Do one-legged drills...

[Gilders]

Opinions please, people!

 

[wardie2000]

speak to ric stern on this one

 

[ric_stern/RST]

speak to ric stern on this one

i thoroughly recommend one legged drills... but only if you want to improve your one-legged cycling ability (or only have one leg).

ric

Edit: point 3 is the best answer, or at least the one that made me smile the most!

 

[ed073]

i thoroughly recommend one legged drills... but only if you want to improve your one-legged cycling ability (or only have one leg).

ric

Edit: point 3 is the best answer, or at least the one that made me smile the most!

lol.....

 

[fondriest]

I was thinking about this the other day. I may start doing some one legged drills as i feel i may be favouring my right leg when riding normaly. This is due the fact i broke my left ankle last year and started riding to aid my rehabilitation. I actually started riding before i could walk (without the aid of crutches) but i am now thinking i may be subconciously favouring my right leg and putting in more effort with that leg.

Think some left legged training could even things out a little

 

[palewin]

I'm no expert, but my CTS coach puts them on the schedule occasionally, and I figure he knows what he's doing. Based on other replies, this looks like a subject where different coaches have different opinions (weight lifting for cyclists is another one where equally respected coaches come up with opposite answers!).

 

[dhk]

I'm no expert, but my CTS coach puts them on the schedule occasionally, and I figure he knows what he's doing. Based on other replies, this looks like a subject where different coaches have different opinions (weight lifting for cyclists is another one where equally respected coaches come up with opposite answers!).

I'm reading Fred Matheny's training book now, and he also recommends them. I just tried one-legged pedaling on the trainer, and I can hold a decent cadence for no more than 10-15 seconds. Should be easy to improve with just a few minutes a week, although I have no idea if it will actually translate to smoother pedaling on the road.

If nothing else, drills like these break the boredom on winter trainer sessions!

 

[ric_stern/RST]

I'm reading Fred Matheny's training book now, and he also recommends them. I just tried one-legged pedaling on the trainer, and I can hold a decent cadence for no more than 10-15 seconds. Should be easy to improve with just a few minutes a week, although I have no idea if it will actually translate to smoother pedaling on the road.

If nothing else, drills like these break the boredom on winter trainer sessions!

it's an old wives tale...

we know from data, using instrumeneted force pedals (and iEMG) that better cyclists (elite) push down more and pull up less (i.e., less "smooth") compared to other cyclists who aren't elite (e.g., good state level) -- they push down less and pull up more - producing a "smoother" stroke. In the less good cyclists the forces produced pulling up, produced small forward propulsive movements.

it may be a way to get through boredom on the trainer, that's likely to be it's only worthwhile benefit.

ric

 

[dhk]

it's an old wives tale...

we know from data, using instrumeneted force pedals (and iEMG) that better cyclists (elite) push down more and pull up less (i.e., less "smooth") compared to other cyclists who aren't elite (e.g., good state level) -- they push down less and pull up more - producing a "smoother" stroke. In the less good cyclists the forces produced pulling up, produced small forward propulsive movements.

it may be a way to get through boredom on the trainer, that's likely to be it's only worthwhile benefit.

ric

When trying to hold cadence up a hill without downshifting, I often use my hamstrings to pull back through the 6 o'clock position. Seems to add some power, allowing me to stay seated, and also takes some pressure off the tired quads.

Are you implying that elite cyclists don't really use their hamstrings to produce power in this way, or just that one-legged pedaling doesn't train this strength?

 

[Roadie_scum]

Are you implying that elite cyclists don't really use their hamstrings to produce power in this way, or just that one-legged pedaling doesn't train this strength?

I don't think he's implying anything. I think it's exactly what he said - elite pro cyclists apply less force through the upstroke than good quality amateurs (in a steady state at a reasonably high power).

 

[ric_stern/RST]

I don't think he's implying anything. I think it's exactly what he said - elite pro cyclists apply less force through the upstroke than good quality amateurs (in a steady state at a reasonably high power).

basically, as roadie_scum said i wasn't implying anything than presenting data on how two groups of cyclists pedal. however, what i perhaps should have added and alluded to in my earlier post is that one legged pedalling isn't optimal trainng (note, it's better than *no* training, but isn't as good as two legged training*). Additionally, trying to pull up isn't warranted, you're diverting your concentration away from optimal training, which is to increase your power output. In other words don't worry about how you do or don't pedal it's a waste of time -- just train to produce more power.

ric

 

[n crowley]

basically, as roadie_scum said i wasn't implying anything than presenting data on how two groups of cyclists pedal. however, what i perhaps should have added and alluded to in my earlier post is that one legged pedalling isn't optimal trainng (note, it's better than *no* training, but isn't as good as two legged training*). Additionally, trying to pull up isn't warranted, you're diverting your concentration away from optimal training, which is to increase your power output. In other words don't worry about how you do or don't pedal it's a waste of time -- just train to produce more power.

ric

As you have stated many times, the pressure that is required on the
pedals when cycling at speed is less than you might expect it to be. Like
using Powercranks, one legged pedalling trains a rider to unweight that rising
pedal, this adds almost free pressure to the working pedal and this can have
a significant effect on overall pedal power output.

 

[ric_stern/RST]

As you have stated many times, the pressure that is required on the
pedals when cycling at speed is less than you might expect it to be. Like
using Powercranks, one legged pedalling trains a rider to unweight that rising
pedal, this adds almost free pressure to the working pedal and this can have
a significant effect on overall pedal power output.

And your evidence is...?

 

[n crowley]

And your evidence is...?

Actually a double advantage, the gravity effect and Newton's law which
states " for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction".

 

[bikeguy2]

Ric, name of study and date please that says elite pull up less than amateur cyclists? _

 

[ric_stern/RST]

Ric, name of study and date please that says elite pull up less than amateur cyclists? _

it's the Coyle et al 91 study, can't think of the title off the top of my head

ric

Edit, this is the link http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=1997818

 

[Roadie_scum]

Actually a double advantage, the gravity effect and Newton's law which
states " for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction".

And how exactly would that random meandering fall within the definition of evidence?

 

[Fixey]

I was thinking about this the other day. I may start doing some one legged drills as i feel i may be favouring my right leg when riding normaly. This is due the fact i broke my left ankle last year and started riding to aid my rehabilitation. I actually started riding before i could walk (without the aid of crutches) but i am now thinking i may be subconciously favouring my right leg and putting in more effort with that leg.

Think some left legged training could even things out a little

Possible alternatives: try weights (not to improve your cycling but to restore balance) or a trackbike, tend to be less forgiving of a weak leg imo hence balance will restore itself.

 

[n crowley]

And how exactly would that random meandering fall within the definition of evidence?

Using a bike on a trainer with chain removed from chainwheel and feet
resting and balancing on the pedals set in the 9---3 o'c position, if you
suddenly lift your 9 o'c foot clear of pedal, you can clearly see that without
using any pulling up effort on rising pedal or conscious downward pressure
on falling pedal, a downward pressure is applied to the 3 o'c crank as
pedal moves towards the 5 o'c position. With correct unweighting of
idling pedal, this "free" power can be availed of from the 1 to 5 o'clock
position. Over an hour's pedalling, this occurs 10,000 times.

 

[Roadie_scum]

Using a bike on a trainer with chain removed from chainwheel and feet
resting and balancing on the pedals set in the 9---3 o'c position, if you
suddenly lift your 9 o'c foot clear of pedal, you can clearly see that without
using any pulling up effort on rising pedal or conscious downward pressure
on falling pedal, a downward pressure is applied to the 3 o'c crank as
pedal moves towards the 5 o'c position. With correct unweighting of
idling pedal, this "free" power can be availed of from the 1 to 5 o'clock
position. Over an hour's pedalling, this occurs 10,000 times.

You are clearly a complete idiot.