Spring Classic- Power numbers (and pedalling :)
bahzob
Posts: 2,195
Interesting insight into the demands of the Spring Classics in terms of power numbers from George Hincapie, including some scary numbers, 6 hours at 340NW/full hour over 400..
http://home.trainingpeaks.com/blog/article/power-numbers-from-the-spring-classics?feed=70c86158-aad7-4b07-8cc3-7c383b9bd61b&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+trainingpeaks%2FXAlX+%28TrainingPeaks+Blog%29
PS. Can't help but point out that at the end specific mention is made of the demands of these events in terms of pedalling and what that means in terms of training...
(Yes I know he doesn't mention pedalling in circles or riding a Wattbike. But he does say "One myth that I’d like to bust here is that you have to push a big gear (low cadence and high force) through the cobbles to be successful. This is just not true and George demonstrates this by averaging 88rpm for that brutal hour. " i.e. smooth pedalling not peanuts.
And key message is basic one that just makes common sense to me if not apparently to others here. When you get on your bike to do a workout it's worth doing more than just mindlessly aiming to hit a watts target. Taking time to think about how you are actually producing your power and using your time to try different approaches alongside completing intervals will most likely yield benefits.)
http://home.trainingpeaks.com/blog/article/power-numbers-from-the-spring-classics?feed=70c86158-aad7-4b07-8cc3-7c383b9bd61b&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+trainingpeaks%2FXAlX+%28TrainingPeaks+Blog%29
PS. Can't help but point out that at the end specific mention is made of the demands of these events in terms of pedalling and what that means in terms of training...
(Yes I know he doesn't mention pedalling in circles or riding a Wattbike. But he does say "One myth that I’d like to bust here is that you have to push a big gear (low cadence and high force) through the cobbles to be successful. This is just not true and George demonstrates this by averaging 88rpm for that brutal hour. " i.e. smooth pedalling not peanuts.
And key message is basic one that just makes common sense to me if not apparently to others here. When you get on your bike to do a workout it's worth doing more than just mindlessly aiming to hit a watts target. Taking time to think about how you are actually producing your power and using your time to try different approaches alongside completing intervals will most likely yield benefits.)
Martin S. Newbury RC
0
Comments
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bahzob wrote:This is just not true and George demonstrates this by averaging 88rpm for that brutal hour. " i.e. smooth pedalling not peanuts.
Sorry, but that doesn't imply 'smooth pedalling' at all - it simply implies 88rpm, nothing more.
Anyway, yet another thread where you suggest people think about 'how' they pedal - without actually providing any insight into 'how' this might be done.
I hope that doesn't sound unreasonable, but I've literally lost count of the number of times you have stated how important a good pedalling technique is - while singularly failing to describe said technique in any meaningful sense. It's bordering on comical.0 -
There is some interesting stuff here, none of it relates to the way they make power though.
Big numbers, big bloke though.Blog on my first and now second season of proper riding/racing - www.firstseasonracing.com0 -
'MY' theory of pedaling technique is that the 'instantaneous pedal speed' should be kept as constant as possible.
Avoid a technique that has repetitive (on each pedal stroke) periods of acceleration and deceleration.
From a mechanical / physics point of view, having to do repetitive accelerations requires much more long term Power output than keeping a very steady speed. It's like taking 2 steps UP and then 1 DOWN each time as you climb a stairs.
Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA0
