clydesdale such a jump in
>ability. I was trying to stay 'light on the bike', and be a little more
>aero, as I mentioned early.
>
>I've been averaging only about 70-100 miles/week since Oct, about half my
>normal mileage, very little of it in the foot-hills, and I've be-moaning my
>apparent loss of conditioning. Last week I had been picking up speed, and
>have been doing some modest intervals, but not enough quantity and quality
>of training to justify this insane jump in ability - or so it seemed to me.
>
>I get out every day, rain or shine. Rode ~330 days in 2004, 3200 miles -
>fairly modest mileage, imo.
>
>Anyway, I'm psyched.

Two things. There really are biorhythms we really do have a few biological
cycles going on and some days are simply better than others.

I find improvement comes in leaps that pay off the previous work. Now that may
just be me recovering from having been out of shape - I'm sure that if I were in
great shape any improvement would come in smaller increments.

Here, you've combined an ongoing fitness program with recent improvements in
technique and then put the combination to the test.

Sounds like a formula for success.

Enjoy.

Ron

01-17-2005, 06:31 AM

On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 14:58:04 GMT, RonSonic <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>
wrote:

>On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 22:55:14 -0500, jj <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
>>
>>Anyway, I'm psyched.
>
>
>Two things. There really are biorhythms we really do have a few biological
>cycles going on and some days are simply better than others.
>
>I find improvement comes in leaps that pay off the previous work. Now that may
>just be me recovering from having been out of shape - I'm sure that if I were in
>great shape any improvement would come in smaller increments.
>
>Here, you've combined an ongoing fitness program with recent improvements in
>technique and then put the combination to the test.
>
>Sounds like a formula for success.
>
>Enjoy.
>
>Ron

What's a little odd, to me is that I had an apparent loss of ability in
October. Mileage was down, and in November, I was still struggling - only
about 80% of my ability mid-summer. Wasn't the weather, might have been a
dip in motivation. I picked up some in Late Nov., but was still struggling
to keep up the miles and the speed in early December.

Now, all of a sudden the motivation is high, the weather is worse <g>, both
cold and windy on the East coast.

My best guess, besides what you're saying is that I might have dropped
about 10lbs, and I might have recovered my 'psych', and with just the
better body geometry to allow me to get lower on the bike, well, there you
have it...a great synergy, allowing an almost phenomenal improvement
(comparatively).

I'm liking it...

BTW, I got out and did it again yesterday, despite feeling so-so, but when
I hit the first hill, *bang* it was like being shot out of a gun.

I fell off the form in the middle of the first hill, and struggled a
little, but within about 10 minutes, I was maintaining form on all the
hills and did a series of repeats of several steep sections and the form
had just slammed into place - I was locked into it on the bike - way kool!

Not sure if I recounted it but I even dropped a big white Suburban on one
medium-short climb up a side street - it was a treat to see him getting
smaller in my mirror. He tried to catch me, but there was a speed bump, and
he just couldn't deal - poor thing...ROFL ;-)

jj

01-17-2005, 06:31 AM

On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 14:58:04 GMT, RonSonic <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>
wrote:

>On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 22:55:14 -0500, jj <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
>>
>>Anyway, I'm psyched.
>
>
>Two things. There really are biorhythms we really do have a few biological
>cycles going on and some days are simply better than others.
>
>I find improvement comes in leaps that pay off the previous work. Now that may
>just be me recovering from having been out of shape - I'm sure that if I were in
>great shape any improvement would come in smaller increments.
>
>Here, you've combined an ongoing fitness program with recent improvements in
>technique and then put the combination to the test.
>
>Sounds like a formula for success.
>
>Enjoy.
>
>Ron

What's a little odd, to me is that I had an apparent loss of ability in
October. Mileage was down, and in November, I was still struggling - only
about 80% of my ability mid-summer. Wasn't the weather, might have been a
dip in motivation. I picked up some in Late Nov., but was still struggling
to keep up the miles and the speed in early December.

Now, all of a sudden the motivation is high, the weather is worse <g>, both
cold and windy on the East coast.

My best guess, besides what you're saying is that I might have dropped
about 10lbs, and I might have recovered my 'psych', and with just the
better body geometry to allow me to get lower on the bike, well, there you
have it...a great synergy, allowing an almost phenomenal improvement
(comparatively).

I'm liking it...

BTW, I got out and did it again yesterday, despite feeling so-so, but when
I hit the first hill, *bang* it was like being shot out of a gun.

I fell off the form in the middle of the first hill, and struggled a
little, but within about 10 minutes, I was maintaining form on all the
hills and did a series of repeats of several steep sections and the form
had just slammed into place - I was locked into it on the bike - way kool!

Not sure if I recounted it but I even dropped a big white Suburban on one
medium-short climb up a side street - it was a treat to see him getting
smaller in my mirror. He tried to catch me, but there was a speed bump, and
he just couldn't deal - poor thing...ROFL ;-)

jj