Your cycling weight...? (help and advice required)....

neeb

a power to weight ratio of 5.5

:shock: Is that at threshold? If so that's very good, pretty much pro level.

ut_och_cykla

The most striking thing I've noticed when logging intake/output on Livestrong is that on days I ride/run I don't eat up to expenditure, but on the gym/nothing days I have to be very sparing on food to keep within my chosen calorie limit (to lose one pound a week). It has been difficult but the weight is finally shifting albeit slowly, and without feeling ravenous for hours.
Also (and I thought I'd never write this but....) I think going out and cycling hell for leather for an hour 3 or 4 times a week perhaps doesn't help with weight loss as much as cycling much more gently everyday (but still nominally 'burning' the same calories). So perhaps there is something in the fat burning myth nevertheless.
I don't get as hungry and a more gentle hour is more attractive than a very hard hour and tends to happen more often. Cycling more slowly isn't going to help the top end of my range but it will help me lose weight, harden my resolve (and backside etc).
So better balance between in & out on a daily basis and more regular exercise has been my key to success.

vs

Is that at threshold? If so that's very good, pretty much pro level.

Yes, I know, I was told I was in the elite bracket, however I have never 'raced'. My potential v02 max will have dropped over the decades but is still over 70 at 47.

I just found cycling far too late in life at 32 - doesn't stop me having fun dropping some 'known' elite cyclists on climbs in sportives though.

Zachariah

vs wrote:

I just found cycling far too late in life at 32 - doesn't stop me having fun dropping some 'known' elite cyclists on climbs in sportives though.

Pics or it didn't happen!

amaferanga

vs wrote:

Is that at threshold? If so that's very good, pretty much pro level.

Yes, I know, I was told I was in the elite bracket, however I have never 'raced'. My potential v02 max will have dropped over the decades but is still over 70 at 47.

I just found cycling far too late in life at 32 - doesn't stop me having fun dropping some 'known' elite cyclists on climbs in sportives though.

Do you mean your power/weight at VO2max is 5.5 W/kg? Or can you sustain 5.5 W/kg for an hour? A threshold of 350W at 10 stone would be very, very good.

meanredspider

ut_och_cykla wrote:

Also (and I thought I'd never write this but....) I think going out and cycling hell for leather for an hour 3 or 4 times a week perhaps doesn't help with weight loss as much as cycling much more gently everyday (but still nominally 'burning' the same calories). .

I hope you are right because I'm just embarking on the same plan. Instead of doing my 2x 1 hour commute at something in excess of 80-85%HR 3-5 days a week, I'm looking to alternate between 85% days and <70% days. My primary goal is to get faster by "increasing the number of mitochondria and the secretion of enzymes around the mitochondria" (to quote the theory) in order to more efficiently burn fat but also, as you say, reduce the "I'm knackered and hungry" effect of blitzing every ride. Plodding along <70% is quite hard - especially on the uphill/return part of my journey - but I'm going to give it a month as the authour of the book requests.

vs

Do you mean your power/weight at VO2max is 5.5 W/kg? Or can you sustain 5.5 W/kg for an hour?

This is my half hour figure. 1 hour would be lower although I've never tested for an hour.

amaferanga

vs wrote:

Do you mean your power/weight at VO2max is 5.5 W/kg? Or can you sustain 5.5 W/kg for an hour?

This is my half hour figure. 1 hour would be lower although I've never tested for an hour.

If this is the wattage you can sustain for half an hour then its not your threshold Wattage, but its still very impressive as your threshold should be around 330 - 340W.

vs

If this is the wattage you can sustain for half an hour then its not your threshold Wattage

So I never said it was; it was just the figure I left the test with

amaferanga

vs wrote:

If this is the wattage you can sustain for half an hour then its not your threshold Wattage

So I never said it was; it was just the figure I left the test with

If its just the figure you left the test with are you sure its your average Wattage for the half hour and not your power at VO2max?

vs

Average watts. My V02 max test was obviously a lot higher.

amaferanga

Blimey! What's your power at VO2max then?

vs

Blimey! What's your power at VO2max then?

415

Zingzang

vs wrote:

[I just found cycling far too late in life at 32 - doesn't stop me having fun dropping some 'known' elite cyclists on climbs in sportives though.

Are you able to drop them on the flat as well?

And why do you allow yourself to do sportives and yet not race? Since you clearly enjoy dropping people, racing would seem to be a more logical outlet for your enthusiasm and natural talent.

vs

Are you able to drop them on the flat as well?

No.

And why do you allow yourself to do sportives and yet not race?

As above.

I found I had a talent for cycling too late in lifes' tapestry of football, girls, drinking, cricket, girls, drinking, pool, girls drinking, etc....