Going for KOM's all year round, bad for the health?

willhub

As above..

Is going for KOM's bad for the health if aiming all year round?

I'm personally finding I'm struggling to aim for KOM's and even beat my previous times, suggesting my form is actually falling, I've gained £8 and 2% bodyfat and not getting any faster, which is sort of telling me it's got to that time of year (Winter) where my body just goes into hibernation as far as chucking out the watts, I've started catching catching cold also, almost the same time as last year, and the year before (October).

Perhaps it's a sign it's time to hit the miles, long and gracefully and no super hard bashing and resume training for stuff next year? It just seems like a futile effort trying to push the envelope at this time of year I've just about came round to it, every year at this time I've found myself sluggish.

What do ya think?

jibberjim

No, it's just much, much harder to go fast in the winter, the cold dense air and roads take significant time off. It's why measuring things by speed is pointless.

Dmak

Rest and recovery are important. Just take it easy for the winter.

willhub

So if you did compare average speeds, on ride in Summer, one in Winter, wind speed the same, route the same, just the air is colder, maybe more drier or humid I don't know? What sort of speed different does the Winter make? Does the current climate in the UK add more difficulty compared to in Summer? I mean it's not that cold is it?

I mean I enjoy pushing on and going fast, it's what keeps me cycling really, if I pootled about all the time I'd soon get bored of cycling. But at the moment I can't really sustain any hard efforts over a couple of miles, I just end up giving up, which is not like me usually.

jibberjim

willhub wrote:

Does the current climate in the UK add more difficulty compared to in Summer? I mean it's not that cold is it?

Temperature only change will be ~1kph between 5C and 25C

willhub

So not much difference between Summer and Winter then?

veronese68

Going for KOMs at any time of year is bad for me. I seem to finish up trying to cough my lungs out, my heart tries to bust out of my rib cage and my knees decide they're not playing any more. But that's probably because I'm old and rubbish.

GiantMike

KOMs against other people are irrelevant. I'm sure you could beat my sister up a hill but that doesn't mean you're fast.

Racing against yourself is a good test of improvements or otherwise, but use them occasionally as a test and not as part of a training plan. Your training plan should be logical and aimed at your season goals. If you do try for a KOM then just use the info as a guide rather than beating yourself up over the result.

Strava has a lot of benefits, but a major downside is that it can demotivate you if your performance declines (which it will from time to time) and people get scared of testing themselves against their PBs. There are also too many segments now. If I do an 85 mile ride with 17 segments (several overlapping) then the segments stop meaning anything. People set them up wherever the like rather than making them meaningful.

daviesee

Dmak wrote:

Rest and recovery are important. Just take it easy for the winter.

Some would disagree.
"Eddy Merckx said so famously for training advice: “Ride, lots.” ""

That said, I think it is more about miles than pace.

From - http://le-grimpeur.net/blog/archives/54 which has a few opinions.

ShutUpLegs

The wind changes direction for the winter, perfect for some segments needing a north easterly breeze

Nick Fitt

For me, if I have raced all year, then I take a few weeks off the bike, get a life. Then just ride the bike. Lots of miles and miles and miles, then do some power, climbing specific then go play KOM. Doing it all year round wont ever work, its accepted you peak and trough so you have to adapt and plan accordingly, set targets. Its more fun like that IMHO. Strava is fun but can make you over egg training rides as said

willhub

GiantMike wrote:

KOMs against other people are irrelevant. I'm sure you could beat my sister up a hill but that doesn't mean you're fast.

Racing against yourself is a good test of improvements or otherwise, but use them occasionally as a test and not as part of a training plan. Your training plan should be logical and aimed at your season goals. If you do try for a KOM then just use the info as a guide rather than beating yourself up over the result.

Strava has a lot of benefits, but a major downside is that it can demotivate you if your performance declines (which it will from time to time) and people get scared of testing themselves against their PBs. There are also too many segments now. If I do an 85 mile ride with 17 segments (several overlapping) then the segments stop meaning anything. People set them up wherever the like rather than making them meaningful.

Some segments surely mean you are fast? If you can do 5 miles averaging 30mph regardless of the wind that's not an easy thing to do, and if you can do a lap of Richmond Park at 28mph I'm sure that means the person is fast? I'm not saying I can, I've not tried and I think I'd find it hard to average even 23mph round Richmond Park judging by the way I went the other day.

GiantMike

willhub wrote:

GiantMike wrote:

KOMs against other people are irrelevant. I'm sure you could beat my sister up a hill but that doesn't mean you're fast.

Some segments surely mean you are fast? If you can do 5 miles averaging 30mph regardless of the wind that's not an easy thing to do, and if you can do a lap of Richmond Park at 28mph I'm sure that means the person is fast? I'm not saying I can, I've not tried and I think I'd find it hard to average even 23mph round Richmond Park judging by the way I went the other day.

True, but what does that actually mean? A proper TT sees all riders in the same conditions (wind, temp etc). A race sees all riders racing against each other where tactics are as important as speed.

On this hill you beat me by several seconds, but not on the same day. But, did you target this segment or was it just on your ride? Headwind or tailwind? How much extra weight were you carrying? Did you get a tow on the flat bit and then surge up the climb? Even assuming you had exactly the same parameters as me, does this mean you're a faster rider? Or just a faster rider over a very short section? Would you beat me in a circuit race? In a TT? And who the heck sets up a segment over a mini roundabout?

Strava segments useful if you compare you to yourself, but I wouldn't care about other people's times. Do a couple of weeks of tempo rides and you'll soon shake off your Autumn blues. Have fun.

P.S. When I compare our times up the hill your GPS looks dodgy (maybe the overhanging trees?)

willhub

My HTC Sensation was a bit crap with Strava.

That day I believe it was wet, not much wind, and was towards the end of a hardish training ride.

In a circuit race I dunno, I don't do races cause I can't afford em, so who knows, I might not be bad if I take note of tactics, perhaps in A TT you are faster than me, my best 25 mile th is 1 hour 23 seconds on a very horrible day, 10 miles is 22:35 on j2/1 on road bike with TT bars in Cheshire and just a road bike for 24:08.

As for a segment over that mini roundabout, I see no issue, about 80% of segments have traffic lights in them...

The mini roundabout at sheriff Hutton is very quiet.

GiantMike

willhub wrote:

My HTC Sensation was a bit crap with Strava.

That day I believe it was wet, not much wind, and was towards the end of a hardish training ride.

Mine was in snow, on a tandem. My wife (on the back) was asleep. I think I'm faster

willhub

GiantMike wrote:

willhub wrote:

My HTC Sensation was a bit crap with Strava.

That day I believe it was wet, not much wind, and was towards the end of a hardish training ride.

Mine was in snow, on a tandem. My wife (on the back) was asleep. I think I'm faster

Oh thats amazing, imagine how much faster you'd be on a road bike with The brakes on then.

okgo

I'm going down the route of not 'taking it easy' there are enough decent riders now sticking to the intensity all year round train of thought for me to be sold on it. I stop riding my bike I get fatter, less fit, and thus slower.

But as said, when you have power data, you begin to see how pointless speed is as an indicator of improvement (unless conditions are exactly the same etc etc).

Regarding your post, segments are always filled with errors and more than meets the eye, lots of the fastest times round Richmond Park for instance are part of a chaingang which obviously makes a 15 min lap far easier than if it was a solo effort.

bigmat

I think we inevitably slow down at some stages though, without it being a conscious decision. I can feel my legs going into shutdown at the moment, not much good for anything beyond the occasional 30 second burst. I'll keep riding, but will just accept that it will be more base miles and less intense efforts for the next few weeks. Hoping to get a race or two in next month, but am already starting to think about generally having a break until the end of November and then racking up points in the new year! Strava bagging wll probably resume in the spring - what few KOMs I'm picking up at the moment keep getting queried anyway!

wiffachip

spend the £8 you've gained on beer, in a pub. good times

Moontrane

willhub wrote:

As above..

Is going for KOM's bad for the health if aiming all year round?

I'm personally finding I'm struggling to aim for KOM's and even beat my previous times, suggesting my form is actually falling, I've gained £8 and 2% bodyfat and not getting any faster, which is sort of telling me it's got to that time of year (Winter) where my body just goes into hibernation as far as chucking out the watts, I've started catching catching cold also, almost the same time as last year, and the year before (October).

Perhaps it's a sign it's time to hit the miles, long and gracefully and no super hard bashing and resume training for stuff next year? It just seems like a futile effort trying to push the envelope at this time of year I've just about came round to it, every year at this time I've found myself sluggish.

What do ya think?

This is my first year using strava, and I'm measurable faster because of it. I don't race but have been using strava to provide virtual competition. I hit at least one personal best each month and have set numerous KOMs.

I find it to be a fantastic tool. I see that swinging a hammer at the wrong angle,time, or frequency can cause some problems, though.

GiantMike

Moontrane wrote:

find it to be a fantastic tool. I see that swinging a hammer at the wrong angle,time, or frequency can cause some problems, though.

You take a hammer cycling?

bisoner

ShutUpLegs wrote:

The wind changes direction for the winter, perfect for some segments needing a north easterly breeze

I'm the same. Targetting those Strava's I would never be able to get into a headwind on my winter bike with the mandatory mudguards on.

http://app.strava.com/rides/26032138#465764083

I am tending to ride more sensibly though, read slowly, because the roads are shocking and anytime I see leaves and thick mud on the road, it makes me nervous, especially down hill.

Moontrane

GiantMike wrote:

Moontrane wrote:

find it to be a fantastic tool. I see that swinging a hammer at the wrong angle,time, or frequency can cause some problems, though.

You take a hammer cycling?

That is...how I roll.

Monty Dog

Wearing restrictive winter clothing and heavier tyres have a big impact on top-end speed. Focus your winter training on your endurance and core strength which provide a good base for the high-end efforts. Doing repeated maximal efforts throughout the year risks over-training and injury IMO.

LegendLust

It does amaze me the amount of Strava KOM baggers, who never pin on a number and enter a proper Hillclimb race?

I'll let you into a secret - the people who are KOM on Stava probably aren't the fastest up that particular hill

bigmat

LegendLust wrote:

It does amaze me the amount of Strava KOM baggers, who never pin on a number and enter a proper Hillclimb race?

I'll let you into a secret - the people who are KOM on Stava probably aren't the fastest up that particular hill

Nor are the people who win hill climbs - I'm sure J-Rod / Phil Gil etc would royally whoop their collective asses. So what's your point?

LegendLust

BigMat wrote:

LegendLust wrote:

It does amaze me the amount of Strava KOM baggers, who never pin on a number and enter a proper Hillclimb race?

I'll let you into a secret - the people who are KOM on Stava probably aren't the fastest up that particular hill

Nor are the people who win hill climbs - I'm sure J-Rod / Phil Gil etc would royally whoop their collective asses. So what's your point?

I think you've answered my point

jibberjim

LegendLust wrote:

BigMat wrote:

LegendLust wrote:

It does amaze me the amount of Strava KOM baggers, who never pin on a number and enter a proper Hillclimb race?

I'll let you into a secret - the people who are KOM on Stava probably aren't the fastest up that particular hill

Nor are the people who win hill climbs - I'm sure J-Rod / Phil Gil etc would royally whoop their collective asses. So what's your point?

I think you've answered my point

So why isn't your point "It does amaze me the amount of CTC Hill Climb baggers who never pin a number and enter the Tour De France? the people winning Hill Climbs aren't the fastest up that particular hill" ?

willhub

I don't use heavier tyres, I use Vittoria Rubinos all year round, I've switched to my emergency spare 36 spoke wheel because the R550 worn out. Apart from that, Carbon bike all winter until it inevitably dissolves.

willhub

LegendLust wrote:

It does amaze me the amount of Strava KOM baggers, who never pin on a number and enter a proper Hillclimb race?

I'll let you into a secret - the people who are KOM on Stava probably aren't the fastest up that particular hill

I don't wanna enter a hill climb, hill climb season is always where my performance is crap and I'm on a low and just want to ride. I do however want to do road races and more time trials, but money is a limitation.

okgo

Why is money a limitation? time trials cost a few quid, and road races, whilst I agree are a rip off are only £20 or so.

Think the body slowing down thing is a load of old toss personally, if I am not faster in January than I am now, I'll be annoyed.