What Has Improved?

noonievut said:

I've been slowly building up my KM's on the road and last weekend I increased my distance by a 1/3rd compared to previous weekends and I went harder than before. Since the big weekend I did a light recovery ride and when I went out last night I was flying. I noticed that under similar conditions (wind, etc.), my HR was low and speed was high. Hills were also easier and my HR stayed lower than I remember.

Is this attributed to improved power, LT, or something else?

Thanks.

From a physics point of view, more speed always means more power or less resistance (e.g., better positioning, lower air density, etc). Physiologically there are many adaptations that occur to actually make more power.

whoawhoa said:

From a physics point of view, more speed always means more power or less resistance (e.g., better positioning, lower air density, etc). Physiologically there are many adaptations that occur to actually make more power.

Not sure I quite understand. At any time I can generate more 'raw' power just by pushing harder. My point is that without trying harder I was going faster than I normally would at the same BPM, under the same riding riding conditions. Did this happen because my legs have become more powerful so to generate the same speed I didn't have to try as hard?

Thanks.

noonievut said:

Did this happen because my legs have become more powerful so to generate the same speed I didn't have to try as hard?

Thanks.

Yes, or the conditions were faster.

dude, it just means your improving...your heart is working more efficiently. So, your going faster, easier. Your body is pumping more O2 through your muscles, flushing out lactict acid more efficiantley, enabling you to go faster easier. don't over analyze, just know that your getting better and enjoy riding. have fun.

noonievut said:

Not sure I quite understand. At any time I can generate more 'raw' power just by pushing harder. My point is that without trying harder I was going faster than I normally would at the same BPM, under the same riding riding conditions. Did this happen because my legs have become more powerful so to generate the same speed I didn't have to try as hard?

Thanks.

noonievut said:

Not sure I quite understand. At any time I can generate more 'raw' power just by pushing harder. My point is that without trying harder I was going faster than I normally would at the same BPM, under the same riding riding conditions. Did this happen because my legs have become more powerful so to generate the same speed I didn't have to try as hard?

Thanks.

Well for example, physiologically there is probably increased capillarization of your working muscles over say a week ago with an increase in mitochondria. This allows your muscles to extract more oxygen and produce more power in a given time period without having to make your heart work harder or producing an increase in RPE.

It's also possible your heart has increased in size along with blood volume which again would deliver more blood and oxygen to your working muscles at the same HR.

-bikeguy