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Post by mountguitars on Jun 20, 2006 23:47:10 GMT 8
hi guys!
so far, i've been doing some reading on a book authored by carl michael. its basically about lance armstrong and how he built this guy to reach the podium, 6 times! (even a 7th time, after the book was published.)
what's amazing about lance is that he goes beyond convetional practice. breaking the barriers and convetional belief. one of 'em is shifting to lower gears and spinning at a higher cadence instead of staying on heavier gears and spinning at a lower or steady, fixed cadence to conquer them uphills.
at 5'10", lance didnt have the muscle mass to endure the long climbs using heavier gears and relied mostly on higher cadence at lower gears instead.
i noticed that using a SS rig requires you to pedal at a faster cadence to achieve your desired speed. with this in mind, i was thinking if this will do any good with how i ride or conquer climbs using a geared bike or just to improve the way i ride, after training on a SS rig.
the only way i could measure my performance (of course) is using a cyclometer that has cadence and even (say) a HRM.
to my SS gurus:
is there any use installing a cyclometer on an SS rig? TIA.
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Post by wcoastbo on Jun 21, 2006 1:33:18 GMT 8
I think HRMs and cyclometers have their purpose. Very useful for those that are racers and need to know each second of improvement they have gained.
For me, a non-racer, I prefer to be unburdened by wires and LCD readouts. To me each ride is a training ride and I put in as much effort as possible. I measure my performance by where I am in the group I'm riding with. Last Sunday I had a terrible day and I was near the back of the pack. Most of the time I'm closer to the front.
SS has made me stronger, but I'm not a racer. Climbing in a SS is about setting goals and increasing your pain threashold. When you feel like you can't push any further, suck it up and pedal a few more strokes. Push yourself further and further each time. Take shorter breaks. Soon you'll be able to clear sections you never could.
I don't think it's about measuring your heartrate, instead its all about pushing your body beyond what you think is possible... then go beyond that.
When I do ride a geared bike, then I ride gears that are taller than I used to. I almost never use the granny gear.
Lance has very large lung and heart capacity... he can spin up hills at a faster cadence because of his higher aerobic capacity. I don't have very good aerobic capacity, therefore it's better for me to use a taller gear and and tap into my anerobic capacity. Know your body and what's better for you, I'm the opposite of Lance... I'm faster when mashing then spinning.
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Post by cobym on Jun 21, 2006 7:52:35 GMT 8
I have a cyclometer on my SS. Its useful for knowing that I can only maintain 19-20 kph tops on the flats. I havent tried my HRM on my SS yet. Maybe when I go to the wall..... so I know if I'm bursting 200 bpm. I dont have any aerobic capacity nor muscle strength to grind uphills for long. So I probably will need that HRM to see if I'm ok or if I'm nearing a heart attack.
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Post by 32by18 on Jun 21, 2006 11:07:43 GMT 8
I guess a cyclometer and HRM can be used to help you improve your riding, whether geared or SS. They are tools, and should not be the only basis/bases for your efforts. Your HRM may be warning you that you're maxxing out, but what if you still feel you can push a bit more? Personally, I prefer less clutter on the bike - it lets me concentrate on the ride more. No cyclometer for me to worry about how fast or slow I am going (and take my eyes off the trail!) No man-bra and constant beeping as I ride hehe But by all means, these are good tools for measuring your performance, and can give you valuable feedback on your riding. Just don't let them detract from the fun you get from riding
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Post by OnebyOne on Jun 23, 2006 23:29:12 GMT 8
hi guys! so far, i've been doing some reading on a book authored by carl michael. its basically about lance armstrong and how he built this guy to reach the podium, 6 times! (even a 7th time, after the book was published.) what's amazing about lance is that he goes beyond convetional practice. breaking the barriers and convetional belief. one of 'em is shifting to lower gears and spinning at a higher cadence instead of staying on heavier gears and spinning at a lower or steady, fixed cadence to conquer them uphills. at 5'10", lance didnt have the muscle mass to endure the long climbs using heavier gears and relied mostly on higher cadence at lower gears instead. i noticed that using a SS rig requires you to pedal at a faster cadence to achieve your desired speed. with this in mind, i was thinking if this will do any good with how i ride or conquer climbs using a geared bike or just to improve the way i ride, after training on a SS rig. the only way i could measure my performance (of course) is using a cyclometer that has cadence and even (say) a HRM. to my SS gurus: is there any use installing a cyclometer on an SS rig? TIA. YES but it all depends on what is your goal? If your goal is just to improved yourself so your buddies will not drop you on your next group ride then it's not really necessary unless you prefer to have all this things hanging on your bike BUT, if you are really serious of improving yourself and plan to join a race in the future then it is a MUST... This tools are very important in measuring every bits of your endurance and fitness performance in your training regimen...
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Post by Dragunov on Jul 4, 2006 10:58:18 GMT 8
ive been training for a year now without a hrm , and i still find it effective, but i know that an hrm is a very usefull tool for training coz u get every bit of detail of your performance and ull know where to improve on, the only factor that stops me from buying one is the cost, its so expensive, and i dont know if id get my money's worth
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Post by mountguitars on Jul 4, 2006 16:08:00 GMT 8
ive been training for a year now without a hrm , and i still find it effective, but i know that an hrm is a very usefull tool for training coz u get every bit of detail of your performance and ull know where to improve on, the only factor that stops me from buying one is the cost, its so expensive, and i dont know if id get my money's worth pete, you can get 1 for 2.5K. bike mounted (cateye HB100) or the bell wristwatch (same price). what's good about an HRM is you have a target, a zone to work on without second guessing. also, bringing it to trail rides, you'd be able to limit yourself just in case you reach 'the limit', hehe. training along an HRM: - you know what you need to work on coz you have a target. you dont just pedal or tire yourself like crazy, blindly. i know there's a lot of folks out there that are good on their own without HRM's for those attempting to be good in XC biking, this is a great tool. - you save time. you can cut training in half since you know what to work on in the first place. - you have a scientific or systematic approach to training. with all the above mentioned, its worth every bang for you buck, IMO.
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Post by Dragunov on Jul 4, 2006 17:52:20 GMT 8
thanks for informing me of the price jon, i'll try try to find a dealer for this hrm, could you teach me how to use it jon?
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Post by mountguitars on Jul 4, 2006 18:07:21 GMT 8
thanks for informing me of the price jon, i'll try try to find a dealer for this hrm, could you teach me how to use it jon? its easy pete. an HRM is nothing more than device that shows you the beat of your heart in a one minute stretch. so the term is beats per minute. there are other features but that's all you need to know for the mean time. again if you're getting the wrist watch type, get the bell which is priced at P2.5K also (i think). if you want something dedicated, the cateye HB100 will do (cyclometer and HRM, bike mounted). available at king's or cycle art (jane hates me for buying one at cycle art, hehehe). i have the HB100 by the way. the displayed info on the unit useful to me when i'm riding is the BPM, current speed and time. i hate wearing watches during trail rides and i'd like to keep things simple. dunno about the bell watch thingy though if it can be installed on the handlebars. but i chose the cateye becoz its a known brand. everheard of bell making HRM's? hope this helps.
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Post by marcs on Jul 4, 2006 18:19:45 GMT 8
the HRM is just the tool, you get the total benefits when you diligently track, assess, set targets, and follow a training plan. as mountguitars said, you just strap on the thing and it tracks your BPM. Net, it's important to
- accurately determine your Max HR. This is the basis of your training zones so it's important you get this right. Too high a Max HR and you will burn yourself out training, too low a Max HR and you won't exert enough effort during your training. There's a formula for this but (220-age ata) but of course the more fit you are the higher your HR could be. the best is of course doing a stress test in a clinic to really determine this.
- schedule and stick to your training plan. Ultimately an HRM will help you train at the right zones, making sure you train hard enough on hard days, AND train easy enough during recovery days (what I hear is this is more helpful for the latter as we always have the mindset of no pain no gain, but a recovery ride is just as important as intervals).
- monitor baseline levels to see your improvement -- e.g. ave HR for a certain load, resting HR, etc
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Post by Dragunov on Jul 4, 2006 22:57:05 GMT 8
thank you both for the infos, i gonna save for an hrm!, is polar a good hrm, i've seen one in mall and they're pretty expensive, anyone have use one of these, are they worth the money?
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Post by OnebyOne on Sept 12, 2006 21:15:22 GMT 8
Singlespeeding is about having fun on the trails so HRM may not be necessary...But if you're a health buff who cares every bits that your heart is telling you, then why not... Polar is one of the best HRM in the market today...
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