Weird discrepancy from climbing to flats

fastercyclist

As title. I climb much stronger then I can cycle on flat ground - disproportionately to almost all the other cyclists I've cycled with. I'm 5 foot 11 and 156 lbs so hardly a racing snake. Around 8 lbs overweight! :shock:

I would really appreciate advice on how I can up my "diesel". I find in races I can drop people anywhere I want to, but cannot beat average speed of Peloton - did a chain gang the other night and got tortured with an average heart rate of 177 over an hour but I could put out fast accelerations still. Got about 6 months of cycling in my legs if that makes any difference (1800 miles).

softlad

if you are winning races, then I wouldn't worry too much.

Some people are simply better suited to one discipline than another. Plus, a single rider is unlikely ever to be able to outpace a bunch riding at speed - unless they are significantly stronger or if the bunch is sitting up...

Pokerface

Erm - 5 foot 11 and weighing 156 lbs IS a racing snake!!!


No wonder you go up hills fast. At 70KG taking into account your height - you weigh less than many pros do!


(I'm 5'11 and 180 lbs and I go faster on the flats. I wonder why?)

keef66

I weigh 70kg but I'm only 5'6", so to me you'd be the very definition of a racing snake.

I'm more of a touring piglet.

Barteos

Sounds like you may have a moderate power output but very good power to weight ratio.
Grab a bike with a power meter and do some testing (FTP).
You'll know where you are

ut_och_cykla

I suspect its a matter of W/kg. You perhaps dont generate as many Watts as others so on the flat you are struggling a bit, but on the hills your relative light weight means you can get up them easier than your slightly heavier group members.

Eg (made up numbers You can generate 250W at threshold 250/70 = 3,57W/kg
Club mate generates 300W but weighs 90kg = 3,33W/kg

You need to improve your speed on the flat - more Watts - perhaps using appropiate intervals eg 5 x 4:4 or 2 x 20 mins. As long as you dont go up in weight this will help you climb even faster too - but it could be your lower weight is a slight hinder to pumping out Watts according to this http://www.endurancecorner.com/strength_and_endurance
But perhaps someone else has a better take on this ....

jibberjim

ut_och_cykla wrote:

I suspect its a matter of W/kg. You perhaps dont generate as many Watts as others so on the flat you are struggling a bit, but on the hills your relative light weight means you can get up them easier than your slightly heavier group members.

Aerodynamics too, I suspect you may be very unaerodynamic, so as the speeds drop, the relative advantage of the more watts helps.

Where's a photo of you on your road bike?

ride_whenever

You've only been cycling for 6 months, your body isn't really accustomed to cycling yet. But you've got the lungs and strength to do bursts very well and are just lacking the practice to churn along.

fastercyclist

jibberjim wrote:

ut_och_cykla wrote:

I suspect its a matter of W/kg. You perhaps dont generate as many Watts as others so on the flat you are struggling a bit, but on the hills your relative light weight means you can get up them easier than your slightly heavier group members.

Aerodynamics too, I suspect you may be very unaerodynamic, so as the speeds drop, the relative advantage of the more watts helps.

Where's a photo of you on your road bike?

In the black.



I'll read that article now thanks ut_och_cykla.

amaferanga

I think its the peak on your helmet slowing you down.

jibberjim

fastercyclist wrote:

In the black.

So, yes, you're pretty upright there, get in the drops for a start, and try and get yourself out of the wind, when you're not on a wheel, you need to be low and flat and as aerodynamic as possible.

shockedsoshocked

Being strong in hills doesn't equate to speed on the flats (despite popular belief).

Hit the flat rides, go hard, ride into the wind, it'll bring you on. Different kind of riding hard.

oldwelshman

Wow Robin is just behind you, was batman also in the race ?

fastercyclist

ShockedSoShocked wrote:

Being strong in hills doesn't equate to speed on the flats (despite popular belief).

Hit the flat rides, go hard, ride into the wind, it'll bring you on. Different kind of riding hard.

Cheers guys, I'll incorporate 2 x 20 minute intervals on a flat section nearby into my routine.

vorsprung

I live in Devon too, and funnily enough I go better on the hills

phil s

Is your bike too small? Looks like you should be a lot longer and lower across the top than you are in that picture.

And, yeah, lose the peak on the helmet.

Anonymous

Here's your big mistake right here!



You should be behind Robin drafting on the flat (heh heh, you two really do look like batman and robin :shock: )