Grinding is good

Wogan
Wogan Posts: 203
edited April 2009 in Training, fitness and health
I'm a grinder. There, I've said it. :twisted:

I've tried the whole high cadence thing, spinning away like a bampot and changing down a few gears well ahead of the slightest incline. Putting all the strain on my CV system and trying to be efficient at 90-100rpm.

Well, today I thought "sod that" and resolved to ride a few laps of Richmond Park in the big ring only. And I flew round. I felt so good I decided to go up Broomfield Hill in the big ring and danced up, twice.

Now I'm normally crap at hills of all shapes and sizes, so this came as something of a revelation to me. All those books and magazine articles told me to change into a small gear and spin up, but there I was grinding away with a grin on my face.

So, have at it spinners. Convince me that today was an aberration and my new found grinding habit is bad for me. :wink:
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Comments

  • Frank the tank
    Frank the tank Posts: 6,553
    I love "grinding" :shock:
    Tail end Charlie

    The above post may contain traces of sarcasm or/and bullsh*t.
  • Wogan
    Wogan Posts: 203
    Frank the tank wrote:
    I love "grinding" :shock:

    Now now, this is a family website.
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  • Frank the tank
    Frank the tank Posts: 6,553
    Wogan wrote:
    Frank the tank wrote:
    I love "grinding" :shock:

    Now now, this is a family website.

    Well, I am an engineer. :!: :!:
    Tail end Charlie

    The above post may contain traces of sarcasm or/and bullsh*t.
  • Wogan
    Wogan Posts: 203
    Frank the tank wrote:
    Well, I am an engineer. :!: :!:

    Then you understand the value of a good lubricant (stop it!)
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  • Frank the tank
    Frank the tank Posts: 6,553
    :wink:
    Tail end Charlie

    The above post may contain traces of sarcasm or/and bullsh*t.
  • liversedge
    liversedge Posts: 1,003
    do you also like hitting your hand with a hammer?

    or more seriously do you really do that when faced with a 10km+ long mountain climb?
    --
    Obsessed is just a word elephants use to describe the dedicated. http://markliversedge.blogspot.com
  • Bhima
    Bhima Posts: 2,145
    When a climb lasts longer than a minute, it's good to incorporate both types of riding, I feel.

    >Spinning will take the pressure off your legs and makes you breathe harder to cope with the increased demand for blood flow to your legs.
    >Grinding will put loads more pressure on your leg muscles but will give you time to catch your breath back again as your heart rate drops a little.

    So I try to alternate between the two. If you do just one style, you can burn out quickly. When i'm pretty exhausted, the third method of getting off the saddle and grinding up in a big gear can offer a strange sense of recovery too as you seem to put your lungs and muscles under an equal amount of stress...
  • Chubby on a compact
    Chubby on a compact Posts: 86
    You would not be able to grind up many hills in big ring where I live. Some people's definition of a hill is slightly different to mine. Bwlch y Groes now that's a hill.
  • nasahapley
    nasahapley Posts: 717
    Chubby on a compact wrote:
    You would not be able to grind up many hills in big ring where I live. Some people's definition of a hill is slightly different to mine. Bwlch y Groes now that's a hill.

    Indeed. I was starting to think I must be doing something wrong as I find that many of the climbs round my way have me grinding in the small ring (which really does sound disgusting). But then I recently went to Richmond Park for the first time and saw what are referred to as 'hills' round those parts, and realised I needn't really worry! Having said that I'm no spinner myself (80 is plenty for me), and I do think that as far as cadence is concerned, if it feels right it is right.
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    Chubby on a compact wrote:
    You would not be able to grind up many hills in big ring where I live. Some people's definition of a hill is slightly different to mine. Bwlch y Groes now that's a hill.

    Peak District resident here. Nothing BUT hills. One of my regular rides is a hill aptly named 'Long Hill'. 5 miles of nothing but climbing. 20 minutes on a GOOD day - 30 minutes if tired and into the wind!

    There aren't many hills in these parts that you can get up in a minute or less! And I STILL grind my way up all of them - but also in the small ring as the previous gent said!
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Pokerface wrote:
    Chubby on a compact wrote:
    You would not be able to grind up many hills in big ring where I live. Some people's definition of a hill is slightly different to mine. Bwlch y Groes now that's a hill.

    Peak District resident here. Nothing BUT hills. One of my regular rides is a hill aptly named 'Long Hill'. 5 miles of nothing but climbing. 20 minutes on a GOOD day - 30 minutes if tired and into the wind!

    There aren't many hills in these parts that you can get up in a minute or less! And I STILL grind my way up all of them - but also in the small ring as the previous gent said!

    Climbing Long hill is relatively easy, it's just a shame the descent is nearly always into a headwind (assuming you are cycling from Buxton)
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0
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  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    redddraggon wrote:

    Climbing Long hill is relatively easy, it's just a shame the descent is nearly always into a headwind (assuming you are cycling from Buxton)

    Sure - from the Buxton side it's just a quick, steep-ish climb to the top. I'm talking about the 5 mile climb from the Whalley side! it's not steep - but it just keeps going up. And up. And up.

    I know there are much harder hills in the area and Long Hill is actually pretty easy in comparison. Just an example of what we call 'hills' in these parts!
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    I'm a grinder on hills. Seems to be easier for me than spinning up and my legs seem to be able to take it. However, on the flats I have turned into quite the spinner in the last 6 or 8 years. Go figure. It's got me stumped.

    Dennis Noward
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Pokerface wrote:
    Sure - from the Buxton side it's just a quick, steep-ish climb to the top. I'm talking about the 5 mile climb from the Whalley side! it's not steep - but it just keeps going up. And up. And up.

    Surely you've got the tailwind to push you up then though :wink:
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  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    I've had the winds both ways on Long Hill. And when it's a headwind ALL the way up - it's no fun at all! I used to live in Buxton and work at the Manchester Velodrome - and cycle both ways. Climbing Long Hill with a massive rucksack on your back at the end of the day (on a Friday after doing it all week) in a headwind - was never much fun.



    :)
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    That's one hell of a commute :shock: 50ish miles a day commuting :shock:
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  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    redddraggon wrote:
    That's one hell of a commute :shock: 50ish miles a day commuting :shock:

    Weather permitting. Didn't ride on really rainy days. But I did 2 hour track sessions a few times a week also!

    Early on I made the mistake of cycling to work, then doing a 2 hour track session and then riding home afterwards. Ouch. But hey - when you work for British Cycling - they expect you to RIDE! :)

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