I just don't &@#%ing understand

A light bike doesn't replace good fitness.

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Catagory6
Posts: 612
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2017 2:36 am

by Catagory6

Just came back from a gravel event up in vermont
very steep
people quite significantly heavier than myself, with gearing noticeably more manly than mine
with bicycles just as heavy as mine
ride by me like i'm going backwards
i'm in quite good condition for this time of year, having ridden throughout the winter, and due to the early New England spring
but i feel like i could do nothing but climb 17% grades and never get any faster
i think if i got easier gearing (currently 34-50 / 12-36) i would just pedal faster, and go slower up hill

mattr
Posts: 4671
Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 6:43 pm
Location: The Grim North.

by mattr

You're not as fit as you thought you were.

Train smarter.

(And FWIW, the bike weight is *all but* irrelevant.)

by Weenie


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

by AJS914

Did you ever race? I did that for 7 years in my twenties (so 25 years ago now) and I learned that I'm middle of road good and then get better and better very slowly. I also learned that I was a pretty good sprinter and had above average pack skills but those skills don't get you up climbs.

Some would guys start racing and then in six months they would be dropping me. I'm in a bike club now with a bunch of fast old geezers. They were probably the same guys that ran a 5 minute mile in high school on little training. Some people win the genetic lottery and some don't.

That said, most amateurs aren't anywhere near their genetic limits so with proper training you can improve. The question is whether you want to do that hard work or simply go out and enjoy riding your bike. I ask myself that all the time. :-)

I've been having great success after 8 weeks on a polarized training plan. We recently discussed polarized training a lot here:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=155915

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TonyM
Posts: 3376
Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2015 4:11 pm

by TonyM

As said before train more and train better to achieve your genetic potential.

After that accept your genetic.
Or change the sport/ hobby etc...

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

by bilwit

w/kg?
Catagory6 wrote:
Sun May 05, 2019 3:04 pm
having ridden throughout the winter, and due to the early New England spring
but i feel like i could do nothing but climb 17% grades and never get any faster
training's not about putting yourself in a hole and destroying yourself 24/7 :noidea:

Butcher
Shop Owner
Posts: 1925
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2010 4:58 am

by Butcher

Train with power. I'm no racer, but I can see where I suck. Right now, it's pretty much everywhere.

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Dilbert
Posts: 264
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:54 am
Location: South Africa

by Dilbert

Cimbing pace depends largely on your power to weight ratio. On long climbs, pace will be dictated by threshold power/weight. To go faster you need to get more power or reduce weight (or both.)

flying
Posts: 2861
Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2005 9:16 am

by flying

Catagory6 wrote:
Sun May 05, 2019 3:04 pm
people quite significantly heavier than myself, with gearing noticeably more manly than mine
with bicycles just as heavy as mine
ride by me like i'm going backwards
Your answer I believe is here........

Although on steep hills the trend of spin to win rules
It still comes down to the one spinning the biggest gear is moving the fastest

TobinHatesYou
Posts: 12456
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2017 12:02 pm

by TobinHatesYou

When I ride gravel, I select a larger gear than I normally would on asphalt. I sit farther back on my saddle or sit more upright or both. I hunt for the best lines with the hardest, most tractable surface and will dart laterally several meters for it. I almost never get out of the saddle.

eforce123
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Apr 08, 2018 9:27 pm

by eforce123

Op- did your legs feel like they were giving out or your cardio first?

Catagory6
Posts: 612
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2017 2:36 am

by Catagory6

eforce123 wrote:
Sun May 19, 2019 5:02 pm
Op- did your legs feel like they were giving out or your cardio first?
both?
i don't think i could have gone faster even with easier gearing
i just would have turned the cranks over more quickly
maybe its just a matter of not consistently riding 17+ % grades, like other people at the event?

eforce123
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Apr 08, 2018 9:27 pm

by eforce123

Catagory6 wrote:
Fri May 24, 2019 7:02 pm
eforce123 wrote:
Sun May 19, 2019 5:02 pm
Op- did your legs feel like they were giving out or your cardio first?
both?
i don't think i could have gone faster even with easier gearing
i just would have turned the cranks over more quickly
maybe its just a matter of not consistently riding 17+ % grades, like other people at the event?
I don't recall ever going up a 17% grade so I can't comment but I do know that all climbs weigh next to nothing.

flying
Posts: 2861
Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2005 9:16 am

by flying

Catagory6 wrote:
Fri May 24, 2019 7:02 pm
maybe its just a matter of not consistently riding 17+ % grades, like other people at the event?
For sure it makes a big difference (for me anyway)

I spend 2-3 months a year somewhere that does have 16-22% climbs
My usual ride area the rest of the year is more like 8-12% climbs with just a very few ramps
that hit 17

When I first arrive at the steeper place each year it just wrecks me the first week or two
I mean really a shock to my system
After that it of course is not easy but it is not such a shock to the system
for me anyway

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LouisN
Posts: 3510
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 3:44 am
Location: Canada

by LouisN

I think you ca get a lot better at climbing by improving efficiency. By that I mean better technique ( pedal stroke, synchronism, rpm, etc.) . Of course practice on specific terrain.

Louis :)

by Weenie


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TheRich
Posts: 1037
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2019 1:36 am

by TheRich

TonyM wrote:
Sun May 05, 2019 4:06 pm
As said before train more and train better to achieve your genetic potential.

After that accept your genetic.
Or change the sport/ hobby etc...
That, plus focus on process goals, not outcome goals, and be honest with yourself.

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