Am I just not a Sprinter?

Hmmmm. Never experienced any sort of dizziness when I sprint train or when my buds and I sprint for bragging rites on our fun rides.

Is this only a cycling issue for you? Wonder what would happen if you were to sprint run? Do some head windsprints and see If you still get these diZzy spells. Sounds like it could be potentially dangerous?!? That's the last thing you want to feel while riding a bike on the road.

A lot of things can cause dizziness. Are you properly hydrated? I don't know where you're located, but if you're in the Northern Hemisphere it's summer right now and the heat can be a contributing factor. If it's also happening while you're not exercising you need to see a doctor.

Anyway, as far as trying to figure out what you're good at, some people don't find out until several years of training. It takes about 3 years of serious training to be in "racing shape" and only afterward will you really find out what you're good at. For instance, Tyler Farrar used to be a classics/time trial specialist until he joined Garmin, where the directors told him to switch to sprinting. He excelled at it and has since become one of the top sprinters, but he made the transition several years after starting cycling.

loket said:

Relatively new cyclist here, got about 1000miles so far and during this season. I practice three times a week, tuesday and thursdays I make an effort to sweat over a 40mile distance and on sat/sun I go on long relaxed rides of about 100miles give or take 20.
Now to my problem! When I go on the shorter intense rides, I try and maintain a constant 'burn' for that bodybuilding-sensation-of-doing-a-good-job but whenever I leave this sorta 'domain' and sprint I get dizzy after about 20-30sec. It kinda feels a little like when I stand up real fast, which also tells you that I have low blood pressure.
Why do I experience this feeling? Can I possibly pass-out?

Any thoughts or advice are greatly appreciated.
Thank you for reading!

I take it you mean that you get dizzy when you stand up from being seated when you're not on the bike. It is possible to pass out although most times you'll find somewhere to sit (ie where you were just sitting) before it gets out of hand. It can be due to dehydration, low blood pressure or very low blood sugar or a combination of any of the above.

If you're on the bike and go all out for 30 seconds or so you're gonna feel like as$. That's normal. Even the worlds best kilo riders fade after 40 or so seconds if they don't pace it right. If you've been on a ride of more than a couple of hours and start to feel dizzy then it could be that you've not eaten enough.

Remember to drink enough - a bottle per hour is about right for all but the worst heat, less if it's bordering on being cold. Eat too - you may like something solid to chew on or a carbohydrate drink but you do need to consume 'fuel' otherwise your tank will be running on empty.

You're pretty new - so don't worry if you're not the best or the fastest or things seem harder than others make it look. Give it time and you'll get there.

loket said:

Relatively new cyclist here, got about 1000miles so far and during this season. I practice three times a week, tuesday and thursdays I make an effort to sweat over a 40mile distance and on sat/sun I go on long relaxed rides of about 100miles give or take 20.
Now to my problem! When I go on the shorter intense rides, I try and maintain a constant 'burn' for that bodybuilding-sensation-of-doing-a-good-job but whenever I leave this sorta 'domain' and sprint I get dizzy after about 20-30sec. It kinda feels a little like when I stand up real fast, which also tells you that I have low blood pressure.
Why do I experience this feeling? Can I possibly pass-out?

Any thoughts or advice are greatly appreciated.
Thank you for reading!

Based on this information, I can't make a judgement as to whether or not you're a sprinter. Because you get dizzy when you sprint signals something else entirely, and you shouldn't take it as a reflection on your ability to sprint or not.

If you're a "sprinter", you'll know it based on past experiences of sprinting against other types of riders - no one will have to tell you. If you're consistently beating others (all types of riders) at sprints, then that's a good indication and you could consider yourself a "sprinter"...my $0.02CAN worth...

loket said:

Now to my problem! When I go on the shorter intense rides, I try and maintain a constant 'burn' for that bodybuilding-sensation-of-doing-a-good-job but whenever I leave this sorta 'domain' and sprint I get dizzy after about 20-30sec. It kinda feels a little like when I stand up real fast, which also tells you that I have low blood pressure.
Why do I experience this feeling? Can I possibly pass-out?

Any thoughts or advice are greatly appreciated.

Are you sure you are breathing properly?

If you think it could be a case of hypotension, then during-or-after a ride, go over to a school which has an accessible running Track, get off your bike, and see if you can sprint about 220 yards without starting to black out (you can run on the infield ... leave your bike in the middle so you're never more than 60 yards away from it!).

If you can't sprint that distance without feeling light headed, then it is probably a hydration/nutrition issue ...

If you can sprint the distance, then it is apparently/possibly how you are breathing (or, not!) while you are sprinting on your bike.

The classic, tried and true advice as always is to see your doctor. When was your last physical? How old are you? What is your general conditioning? Is there any history of heart problems in your family? When you go intense, your heart rate and blood pressure adapt to the stresses placed on your system. When a sprinter hits a wall, the fatigue in his/her legs prevent any further pedaling with force. Muscles will cramp up, lactic acid builds up, the leg muscles tire and eventually stop, but the brain and the heart will never be starved of oxygen unless there is a problem in the negative feedback loop of the homeostasis system. Go get it checked out.