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Bike speed advise please...
garyroberts
Posts: 869
in General Chat
Hi lovely tri folk
I hope everythings going well for you all. I have a question about bike power/speed. Here's my background......
....never had a road bike in my life before Feb this year, got a good second hand Trek 1.9, original spec i think, which includes full Ultegra and Bontrager wheels, so i guess the bikes not holding me back - rather the other way around! I've fitted clamp on tri-bars and love getting down on them - i would guess i spend 90% of the time down on them during my rides. I've been out on it twice a week since getting it and i imagine that means about 15 times, i have been covering a few different routes (including my first tri's route) and all of them are either 18-20k or 40-43k.
My question is about speed and power, and how best to get them! I have quite strong legs (what i mean is they are not thin nor do they have much in the way of fat on them), but i seem to fall apart quickly when faced with a hill/incline. I just don't seem to be able to attack the slope.....i have to drop the gears and even then, it still feels crap.
Next question is speed (even downhill), i have reached a max speed of 54kph on a downhill, pedalling like a madman. But this just isn't quick enough compared to others, is it? What's holding me back - its not power in this case as i could put down more if the bike would let me.....i'm guessing its the gearing - which i cannot replace yet as i'll get divorced - but I would like to know what a fast speed is, and how i might reach it someday.
My average speed over a 42k ride is 31kph, the ride takes me about 1:20. I know some of you are doing this distance in less than an hour, my question is what gives you this extra pace. Is it more to do with equipment or muscle/training. My guess is training, but i would like to hear your thoughts.
THIS IS NOT A WINGE - IT IS SIMPLY A CALL FOR ADVISE
Would love to hear from you all.
I hope everythings going well for you all. I have a question about bike power/speed. Here's my background......
....never had a road bike in my life before Feb this year, got a good second hand Trek 1.9, original spec i think, which includes full Ultegra and Bontrager wheels, so i guess the bikes not holding me back - rather the other way around! I've fitted clamp on tri-bars and love getting down on them - i would guess i spend 90% of the time down on them during my rides. I've been out on it twice a week since getting it and i imagine that means about 15 times, i have been covering a few different routes (including my first tri's route) and all of them are either 18-20k or 40-43k.
My question is about speed and power, and how best to get them! I have quite strong legs (what i mean is they are not thin nor do they have much in the way of fat on them), but i seem to fall apart quickly when faced with a hill/incline. I just don't seem to be able to attack the slope.....i have to drop the gears and even then, it still feels crap.
Next question is speed (even downhill), i have reached a max speed of 54kph on a downhill, pedalling like a madman. But this just isn't quick enough compared to others, is it? What's holding me back - its not power in this case as i could put down more if the bike would let me.....i'm guessing its the gearing - which i cannot replace yet as i'll get divorced - but I would like to know what a fast speed is, and how i might reach it someday.
My average speed over a 42k ride is 31kph, the ride takes me about 1:20. I know some of you are doing this distance in less than an hour, my question is what gives you this extra pace. Is it more to do with equipment or muscle/training. My guess is training, but i would like to hear your thoughts.
THIS IS NOT A WINGE - IT IS SIMPLY A CALL FOR ADVISE
Would love to hear from you all.
0
Comments
I'm no biking expert but i know i'd be dead chuffed if i could average 31Kph on a ride.
Try this link though which gives approx speeds with rpm and gearing, may be of some help!
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/
For spinning down hill you'll need to do some high cadence work, I find this is best done on the turbo trainer. Put the bike into the small chain ring at the front and about 15tooth for the rear and with some MINOR resistance on your turbo aim to get your cadence above 130rpm and hold it there for 45secs have 30secs rest and do x10, you'll be spinning those pedals like Lance in no time!!!!!!!!
Hello again
Thanks for the feedback and advise, this may sound really basic but what do you class as a nice hill, not too steep? Is this a 'slope' more than a hill? I don't really have an idea about gradients etc.
G
Basicly i need to change my front ring to a bigger one, when i go down hill even in top gear my legs still spin, but i have more power in them, so i'm faced with getter bigger GEARING.
How i do this i'm not 100%, but ive looked about and you can buy just one ring for the front( the biggest one), to give you more power, or so thats my understanding of it anyway.
But i'm not 100% which one it is CRANKS Shimano Tiagra 34/50 ( i think its this one)
CASSETTE Shimano HG50 12-25
Hey Coney, it must be all in the name.....
......i am available to act as your triathlon guinea pig at a moments notice. There's no lack of commitment and an almost infinite amount of self belief!
seriously....thanks for the feedback, i know i'm just starting out....
G
P.S. Saddle height increased another 10mm and rode 40K today, hamstring a little sore tonight (
You are spot on with this topic, I'm totally the same a you mate. I live in a very hilly area and everytime I'm out I feel as though when it comes to hills, I might at as well pea into the wind....
Interesting to read what people are saying. Bopo said in a prev topic that best to do the big ring ride (ahem!!) and I tried it yesterday and my legs were killing me but i guess time will tell with me.
Anyone else got any other tips etc???
How have others dealt with this? Very interested in this one as I feel this is one area where I'm really lacking.
On the descent tuck in and get low and you'll not need to upgrade your gears
Downhill I get in Areo and just ease off the pedals - depending on the decline.
reading a few prev comments is making me wonder, I obv need to improve my hill speeds and the best way is plank my bum on the seat and not to stand up???
Is it then a case of training in the big cog and pedalling like mad and therefore increasing the lactate acid threshold? Does pedalling like crazy not increase the heart rate?????
Ooo I need a training partner...who knows what they are doing....