Raptor said:Genetic gifts aside, what's reasonable to expect of the typical
human's potential in terms of cycling performance?For example, could pretty much any able-bodied human train themselves
into condition to ride a 4-hour century, given adequate time and
motivation? I'd say 5 hours definitely, but 4 might be a stretch.
4 hours? That definitely depends on how appetizing the food is at
the rest stops. And crucially, how long the Portapotty lines are.
The best British 100-mile TT results are not that much under 4 hours,
and they are probably strongly assisted by the draft from riding on
motorways. A four hour 100 mile effort is like riding a 1 hour 40k
TT, four times in a row. You could ask whether every able-bodied
Masters Fattie should be capable of training to ride the more
reasonable and less boring effort of a one hour 40k TT. I think
Coggan and Albright may have discussed this in the past. Just a
feeling, you know.