CYCLINGFORUM.COM - Where Cyclists Talk Tech --- Return To Home

 

    Register FAQ'sSearchProfileLog In / Log Out

 

****

cyclingforum.com ****

HOMECLUBS | SPONSORS | FEATURESPHOTO GALLERYTTF DONORS | SHOP FOR GEAR

Return to CyclingForum Home Page CYCLING TECH TALK FORUM
          View posts since last visit

Road bike sales
 Goto page Previous  1, 2

Author Thread Post new topic Reply to topic
Anthony Smith
Joined: 12 Jan 2004
Posts: 848
Location: Ohio

5/10/18 9:18 AM

My Retort to April

First of all yes I am very competitive, but competition has to have objective rules and clear cut winners and losers. Everyone comes to the line and they go fast and someone crosses the finish line first. This is a legitimate race. If I go on a ride, the prupose is to ride, maybe to stretch my legs, maybe to work on something specific, but it is unaccceptable to have someone attack on a climb (not ride tempo) or decide to rip it in a 53x12 because they want to say they are a better rider than someone else, who they don't have the courage or horsepower to compete with in an an actual defined event.

Second competing against yourself is not competing at all. There is no objective truth so it is an invalid excercise.

Third there is a correct way to ride a bike, a proper position, proper fit, and proper pedaling (ie one should always pedal 90-120 rpm on the flats and 60-90 rpm on climbs unless sprinting). Everything has a right way and a wrong way. No one argues a football should be thrown end over end, to that a baseball bat should be used upside down, or that you should try to cut with the handle of the knife, but it seems that correct athleticism is disregarded for riding a bicycle.

Yes it requires stretching (especially as you age--and I have been racing continueally since 1973 so I am dating myself) and yes everyone should be lifting weights, but that should be a matter of course.

It is scientifically proven that one "detrains" in 72 hours--meaning loss of red blood cells, muscular deterioration and so forth, so everyone--bike racer or not should be minimally--very minimally--doing something long and hard enough to fire their Krebs cycle as well as making three 15 second long anaorobic efforts at least five days a week--if not daily.

Cycling is comfortable, fun, and a great rewarding activity if it is taken seriously and done correctly. If not done correctly, it has no merit and contributes to the downfall of an orderly world.

 Reply to topic    

Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19068
Location: PDX

5/10/18 10:29 AM

"Cycling is comfortable, fun, and a great rewarding activity if it is taken seriously and done correctly."

Except [read my previous post] this is subjective as much as I agree with you. Those riders that lack the experience and comfort for close proximity at speed... I am sure come away from rides in which they felt others were riding too close as not so much fun.

In the context of the TTF riders, safe to assume higher average skill levels perhaps in average?

Having said that, I clearly recall in NJ riders I stayed away from on group rides and kept way out of proximity in pacelines etc.

The real fast younger riders here may have the skills, I can't hang with those level young-lings like I could up to about early 50 something unfortunately...

I maybe need to hit my Kreb cycles more frequently.

 Reply to topic     Send e-mail

April
Joined: 13 Dec 2003
Posts: 6593
Location: Westchester/NYC

5/10/18 12:52 PM


quote:
If not done correctly, it has no merit and contributes to the downfall of an orderly world.

Looking around for some microwavable popcorn...

 Reply to topic     Send e-mail

Steve B.
Joined: 19 Jan 2004
Posts: 769
Location: Long Island, NY

5/10/18 1:25 PM

"Second competing against yourself is not competing at all. There is no objective truth so it is an invalid excercise."

Folks doing Ironmans would argue that point with you and they'd be right.

 Reply to topic    

April
Joined: 13 Dec 2003
Posts: 6593
Location: Westchester/NYC

5/10/18 1:49 PM


quote:
there is a correct way to ride a bike, a proper position, proper fit, and proper pedaling (ie one should always pedal 90-120 rpm on the flats and 60-90 rpm on climbs unless sprinting). Everything has a right way and a wrong way.

That's totally false. Until some guy came along and kept on spinning his way to winning, it was thought cadence on the flat is no more than 100 rpm, etc, etc...

In cross country skiing, everyone shuffle along (panting and huffing) for the past 100+ years. Until some guy from Wisconsin came along and skate his way to the podium. It's so much faster that the Olympic has to create a separate category to preserve the "shuffling" style of skiing. For no one will shuffle (classic) if there isn't a category for this slower style of skiing!

The way the football travel is dictated by physics, which applies to everybody. But HOW to throw it, is dependent on the body style of an individual. Sport has changed a lot over the years. Overall, performance of even your Joe Average weekend warrior has gone way up.

To say there's a right way to ride a bike is entirely ignoring any past and future changes and improvements. Unless, of course, if the "right way" is ALL the ways that keeps the bike upright!

 Reply to topic     Send e-mail

walter
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 4391
Location: metro-motown-area

5/10/18 2:49 PM

right and wrong

"Everything has a right way and a wrong way."

based on current thinking, technology, science, opinion...and fashion.

<img src=http://www.framedartbytilliams.com/assets/images/2/main/P329.jpg>


Last edited by walter on 5/10/18 2:54 PM; edited 1 time in total

 Reply to topic     Send e-mail

Nick Payne
Joined: 10 Jan 2004
Posts: 2625
Location: Canberra, Australia

5/10/18 2:53 PM


quote:
but it is unaccceptable to have someone attack on a climb (not ride tempo) or decide to rip it in a 53x12 because they want to say they are a better rider than someone else, who they don't have the courage or horsepower to compete with in an an actual defined event

As someone commented on one of our local training rides one day, while gesturing at one of the other riders in the bunch: "If the Tour de France was a training ride, he'd win every stage".

 Reply to topic    


Return to CyclingForum Home Page CYCLING TECH TALK FORUM
           View New Threads Since My Last Visit VIEW THREADS SINCE MY LAST VISIT
           Start a New Thread

 Display posts from previous:   


Goto page Previous  1, 2  
Last Thread | Next Thread  >  

  
  

 


If you enjoy this site, please consider pledging your support

cyclingforum.com - where cyclists talk tech
Cycling TTF Rides Throughout The World

Cyclingforum is powered by SYNCRONICITY.NET in Denver, Colorado -

Powered by phpBB: Copyright 2006 phpBB Group | Custom phpCF Template by Syncronicity