improving my climbing

"Carl Sundquist" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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"Mike S." <mikeshaw2@coxDOTnet> wrote in message

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If you're doing "structured training" WTF are you doing trying to

improve

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your climbing in Oct? What races/rides(?) are you trying to peak for?

Right now is the time to rest and rejuvenate, even here in the sun belt. You go hard now, and
you're asking to burn out in May...

Mike

I would venture a guess that less than 0.5% of riders in the USA run the

risk of physical

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burnout in May by going hard now. I don't think very many riders (have the

time/interest)

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to put in the hours needed to overtrain. Granted, you can wear yourself

down by doing a

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lot of intensity in a training block, but for the base mileage that most

riders have, a

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week will have them fresh again. I do agree however that for most riders,

lots of

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intensity at this point of the season is not the most productive way to

spend your time on

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the bike

Mentally burnt out is another story altogether.

Yeah, but if you live near mountains sometimes you end up going there because you enjoy it. Base
period to me is just pacing myself more sensible. I don't get too hung up on doing X number of all
flat miles and that kind of thing. I think most people would do better just relaxing and keeping and
eye on reasonable volume and assuring full recovery between rides.

Still, that does not mean the topic it not worth discussing now. On the contrary, this is the best
time of the year to plan your whole year, or at least your whole training season up until you start
to race and possible change your objectives. IOW, there is nothing wrong with the timing of his
question. There is just not enough background to offer anything but entertainment.

Carl Sundquist said:

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Mentally burnt out is another story altogether.

mental burnout sucks.

hh

"Carl Sundquist" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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I would venture a guess that less than 0.5% of riders in the USA run the

risk of physical

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burnout in May by going hard now. I don't think very many riders (have the

time/interest)

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to put in the hours needed to overtrain.

Dumbass -

You speaketh the truth.

I do think however, that many riders go from zero fitness, skip the base phase, go straight to
intensity and confuse the resulting fatigue with overtraining.

"Nick Burns" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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Yeah, but if you live near mountains sometimes you end up going there because you enjoy it. Base
period to me is just pacing myself more sensible. I don't get too hung up on doing X number of all
flat miles and that kind of thing. I think most people would do better just relaxing and keeping
and eye on reasonable volume and assuring full recovery between rides.

There isn't a thing wrong with spending time in the mountains at this time of the year. In fact, as
you say, it is a good time to just putt along and enjoy the ride, noticing scenery you've otherwise
overlooked because you were focused on the clock, HR monitor, speed, etc.

The bummer is that it gets dark so quickly after work.

Liposuction. Makes the perfect holiday gift.

"chris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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Try a fixed gear in the winter with a light gear and some good hills.

The idea is not to pull up, but to ride a smooth stroke. Always be conscious of how you're
pedalling and focus on some good base miles (spiced with intense intervals) before doing a lot of
intensity in the spring.

CH

"Lee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

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Okay, so I suck at climbing.

There, I've said it. I love to climb hills, but I want to improve my climbing.

I have a feeling that my technique is not optimal, and I'm looking for

some

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(onbike?) exercises to improve.

I get the feeling that my downward leg is doing all the work and my

upward

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leg is along for the ride. When I concentrate on pulling up, I go up the hill much faster, doh,
but I can't keep this up very long...

Would appreciate some pointers on reworking my technique...

Thanks!

Lee Old Phart Cat 4

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The best things are climbing and losing weight. Other than that, it's

up

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to genetics. Do you stand or sit while climbing? I tend to do both, depending on how I feel.
Short, steep hills, I stand. Long hills, I usually sit until I get bored then stand. Lance is
amazing at standing while climbing.

Short hills I stand, long I sit, same as you.

WRT weight...I gained 5 pounds over the summer due to a new diet

recommended

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by a sports nutritionist. Now I'm working to get that off. I only weigh

155

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or so, would really like to be racing next summer at about 145, but

haven't

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been there in a while.

Lee

There's 5# and there's 5#. If you gained 5# of muscle, I wouldn't worry about it too much, but if
you gained 5# of fat, then yeah, get rid of it now while you're not trying to "train" for anything.

Mike

"Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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"Mike S." <mikeshaw2@coxDOTnet> wrote in message news:2nkjb.66325$vj2.44573@fed1read06...

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> > Liposuction. Makes the perfect holiday gift.
>
>
> LOL. I have wondered about that! I wonder if any Masters racers are

doing

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> that!. For some that would be a bigger boost than that damn tent!

Most dermatology practices do it. The call it body contouring. Most practices have a pamphlet
about it that you can look at. Effective,

but

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not

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cheap. Easier to diet.

Every once in a while Henry's taunting makes me thing about Lipo...

Gotta

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get rid of this roll around my middle SOMEHOW! Heaven forbid riding

more

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and eating the same...

Dumbass -

I've actually thought about getting a spot of lipo. Even if I'm at 6%, there's this little pad of
fat right around my bellybutton that doesn't go

area

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around it.

I wonder how much it would cost to get it sucked out.

K. Gringioni fan of liposuction

Sharon could probably tell you.

Squidvark <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

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Lee said:

Okay, so I suck at climbing.

There, I've said it. I love to climb hills, but I want to improve my climbing.

I have a feeling that my technique is not optimal, and I'm looking for some (onbike?) exercises
to improve.

I get the feeling that my downward leg is doing all the work and my upward leg is along for the
ride. When I concentrate on pulling up, I go up the hill much faster, doh, but I can't keep this
up very long...

Would appreciate some pointers on reworking my technique...

Thanks!

Lee Old Phart Cat 4

Try to imagine scraping the mud off the soles of your shoes.

Note that this is a retarded analogy that I've always hated and that it's only good for scraping
mud or doggie doo off your shoes and nothing else.

Technique is not going to avail you here. Do you know why you went faster when you recruited other
muscles and then slowed down? Because you didn't have the aerobic capacity to ride faster and
after those new muscles fatigued (went anaerobic, so to speak) you were back to where you started.

Howdy: You're spot on, "mud off..." is probably overstating it but it does get the idea across. But
it does encourage an over vigourous wipe which doesn't last long. That's where the slow down follows
closely. You have to feather that wipe, nice 'n' light.

The real reason for the slow down is local muscle fatigue not really aerobic capacity. The rider
needs to engage the same technique at a much lower intensity for longer periods then build up
the power later. You can easily aggravate tendons and ligaments if you go at this too fast.
Allow months.

Cheers Cafehead.

When it comes to getting rid of useless weight try jetison your brain. It's really quite heavy and a
real nuisance the way it chatters and carries on when you're thumping hills. The best mountain goats
don't have one. I'd get your brain sucked out... probably through your eye is best.

Mmm yes...

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Dumbass -

I've actually thought about getting a spot of lipo. Even if I'm at 6%, there's this little pad of
fat right around my bellybutton that doesn't go

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around it.

I wonder how much it would cost to get it sucked out.

K. Gringioni fan of liposuction

"cafehead" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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When it comes to getting rid of useless weight try jetison your brain. It's really quite heavy and
a real nuisance the way it chatters and carries on when you're thumping hills. The best mountain
goats don't have one. I'd get your brain sucked out... probably through your eye is best.

Already did that. Replaced it with a StupidLite carbon fiber model. Works fine so far but it creaks
a bit on startup.

Lee

"Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:OOnjb.109323> >

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I would venture a guess that less than 0.5% of riders in the USA run the

risk of physical

Quoted message said:

burnout in May by going hard now. I don't think very many riders (have the

time/interest)

Quoted message said:

to put in the hours needed to overtrain.

Dumbass -

You speaketh the truth.

I do think however, that many riders go from zero fitness, skip the base phase, go straight to
intensity and confuse the resulting fatigue with overtraining.

Dumbass,

That's why I said they would be fresh within a week of resting.

Mike S. mikeshaw2@coxDOTnet said:

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Yup, it is friggen hilarious. The new riders always think there's a

trick

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to riding faster, when all it is is a matter of riding more...

That's funny. I keep reading that method is crucial. E.g. you're supposed

to

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incorporate recovery days into your training weeks. A newbie wouldn't necessarily realize that,
or know how much of what to do.

I'm new to structured training myself, and am curious about what the best training plan would be
to optimize climbing ability. Obviously you need to climb a lot, but again, it's not that simple.

Shayne Wissler

If you're doing "structured training" WTF are you doing trying to improve your climbing in Oct?
What races/rides(?) are you trying to peak for?

Right now is the time to rest and rejuvenate, even here in the sun belt. You go hard now, and
you're asking to burn out in May...

Mike

I don't know -- I'm going to ride 75 miles this weekend and 100 miles next weekend. Hey, I have all
of December and January where the most I'll ride will be a few days a week on my mountain bike with
studded tires. What's a few more miles now going to hurt?

--
Bob M in CT Remove 'x.' to reply

"Carl Sundquist" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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"Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote in

message

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news:OOnjb.109323> >

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I would venture a guess that less than 0.5% of riders in the USA run

the

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Quoted message said:

risk of physical

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burnout in May by going hard now. I don't think very many riders (have

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

time/interest)

Quoted message said:

to put in the hours needed to overtrain.

Dumbass -

You speaketh the truth.

I do think however, that many riders go from zero fitness, skip the base phase, go straight to
intensity and confuse the resulting fatigue with overtraining.

Dumbass,

That's why I said they would be fresh within a week of resting.

Dumbass -

Missed that part. What else is new?

"cafehead" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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The real reason for the slow down is local muscle fatigue not really aerobic capacity.

??

The fatigue resistance of any muscle is very closely related to its aerobic capacity.

Andy Coggan

"B. Lafferty" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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I wonder how much it would cost to get it sucked out.

K. Gringioni fan of liposuction

Sharon could probably tell you.

Who's Sharon?

"Andy Coggan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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"cafehead" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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The real reason for the slow down is local muscle fatigue not really aerobic capacity.

??

The fatigue resistance of any muscle is very closely related to its

aerobic

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capacity.

Andy Coggan

I think that is true most of the time. There are a few rare case though of functional disabilities
that more and more are recognizing. With that one caveat, I agree. I also think that most athletes
will completely misdiagnose this on there own and many times when they hit the limits of power it
feels to them as if they need to build muscle mass.

For the pulling up part, I find it very helpful to do weight training. Put resistance just above
your kneecap and lift up your thigh.

I use a leg curl machine for this, one leg at a time and placing my kneecap where you usually put
your ankle (and, of course, your ass where you'd usually put your knee)

Ron

Lee said:

I get the feeling that my downward leg is doing all the work and my upward leg is along for the
ride. When I concentrate on pulling up, I go up the hill much faster, doh, but I can't keep this
up very long...

Would appreciate some pointers on reworking my technique...

Thanks!

Lee Old Phart Cat 4

I tried to e-mail you, but it bounced back as a bad address.

Paul

"Lee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Okay, so I suck at climbing.

There, I've said it. I love to climb hills, but I want to improve my climbing.

I have a feeling that my technique is not optimal, and I'm looking for

some

Quoted message said:

(onbike?) exercises to improve.

I get the feeling that my downward leg is doing all the work and my upward leg is along for the
ride. When I concentrate on pulling up, I go up the hill much faster, doh, but I can't keep this
up very long...

Would appreciate some pointers on reworking my technique...

Thanks!

Lee Old Phart Cat 4

"PaulO" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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I tried to e-mail you, but it bounced back as a bad address.

Paul

Paul,

My email address is lee at wheelman KEYBOARDCOVER dot com (remove the KEYBOARDCOVER to reply).

Thanks!

Lee