low cadence / tempo intensity intervals - barking up the wrong tree?

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patchsurfer
Posts: 138
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2015 10:27 pm

by patchsurfer

Hello,

So, a bit of background - me, mid 40's, bust my back a few years ago which turned into a spondy - so whenever I set foot in a gym I hurt it again. I've gone OK this season after a year's break (when I kept riding, albeit only 5k in the year), but felt that on the flats, my strength has been a limiter - I've found myself spinning at 95+, hanging on, one too many times. Uphill, not so noticeable - I seem able to hang ok, even if I'm not blowing anyone away. I'm doing more long rides now than I've done in a long while, seen a steady improvement over the season in my FTP from 242 to 284 - normally couple of interval sessions a week.

I cannot for the life of me remember where I heard this piece of wisdom: low cadence intervals at tempo-ish intensity increase neuromuscular adaptation. I've done a couple of blocks - 15 minutes-ish, which I certainly felt, but I'm not 100% sure if I'm working off a duff hypothesis. Am I wasting my time?

Cheers, Simon

by Weenie


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joeyb1000
Posts: 488
Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2016 8:37 pm

by joeyb1000

I tried these last year. I also tried VO2 Max intervals at low RPM. I don't feel that the low RPMs helped; but, I do think the VO2 Max style (intervals of 1 - 5 minutes in duration) intervals helped a lot.

AJS914
Posts: 5397
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2014 6:52 pm

by AJS914

Velonews did a podcast on neuromuscular workouts:

http://www.velonews.com/2016/12/podcast ... ves_426397

bm0p700f
in the industry
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Joined: Sat May 12, 2012 7:25 pm
Location: Glermsford, Suffolk U.K
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by bm0p700f

I have been doing low cadence intervals for long while. They help in the long distance tt's I do ( I think) but I don't think they are helpful in improving FTP.

What they seem to do is reduce the likelihood of cramp do j can push harder for longer without worrying.

patchsurfer
Posts: 138
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2015 10:27 pm

by patchsurfer

Thanks all - that was an interesting listen. I haven't done much high cadence work either for a few years - which is dumb, because I always went better for it. Interesting to hear that they may have helped with cramp, I wonder if that's to do with something like better recruitment in the glutes / lower back?

Cheers,

Simon

bilwit
Posts: 1526
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2016 5:49 am
Location: Seattle, WA

by bilwit

not sure of the benefits but it's worth noting that both Mikel Landa and Esteban Chavez recently said they do low cadence intervals :thumbup:

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Jere
Posts: 111
Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2011 5:35 am
Location: Southern Pa

by Jere

Hi

I’m old school and old , a group of us have been doing Fixing Gear hill repeats for 20 years
Ages now 58 to 76 we’re slower but still do the 10 to 17 % climbs for two to three hours
Most of us run about 67 inch gear.
I think it helps the most is we stay in the drops every hill.
So when the season starts we’re all use to pushing a big gear in the drops if needed , no additional time to get
ready for long hours chasing the Kids
JB

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